Have you ever paid attention to your passport number? If you have, you may wonder why the government issues such numbers. What purpose do they serve? Most importantly, does passport number change when renewed?
What is a Passport Number?
Let’s start with the elephant in the room – what is a passport number? It’s a figure combination that shows where the passport was issued and where you applied for it. For example, a passport that starts with “04” was processed at the Washington State Passport Agency. Passports replaced overseas start with “Z” or “70”. Thus, your passport number communicates the place of issue and its validity. For example, overseas-issued passports have a one-year validity period.
You can find your passport number on the first page of your passport book. It is important to keep a record of this number as you can use it if you lose or damage your passport. But not having it will not count against your application.
Does Passport Number Change When Renewed?
So, does passport number change when renewed? Given the role played by the passport number, it changes each time you renew your passport. After all, the place and date of processing change. So, you can expect a new number each time you get a new passport, including a passport renewal.
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