ISO/IEC 7501-2:1997

Overview

ISO/IEC 7501-2:1997 is an international standard specifying the design and construction of machine-readable visas (MRVs) used in travel documentation. Developed jointly by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard ensures consistency and interoperability of machine-readable visa systems worldwide. It aligns with the related ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Doc 9303 Part 2 specification, which addresses machine-readable travel documents.

The standard focuses on the visible and machine-readable sections of visas that contain traveler identity information-enabling rapid automated reading and verification at international border crossings. By standardizing the format and data elements, it facilitates secure and efficient processing of travelers while enhancing global travel document security.

Key Topics

• Machine-readable visa format: Defines the physical layout, character sets, and data encoding for visas that can be read by optical character recognition (OCR) systems.
• Integration with ICAO Doc 9303 Part 2: Builds on ICAO standards for travel documents to ensure global compatibility.
• Character sets and printing: Specifies use of OCR-B alphanumeric characters and printing standards for optimal machine readability.
• Physical characteristics: Aligns with ISO/IEC 7810 standards for the dimensions and durability of identification cards.
• Data interchange formats: Utilizes ISO 8601 for date/time formats and ISO 3166 for country codes, ensuring standardized data elements in MRVs.
• Security and interoperability: Promotes uniformity to enhance visa verification security and cross-border document interoperability.

Applications

• Border control and immigration: Enables efficient, automated visa inspection and traveler authentication at ports of entry worldwide.
• Visa issuance by governments: Provides a standardized guideline for developing machine-readable visas compatible with international travel systems.
• Travel document manufacturers: Assists card and passport producers in complying with global standards ensuring international acceptance and durability.
• Information technology in travel security: Supports development of software systems and OCR equipment used to read machine-readable fields on visas.
• International travel facilitation: Reduces manual data entry errors and speeds up passenger processing, enhancing traveler experience and security.

Related Standards

• ICAO Doc 9303 Part 2: Primary specification for machine-readable visas, which ISO/IEC 7501-2 adopts and supports.
• ISO/IEC 7810:1995: Specifies the physical dimensions and properties of identification cards.
• ISO 1073-2:1976: Defines OCR-B font used for machine-readable characters on visas.
• ISO 1831:1980: Printing specifications for optical character recognition to ensure legible and durable machine-readable text.
• ISO 8601:1988: Standard for data elements relating to representation of dates and times in travel documents.
• ISO 3166:1993: Codes for the representation of country names in machine-readable formats.

By following ISO/IEC 7501-2:1997, stakeholders involved in visa issuance, travel security, and border management can ensure travellers' machine-readable visas meet internationally recognized quality, security, and interoperability criteria crucial for modern global mobility.