Your Visa Number is typically printed on the visa foil inside your passport or available in your country's immigration portal (e.g., U.S. visa foil bottom-right, Australia’s ImmiAccount “Visa Grant Number”).
What's the deal with visa numbers?
Visa numbers are government-issued identifiers that differ by country and visa type, and locating them ensures smooth travel and renewals.
Every country runs its own show here. The U.S. stamps an 8-digit number in red on the visa foil—sometimes it starts with a letter then seven digits. Over in the UK, you’ll find the reference number tucked under the date of birth on the entry clearance sticker. Australia hands out a 9-digit “Visa Grant Number” through ImmiAccount. Mix up these numbers with your passport or travel document number? Expect headaches at borders or when you try to renew. Always double-check the format against your destination’s official rules—mistakes here slow everything down.
How do I actually find my visa number?
United States
Open your passport to the visa foil and read the red number in the bottom-right corner, which is 8 digits or 1 letter followed by 7 digits.
Flip straight to the page with the U.S. visa foil. The number sits in red ink at the bottom right. It’ll look like 12345678 or A1234567. Border agents and renewal forms ask for this number constantly. Can’t spot it? Make sure you’re staring at the foil page—your photo and ID pages won’t have it.
United Kingdom
Check the entry clearance sticker in your passport under the date of birth field for your reference number or find it in your UKVCAS account under “My Documents.”
Turn to the page with the UK entry clearance sticker. The reference number prints just below the date of birth. Applied online? Log into your UKVCAS account and head to “My Documents” to pull up the digital certificate. Need this for visa extensions or travel declarations? Keep it handy.
Australia
Log into ImmiAccount, click “View Visa Details,” and copy the “Visa Grant Number”, a 9-digit identifier.
Head to ImmiAccount and sign in. Once inside, click “View Visa Details.” Your Visa Grant Number appears at the top—nine digits you’ll use for every Australian visa move and border crossing.
New Zealand
Sign into Immigration Online and open your eVisa record to find the “Application Number” at the top.
Visit Immigration Online and log in. Open your eVisa record and the Application Number stares right back at you at the top. Airlines and border staff in New Zealand and Australia ask for this number when you check in or arrive.
Canada
Look at the visa sticker in your passport below the expiry date for the red-printed visa number.
Open your passport to the Canadian visa sticker. The visa number prints in red below the expiry date. It’s your unique ticket for Canadian visa applications and extensions—don’t confuse it with your passport number.
United Arab Emirates
Check the top-right corner of your UAE entry permit or visa sticker for the 7–9 character “File” number.
Flip to the page with the UAE visa sticker. The File number lives at the top right—something like F12345678. Need it for residency permits, border crossings, or government forms? Keep it close when you apply for extensions or renewals.
Immigrant Visa (Form I-797)
On Form I-797, the top-left corner displays a 3-letter code followed by 10 digits, which is your unique case number.
Open your I-797 approval notice or PDF. The case number sits in the top-left corner—ABC1234567890. USCIS uses this to track your immigration status, and you’ll need it for green card applications and renewals. Save a copy in your immigration files.
I still can’t find my visa number—what now?
Contact the issuing embassy or immigration authority directly or reissue your eVisa through the official portal.
Still drawing a blank? Call the embassy’s visa hotline with your passport number and date of birth—they can pull up your record. Lost your eVisa? Hit “Forgot Password” in your immigration portal and re-download it. Some countries now issue QR-only visas—scan the code with your phone and save the image as proof. Misplaced your physical visa? Check if your country offers a replacement service on their official website.
How can I avoid losing my visa number next time?
| Country | Action |
|---|---|
| United States | Take a photo of the visa foil before traveling and store it in a password-protected cloud folder |
| United Kingdom | Download your digital certificate from UKVCAS and email it to yourself |
| Australia | Screenshot the Visa Grant Number and save it in your phone’s notes app |
| All countries | Before submitting any visa application, copy the reference number into a travel journal or spreadsheet |
