It is quite interesting to note that there are various date formats being used globally. I will put them in the following way: (DD = Date; MM = Month; YY = 2-digit Year)
  • DD/MM/YY e.g. 11/12/06 —–11th December, 2006
  • MM/DD/YY e.g. 12/11/06 —–December 11, 2006
  • YY/MM/DD e.g. 06/12/11 —–2006, December 11
  • YY/DD/MM e.g. 06/11/12 —–2006, 11th December
In fact, it looks like the permutation and combination of the three things. Ideally, it doesn’t make much difference if we know what format it is being followed. And in a particular country it is the same all over. But what happens if you go to another country where a different method is followed.

It doesn’t matter how it is written as long as you have anything in your date of birth which can help you prevent chaos. For instance if your date of birth is more than 12, it makes clear distinction that it can’t be a month in other format. Similarly if it is more than 31, it can’t be a date.

What will happen if your date of birth becomes your month of birth and vice-versa, or in worst case all of them are swapped. Assume for a moment if your date of birth is something like 2nd of April, 1978. In Indian passport it will be written as 02/04/78 and on USA Passport it will be written as 04/02/78. Now assume you go to USA with an Indian passport. Here starts the real confusion.

Isn’t it????

Because when you go to apply for SSN, State ID or Driver’s license in US, the date format they assume is again MM/DD/YY that changes your date of birth from 2nd of April, 1978 to 4th of February, 1978 unless it is stated very clearly in what format the date was written earlier.

There may be several other instances where it screws up even more when someone is travelling across the globe frequently. He has to either always remember which way to read or write the date in that particular country or he is inviting the trouble.

Now the question is, “Does it really make any difference?”
In my opinion: IT DOES, IT SURELY DOES.


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