A travel document number is the unique alphanumeric identifier printed on an official travel document – most often your passport, but also a visa, Green Card, I-94, or refugee travel document. On a U.S. passport, it is the same as your passport number: one letter followed by eight digits, printed in the upper-right corner of the photo page. When a form asks for a “passport/travel document number,” you provide that number from whichever document you are traveling on.
Key Things to Know
- On a U.S. passport, the travel document number is your passport number – 1 letter + 8 digits, top-right of the photo page.
- “Travel document number” is a category, not a single number. It covers passport, visa, Green Card, I-94, and refugee-travel-document numbers.
- It is not the passport book number. The passport book number is a separate internal tracking number (often 9 digits) and is not printed on every U.S. passport.
- It is not the I-94 number. The I-94 has its own admission record number, retrieved from the CBP I-94 website.
- On visa-application forms (like the DS-160) the “passport/travel document number” is the number from the passport you will travel on.
What Is a Travel Document Number?
A travel document number is a unique identifier assigned to an official travel document so that government authorities can authenticate the document, verify the traveler’s identity, and track entries and exits at the border. The format varies by document type, but it is almost always a combination of letters and numbers. Because “travel document” is a broad term, the “travel document number” refers to whichever document you are presenting – a passport for most international trips, or a visa, Green Card, or refugee travel document in other situations.
The table below shows where the number lives on the most common travel documents and what format to expect.
| Travel document | Where the number appears | Typical format |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. passport book | Upper-right corner of the photo/data page | 1 letter + 8 digits (9 characters) |
| U.S. visa | Upper-right corner of the visa foil (labeled “Visa Number” or “Control Number”) | 8 red digits |
| Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) | Front of the card (“Card Number”) and the A-Number | 3 letters + 10 digits (card no.); A + 8-9 digits (A-Number) |
| I-94 Arrival/Departure Record | Retrieved from the CBP I-94 website | 11 characters |
| Refugee Travel Document | Upper-right corner of the data page | Alphanumeric, like a passport |
Travel Document Number vs. Passport Number vs. Passport Book Number
These three terms cause the most confusion on visa and immigration forms, so it is worth separating them clearly:
- Passport number is your travel document number when you travel on a passport. On a U.S. passport it is one letter plus eight digits in the top-right corner of the data page, and it stays the same for the life of that passport.
- Travel document number is the umbrella term. If a form asks for it and you are using a passport, enter the passport number; if you are using another document, enter that document’s number.
- Passport book number is a separate internal identifier the U.S. government uses to track the physical passport book. It is often nine digits, changes each time a new book is issued, and – importantly – is not printed on every U.S. passport. If your passport does not show one, forms that ask for it (such as the DS-160) let you check a box indicating you do not have a passport book number.
In short: the passport number is what airlines and border agents use to identify you; the passport book number is an administrative tracking number; and “travel document number” is simply the label a form uses when it does not want to assume you are traveling on a passport.
Where to Find the Number on Each Travel Document
Passport
Open your passport to the photo page. The passport (travel document) number is in the upper-right corner, above your photo and personal details. On U.S. passports it is one letter followed by eight digits. Some older or foreign passports use six to nine characters, so read the exact string printed on your book rather than assuming a length.
Visa
On a U.S. visa foil, the visa number (also called the control number) is the red eight-digit number in the lower-right area of the visa, while the document’s own identifier appears in the upper right. If you are applying for a new visa through a service such as iVisa, the confirmation paperwork will spell out which number each field wants.
Green Card
A Permanent Resident Card carries two useful numbers: the Card Number on the front (three letters followed by ten digits) and the A-Number (Alien Registration Number), an “A” followed by eight or nine digits. When a form asks for a Green Card holder’s travel document number, it usually wants the card number; the A-Number is used to identify your immigration file.
I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
The I-94 documents your lawful admission to the United States. Most travelers no longer receive a paper card; instead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates the record electronically. You can look up and print your most recent admission record – including the 11-character I-94 number – for free on the official CBP I-94 website. The I-94 number is distinct from your passport number.
Refugee Travel Document and Advance Parole
A Refugee Travel Document (issued on Form I-571) looks like a passport and carries its number in the upper-right corner of the data page. An Advance Parole document (issued on Form I-512 or combined with an Employment Authorization Document) allows certain non-citizens to re-enter the U.S. after travel; its document number is printed on the card or authorization. Both are issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Which Number Do U.S. Forms Actually Want?
Different applications label the same idea differently. Here is what each common form is asking for:
- DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa): “Passport/Travel Document Number” is the number from the passport you will travel on. There is a separate field for the passport book number, with a checkbox if you do not have one.
- Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative): the “beneficiary’s travel document number” is the passport or travel-document number of the relative being petitioned for, if they have one.
- Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document): used to request an Advance Parole document, Refugee Travel Document, or Re-entry Permit – you supply the number of any existing travel document you hold.
- ESTA (Visa Waiver Program): enter the passport number exactly as printed, since ESTA is electronically linked to that specific passport.
