Visitor pass maker

What a visitor pass should show

A visitor badge has a short life and a simple purpose: show that the person is expected and for how long. The name should be the largest thing on it, with the organisation or site name above and the date the pass is valid below. A host or department line tells staff who to call, and a photo box turns a paper slip into a real identity check at the gate.

Because the pass is temporary, leave off the long-lived fields a permanent card carries. The design here is a bold colour block with the name front and centre, so a guard can read it across a lobby and a wearer is easy to spot among staff.

Print on demand at the front desk

Reception can build a pass as each visitor arrives and print it straight onto a badge or a label. The portrait badge size suits a clip-on holder or a lanyard sleeve, and the tool renders at the true millimetre size so the print fills the holder rather than floating in it.

For a busier desk, set the site name, colour and a VISITOR label once, then change only the visitor's name, host and date for each pass. Download a PNG for a label printer, or the PDF when you want an exact page size. Nothing about the previous visitor is kept once you move on.

Keep it secure and simple

A visitor pass is most useful when it is obvious and disposable. A strong colour, a clear photo and a printed date let staff tell at a glance whether a pass is current, and a barcode strip gives a scanner something to read if your sign-in system uses one. Collect the badge on the way out and the loop is closed.