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Passport 101

What is Passport?

Passport is a completely open source hardware wallet designed by the Foundation Devices team. Passport is designed to keep your Bitcoin private keys safe and secure whilst also making interacting with them as smooth as possible. Passport leverages much of its base level firmware and functionality from the Bitcoin hardware wallet titan Coldcard and much like the Coldcard, is designed with the utmost security in mind. Passport aims to package this experience in a polished looking product that appeals more to the less ‘tech savvy’ user.

Passport front view

Why use Passport?

Passport maintains its focus on generating and securing your Bitcoin private keys in a completely offline manner. To support this endeavour, the device comes with absolutely zero ports for cables, not even for power! The device runs on 2x AAA batteries (supplied with the device) and communicates with the outside world via QR codes or a microSD card (2x industrial grade supplied with the device). Passport leverages the security best practice of ‘air gapping’, this practice allows the device to communicate with wallet software like Sparrow or Blue without ever needing to be physically connected to your internet connected laptop or phone.

Rear of device with and without the magnetic rear cover

The Passport bears resemblance to an old style Nokia mobile phone which might help it go undetected to the untrained eye! The device itself comes in at just 4 inches tall and boasts a ‘T9’ style keypad which makes long passphrase entry easier than some of its competitors. The menu system is simple and easy to navigate and the UI is very responsive to inputs made via the keypad. Newer users will find the guided ‘Pair Wallet’ screen useful for pairing their Passport to the following wallet software: -

Bitcoin Core
Blue Wallet
BTC Pay
Electrum
Sparrow
Wasabi

Size comparison with an iPhone 7

Features

Below is a brief run down of the Passport’s main features. You can find more detail on their documentation page.

Tamper evident packaging (For supply chain attacks)
Pair wallet screen (For simple connection to multiple pieces of wallet software)
Full keypad (Easy to enter passphrases or seed words)
BIP174 (Partially signed bitcoin transactions)
QR Code Scanner *(For easy importing/exporting wallets, signing transactions and verifying addresses)
BIP39 (Optional passphrase)
Anti-Phishing words (Highlights device tampering)
Encrypted backups (Create multiple encrypted SD card backups)
Multi-sig support (Create and participate in multi signature wallets)
Multi account support (Allows for segregation of funds under the same seed)

How does it work?

Passport can be used with all popular desktop software and also works well with Blue Wallet. For the the rest of this guide I will walk you through the process of using your Passport with Sparrow Wallet, an incredibly feature rich desktop wallet worth checking out. Whilst not absolutely essential, I would advise anyone using Sparrow to do so with their own back end server. This will enable you to preserve your transactional privacy and be a more sovereign bitcoiner!

The rest of this guide will be broken down into the following steps: -

Initial setup
Pairing with Sparrow
Receive a transaction
Sending a transaction
Other features

Initial Set Up

Validation + PIN

When you receive your Passport, check there is no evidence of tampering with the blue security seal which is found on the outer box. Any attempt to peel this off will leave behind clues on the box itself that state Void and/or Opened
Place the two provided batteries into the rear of the device and power it on using the button in the bottom left of the keypad
Visit the Foundation Devices validation page and scan the QR code shown with Passport

Validation Screen

The device will then show 4 words. Enter these four words into the validation website and look for the Success! message. Press the VALID button on the Passport to confirm *

Validation Screen #2

Now it’s time to create you PIN. The pin is broken into two parts, after the first four letters you will be shown two security words. Write these down or ensure you remember them, they will serve as a warning in the event that your device is ever tampered with.

Security words

You should then be greeted with the main landing screen. Hold fire on creating a new seed for now, first we need to ensure your Passport is running the latest firmware.

Landing screen

Upgrade Firmware

Check the current firmware on the device by heading to Settings > Firmware > Current Version

Current firmware

Check the latest version here. If there is a more recent version that the one shown on your device, download the .bin file to your computer
In the Terminal window (Mac + Linux only), open the folder you downloaded the .bin file to and run sha256sum passport-fw-1.0.4.bin and check that the resulting hash matches the one displayed on the Foundation Devices release page. An exact match will confirm that the contents of the file you have downloaded are an exact match to the one the developer produced

Hash result

Insert one of the provided industrial microSD cards into your computer and drop the .bin file onto it
Eject the microSD and insert into the Passport, ensuring that the gold contacts are facing you
Initiate the firmware update by going to Settings > Firmware > Update Firmware then choose the file you just copied onto the microSD

Updated firmware

Create a Seed

This is as simple as tapping Create New Seed. The device will then randomly generate a set of seed words and save them to the device’s memory.

There is currently no option to add your own entropy to the seed generation stage, though this is on the team’s roadmap. If you don’t want to wait for this feature and also don’t want to trust the device’s seed generation, you can import your own via the Restore Seed option

Seed generation

For a smoother onboarding process, the device does not display your seed words at this stage. Instead it will prompt you to create and encrypted backup onto one of the provided microSD cards
During this process the device will show you a 6 word password for decrypting the backup file. Ensure you make a note of this password, without it you will not be able to recover using this file!

Encrypted backup password

View Seed Words

To view the generated seed words go to Settings > Advanced > View Seed Words. Make a copy of these seed words onto a robust storage medium.

Anyone with access to this, has access to your bitcoin. Keep it somewhere secure!