When in doubt, match the field label to the document in your hand: a “passport number” field wants the passport; a “travel document number” field wants whichever official document you are using to cross the border.
Why Travel Document Numbers Matter
Your travel document number is how border and immigration systems recognize you. Airlines transmit it to authorities before departure through Advance Passenger Information; consulates tie your visa to it; and programs like the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA link your authorization to the exact passport number on file.
Because so many systems key off this single identifier, an error – a transposed digit, or the wrong number entered on a form – can delay boarding, hold up a visa, or trigger secondary inspection. Double-checking the number before you submit any form or booking is one of the simplest ways to avoid problems at the border. Our international travel checklist walks through the documents to verify before you leave.
How to Get Each Travel Document in 2026
U.S. Passport
First-time applicants apply in person on Form DS-11. As of early 2026, the adult passport-book application fee is $130, plus a $35 execution (acceptance) fee paid at the acceptance facility – $165 total. Adult renewals by mail or online cost $130 and do not include the execution fee. Routine processing was running about 4-6 weeks as of January 2026, and can take up to roughly 10 weeks including mailing time; expedited service adds $60, and 1-3 day return delivery adds $23.36. Always confirm current fees and processing times on travel.state.gov before you apply, because they change.
Visa
Nonimmigrant visa applicants complete the DS-160 online, pay the visa fee, and usually attend a consular interview. Requirements and fees vary by visa category and country, so verify the details with the relevant U.S. embassy or a reputable service like iVisa before booking travel.
Green Card and Refugee Travel Document
Green Cards are issued through family-, employment-, or humanitarian-based processes with USCIS. Refugee Travel Documents are requested on Form I-131 and let refugees and asylees travel abroad and return. Because immigration fees and forms are revised periodically, confirm the current version and cost on the USCIS website before filing.
How to Keep Your Travel Document Numbers Safe
Because a single number can be used to impersonate you or apply for services in your name, treat your travel document numbers like financial data. A few practical habits help:
- Keep a photo or encrypted copy of your passport data page separately from the physical document, so you can report and replace a lost passport quickly.
- Carry your passport in a dedicated passport holder and document organizer with RFID protection to reduce wear and skimming risk.
- Only enter your numbers on official government sites (ending in .gov) or trusted booking services, and be wary of forms that ask for them over email.
A little organization goes a long way. Our free printable vacation and travel planner gives you a single, secure place to record document details before a trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still need ID if you are not carrying a passport?
A passport is not the only travel document that matters, and for domestic flights it is not the one the TSA checks. Since May 7, 2025 a domestic flight requires a REAL ID-compliant licence – the one with a star in the upper corner – or another ID the TSA accepts: a US passport or passport card, an Enhanced Driver’s License (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington issue them), a DHS trusted traveler card such as Global Entry, or a Department of Defense ID. A licence printed with “federal limits apply” is not enough on its own. Passengers under 18 are not required to show identification for domestic travel.
If you reach the checkpoint without an accepted ID, the TSA’s ConfirmID process costs $45 through Pay.gov and covers a 10-day travel period from the travel start date you enter. The TSA states plainly that identity verification is not guaranteed, so check the card in your wallet before you book rather than at the airport.
What is a travel document number?
A travel document number is the unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to an official travel document such as a passport, visa, Green Card, or refugee travel document. Governments use it to authenticate the document, verify the traveler’s identity, and track border crossings. The exact format depends on the document type, but it is almost always a combination of letters and numbers.
Is a passport number the same as a travel document number?
When you travel on a passport, your passport number is your travel document number. “Travel document number” is the broader term that also covers visa numbers, Green Card numbers, and refugee-travel-document numbers. If a form asks for a passport number, provide the passport number; if it asks for a travel document number, provide the number from whichever official document you are traveling on.
Where can I find my passport number?
On a U.S. passport book, the number is in the upper-right corner of the photo/data page, above your photo. It is one letter followed by eight digits and stays the same for the life of that passport.
Is the travel document number the same as the passport book number?
No. On a passport, the travel document number is your passport number (1 letter + 8 digits, top-right of the data page). The passport book number is a separate internal tracking number, often nine digits, that changes with each new book and is not printed on every U.S. passport. If your passport has no book number, forms like the DS-160 let you check a box saying you do not have one.
Is the travel document number the same as the I-94 number?
No. The I-94 has its own 11-character admission record number, which you retrieve from the official CBP I-94 website. Your passport (travel document) number is different and is printed on your passport.
What is the beneficiary’s travel document number on Form I-130?
It is the passport or travel-document number of the relative you are petitioning for, if that person holds one. If the beneficiary has no travel document, you indicate that on the form rather than inventing a number.
What number do I enter for “passport/travel document number” on the DS-160?
Enter the number printed on the passport you will use to travel, exactly as shown. The DS-160 has a separate field for the passport book number, with a checkbox to select if your passport does not have one.
What documents are considered travel documents?
Common travel documents include passports, visas, Green Cards (Permanent Resident Cards), I-94 arrival/departure records, refugee travel documents, and advance parole documents. Each carries its own identifying number.
