MRZ Code (Machine Readable Zone)

🔹 Definition

MRZ Code, or Machine Readable Zone, refers to the section of a passport or identity document that contains standardized, encoded information readable by machines. It is commonly found on passports, national ID cards, and some residence permits, and enables automated identity verification during KYC, immigration, and security processes.

MRZ data follows the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 9303 standard, and usually appears in one or two lines at the bottom of an identity document. It contains key information such as name, document number, nationality, date of birth, and document expiration date, encoded in a fixed format using OCR-B font.

🔹 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What information is stored in an MRZ code?
A typical MRZ includes:

• Document type (e.g., P for passport)
• Issuing country
• Surname and given names
• Passport or ID number
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Expiry date of the document
• Optional personal or checksum data

Q2: Where is the MRZ located?

• On passports: the bottom two lines of the identity information page
• On national IDs: often on the back or bottom edge
• On residence permits or visas: printed within a machine-readable band

Q3: Why is MRZ important in digital verification?

• Enables fast and accurate identity extraction using OCR (optical character recognition)
• Helps detect document forgery or inconsistencies
• Used for automated checks in eKYC onboarding, border control, and fintech platforms
• Supports liveness detection and biometric validation workflows

Q4: How is MRZ data validated?

• Systems use checksums to verify the integrity of the extracted data
• Cross-checked with visible data and third-party identity databases
• Compared with biometric inputs for multi-factor authentication

Q5: Can MRZ be forged or manipulated?

• While MRZ codes can be faked, modern systems use anti-fraud algorithms, chip verification (ePassport), and biometric matching to detect tampering
• MRZ is not encrypted, so must be used in conjunction with secure document scanning and facial recognition