The term “machine-readable passports” as used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refers to passports containing two lines of printed machine-readable data that can be swiped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to confirm the passport holder’s identity and other information typically located on the passport’s inside cover. Since June 26, 2005, DHS has required machine-readable passports of all travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who are seeking to enter the U.S. without a visa.

As of 2011, there are 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. You can find out if your country is on this list of VWP countries and to read more about machine-readable passports here.

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