2013-Apr 12: Travel Documents failing the Checksum Digit Test

Visa Pak 107 - Guidelines on how to proceed with travel Documents failing the Checksum Digit Test

Visa Paks

12 April 2013

Travel Documents failing the Checksum Digit Test

Branches have been issuing visas to passports that are examined as genuine but have failed the Checksum Digit test. A failed Checksum digit on a genuine passport could be a result of an issuing error by the issuing state, poor print or passport damage e.g. miscalculation of the checksum digit.

When a passport is presented at the border and fails the Checksum Digit test it will likely be referred to Immigration Border officers. The procedure at the border for these faulty passports is as follows:

  • Border will not honour a faulty passport and will land the passenger as ‘undocumented’
  • The passenger is handed a letter informing them to obtain a replacement passport from their government
  • The faulty passport is placed on Travel Document alert to prevent future use

To prevent this inconvenience to travellers to or from New Zealand, officers must ensure that visas are not issued into a passport that has failed the Checksum Digit test.

Action:

When a passport fails the Checksum Digit test on the Passport Reader the officer should refer to the Electronic Passport reader training in the AMS manual to establish whether the passport is a fraudulent passport or whether it is a faulty passport, e.g. is genuinely issued but has manufacturing errors. If you need any help with passport examination then email PassportReaderSupport@dol.govt.nz.

After examination:

  • If a passport is faulty, do not issue the visa in that passport. Return the passport to the client, with a letter that explains the passport has failed validation tests and cannot be accepted as a travel document for travel to or from New Zealand.
    • Possible text for any correspondence:
      We have examined your passport using an Electronic Passport Reader and your passport has not passed the Checksum digit test. A failed Checksum digit on a genuine passport could be a result of an issuing error by the issuing state, poor print or passport damage. Therefore it is not considered an acceptable travel document for travel to New Zealand. Your passport has been returned to you as you will need to obtain a new passport from the issuing country before we can issue a visa for you to travel to or from New Zealand. If you have any questions, please contact your case officer or the Immigration Contact Centre using the details below      .
  • If you believe the passport is faulty place a Travel Document Alert onto the passport number in AMS (via ‘Lookup’) and include in the text the reason for the Travel Document Alert.
  • If the passport is found to be fraudulent follow the instructions outlined in the IAC 12/01.