Where and What Is a Passport Book Number? (2025 Guide)

So you are filling out a DS-160 form for a US nonimmigrant visa or are simply curious about what a passport book number is and where to find it.

I get it; it’s easy to mix up the PBN with a passport number.

A passport book number is a unique identifier assigned to your physical passport booklet. It’s different from your passport number and serves as an inventory control number for the physical document itself. Think of it as a serial number for the actual passport book.

Its placement on a passport can vary from one country to another. However, in many cases, you can find the PBN on the same data page as the passport number.

In this post, I will clarify the differences between a passport number and a passport book number and how to locate them on different passports.

Let’s kick things off!

A passport cover

Passport Number vs. Passport Book Number:

Passport Number

Regardless of the country each passport has a unique number that identifies the holder’s ID and the place where the passport is issued.

The passport number or ID number is located in the top right corner on the same page as your photo, and it is usually identified as ” passport number”.

Sometimes it can be written in several languages “numéro de document,” “Número del Documento,” or “Dokumentnummer,” etc.

Recap:

  • Located on the data page, typically in the top right corner
  • Identifies the passport and its holder
  • Often labeled as “passport number,” “numéro de document,” “Número del Documento,” or “Dokumentnummer”
  • Present in all passports

Passport Book Number

But what is the mystery of the passport book number? What is the difference then?

A passport book number is a set of unique numbers or letters, and often both, that are assigned to one passport booklet ( the book itself ) to differentiate it from others.

The number is usually eight to nine digits long. It is also called a ‘booklet number,’ ‘inventory control number,’ or ‘stock control number.’ Additionally, it may be written in different languages such as French (‘numéro de libreta’) or Spanish (‘número de carnet’).

But the important thing to know is “not all countries have a PBN on their passports.”

Approximately 70% of passports do not have a PBN. ePassport or a biometric passports are also less likely to include one.

The placement of the PBN can vary, so there is no specific location I can indicate to help you find the number.

In some passports, you can find it on the same page as the passport number, while in others, it may be in a different location.

For example, in the old Canadian passports (see image below), the passport book number is located over the barcode of the passport.

In some other passports, the passport book numbers can be located under some name or words.

If you don’t find any other numbers apart from the passport number, then it likely does not have a book number.

So you are BLESSED.

In some passports It’s like finding a needle in a haystack (but without the haystack).

Recap:

  • May appear on the data page or other locations
  • Identifies the physical booklet itself
  • Often labeled as “booklet number,” “inventory control number,” or “stock control number”
  • Not present in all passports
  • Usually 8-9 characters long

What Is the Purpose of a Passport Book Number?

The purpose behind the passport book number is mainly to distinguish one passport booklet from another while verifying the validity and identity of the passport holder.

It ensures that the passport holder is the real owner of the passport.

The digits in the book number contain information about the person and the passport booklet itself. For example, the first two numbers indicate which office issued the document.

Additionally, the PBN can be used to track the travel history of a passenger or traveler when crossing borders into other countries and if the passenger respects the immigration laws and regulations.

However, this number will never replace the official passport number.

Which Passports Have Book Numbers and Where to Find Them: (Updated)

Before we give you some examples of how a PBN looks like in foreign passports, here is a list of countries and if their passports have a book number:

CountryPBN (Passport Book Number)
United Kingdom No
Ireland Yes, in some versions
Germany Yes, in some versions
Finland Yes, in some versions
France Yes, in some versions
Spain Yes, in some versions
Mexico New passport versions do not have a PBN.
Sweden Yes
China Yes
Pakistan Yes
Poland No
Austria No
Belgium No
Bulgaria No
Croatia No
Philippines No
Denmark No
Czechia No
Estonia No
Cyprus No
Greece No
Hungary No
Italy No
Latvia No
Romania No
Lithuania No
Luxembourg No
Slovenia No
Netherlands No
Malta No
Portugal No
Slovakia No
This table provides information on whether passports issued by different countries include a Passport Book Number (PBN).

I get some of the countries from Davies Legal

Here are some passports examples:

Mexico

If you still have the old Mexico number, then you can find the PBN in the same page as the book number.

In this passport the number is etched in the second page.

Mexico passport book number example

Canada:

This old Canadian passport has two PBN sections.

The first one is on the data page under the passport number, and the second place is just under the barcode, which indicates that it is a booklet number.

Canadian passport book number example

The new Canadian passport do not have a PBN.

China:

Chinese  passport book number example

Chinese passports contain both a passport number and a PBN.

On the data page, you can find the passport number in the top corner (although it is blurred in the screenshot), and the PBN is on the right side.

Pakistan:

Pakistani passport book number example

The PBN is easy to find on a Pakistan passport as it is labeled as the booklet number.

Unless you are applying for a visa or crossing borders you won’t always need to use your PBN.

Important

Final Thoughts:

If you’re filling out a DS-160 form, make sure you have all the required information ready before starting the application.

First, verify if your passport has a book number and gather all other necessary information.

If your country is not mentioned in the table above, check for any additional numbers apart from the passport number.

You can contact the authorities that issued your passport to ensure you have the correct information about your passport.

If your passport does not have a passport book number, you can simply select “does not apply” in the form.

We hope this helps!

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