How Should I Enter My Passport Number on the DS-160?

Use the passport number from your current passport

If you're wondering how should I enter my passport number on the DS-160, start with one simple rule: use the number from the passport you currently hold.

Open that passport and find its passport number. Do not use the number from an old, expired, canceled, or replaced passport. The DS-160 asks for the travel document connected to your current visa application.

The number you enter should match the current passport you plan to use for the visa process. This matters because consular officers use the information in the DS-160 to process your application.

Before opening the DS-160 form online, keep your current passport beside you. That small step can prevent several common mix-ups.

Copy the number exactly as it appears

Type the passport number into the form as it appears in the passport. Don't shorten it, change the order, or remove part of it because it looks unusual.

For example, if the passport shows a combination of letters and numbers, enter that same combination. If it includes a special character, follow the form's instructions for entering it. The goal is to copy the document's number rather than recreate it from memory.

A quick check helps:

1. Look at the passport's identification page.
2. Find the field labeled as the passport number.
3. Compare each character with what you type into the DS-160.
4. Check the completed answer again before moving on.

Pay close attention to characters that can look alike, such as the letter “O” and the number “0,” or the letter “I” and the number “1.” Don't guess based on the shape alone. Use the passport as your reference.

What to do with letters, numbers, special characters, and spaces

Enter all applicable letters, numbers, and special characters shown in the passport number. Do not add spaces or make other changes.

That means you should avoid:

• Leaving out letters at the beginning or end
• Dropping numbers because the field looks too long
• Adding spaces between groups of characters
• Replacing a special character with a different one
• Copying the number from a previous passport
• Adding punctuation that does not appear in the passport

If the passport prints the number in a way that seems hard to enter, read the DS-160 instructions shown with that question. Follow the form's directions instead of making your own formatting rule.

The key difference is between copying and correcting. Copy the passport number. Don't “clean it up” to make it look more familiar.

Passport number vs. national identification number

The national identification number in DS-160 is a separate question from the passport number. These fields are not interchangeable.

Your passport number identifies your passport. A national identification number refers to a separate identity number issued by a country, where applicable. Because these systems differ from country to country, the passport number should not be used as a substitute simply because you see both questions on the form.

If you're unsure what belongs in the national identification number field, read the official DS-160 instructions for that question. Use the guidance provided by the form rather than guessing or copying your passport number into every identification field.

This is one of the easiest ways to create an identifier mismatch. Two fields may both ask for a number, but that doesn't mean they want the same number.

Passport book number: do not confuse it with the passport number

The passport book number is another detail that may appear as a separate question on the DS-160. It should not automatically be treated as the passport number.

Don't enter the passport number again just because you're unsure what the book-number field means. Instead, check the wording on the form, the information printed in your passport, and the official DS-160 instructions.

The safest approach is to handle the fields one at a time:

• For the passport-number field, copy the number identified as your current passport number.
• For the passport-book-number field, follow the instructions for that separate question.
• If the form asks whether you know a particular number, answer that question based on the information available to you.

The form may not use the same identifier for every passport. Avoid assuming that a number found somewhere in the document belongs in every passport-related box.

What “do not know” means on the DS-160 passport question

The passport section may include a “do not know” option. This does not mean you should select it whenever the number is inconvenient to find or difficult to read.

First, check your current passport carefully. If you have the document and can identify the passport number, enter it exactly as shown.

Use the “do not know” choice only when it is available for that specific question and genuinely fits your situation. Don't use it as a shortcut, and don't select it just because another identifier—such as a national ID number or passport book number—is confusing.

If the form presents a special instruction after you select “do not know,” read it closely before continuing. The question may have its own rules. When the form's instructions don't answer your situation, pause and get clarification through the appropriate official channel instead of entering a made-up number.

Never invent a passport number. A guessed entry is worse than taking time to check the document and the form instructions.

Keep the form's saved details separate

Several numbers appear while you complete and submit a DS-160. They serve different purposes, so keep them separate in your notes.

The Application ID

The DS-160 Application ID is connected to the application you are filling out. It appears at the top right of the page. Save it before closing the browser.

You need this ID to access the application again after the browser is closed. Write it down or store it somewhere secure while you work. Losing it can make it harder to return to an unfinished form.

This is not your passport number. Do not place the Application ID in a passport field.

The confirmation number and barcode

After the DS-160 is submitted, the form provides confirmation details. The confirmation number and barcode are tied to the submitted application, not to the passport itself.

A confirmation number is not the same thing as:

• Your passport number
• Your national identification number
• Your passport book number
• Your Application ID

Don't use the number under or near the barcode as a replacement for the passport number. These details can all contain letters and numbers, which makes them easy to mix up when you're moving between screens.

The confirmation page

The DS-160 confirmation page is the page that shows the submitted application's confirmation details. Save it after submission and keep it available for the next steps in your visa process.

You may also need the confirmation details when handling appointment-related tasks. For that reason, don't assume that remembering your passport number is enough. Save the page and record the relevant number exactly as shown.

A simple note with the Application ID, confirmation details, and passport number can help—but label each item clearly. Storing three unlabeled strings of numbers is an invitation to enter the wrong one later.

Common DS-160 passport-entry mistakes to check before submitting

Before you submit the form, compare the passport section with your current passport one more time. This is a targeted check, not a full reread of every DS-160 answer.

Look for these problems:

• The number came from an old passport.
• One letter or number is missing.
• A letter was entered as a number, or the other way around.
• Spaces were added between characters.
• A special character was removed or changed.
• The passport number was placed in the national identification number field.
• The same number was copied into the passport book number field without checking the instructions.
• The Application ID or barcode number was entered as the passport number.
• The “do not know” option was selected even though the current passport shows the number clearly.
• The submitted confirmation details were not saved.

If you spot an error, don't try to fix it by guessing. Review the official DS-160 instructions and the form's available correction options before submitting or scheduling anything.

Take one last look at every passport field against your current passport. Then check the official DS-160 instructions for any question that remains unclear before you submit the form or schedule your appointment.