Seed word display

Pairing with Sparrow Wallet

The following steps are going to import a ‘Watch Only’ version of your Passport’s wallet into Sparrow. From then on Sparrow can receive bitcoin to addresses controlled by your Passport, but cannot spend from them without a valid signature which can only be provided by Passport. If you’d like to familiarise yourself with Sparrow Wallet before moving forward, you can do so here.

Open Sparrow and click File > New Wallet then give your new wallet a name

Wallet name

Select Airgapped Hardware Wallet

Wallet type selection

Selecting Scan next to the Passport icon will open your computer’s camera

Wallet import method

On Passport go to Pair Wallet > Sparrow > Single Sig > QR Code. The device will then display a QR code containing the wallet data to be received by Sparrow. Hold Passport up to your computers camera to be read.

Ensuring you are in a well lit environment will help the scan process

Wallet export QR code

Double check the information provided then click Apply.

Final wallet import screen

To finalise the export process, Passport will verify a receive address generated by Sparrow. This confirms that the intended wallet has been imported onto your computer
In Sparrow, open the receive tab
On Passport click Continue then scan the QR code generated by Sparrow using the camera on your Passport

Sparrow receive tab

Receiving a Transaction

Receiving bitcoin is simple as we have already verified our first receive address during the previous step. Simply copy the address shown by Sparrow and share with the sender for them to construct their transaction. Alternatively they can scan the QR code shown
After a short wait (depending on the fee rate you choose) your first transaction will appear in Sparrow
To see your next unused address click Get Next Address

Always send a small test amount before making any large deposits!

Sparrow transaction tab

Sending a Transaction

Open the Send tab in Sparrow
Paste the address you are sending to
Give the transaction a label
Enter the amount you want to send and adjust your fee rate
Click Create Transaction

Send tab

The next screen provides an incredibly detailed breakdown for the more advanced user to fine tune the more technical details where required. For most users the default settings will be fine, click Finalize transaction for signing

Finalize transaction screen

Click Show QR
On your Passport click Sign with QR Code and scan the animated QR being displayed by Sparrow

Transaction waiting to be signed

Review the transaction details match those intended then click Continue > Sign. The device will then show an animated QR code containing the details of the (now signed) transaction, ready for broadcast to the Bitcoin network

Transaction review screen

In Sparrow click Scan QR to open your computer’s camera
Hold the Passport up to your computer’s camera to pass the signed transaction data back to Sparrow
Have one final check of the transaction details then click Broadcast Transaction

Broadcast transaction

Congratulations, you just sent a 100% air-gapped transaction!

Other Features

Before sending any significant amount of bitcoin to your Passport you should be 100% comfortable with both recovery methods. Complete the following steps after sending a very small amount into your Passport wallet.

Seed words
Encrypted backup file

Restore from seed

Ensure you have made a copy of your seed words as outlined here
Make a note
Go to Settings > Advanced > Erase Passport
Enter your PIN and click Restore Seed
Carefully enter your seed words
Verify a receive address shown by Sparrow to confirm you have restored the correct seed

Seed word entry

Restore from backup file

Ensure you have an encrypted backup and corresponding password as outlined here
Go to Settings > Advanced > Erase Passport
Insert the microSD card that contains the backup file you created earlier
Enter your PIN and click Restore Backup
Choose your backup file and enter your 6 word password. The device will then reboot
Verify a receive address shown by Sparrow to confirm you have restored successfully

Backup file restore

Add a passphrase

A passphrase is an additional word or phrase that is added to your original seed to creates a completely separate wallet. It can be used as an extra layer of security in case your seed phrase becomes compromised. Without both your seed and your passphrase an attacker cannot access your bitcoin.

Go to Settings > Advanced > Passphrase > Enabled
Restart the device and enter your PIN
Enter your passphrase and click Apply
The device will notify you that a passphrase is applied with a P on top of a shield in the top left corner of the screen

You need to specify your passphrase each time you boot the device. Lose or forget your passphrase and you lose access to all of the bitcoin in that wallet

Passphrase application

Verify Address

When using a hardware wallet with an piece of external software like Sparrow or Specter, it is important that you verify the receive address it generates for you. Verifying this on your trusted, offline device (your Passport) you can be sure that your chosen software is acting in good faith. Doing this in Passport is easy…

Tap Verify Address and scan the QR code provided by your chosen wallet software

Pair to Blue Wallet

Using Passport with Blue Wallet provides a great solution for receiving on the go, directly into your cold storage. Connection couldn’t be easier…

On Passport go to Pair Wallet > Blue Wallet > Single-sig > QR Code
In Blue Wallet tap Add Wallet > Import Wallet > Scan or import a file
Scan the QR code being displayed by Passport
Tap Receive in Blue Wallet and scan the QR code with your Passport to verify a successful import

As with Sparrow Wallet, the most private way to interact with Blue Wallet is to do so through your own node. Not doing so will share your transactional data with a third party

Blue Wallet

Where can I learn more?

If you want to try Passport for yourself visit their website and for more info on the features visit their documentation.

If you prefer video guides, check out the Foundation team’s YouTube

If you need help setting up your Passport, I offer private support calls for those that benefit from more personalised tuition.

Disclaimer - All views expressed in this article are my own and not those of the Foundation Devices team.

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