What is a biometric passport
A biometric passport, also referred to as an e-passport, is a new type of passport that integrates the traditional paper passport and electronic passport into one form. Biometric passports adopt a new form of technology that enables the passports to carry all information in the form of a chip, which is embedded in the physical form of the passport.
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Biometric passports explained
Biometric passports feature the contactless smart card technology, which gives passport holders the added security measure of protecting their identity and preventing falsification of identity. The chip which is embedded into the passport contains all the valuable information regarding the passport holder, this chip is integrated into the passport – featuring at the front, back or in the middle of the passport.
The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used in order to authorize information that is electronically stored on the smart chip. The PKI is a system of hardware, software, people, policies and procedures that are put in place to create, manage and carry other services in terms of digital certificates such as biometric passports.
The PKI prevents passport forgery as it has security elements that negate fraud. As of 2011, the standard security procedures of biometric passports include facial recognition, fingerprint recognition and iris recognition. These measures ensure that only a passport holder is able to use the passport for the purpose of travelling.
Most countries have effectively introduced biometric passports to their system by integrating an exchange system. This entails passport holders returning their traditional passports to the relevant authorities in exchange for a biometric passport. However some countries, such as the UK, allowed passport holders to use their normal passport until it expires, where they are issued a biometric passport upon renewal.
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