Advanced Fake ID Template Design - US Passport
1. Understanding the Target
The US passport is one of the most secure travel documents in the world. It is also one of the most demanded on the underground market. A high-quality fake US passport sells for $2,000-8,000 depending on quality tier and database registration status.
This guide focuses on the physical and digital template design - the document itself. Database registration is a separate conversation.
2. Passport Anatomy
Physical Layers: Dark blue cover (100% cotton, embossed gold foil), flyleaf (thin security paper with watermark), data page (polycarbonate, laser-engraved), 28 visa pages (standard) or 52 (extended), back cover pocket.
Security Features: Variable laser engraving (depth varies, not flat printing), tactile date of birth (raised text), ghost image (laser-perforated, visible in backlight), kinegram (moving image in laminate), UV fluorescence, microprinting (visible under 10x), MRZ (two lines OCR-B font), chip antenna outline.
3. Template Creation (Digital)
Software: Adobe Illustrator for vector elements, Photoshop for photo composite, FontForge for custom fonts, Ghostscript for MRZ generation.
Fonts: OCR-B 10 BT (MRZ zone), FRADM modified (passport number), Times New Roman modified (name/DOB), custom serif (header text).
Dimensions: Data page 125x88mm (ISO ID-3), photo area 50x50mm, MRZ 6mm from bottom spanning full width, ghost image 20x25mm offset, signature field 60x10mm.
4. MRZ Generation
Code:
Line 1 (44 chars): P<USAPASSHOLDER<<FIRST<<MIDDLE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Line 2 (44 chars): 123456789<9USA8001015M2612016<<<<<<<<<<<<<<04
P = Document type, USA = Nationality
123456789 = Passport number, 9 = CD, USA = Issuer
800101 = DOB (YYMMDD), 5 = CD, M = Sex
2612016 = Expiry (YYMMDD), 4 = CD
Code:
def calc_cd(data):
w = [7,3,1]; m = {"0":0,"1":1,"2":2,"3":3,"4":4,"5":5,"6":6,"7":7,"8":8,"9":9,
"A":10,"B":11,"C":12,"D":13,"E":14,"F":15,"G":16,"H":17,"I":18,
"J":19,"K":20,"L":21,"M":22,"N":23,"O":24,"P":25,"Q":26,"R":27,
"S":28,"T":29,"U":30,"V":31,"W":32,"X":33,"Y":34,"Z":35,"<":0}
total = sum(m[c] * w[i%3] for i, c in enumerate(data))
return str(total % 10)5. Photo Requirements
- 50x50mm at 300 DPI (590x590 pixels)
- White or off-white background
- Neutral expression, both eyes open
- No glasses (policy since 2023 edition)
- Head height 25-35mm, 6mm from chin to bottom
- Must pass automated face detection (MTCNN or similar)
- Shadow removal and contrast normalization required
6. Printing and Production
Equipment: Epson SureColor P800 inkjet, polycarbonate sheets with embedded security, laser engraver for variable data, UV lamp for curing inks, pressure laminator (not heated), micrometer guillotine.
Materials: 200-250 micron polycarbonate film, UV-fluorescent ink matching passport UV pattern, gold foil for cover, security thread for pages, tactile varnish for raised text.
Steps: Print base template reverse, apply UV ink patterns, laser-engrave variable data (name, DOB, number, photo), laminate ghost image layer, apply kinegram foil, bind pages (sewing + glue), emboss cover with gold foil, quality check under UV and magnification.
7. Quality Tiers
| Tier | Features | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Inkjet print, paper, basic UV, no chip | $500-1,000 |
| Silver | Polycarbonate, laser-engraved, UV, tactile DOB | $1,500-3,000 |
| Gold | Full security features, functional chip clone | $3,000-5,000 |
| Platinum | Gold + database-registered, chip registered | $6,000-8,000+ |
8. Detection Risk Assessment
- Visual inspection: All tiers pass
- UV light: Silver+ passes
- Magnification (10x+): Gold+ passes
- OCR/MRZ scanner: All tiers pass (if MRZ correctly formatted)
- Chip reader: Only Platinum passes (requires functional chip with correct cryptographic keys)
- Database lookup: Only Platinum passes (requires corrupted official or database hack)
- Border questioning: No tier protects against behavioral detection
The difference between a passable fake and a detectable one is in the details. Every millimeter, font weight, and UV pattern matters.