ISO/IEC 7501-1:2008适用于与机器可读护照（MRP）相关的所有应用。它规定了MRP的格式，并就MRP的构建提供了指导，尤其是在MRP的那些方面，合法持有人的详细信息以视觉和机器可读的形式呈现。它同样定义了希望发布电子版MRP（ePassport）的国家将使用的规范，以确保运输安全，并访问一组扩展的详细信息，包括全球可互操作的生物识别数据，以确认演示者是ePassport的合法持有人。

ISO/IEC 7501-1:2008 is intended for use in all applications relating to machine readable passports (MRPs). It specifies the form and provides guidance on the construction of MRPs, in particular in relation to those aspects of the MRP where details of the rightful holder are presented in a form which is both visual and machine readable. It equally defines the specifications to be used by States wishing to issue an electronically enabled version of the MRP (ePassport) for secure carriage and access to an expanded set of details, including globally interoperable biometric data for confirming the presenter as the rightful holder of the ePassport.