Best passport scanners

Best overall passport scanner → Thales (formerly Gemalto) AT10K

Thales AT10K is best for: high risk ID verification, high compliance scenarios

The Thales AT10K is a full-page passport and document reader with a glass flatbed. With built in LED “landing lights”, customers are easily guided to proper placement of documents upon the scanner, as well as a green signal when they are able to remove their document from the scanner. The anti-glare technology is able to reduce document reflections and ambient light so that the images are captured with as much accuracy as possible, making it the perfect option for kiosks, airport eGates, cruise terminals and more.

In addition to scanning passports, can also authenticate driver’s licenses as well, so you’ll be able to scan passports in addition to catching fake IDs with ID authentication. The desktop passport scanner is perfect for those locations needing to capture and authenticate passports, green cards, and other print identity documents.

Most notably, the AT10K includes RFID. This means it can read the RFID chip inside the passport, and when performing ID authentication your software can perform added security checks by decrypting the RFID data and comparing it to the MRZ data and OCR text.

Best countertop passport scanner → Unitech RT112

Unitech RT112 is best for self-service passport scanning

We created the Unitech RT112 tablet passport and ID scanner specifically for customers looking to create a countertop check-in solution. It is perfect for those establishments that need accuracy, but also mobility. A fantastic feature of the RT112 is that it can either be mounted on a stand for a desktop solution, or you can attach the hand strap and it instantly becomes a mobile solution for scanning passports on the go. This passport scanner can also be used on or offline which makes it a great option for those with spotty WiFi. 

TThe built in VeriScan ID scanning software comes with visitor management, which lets you classify patrons into categories such as VIPs, frequent guests, and banned individuals. It is important to note, however, that while the RT112 is able to scan, validate, and verify the age and expiration date of an identification document, it is unable to authenticate identity documents.

Most affordable passport scanner → Unitech SwiftScan TS200

Unitech TS200 is best for businesses who need cheap, high volume passport scanning

Unitech recently released the next generation of its TS-series Windows-compatible ID scanners. While the TS100 was known for easy setup and lightning-fast ID scanning, it lacked passport-scanning capabilities. The latest iteration, the SwiftScan TS200 offers passport scanning in addition to ID and drivers licenses reading capabilities.

The TS200 is a passport scanner designed to lower the barrier to entry with a low up-front cost. It also does not require a hardware driver, allowing customers to simply plug in the scanner and easily connect it to their ID scanning hardware. The TS200 is lightning fast, scanning IDs and passports in less than 1 second each.

Most affordable passport scanner that can also capture images → Thales QS2000

Thales QS2000 is the best passport scanner for rental and hospitality businesses

While quite a bit more expensive than the ultra-low-cost TS200, the Thales QS2000 combines affordability with the ability to capture images during the scanning process. Because of the glass scanning surface, the Thales QS2000 scanner is able to scan passports, green cards, visas, driver’s licenses, and other paper documents. This scanner is able to automatically detect documents when they are placed upon the flatbed surface. The passport scanner then captures images under white light, which can be ingested into software when images of the ID is required, such as in the hospitality, automotive, or equipment rental industries.

The QS2000 has indicator lights on the front of the device which can help easily interpret the results of a scanned passport or ID.

Because the QS2000 provides high resolution image capture, it is capable of reading global documents when enabled with ID authentication.

Best handheld passport scanner → Unitech PA768

Unitech PA768 is the best handheld passport scanner

Our favorite handheld passport scanner is the Unitech PA768. It has the capability to scan both driver’s licenses and passports using an autofocus laser that is mounted to the top of the mini-tablet. This device can be used both on or offline which can be an essential function for businesses who scan IDs on the go, including delivery drivers, or large warehouse employees.

The Unitech PA768 also has the built in VeriScan ID scanning and visitor management system which verifies age, detects fake IDs, and creates a visitor profile upon each scan. This unit is an easy handheld option for those that will be holding the scanner for hours on end. For those businesses that need to verify age such as bars, nightclubs, etc., this is and ideal solution.

The Unitech PA768 features a 6.3″ Color LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 (FHD+), this device offers a vibrant and immersive visual experience. The high sunlight visibility ensures clear readability even in bright outdoor environments. With the LCD backlight reaching up to 500nits, you can enjoy enhanced visibility in various lighting conditions.