And there we are, filling out a Schengen visa application or Form I-9, when all of a sudden, it requires us to indicate precise information about our passport.
We are talking about the issuing authority of a passport. But what does the issuing authority mean on passport and where is it?
Find all the answers (and more) in this article.
What is the issuing authority in a passport?
The issuing authority in a passport (or the issuing entity) refers to the country issuing such a document; meaning it is whatever agency, authority, or government department in a country that has the legal right to:
- issue a passport document
- print the passport book or card
- verify the applicant’s identity and
- access their private data (address, ID photos, parents’ names, etc.).
Only passport booklets issued by accredited issuing authorities will be accepted when traveling internationally or using a passport as identification means abroad.
Pro tip: When booking a flight, you might be asked to provide your passport’s issuing country. Note that it’s different to the issuing authority, and you’re only meant to write the country that issued your passport, e.g., USA.
Issuing authority of a US passport book
There are widespread misconceptions about the issuing authority of a US passport. Some believe it is the name of the same agency that performed the passport processing or even the embassy that requested its issuance from abroad. Others instead think it is the official who processed the application at the passport facility.
The US passport issuing authority means the US Department of State, according to the government’s official website. This is shown in every single passport document, regardless of the State or passport facility that accepted the passport application, whether this was a passport agency, a passport center, the National Passport Information Center, or any of the thousands public offices available across the country.
It is the US Department of State that issues passport books to traveling US citizens under the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as it’s the only issuing authority for passport cards or even immigrant visas.
Where can I find my passport issuing authority?
US passport holders usually need help finding the issuing authority in a passport. Considering that a standard passport book is 32 pages, it makes sense.
Every passport holder can find the passport issuing authority indicated in the passport’s lower right part of the photo page.
Here’s where to find the issuing authority on passport:
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Passport Photo Online: ID photos for official applications
After providing the name of the issuing authority of a passport, petitioners will most likely be asked to submit an ID photo in order to complete the application, whether digital or printed.
Thanks to Passport Photo Online, an app with +1 million downloads and a 4.5-star review on Trustpilot, you can get it now, regardless of the format, in the quickest way possible.
This app lets users:
- get a 100% ID photo regulations-compliant picture or a 200% refund guarantee;
- take the perfect photo calmly, with no time limit;
- try different outfits, makeup, or hairstyles;
- save effort – the app edits the background, crops the dimensions, and removes any unwanted elements… all done automatically!;
- generate a free ID photo template and print the passport photos for less than $1 or;
- receive the printed images at your doorbell in only 2-3 working days.
- make the task easy for seniors and kids, as users can take their photo from the comfort of their own home.
FAQ
Here readers can find questions regarding the issuing authority of a passport.
What do you mean by issuing authority in a passport?
What is the authority that issued the passport?
How to find the passport issuing authority?
What to write in issuing authority in IELTS registration?
What is the issuing authority for a passport on an I-9?
How to check the issuing authority of a passport?
Issuing authority of a passport: summary
When speaking about a passport’s issuing authority, this is the official body issuing passports in a given country. In the case of a US passport, the issuing authority is specifically the US Department Of State.
Alejandro is a writer with 5+ years of experience. He graduated in English philology and holds an MA in Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. In his spare time, he improves recipes, seeking to delight his tastebuds.
