Every passport has a set validity period, which can be either 5 years or 10 years, depending on the passport type and the country issuing it. Once this period expires, the passport becomes invalid and must be replaced with a new one.
When you get a new passport, several pieces of information in it will change. It's important to pay attention to these changes to ensure you do not provide incorrect information when required. In this article, I'll cover what data changes when you get a new passport.
Keep in mind, these changes occur not only when a passport expires. If a passport is lost, damaged, or replaced for other reasons, certain information will also be updated.
The most noticeable change is the passport number. Each new passport is assigned a unique number, different from the previous one. This ensures the old number cannot be reused or misused.
The change in passport number is a security measure to guarantee each issued passport is distinct and to prevent any unauthorized use of the old number.
Additionally, the new passport will feature a new date of issuance, reflecting when the application was processed and the passport was issued.
The way this date is recorded can vary by country. Some record the date the application was submitted, others the date of approval, and some the date the passport was physically printed.
Along with the issuance date, the expiry date of your new passport will also be automatically updated. As mentioned earlier, each passport has a set validity period, such as five or ten years, determined by the policies of the issuing country.
The expiry date typically aligns precisely with the issuance date. For example, if the passport is issued on January 1, 2025, the expiry date will be January 1, 2030 (for a 5-year validity) or January 1, 2035 (for a 10-year validity).
The place of issuance may or may not change. If you apply for a new passport at the same location as your old passport, the information will remain the same. However, if you apply at a different location, this data will change.
This information usually includes the name of the city where the passport was issued. In some countries, it also includes the specific immigration office.
Another detail that will be updated is your passport photo. When renewing your passport, you will need to either have a new photo taken at the immigration office or submit a recent photograph that meets the standards set by the immigration authorities.
This update is crucial as the passport photo must accurately represent your current appearance and facial features for identification purposes.
The final change involves the registration number in your passport. This number, usually a random combination of letters and numbers, will be replaced with a new one when you get a new passport.
The purpose of this registration number is for the administrative records of immigration services. It is used exclusively by immigration authorities and is generally not used for any other purposes.
These are six key pieces of data that change when you renew your passport. Additionally, there are other changes that may occur less frequently, such as updates to your name or corrections to your place and date of birth if there were errors in your previous passport.
Moreover, your new passport will not contain any immigration stamps or visas from the old passport. If you need to transfer a visa, you will need to handle this through the embassy of the relevant country to have the visa moved to your new passport.
