How to Redact a Passport Copy

Companies increasingly ask for passport copies—for KYC (Know Your Customer), account verification, employment onboarding, or travel documentation. But your passport contains sensitive data that, in the wrong hands, can enable identity fraud.

This guide explains what you can safely redact from a passport copy while still meeting verification requirements.

Sensitive Information on a Passport

A passport bio page contains:

• Passport number: The primary identifier (usually 9 characters)
• Full name: As registered with your government
• Date of birth: Full DOB
• Place of birth: City/country
• Issue/expiry dates: When the passport was issued and expires
• Photo: Your facial image
• Nationality: Issuing country
• MRZ (Machine Readable Zone): The two lines at the bottom containing encoded data
• Signature: Your handwritten signature

What Can You Redact?

This depends entirely on what the requesting party needs. Here's a general framework:

For KYC / Account Verification

Most financial services need to confirm:

• Your name (keep visible)
• Your photo (keep visible)
• That it's a valid document (keep issue/expiry dates)

You may be able to redact:

• Full passport number (show last 4 digits only)
• Place of birth
• MRZ (if partial passport number is acceptable)

For Employment / Onboarding

Employers verifying work authorization typically need:

• Name
• Photo
• Expiration date (to confirm validity)
• Document type/country

The full passport number is often not required for initial verification.

For Visa Applications

Generally, embassies and consulates require unredacted passport copies. Don't redact anything when submitting to official government visa services.

For Travel Agencies / Hotels

Third-party travel services often ask for passport copies but may accept:

• Name and photo visible
• Passport number partially redacted
• Expiry date visible (they need to confirm validity)

Ask before submitting—many will accept redacted copies.

How to Redact a Passport Copy

Step 1: Start with a Copy

Never modify your original passport. Work from:

• A scanned copy (PDF or image)
• A photo taken with your phone

Step 2: Identify What to Redact

Common redaction targets:

• Passport number (leave last 4 visible if partial is acceptable)
• MRZ lines (bottom of bio page)
• Place of birth (if not required)

Step 3: Apply Permanent Redaction

Use a proper redaction tool that removes data from the image/PDF—not just covers it with a black box. For passport images:

• Upload to SafeRedact
• Draw redaction boxes over sensitive areas
• Apply redaction (pixels are replaced, not just covered)
• Download the redacted image

Step 4: Verify

Before sending, confirm:

• The redacted areas show solid black/white (no text visible)
• The MRZ is covered if you intended to redact it
• The required information (name, photo, validity) is still clear

The MRZ Problem

The Machine Readable Zone deserves special attention. It looks like this:

This contains:

• Document type
• Country code
• Surname and given names
• Passport number
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Expiration date
• Check digits

If you redact the passport number in the main section but leave the MRZ visible, anyone can extract the passport number from the MRZ. Always redact both or neither.

When NOT to Redact

Some situations require full, unredacted passport copies:

• Visa applications to embassies/consulates
• Official government document requests
• Notarization or apostille services
• Immigration proceedings
• Some banking account openings (regulations vary by country)

When in doubt, ask the requesting party if a redacted copy is acceptable before spending time on redaction.

Red Flags: When to Be Suspicious

Be cautious if someone:

• Asks for passport copy via unencrypted email
• Won't explain why they need the full passport number
• Is an individual rather than an established organization
• Pressures you to send quickly without verification

Legitimate organizations have secure document upload portals and clear privacy policies explaining how your data will be used and protected.