What Information Is Included on a Passport?

A passport is a necessity for traveling abroad. The U.S. Department of State produces over 8 million passports each year each with the same information included on them.

Type

The type of passport is listed clearly on the front of each passport. Passport types include regular, official, diplomatic and emergency. On a passport there is a line that reads "Type" where the general "P" is placed denoting that the item is a passport.

Code and Passport Number

The code field describes the issuing country, which for American citizens will read "USA." The passport number is a number unique to each passport and is clearly printed on the passport.

Personal Information

The passport features a photograph of the owner as well as their surname, given name, date of birth, and place of birth. It also lists nationality, which will read "United States of America" for U.S. citizens.

Dates

The passport provides the date that it was issued as well as its expiration date. Typically, this is five years from the issue date.

Authority and Endorsements

The authority details the issuer of the passport, which for Americans is the U.S. Department of State. The endorsement is the signature of the passport holder.

Resources

• U.S. Department of State