<P> Queen's Messenger passports are issued to diplomatic couriers who transport documents on behalf of HM Government . </P> <P> Emergency passports are issued by British embassies across the world . Emergency passports may be issued to any person holding British nationality . Commonwealth citizens are also eligible to receive British emergency passports in countries where their country of nationality is unrepresented . Under a reciprocal agreement, British emergency passports may also be issued to EU citizens in countries where their own country does not have a diplomatic mission or is otherwise unable to assist . </P> <P> Safe conduct documents, usually notes signed by the monarch, were issued to foreigners as well as English subjects in medieval times . They were first mentioned in an Act of Parliament, the Safe Conducts Act in 1414 . Between 1540 and 1685, the Privy Council issued passports, although they were still signed by the monarch until the reign of Charles II when the Secretary of State could sign them instead . The Secretary of State signed all passports in place of the monarch from 1794 onwards, at which time formal records started to be kept . </P> <P> Passports were written in Latin or English until 1772, when French was used instead . From about 1855 English was used, with some sections translated into French for many years . </P>

When was the first passport issued in uk