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United States Passport Number validator
How the passport number format works
- Format
- 9 digits (passport books issued before 2021), or 1 uppercase letter followed by 8 digits (2021+ "Next Generation" passports) — both remain valid
- Example
- 123456789
Things to watch for
- Format-only check — does not confirm the passport was actually issued, is unexpired, or is currently valid
- Two formats are in active circulation: legacy 9-digit books (pre-2021) and letter-prefixed "Next Generation" books (2021 onward) — both are accepted
- Validation runs entirely in your browser — the number you enter is never transmitted or stored
^([0-9]{9}|[A-Z][0-9]{8})$A US passport number takes one of two shapes depending on when it was issued: a 9-digit number (e.g. 123456789) for passport books printed before 2021, or 1 uppercase letter followed by 8 digits for the “Next Generation” books the State Department began issuing in 2021 with a redesigned polycarbonate data page. Because a US passport is valid for up to 10 years, both formats remain in active circulation and this checker accepts either.
What this checker verifies
This tool confirms the input matches one of the two documented shapes — 9 digits, or a letter followed by 8 digits — which catches an obvious typo like a dropped digit or a letter pasted into the wrong position, a common slip when a number is retyped from a photo of the passport’s data page rather than copied from the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom.
What a pass doesn’t confirm
Neither format carries a check digit this tool can recompute, so matching the shape is the strongest signal a client-side check can give. A pass doesn’t confirm the Bureau of Consular Affairs actually issued that number, that the passport is unexpired, or that it belongs to a real traveler — and this tool never decodes or stores what you enter.
Scope: format-only validation, running entirely in your browser.
Content last reviewed 2026-08-09.
passport number FAQ
What does a US passport number look like?
Most US passports carry a 9-digit number, e.g. 123456789. Passports issued from 2021 onward under the "Next Generation" redesign instead use 1 uppercase letter followed by 8 digits. Both shapes are valid and issued by the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Does this tool confirm my passport is valid?
No. It only confirms the number matches one of the two known US formats. It doesn't check whether the passport was actually issued, is unexpired, or is currently valid — that requires the State Department's own records.
Is my passport number stored or sent anywhere?
No. Validation runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is transmitted, logged, or saved.