Doc 9303

Machine Readable Travel Documents Eighth Edition, 2021

Part 4: Specifications for Machine Readable Passports (MRPs)

3. GENERAL LAYOUT OF THE MRP DATA PAGE

The MRP data page follows a standardized layout to facilitate reading of data globally by visual and machine readable means.

Mandatory Fields

1 – The name of the State or organization responsible for issuing the MRP.

2 – The word for “passport” in the language of the issuing State or organization, plus either PASSPORT (English), PASSEPORT (French) or PASAPORTE (Spanish) if the language of the issuing State or organization is not English, French or Spanish.

3 – Capital letter P to designate an MRP. One additional capital letter may be used, in the character position after the letter P and at the discretion of the issuing State or organization, to designate other types of passports such as MRP issued to diplomatic staff, an MRP issued for travel on government business, or a passport issued for a special purpose.

4 – Issuing State or organization (in abbreviated code).

5 – Passport Number. As given by the issuing State or organization to uniquely identify the document from all other MRTDs issued by the State or organization.

6 – Name of the holder, as identified by the issuing State or organization.

7 – Secondary component(s) of the name of the holder.

8 – Nationality – Code: XXX – Person of unspecified nationality, for whom issuing State does not consider it necessary to specify any of the codes.

9 – Date of birth – Holder’s date of birth as recorded by the issuing State or organization.

11 – Sex of the holder, to be specified by use of the single initial commonly used in the language of the State or organization where the document is issued.

14 – Date of issue.

15 – Authority or issuing organization for the MRP. This field shall be used to indicate the issuing authority or issuing organization.

16 – Date of expiry.

18 – Holder’s signature or usual mark. At the discretion of the issuing State or organization.

19 – This field shall contain a portrait of the holder. The portrait shall not be larger than 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) nor smaller than 32.0 mm x 26.0 mm.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MRTDS

Issuing States and organizations may choose the materials to be used in the production of their travel documents.

VISUAL INSPECTION ZONE (VIZ)

The Visual Inspection Zone of an MRTD comprises the mandatory and optional data elements designed for visual inspection.

3.9.1 Displayed facial image.

The displayed facial image, whether provided in paper or digital formal, shall:

• be digitally printed in the MRTD;
• depict a true likeness of the rightful holder of the MRTD; and
• not be digitally altered or enhanced to change the subject’s appearance in any way.