Forum: travel.stackexchange.com
Tags: <passports><legal><australian-citizens><passport-renewals>
Title: Will my passport number change when I renew it?
Question: I'm travelling soon but need to renew my passport.  Given that I have to provide my passport number to the airline to book a flight, I was wondering if my passport number would change if I renew it.  Or would the number stay the same and the expiry date just change?  I'm asking specifically as an Australian citizen, although I suspect a 'common' answer (if there is a general way this works) might be useful too.

Answers:
sents: text: All biometric passports have serial numbers that change when issued.
text: Per this notice from the Singaporean government, this is an ICAO requirement: https://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12246
text: And since virtually all passports are now biometric, even those countries (like Singapore) that did not previously change numbers do so now.
text: Update :
text: Here's Document 9303-4 "Specifications for Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) and other TD3 Size MRTDs"
text: direct from the ICAO Machine Readable Travel Documents Programme : Field 05
text: /
text: I (Mandatory)
text: Passport Number As given by the issuing State or organization to uniquely identify the document from all other MRTDs [machine readable travel documents] issued by the State or organization.
text: "Uniquely identify the document" means that the number cannot be reused for other documents.
text: And of course it's only a "recommendation", because ICAO only sets standards and does not enforce them -- but if countries produce passports that don't follow the rules, they're not going to be accepted by other countries.
text: In particular, ICAO member states are supposed to ensure that non-MRP passports are no longer accepted after November 24, 2015 .
text: And a final nit: the standard above is technically for machine-readable passports, which is not quite the same thing as biometric passports, but the standard in question does document the rules of biometric passports, and all biometric passports are supposed to follow the rule above.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/1893/lambshaanxy
score: 52
sents: text: I called the Australian Passport Office , as I couldn't find this information anywhere on their website.
text: They confirmed that passport numbers do indeed change both at a renewal and also at a passport reissue due to name change.
text: Obviously this only applies for Australian passports; I'm unaware of whether this is a general rule for other countries.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/10264/Tim Malone
score: 37
sents: text: Yes the passport number changes upon renewal.
text: The new passport will have it's own unique identifier i.e. its own passport number.
text: This is a common practice.
text: The old passport number will be invalidated and will appear as such when checked by border officers if you try to use it to travel.
text: As an authoritative reference, the British embassy in Bern confirms this : Informative Note Passport numbers change upon renewal To whom it may concern: This is to confirm that when a British passport is issued it carries a new number which is not related to the number of any previous passport.
text: The British Embassy is not able to provide a letter or certificate confirming the passport numbers.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/22140/JoErNanO
score: 13
sents: text: Yes, your passport number will change.
text: I have looked at my old and new passports (2 UK ones and 3 Australian ones) and the numbers are different for every renewal/replacement.
text: Additionally for me, I have had different issuing offices for each one, so that may be the reason mine have changed.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/1381/Rory Alsop
score: 10
sents: text: YES
text: I'm an Australian citizen and have had five passports, perhaps six, beginning in 1989.
text: Each time I've renewed my passport over the years the new passport has had a number different to the old one.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/140/hippietrail
score: 8
sents: text: Yes, it will change.
text: A quick google search reveals it certainly does so for all major English-speaking nations.
text: I believe this to be true as a general matter of fact, however I can not find an authoritative reference at the moment.
text: However, Wikipedia says: A standard passport booklet format includes the cover, [...].
text: Passports have numerical or alphanumerical designators ("serial number") assigned by the issuing authority.
text: So the passport number being a serial number
text: , it's there to uniquely identify the passport, not the bearer, and thus should change with every re-issue of the passport.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/32134/mts
score: 7
sents: text: As others have said, your new passport will almost certainly have a new number, and it is this number which you should record on your booking, so that it matches when you get to the airport.
text: However, note that you generally don't have to provide a passport number at time of booking , only before check in , because the airlines / travel agents know that you might not have it with you, and don't want to lose the sale.
text: If you provide the old details, they may query or charge you when you go to change them, but you should be able to tick that you'll provide them later.
text: Then you can wait until your new passport arrives and fill out the correct details on a "manage my booking" page.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/44330/IMSoP
score: 7
sents: text: I am American.
text: Things may be different in Australia but probably not.
text: When I renewed my passport, the new passport had a different number.
text: However, I did not lose my old passport.
text: Any visa in it are still valid.
text: I can still use my old passport for many purposes.
text: Book your flight with your old passport.
text: Bring both passports to the airport.
text: There will not be a problem with numbers because when they ask to see your passport you will give them the old passport.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/2387/emory
score: 6
sents: text: Yes, the passport number will change.
text: The reason that airlines ask for passport information when booking flights is so that the airline can satisfy any pre-clearance requirements by immigration authorities at the destination.
text: Typically, the information needs to be transmitted to the destination country authorities a certain number of hours or days before the aircraft departure.
text: If you have a new passport, you should contact the airline and simply register the new information.
text: Problem solved.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/29842/EBlake
score: 4

Summary of the answers:
All biometric passports have their own unique identifier, and change on renewal or reissue.
The passport number changes when you get a new passsport. This certainly true for Australian and UK passports.