What should I do if my passport is not scanning properly during travel and is causing issues at checkpoints?

If your passport is not scanning correctly at airport gates, immigration checkpoints, or airline counters, it may be due to a printing defect or damage to the machine-readable zone on the data page.

Begin by carefully inspecting your passport. Look for faded or smudged text, a blurry or misaligned machine-readable zone, or any physical damage such as peeling laminate or water exposure.

Next, determine when your passport was issued.

If it was issued within the past 12 months, you should submit Form DS-5504 to request a correction or replacement. This is typically processed at no cost if the issue is related to a production error.

If your passport was issued more than 12 months ago, you will need to submit Form DS-82 for a standard renewal, and regular fees will apply.

When submitting your replacement or renewal request, include a new passport photo, your current passport, and a brief written statement explaining the issue. For example, you can write: “Passport does not scan properly during international travel.”