Where is the Passport Book Number in Indian Passport?

I would start by checking the issuing country's passport details rather than searching for a number that might not exist in the booklet.

For an Indian passport, the number on the photo page is the main passport number. The file number is a separate reference, so I wouldn't substitute it for a passport book number without an explicit instruction from the application authority.

If the form you're completing is the US DS-160, the official help text says that a passport book number may or may not be present, depending on the country that issued the passport. It also recommends contacting the issuing authority if you cannot determine whether one exists.

If the field offers “Does Not Apply,” check whether that option is appropriate for your document and select it only in accordance with the form's instructions. If the field is mandatory and doesn't offer that option, ask the relevant visa application support team or consular authority how Indian passport holders should complete it.

I wouldn't delay an application just because you can't find a separate label, but I also wouldn't guess or enter an unrelated identifier. Requirements and online form interfaces can change, so the current official instructions should take priority over older forum posts.

I had a similar issue while completing a US visa application from California. I initially thought the passport book number might be the number printed on the last page of my Indian passport, but that page has other information, including the file number.

These are different identifiers:

• Passport number: The number shown on the passport's personal information page.
• File number: An identifier associated with the Indian passport application, which may be printed elsewhere in the booklet.
• Passport book number: A separate inventory control number that some countries use.

I wouldn't use the file number as the passport book number unless the application instructions explicitly tell you to do so. They serve different purposes.

One thing worth mentioning is that the wording of the question matters. If you're filling out the DS-160 for a US nonimmigrant visa, the US Department of State specifically acknowledges that some passports don't have a passport book number. If you're filling out a different form, don't assume the same answer applies automatically.

Can you confirm whether you're completing the DS-160, a US immigration form such as Form I-129, or an application for another country? That would help narrow down the instructions you need to follow.

I completed the DS-160 for my H-1B visa stamping using my Indian passport, and I had the same question. The form asks for a passport number and then separately asks for a passport book number, which makes it look as though both must be printed in the booklet.

The important distinction is that the passport book number is an inventory control number used by some issuing countries. It is not automatically the same as your regular passport number.

I checked the personal information page and the other pages in my passport but couldn't identify a separate number specifically labelled as a passport book number. I didn't want to enter my passport number twice because the form already had a separate field for that.

The US Department of State's DS-160 FAQ explains that applicants may or may not have a passport book number. It says to contact the passport-issuing authority if you're unable to determine whether your passport contains one.

If you're completing the DS-160, read the instructions displayed next to the passport book number field. If the form provides a “Does Not Apply” option and your passport has no separate book number, that may be the appropriate selection. Follow the current form instructions rather than assuming the ordinary passport number belongs in both fields.

I'd also be careful about applying this answer to a different country's visa form, since each application can have its own instructions.

A passport book number is a number that is printed on some countries' passports. It is not the main passport number. This number is used to track the passport booklet. It is like a serial number that looks different from the main passport number.

Here are some of the quick tips related to the passport number: 

• You will get your passport number on the first page. 
•  It will be located on the top right side of the bio page. 
• You can use this number for travel and identity proof.  
• Always remember, the passport number will be printed on the first page of the bio page, and the file number is printed on the last page. Don't confuse them.