RFID chip not scanning on Passport!

Hi, I just had to scan my passport with the UK ETA app for visa entry into Great Britain. After a few tries, it found it in the back of the cover, center. This was an iPhone 12 Mini so the RFID worked for me. (via the UK ETA APP). Just sharing since you asked for recent uses, hope that helps!

I have an iPhone 11 running IOS 17.6.1, and using the UK ETA app, I was able to scan the passport chip after multiple attempts trying to locate it in my 2024 issued US Passport. The chip is embedded in the back cover, dead center of the page. Once I located it, I scanned the page from inside the passport, and it worked fine. Just make sure you take off your phone cover before scanning. Good luck!

iPhones do not natively scan passport or credit card chips by default. While iPhones are equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, which is capable of interacting with RFID chips found in passports and credit cards, Apple limits NFC functionality to specific use cases like:

1. Apple Pay: For making secure payments via credit and debit card information stored in the Wallet app.
2. NFC Tags: For reading compatible NFC tags, often used for automation or interactive content.
3. Express Transit: For quick access to public transit systems in supported regions.

Why iPhones Do Not Natively Scan Passport or Credit Card Chips

1. Privacy and Security: Reading passport or credit card chips could raise significant privacy and security concerns, so Apple restricts NFC chip interactions to avoid unauthorized data access.
2. Regulations: Handling passport and credit card data often requires compliance with specific legal and security standards, which Apple cannot universally ensure for general NFC use.
3. App-Specific Use: Access to such chips is sometimes provided via third-party apps, such as those for digital ID verification, with user consent and proper security protocols.

If an iPhone app claims to scan passport or credit card chips, it is typically subject to Apple's strict app review guidelines and often requires user permission to access the NFC hardware.

If you encounter any challenges with third-party applications, the best course of action is to directly contact the app developer for further assistance. Here's a brief guide on how to do it:

1. Identify the app developer.
2. Visit their website or app store listing.
3. Look for their contact information or support channels.
4. Clearly describe the issue you are facing.
5. Provide any necessary information they may need.
6. Follow their instructions and provide feedback.
7. Be patient and follow up if needed.

By reaching out to the app developer, you increase your chances of receiving accurate and personalized support for the challenges you're experiencing. To contact an App developer --> How to contact an app developer - Apple Support

markfromlandolakes wrote:

It used to work, it no longer does. I tried many applications that are supposed to scan the passport, and none of them worked. So maybe I should write a note to every single company that’s written an app to scan passports. When this happened to somebody else they went to the Apple Store and the Apple Store just replaced the phone.

That would only make sense if the NFC hardware was defective, in which case the iPhone would also have trouble using NFC for things like Apple Pay.

If the NFC hardware worked, but third-party apps were buggy, I do not see why one would expect Apple to replace a working iPhone.

Unless you have a much older phone (I have an iPhone 11), you should not need a separate app to scan your passport. Try the inside of the back cover of your passport, dead center. It took me about 9 tries to figure it out using the UK ETA application used for UK Visas.

I was having trouble getting the phone to scan the chip and found I had to remove the cover that I have over the camera lenses. I think it wasn't allowing the chip and the back of the phone to get close enough to be readable. I tried about 8 times and even pressing down on the passport cover to try to get it to touch the phone and started reading this thread and then decided I would try to remove all barriers before downloading another software to try to read the chip. First try after removing the lens covers it read the chip.

This was the most helpful response! We were really struggling with the scanning of the passport until I found your response! The back of the book is the best!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

iPhones and most Android phones do in face support passport RFID scanning natively.

[Edited by Moderator]

I have the newer version of the US passport (from mid-2023). My iPhone 16 Pro could not read the passport chip anywhere except from the middle of the inside of the back cover. Scanning there was relatively easy.