US Passport OCR with the StructOCR Python SDK

Challenges with US Passport Verification

Extracting accurate information from US passports presents unique challenges, including complex background patterns, holographic security features, and variations in lighting across different capture devices. These factors can significantly hinder manual data entry and traditional OCR methods, making a specialized passport extraction api essential for reliable processing.

Why StructOCR for US Passports

StructOCR offers unparalleled accuracy for US passport data extraction, thanks to our advanced machine learning models trained on a vast dataset. Our solution is specifically engineered to overcome the common obstacles found in these documents, including Next Generation Passports (NGP). Whether you need a powerful passport extraction api or a comprehensive fintech identity verification software, StructOCR delivers robust performance. For the fastest Python integration, install the official StructOCR SDK and see the Python SDK documentation.

Built for High-Compliance Industries

• Travel & Aviation: Our technology serves as a critical verification solution for travel, enabling faster check-ins, TSA pre-check integrations, and border control processes for US citizens. This speeds up passenger throughput and enhances the overall travel experience.
• Financial Services: By integrating our sophisticated fintech identity verification software, financial institutions can automate their KYC onboarding workflows with confidence, ensuring compliance with US regulations like the Patriot Act. This reduces manual review times and mitigates fraud risk.

US Passport OCR with the Python SDK

The official Python SDK handles file encoding, API communication, and structured passport results. Use the SDK directly or open the FastAPI tab for a server endpoint. Keep your API key in STRUCTOCR_API_KEY.

Prerequisite: `pip install structocr`; set the server-side `STRUCTOCR_API_KEY` environment variable.

Prefer another stack? Open the Node.js SDK + Express integration.

import os
from structocr import StructOCR

# Initialize StructOCR Client
client = StructOCR(os.environ["STRUCTOCR_API_KEY"])

def scan_us_passport():
    image_path = "us_passport_sample.jpg"

    try:
        print(f"Scanning {image_path}...")
        result = client.scan_passport(image_path)

        if result.get('success'):
            data = result['data']
            print("✅ Passport Extraction Successful!")
            print(f"Passport #:  {data.get('passport_number')}")
            print(f"Name:        {data.get('given_names')} {data.get('surname')}")
            print(f"Nationality: {data.get('nationality')}")
            print(f"DOB:         {data.get('date_of_birth')}")
        else:
            print(f"❌ Extraction Failed: {result.get('error')}")

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    scan_us_passport()

JSON Response Example

The Python SDK returns a dictionary matching this normalized JSON structure.

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "type": "passport",
    "country_code": "USA",
    "nationality": "USA",
    "passport_number": "123456789",
    "surname": "DOE",
    "given_names": "JOHN",
    "sex": "M",
    "date_of_birth": "1985-05-15",
    "place_of_birth": "NEW YORK, U.S.A.",
    "date_of_issue": "2020-05-15",
    "date_of_expiry": "2030-05-14",
    "issuing_authority": "UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE"
  }
}