Passport OCR
Enhance the effectiveness of your organisation with passport OCR and data extraction. Process passports automatically and securely with Klippa’s OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Powered by machine learning.
Automated data extraction with Klippa’s passport OCR
Automate many passport related business processes with our passport OCR API and scanner SDK. Optical Character Recognition for passports helps reduce time, cost and resources.
Because we believe that an image can speak more than a thousand words, we included an example of three steps. Below you find the three steps our OCR engine takes to automatically extract data from passports.
Step 1: uploading passports to the OCR API
The first step of the passport OCR is to provide a picture or PDF file of the passport to our API. You can do so by sending it in from our mobile- or the web application. The image can be sent either cropped (without a background) or uncropped (with a background).
If you send the document uncropped, our API will automatically crop the document. It can be used in combination with our OCR passport SDK to optimize the quality of the image.
Step 2: convert the image into TXT
As soon as the document has been received, it is converted to a TXT file by our passport OCR software. In step two all text from the data from the passport is extracted, but it’s not yet structured.
Step 3: JSON output
As the final step, the Klippa Parser takes the TXT which was gained from the previous step and converts it into structured JSON. The JSON is then returned as output from the API.
From this point on, the passport can easily be processed in the database of your company. An extra option is to add extra data like the signature or the passport picture, which can be provided via an URL.
Benefits of Optical Character Recognition for passports
Speed improvement
Simplify KYC and onboarding and process passports automatically within seconds.
Cost reduction
Spend less cost on processing because of our passport OCR.
Fraud prevention
Automatically recognise duplicates, errors and fraud.
Error reduction
Extract data from passports and prevent errors due to manual data entry.
What fields are extracted from the passport?
Below you find the default extracted fields (with a checkmark) and the automated checks (locks) for passport OCR. If requested, additional fields can be extracted from the passport.
Automate processing of passports
It is our vision to eliminate manual data entry. Luckily, manual processing of passports is coming to an end. With the passport OCR API it is possible to automate identity document processing. Process bigger volumes of passports even faster, with a tool that can easily scale-up and avoid any fraud.
Schedule a free online demonstration
Get a clear view of how Klippa can help make your document passport processing more efficient. A demo takes just 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost?Can Klippa process all types of MRZ with OCR?What are the use cases?Can Klippa extract the passport pictures and signatures?What passports are supported?How does Klippa check the authenticity?Is passport OCR processing GDPR compliant?Is there documentation for the OCR API?
The pricing structure for passport OCR depends on the exact use case. Pay per use and monthly license fee are both available. Get in contact with our solution architects to get an exact quote.
MRZs are available in three different formats, called Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Klippa is able to read and process all three types of the MRZ automatically. On passports the Type 3 is commonly used. It contains two lines of 44 characters each that can be read using OCR. They contain characters A-Z, 0-9 and separators. The MRZ always contains a checksum to confirm the validity.
MRPs (machine readable passports) are passports that can be automatically read and processed using OCR software. Parsing the MRZ using passport OCR is an important part of our data extraction. The machine readable zone was introduced in the 1980s and is implemented on most modern day passports.
We can automate any process with large amounts of passports, ID cards and other identity documents. If time and quality is a factor, then we are definitely a good fit. For us automatic processing, classification and data extraction are common requests by our clients. Our solutions can be found in sectors such as banking, insurance, accounting, logistics, travel, hotels, onboarding, customer satisfaction, account management and more.
Klippa always wants to be best in class in everything. Therefore we are also able to extract the pictures and signatures from passports, next to all the normal data fields. Extracting the pictures and signatures is optional when it comes to passport OCR and can be used for identity validation (KYC) use cases.
We are on a path to support all passports worldwide. Currently we support European, American, Russian and many Asian passports. Any passport containing an MRZ can also be processed. If you have a specific type of passport you need OCR for, just reach out to us.
Did you know that apart from passports, Klippa OCR can scan other types of identity documents, such as ID cards, residence permits, and more? Contact us for more information.
Next to normal data extraction of passport OCR, Klippa offers an API and a scanner SDK for identity validation. This solution is called Klippa Identity Validation and is used for KYC and remote customer onboarding. It goes a step further than just the OCR API and actually checks the picture quality, validity of the passport and numerous other points. It also allows the comparison of two independent selfie pictures with the picture on the passport, returning a matching score to validate if they are the same person.
All the services that Klippa offers are fully GDPR compliant. We only use ISO certified servers within the European Union for processing and a data processor agreement is in place. We do not store any of your or your customers’ data.
Additionally, Klippa provides an option to mask sensitive data. You can read more about that on our data masking blog.
Klippa was founded by developers. Therefore we understand the value of a well documented API. Our documentation about the passport OCR API is created using SWAGGER and can be found via this link.
Questions?
Please feel free to ask all your questions.
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