Zambian Passport OCR API with Node.js

Extract passport number, names, nationality, and validity dates from Zambian passports with the StructOCR Node.js SDK, reading both MRZ and printed fields.

Extracting Data from Zambian Passports

Passports issued by Zambia follow the ICAO Doc 9303 data page layout with a two-line MRZ, and the issuing authority and place of birth appear only in the printed zone. Glare on the laminate and perspective make manual entry or plain-text OCR unreliable.

MRZ and Visual Zone in One Call

The Passport OCR API reads the MRZ and the printed visual zone and returns normalized fields, including place of birth and issuing authority where printed. Try it with the free passport scanner.

Common Integration Scenarios

  • Travel onboarding: Pre-fill passport details before the traveller confirms them.
  • Hotel and rental check-in: Capture guest passport data for local registration rules.
  • KYC intake: Feed extracted fields into your own verification steps.
Need more testing? Create a free account to get 200 free credits (equals 100 Passport scans).

Zambian Passport OCR API with Node.js

The official Node.js SDK reads a local file and calls /v1/passport from your backend.

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

Prefer another stack? Open the Python SDK + FastAPI integration.

const StructOCR = require("structocr");

const client = new StructOCR(process.env.STRUCTOCR_API_KEY);

async function main() {
  const result = await client.scanPassport("passport.jpg");
  if (result.success) {
    const data = result.data;
    console.log(data.document_number || data.passport_number);
    console.log(data.given_names, data.surname);
  } else {
    console.error(result.error);
  }
}

main().catch(console.error);

Technical Specs

  • •Endpoint: POST /v1/passport
  • •Input: Base64-encoded JPG, PNG, WebP, or PDF in JSON (Max 4.5MB)
  • •Authentication: Server-side x-api-key header handled by the SDK
  • •Cost: 2 credits per successful scan; failed requests are not billed
  • •Output: Structured JSON

Key Features

  • •MRZ plus visual zone: Returns fields the MRZ truncates or omits, such as place of birth.
  • •ICAO country codes: country_code uses the three-letter code printed on the passport.
  • •Validity dates: Issue and expiry dates as YYYY-MM-DD.
  • •Server-side SDK: Encodes the file and sends the request from your backend.

JSON Response Example

Fictional values showing the normalized fields for a readable Zambian passport; unavailable fields are null.

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "type": "passport",
    "country_code": "ZMB",
    "nationality": "ZAMBIAN",
    "passport_number": "P0000000",
    "surname": "DOE",
    "given_names": "ALEX",
    "sex": "X",
    "date_of_birth": "1990-01-01",
    "place_of_birth": "LUSAKA",
    "date_of_issue": "2024-05-10",
    "date_of_expiry": "2034-05-09",
    "issuing_authority": "DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION"
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I scan a PDF of a Zambian passport?

Yes. The endpoint accepts a Base64-encoded JPG, PNG, WebP, or PDF up to 4.5MB.

Does OCR verify the passport?

No. OCR extracts readable fields; authenticity and eligibility decisions need separate controls.

Is there a version for the other SDK language?

Yes. A paired Python version of this tutorial covers the same document.

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