Where is the Passport Number in an Indian Passport?

Vishmadev Parida
Written by Vishmadev Parida
23 September 2025
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Where is the Passport Number in an Indian Passport?

When you are filing out a visa form, booking an international ticket, or applying for travel insurance, knowing your passport number is important.

The passport number is a unique identification code that is given to every passport holder. It helps governments and authorities track your travel history and verify your identity. But many people, especially first-time travelers, may find it confusing to locate this number on their passport.

In this blog, we will make it super easy for you to understand where to find your passport number in an Indian passport. So read out this guide to get complete information.

What is the Passport Number?

A passport number is a special code that is only for you. Every Indian passport has a different number to help identify the person who owns it. You can find this number on the first page of your passport, the one that has your photo and personal details.

The passport number is made up of letters and numbers. In India, the passport number usually follows these rules:

  • It has 8 characters in total.
  • The first character is always a capital letter (like A, B, C).
  • The next two characters are numbers. The first one is between 1 to 9, and the second can be 0 to 9.
  • Sometimes, there may be a space between the numbers.
  • The next four characters are also numbers from 0 to 9.
  • The last character is a number from 1 to 9.
  • The first number after the letter should not be 0.
  • The last number should also not be 0.
  • The numbers in between can be anything from 0 to 9.

These rules help the passport office avoid confusion and typing errors. This passport number is very important when you are filling out forms, booking tickets, or applying for a visa.

Example of a correct passport number:

A2345671 - Starts with a letter, doesn't begin or end with zero.

Example of a wrong passport number:

B0123450 - Has a zero right after the letter and ends with a zero.

If a passport number doesn’t follow these rules, then it is not a valid Indian passport number.

Where to Find the Passport Number?

You can find your passport number on the first page of your passport, the page with your photo. This is also called the bio page.

Look at the top-right corner of that page. You will see the words “Passport Number” followed by 8 letters and numbers. That is your passport number.

But that is not the only place it appears. For safety and checking, your passport number is also in three other places:

  • Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ): At the bottom of your photo page, there are two lines with symbols like this: < and letters/numbers. Airport machines scan this to quickly read your passport info. Your passport number is in this zone too, with an extra digit added to catch errors.
  • Perforated Pages: If you hold your passport up to the light and flip the visa pages, you’ll see your passport number punched (with tiny holes) at the top corner of each page. This laser-cut number helps prove your passport is original and matches the cover.
  • E-Passport Chip: New Indian passports have a chip inside the cover. This chip stores your name, birth date, and passport number, which is checked at airport machines to make sure the details are correct and safe.

How Travel Insurance Helps You If You Lose Your Passport?

If you lose your passport while traveling, getting a new one can cost money. But if you have travel insurance, it can help you get back some of that money. A good international travel insurance plan can pay for the cost of getting a new or temporary passport, which depends on what is written in the policy.

Along with this, travel insurance can help you in many more ways, too, such as:

  • Lost or delayed checked-in bags: If your luggage is lost or arrives late, insurance can give you money to buy what you need.
  • Trip delays, cancellations, or cutting the trip short: If your flight is delayed or you have to cancel or end your trip early, you can get some money back.
  • Medical emergencies: If you get sick or injured during your trip, travel insurance can help pay your hospital or doctor bills.
  • Emergency evacuation: If you need to be moved to a better hospital or flown home quickly, insurance can cover this.

Conclusion

Knowing where the passport number is and why it is important can help make your travel easier and faster. A passport is very important for travelling to other countries, but sometimes you might lose it, which can cause problems.

If you have good travel insurance, it can help you pay for costs if your passport is lost. This gives you peace of mind and helps you travel without worry. Always keep your passport safe and think about getting travel insurance. It is a good backup to make the trip easier and stress-free.

FAQs

In an Indian passport, the passport number is usually 8 characters long, not 9. It starts with one letter and is followed by 7 numbers. So, there is no 9-digit passport number in India.
 

You can find your passport number on the first page of your passport, the page with your photo. It is at the top right corner and has 8 characters (letters and numbers).

The passport number is a unique code that helps identify you and is needed for booking tickets, applying for visas, and travel insurance.
 

No, the first number after the letter and the last number in the passport number cannot be zero. This rule helps avoid mistakes.

If you lose your passport, travel insurance can help pay some of the costs to get a new one, so you don’t have to pay everything yourself.

Yes, besides the photo page, the passport number is also in a machine-readable zone, punched on every visa page, and stored in the chip inside new passports.

 

Vishmadev Parida
Written by Vishmadev Parida
23 September 2025

HOD - Techno Support - Health, Non-Motor & Life Mr. Vishmadev is another star performer of Square Insurance. His agility and smart decision have always marked achievements and added various features to his cap.

Disclaimer* :- This article is shared to help inform the public and is for general information only. Please do not treat this article as the final word on the topic. We recommend that you do more research or talk to an expert if you need more advice.
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