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Thread: DOB Not Required

  1. #1

    DOB Not Required

    Regarding UN-ICAO rules for passports or other travel documents:

    (1) A date of birth is optional. Date of birth can be left blank or omitted.
    (2) The "name" or "identifier" does not have to have 'two parts' (i.e. surname, given name(s)) and can be a singularity JOHN or ROY or can be a singularity such as JOHN SMITH or SMITH JOHN. (as compared to SMITH, JOHN --two parts renders with a << for the separator in the MRZ).
    (3) Nationality is not mandatory. 'XXX' is the standardized code for unknown or unspecified nationality such as being a national of a non-ISO-standard country.
    (4) Gender.
    (5) Place of birth is not mandatory (some States might require it)

    Just FYI. Although "ICAO States" may make their own rules or suggestions, the UN-ICAO doesn't mandate any of the above.
    Last edited by allodial; 09-19-11 at 07:58 AM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by allodial View Post
    Regarding UN-ICAO rules for passports or other travel documents:

    (1) A date of birth is optional. Date of birth can be left blank or omitted.
    (2) The "name" or "identifier" does not have to have 'two parts' (i.e. surname, given name(s)) and can be a singularity JOHN or ROY or can be a singularity such as JOHN SMITH or SMITH JOHN.
    (3) Nationality is not mandatory. 'XXX' is the standardized code for unknown or unspecified nationality such as being a national of a non-ISO-standard country.
    (4) Gender.
    (5) Place of birth is not mandatory (some States might require it)

    Just FYI. Although "ICAO States" may make their own rules or suggestions, the UN-ICAO doesn't mandate any of the above.
    Can you please link us to this policy?

  3. #3
    Scans attached. ICAO Document 9303 (Chicago Convention).
    Name:  ICAO_V-4_MRTDS_NAME(IDENTIFIER).png
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    IMHO its worth reading slowly without presumption. Note the "shall"s "ought to"s "should"s. Note that "Name" is followed by "Primary Identifier" and "Secondary" identifier.

    The name shall be divided, where possible, by the issuing State into two parts, the first representing that portion of the name that the issuing State or organization defines as the "primary identifier" for the holder (eg. surname, maiden name plus married name, family name) and the second name. When the issuing State (i.e. UN member) or organization determines that the holder's name cannot be divided into the required two parts, as defined above, the full name of the holder shall be defined as the primary identifier. True Name without any last name would be deemed to be 'full name' then, no?
    Name:  ICAO_SEX_.png
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    M = male, F = female; < = unspecified/unknown.

    Name:  ICAO_XXX_UNSPECIFIED_UNKN_NATIONALITY.png
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Size:  28.8 KBName:  ICAO_SEX.png
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    Per above XXX is for unspecified or unknown nationality. If not a national of any UN member state...XXX. Notice XXX compared to XXA, XXB or XXC.

    Name:  UKN_DOB.png
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    Uknown DOB per above.
    Last edited by allodial; 09-19-11 at 07:59 AM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  4. #4
    Name:  ICAO_SEX_II.png
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    More (above) on unknown or unspecified gender.

    Name:  UKN_DOB2.png
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    ICAO travel documents can have "visual inspection zone" or "VIZ" (i.e. the eyeball-readable area as compared to the OCR or RFID or barcodes), the MRZ and electronic/RFID data. DOB is *OPTIONAL*. I found the same instructions in a U.S. Consular instruction (i.e. put the part of DOB that you know or ..blank is possible).

    Name:  POB_OPTIONAL_ALSO.png
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    Its widely known that place of birth can be left out of a passport. Canada allows requesting such to be left out. US Dept. of State apparently feels it to be 'mandatory'. Note that according to ICAO Doc. 9303 Part 1 Vol. 1 IV-11 "place of birth" is OPTIONAL.


    Name:  ICAO_NAME_CAN_BE_ONE_PART_VOL1_PT1_DOC9030.jpg
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    Where the holder's name only has predominant component(s) [note the (s) allows for the singular], this data field SHALL BE LEFT BLANK.
    Clearly, name can be ONE PART. Let's clarify what this means in MRZ terms. If there is a first name and a last name then you have << to separate them in the MRZ. Now China doesn't do it "LAST FIRST". but they separate into to parts like
    "LAO<<TZU". (apparently means LAO, TZU) [while LAO<TZU would mean "LAO TZU" with no comma--not separate parts].
    While USA, ISL and most others do
    "SMITH<<JOHN<DOE" (which apparently means "SMITH, JOHN DOE")
    (i.e. "LAST FIRST") China does it "FIRST LAST". ***HOWEVER** ICAO says: *IF* there is only one part....*LEAVE THE SECOND PART BLANK*. So that means if there is only, say, "David" they are told to put "DAVID<<<<<<<" in the MRZ. Interestingly on both booklet passports and passport cards, the name/identifier pretty much gets its own line to itself on the MRZ.
    Last edited by allodial; 09-19-11 at 07:23 PM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  5. #5
    Passport imagery below.




    This is FYI. The ICAO scans are from taken from rather complex set of literature ("ICAO Document 9303"--3 volumes...5 parts total). Shown are portions that allow one to get the gist of that DOB, Place of Birth, two-part names are OPTIONAL per UN/ICAO. Also, a 'missing' or 'blank' DOB would show up as <<<<<< in the MRZ.

    Name:  epassport_fields_OPTIONAL.png
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    Even in the RFID-readable data..there DOB and place of birth are OPTIONAL fields.

    Name:  BLANK_DOB_FILLER_IN_MRZ.png
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    If the DOB is blank it goes into the MRZ as <<<<<<.

    A travel document evidencing lack of DOB, place of birth data, "last name" or nationality can be 100% ICAO compliant.
    Last edited by allodial; 09-19-11 at 08:08 AM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  6. #6
    Remember ICAO stands for International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO rules DO NOT apply to land or sea travel AT ALL. Since public aircraft are seen as military targets, the security restrictions are different. The ICAO scans/snippets cover:


    [1] standard passport books


    [2] passport cards


    [3] epassports


    [4] visas (which are affixed to travel documents)
    Last edited by allodial; 09-19-11 at 05:38 PM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  7. #7
    From Article 2 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

    Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
    Article 9 of the same:

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
    Article 15 of the same:
    (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
    (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
    Article 20 of the same:

    (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
    (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
    Can you be forced to declare U.S. citizenship? (See Hague Regulations on compelled oaths of allegiance) Is not being a citizen of one of the "pop Countries" a reason for interfering with your right to travel? Can you be detained at any UN-member border simply for not being a citizen of one of the pop Countries?
    Last edited by allodial; 09-20-11 at 04:02 PM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  8. #8
    So since "member states" have their own rules, this has no application to us?

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Axe View Post
    So since "member states" have their own rules, this has no application to us?
    Or, rather, the U.N. member states are unable to make rules to force others to be subject to their rules and the ICAO-UN rules/regulations reflect such?
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  10. #10
    You're saying that I don't have to provide any of this information to get a passport here in the US?

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