Verifying a person’s identity is necessary in many industries in order to prevent fraud and impersonation.
Passports are widely used for this purpose and are equipped with several security features. So, how can you check a Spanish passport online and be sure that the document presented is authentic? Find the answer in this article!
Need more information on how to verify the authenticity of your ID documents ? Check out our comprehensive guide to verifying ID documents, which includes all the resources available !
Check 1: overall appearance when verifying a Spanish passport online
The first step, when you have access to the original document, is to observe the passport’s general appearance: it should show no signs of cutting, peeling, or any modification/alteration.
Pay particular attention to the area on and around the photograph.
Check 2: read, cross-check, and verify numbers and data on Spanish passports
The second step is to ensure that all information on the document is consistent.
Document number
The document number appears in two places: top right of the data page and at the start of the second MRZ line.
Both numbers must be identical:
Date of birth
The holder’s date of birth also appears twice: in the centre of the data page and in the middle of the second MRZ line (format YYMMDD).
Surname(s) and given name(s)
Names are found on the data page and in the third line of the MRZ; they must match exactly.
Holder’s gender
Gender is indicated by “M” for male and “F” for female. It appears on the data page and in the second MRZ line:
Document expiry date
The expiry date is duplicated: it appears on the data page and in the second MRZ line (format YYMMDD):
Issuing country
The issuing country appears in two places: at the top of the data page and at the start of the first MRZ line.
Nationality
The holder’s nationality appears in the second MRZ line using the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code:
Check 3: the MRZ (Machine Readable Zone)
The lower part of every passport contains two MRZ lines that repeat the data visible on the document, together with check digits that detect reading errors or tampering.
You can find a detailed article (in French) explaining MRZ data and check-digit calculations for French passports—exactly the same method applies to Spanish passports—at this link.
Check 4: security features that prove a Spanish passport is genuine
An ID document contains various security elements that confirm its authenticity.
This is the longest step when verifying a Spanish passport online: we will review the security devices found on the different pages of the booklet.
Inside cover (beginning of booklet)
Inside cover (end of booklet)
Biographical data page
Watermark
Protects vital data (photo & MRZ); the security film anchors the photo and reveals any scraping attempt.
Security film
National pictograms & micro-text visible at different viewing angles.
Inner page
Iris printing makes a faithful colour photocopy almost impossible.
The ghost photo links the identity data to the page.
Printing process
The colour-shifting OVI is a premium marker that is very difficult to counterfeit.
Conclusion
You now have all the keys to verify a Spanish passport online and be confident that it is genuine!
No specialised equipment is required: a little vigilance and time are enough to avoid most everyday fraud attempts.
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