Travel privacy guide · by TravelCheapTicket.com
“Can you send me your passport on WhatsApp?”
If you book flights, hotels or tours online, you’ve probably seen this message from a travel agent,
hotel, or even from a friend who is helping you with a booking:
“Please send me a photo of your passport on WhatsApp”
It feels quick and convenient. You open your camera, take a photo of your passport and send it in a
few seconds. But that single clear photo may contain enough information for someone to impersonate you.
In this guide we’ll explain:
- Why sending a full passport scan can be risky.
- Which passport details you should always hide.
- How to blur passport details quickly before you share them.
- Simple tools you can use directly in your browser.
Why Passport Photos Are So Sensitive
Your passport is not just a travel document. It’s one of the strongest pieces of identity you own.
On a single page, it can include:
- Full name and sometimes middle names.
- Date and place of birth.
- Nationality and passport number.
- Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) with encoded data.
- Signature and sometimes your address.
Combined with other information from your email, social media and leaked databases, a clear passport
image can be misused for:
- Online identity theft and account recovery scams.
- Fake bookings or purchases in your name.
- Creating forged documents for fraudsters.
Most travel companies are honest and want documents only to complete your booking. The problem is that
once a photo is in someone’s inbox or phone gallery, you lose control over where it ends up next.
What Companies Usually Need (and What They Don’t)
For many travel processes, companies do not need your full passport page forever. Often they only need:
- Your full name, date of birth and nationality for the booking.
- Your passport number and expiry date to issue tickets or visas.
- A clear photo of your face in some cases.
They usually do not need:
- Your MRZ code to remain readable in a WhatsApp chat history.
- Your full signature and any extra numbers on the page.
- Additional family details, addresses or internal notes.
This is where blurring passport details becomes powerful: you can share only what is
required and hide the rest.
What to Blur on a Passport Before Sending
When you take a photo of your passport to send via WhatsApp, email or an upload portal, it’s a good idea
to blur or blackout:
- Passport number (unless absolutely required).
- MRZ lines at the bottom of the passport page.
- Secondary numbers or codes that are not clearly asked for.
- Signature if it is not needed for the process.
- Any address or family information shown near the page.
For visa applications and some bookings, you may be asked to keep certain numbers visible. In that case,
you can blur everything else and leave only the necessary fields readable.
Our designed exactly for this scenario: upload a
passport photo, blur specific areas, and download a clean redacted image ready to send.
How to Blur Passport Details Before Sending (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need Photoshop or a complicated app. Here’s how to blur passport details in your browser:
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Take a clear photo of your passport page and upload it using “Drop or click to upload image”.
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Choose a mode:
- Blur – soft, out-of-focus look.
- Pixelate – blocky, censored style.
- Blackout – solid black box for maximum hiding.
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Increase the brush size and paint over the areas you want to hide: passport number, MRZ, signature, etc.
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Zoom in if needed and use the Eraser or Undo to correct mistakes.
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When you’re happy, download the redacted image as PNG, JPG or PDF.
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Send that blurred version via WhatsApp or email instead of the original photo.
You can repeat the process anytime your passport changes or you need to send a fresh copy.
Is It Safe to Blur Passports in a Browser?
A common concern is whether your passport image gets uploaded somewhere while you are editing it.
The Secure ID Redactor tool was built to process images locally in your browser, using
client-side code. This means:
- Your image is handled by your device’s memory while the page is open.
- We do not intentionally upload your passport photo to our server.
- You can simply close the tab when you’re done.
However, we always recommend:
- Using a trusted device (not a random public computer).
- Ensuring your phone or laptop is free from malware.
- Keeping cloud backups and sync services under your control.
For full details, you can read the legal section and privacy policy on the main
passport blur tool page.
Blurring More Than Just Passports
Once you start using blur tools, you’ll notice many other places where blurring makes sense:
- Boarding passes – blur barcodes, PNR and frequent-flyer numbers.
- Hotel vouchers – blur booking references and contact details.
- Screenshots – blur chat names, phone numbers and email addresses.
- Social media photos – blur faces of children or bystanders.
- Car photos – blur license plates before posting online.
We’ve created dedicated guides for each of these cases:
FAQ – Sending Passport Photos & Blurring Documents
Is it safe to send my passport on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, which helps during transmission. The main risk is what happens
after your passport photo arrives: it may be backed up, forwarded, screenshotted or accessed on
an unlocked phone. Blurring sensitive parts reduces this risk.
Can airlines and travel agents accept blurred passport images?
For some processes, companies need to clearly read certain fields (like your name and passport number).
You can blur everything else and leave those specific fields visible, as long as their requirements are met.
When in doubt, ask exactly which details must remain readable.
Should I send a full-page scan or just a photo of the details?
If possible, send only the part of the page that contains the fields they actually need, and blur
everything else. Avoid sending extra pages or personal notes that are not requested.
Is a blurred passport image enough for identity verification?
For many bookings, yes – as long as the required fields are readable. For strict KYC or immigration
checks, you may need to upload unblurred copies directly to official portals rather than through messaging apps.
What is the best way to stay safe when sharing documents?
Use a trusted device, share the minimum required information, blur everything else, and send only through
official channels when possible. Keep original documents stored securely and avoid leaving sensitive images
inside messaging apps and email inboxes forever.
Quick Checklist Before You Send Your Passport
- ✅ Am I sending this to a trusted party (agency, airline, hotel)?
- ✅ Do they really need every detail visible?
- ✅ Have I blurred passport numbers, MRZ and unnecessary data?
- ✅ Am I sending through a reasonably secure channel?
- ✅ Do I have a copy of the blurred version saved, not just the original?