RFID chip not scanning on Passport!

I have an iPhone 15 Pro. I know I’ve scanned my passport before and it worked fine. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t with my older iPhone. I have downloaded every single program designed to scan the RFID chip on my passport. I have the latest OS installed. I’ve tried everything that anybody recommended aside from simply going to an Apple store and having them replace the phone. Also, if somebody has a passport, could you download a free program to scan it to see if you have similar problems? I have a United States passport and a United States passport card. I’m having the same problem with both. Any suggestions would be helpful. I’d like to find people with actual experience with their passports and their iPhone 15 Pro with the latest software. iOS 18.2.1.

I originally was testing this because I thought I would need it for the check-in app for a cruise ship. I have still not checked in for those cruises, but the cruise line said that it doesn’t use the RFID chip. It only does a visual scan. So I probably have no urgent need, but I really like the feature. I’m disappointed it doesn’t work.

iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Jan 14, 2025 9:22 PM

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markfromlandolakes Author

Level 2

179 points

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 11:11 PM

I was able to get the passport to scan. It looks like there is no problem with the iPhone chip reader, this was my main concern. It is very hard to scan, perhaps, harder than the old passport. This may be a new security feature. It is also hard to scan from outside the Passport.

BTW: It contains all the passport info including my photo.

They are best scanned on the inside of the back cover, in about the middle on a US Passport. There is no more information that is scanned than what somebody can see if they have the passport. Since US passports changed in 2021 it is possible that scanning a new US Passport would be different.

The chip only makes it easier for US border officials.

I assumed the check in app for the cruise line used the RFID chip, it did not, it just does a text scan.

My passport is the old style. It is one of the last of the old style. The new one has new features and is quite different. This change happened sometime in 2021.

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RFID chip not scanning on Passport!

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