The actual document is the most valuable. With it, thieves can steal your identity to open new accounts or lines of credit in your name, apply for government benefits or jobs in your name, use it to travel and commit illegal acts, or sell it to someone else. However, your passport number carries value, too.

Yes, a high-quality copy or digital photo of your passport is a "goldmine" for identity thieves. While modern biometric passports have chips that prevent someone from simply using a copy to board a plane, the biographic data visible on the page—including your full name, date of birth, passport number, and place of birth—is enough to commit a wide range of "secondary" identity fraud. Criminals can use this information to open fraudulent bank accounts, apply for credit cards, or even obtain other government documents in your name. In 2026, digital scams involving "bogus" travel agencies or data breaches at hotels are common ways these copies are leaked. Once your data is on the Dark Web, it can be sold to bad actors who impersonate you for financial crimes. It is essential to only share passport copies with trusted, verified organizations and to always redact sensitive info if a copy is not strictly required for a legal process.