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What Do the Numbers at the Bottom of a Passport Mean?

Discover the meaning of the numbers in the passport's Machine-Readable Zone used for quick identity verification at immigration.

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Video transcript

The numbers on the bottom of the passport are part of the MRZ (Machine-Readable Zone). This code includes information such as the passport number, country code, birth date, passport expiration date, and a unique check digit. These details are used for quick electronic scanning at immigration checkpoints, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in verifying the passport holder's identity.

Questions and answers

  1. What information is contained in the passport MRZ?

    The Machine-Readable Zone contains the passport number, country code, birth date, passport expiration date, and a check digit for verification.

  2. Why do passports have a Machine-Readable Zone?

    The MRZ allows for fast and accurate electronic scanning of passport details at immigration checkpoints to verify identity.

  3. How is the check digit in a passport MRZ calculated?

    The check digit is a unique number calculated using a formula on the passport data to ensure the information has not been altered or corrupted.

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