Why You Should Always Take a Photo of Your Passport Barcode Before Any Trip

"The Online Tool Center explained, that little barcode on the bottom contains all of your personal information, which is used when you scan your passport, allowing "border control officers and other authorities to quickly retrieve and verify your details such as your name, nationality, and passport number." The website noted the barcode also contains a ton of useful information that agents can use to assist you if your passport is stolen."

"If you do lose your passport, it's important to report it immediately to "protect yourself from identity theft," according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can do so online using this form. "When reporting online, we cancel your passport within one business day. We will send you a confirmation email after it is canceled," the TSA website added. It also noted that while a police report isn't mandatory to get a new passport, it can help "confirm the circumstances of the loss or theft.""

Photographing the barcode on the back page of a passport captures the encoded personal data used by border-control systems. That barcode contains details such as name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, gender, and passport expiration date. Having that photo can speed verification and help consular staff or law enforcement assist if a passport is lost or stolen abroad. Report a lost or stolen passport immediately to protect yourself from identity theft; reported passports are canceled within one business day when reported online. Travelers must contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and apply in person for a new passport, providing trip details if travel is imminent.

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