What is the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on Your Passport?
Discover what the code at the bottom of your passport means and why the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) is important for international travel.
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The code at the bottom of the passport is known as the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ). It typically contains two lines of alphanumeric characters composed of the passport number, the holder’s name, nationality, date of birth, and the passport’s expiry date. This code is used by machines to quickly scan and verify passport information, facilitating efficient and accurate data processing at international borders.
FAQs & Answers
- What does MRZ stand for in passports? MRZ stands for Machine Readable Zone, which is the section of the passport that contains codes that can be scanned by machines to quickly verify information.
- What information is contained in the MRZ of a passport? The MRZ typically contains the passport number, holder's name, nationality, date of birth, and the expiry date of the passport.
- Why is the Machine Readable Zone important? The MRZ is important because it allows for efficient and accurate processing of passport information at international borders, enhancing security and speeding up travel.
- How do machines read the MRZ? Machines read the MRZ using optical character recognition (OCR) technology, allowing them to quickly scan and process the alphanumeric characters printed in the code.