What is an ePassport?
Since its introduction in 1646, passports have gradually been replaced by more advanced and secure electronic passports, commonly known as ePassports. With the advancement of technology, countries are adopting increasingly advanced security measures for international travel, making the use of electronic passports more prevalent. This blog delves into what ePassports are, how they work, and their benefits that make them an important component of modern travel.
ePassport
An ePassport, also known as a biometric passport or electronic passport, is basically a passport with an embedded electronic RFID chip inside it. This electronic chip is embedded in the cover, bio page, or even in the middle of an ePassport, and stores information like the person’s biometric data.
The biometric data stored in an ePassport can differ from country to country. It can contain any of the biometric data from facial, fingerprint, iris, or all. A standard regarding the data groups and communication protocols of electronic passports has been set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
History of ePassports
Malaysia became the first country in 1998 to issue an ePassport. By 2003, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had developed and adopted specifications for machine-readable travel documents (MRTDs). These specifications required that passports include an embedded chip containing the bearer’s personal identification data and photograph.
In 2004, Belgium led the way in compliance with the new ICAO standards by launching the first ICAO-compliant ePassports. This milestone set the stage for other countries to follow suit such as the U.S in 2006. By 2009, there are about 100 issuing countries with nearly 400 million passports of this type in circulation worldwide. As of 2024, over 150 countries were issuing ePassports. While some countries may not be issuing them yet, they are still accepted upon entry.
As ePassports grew more prevalent, building a reliable system to efficiently match authentication requests by border-control personnel with country-issued ePassport certificates became challenging. The PKD (Public Key Directory) concept addresses this issue by acting as a centralized repository for exchanging information needed to authenticate ePassports. This enables border control authorities to quickly verify the digital signatures on ePassports, making sure the passport data has not been altered and was issued by a legitimate authority. By centralizing this process, PKDs greatly reduce the complexity and cost of bilateral certificate exchanges between countries, thereby improving international travel security and efficiency. While the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) maintains a prominent PKD, other regional or national PKD implementations are also available.
How an ePassport Works at eGates
An ePassport includes a microprocessor chip embedded in the passport booklet, which stores unique information specific to the passport holder. This chip primarily holds a digital image of the passport holder, which is verified against biometric data during the electronic border control process, also known as e-border. It also holds data such as name and date of birth. At the border, the person scans their ePassport while looking at a screen, allowing the system to cross-check facial measurements with those on the chip. Similar to a credit card with an integrated chip, the ePassport chip uses digital signature technology to authenticate the stored information. Additionally, the chip employs Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology to safeguard the data, adding an extra layer of security against alterations.
Benefits of ePassports
ePassports offer a higher level of security compared to non-ePassports. The embedded chip is encrypted and difficult to forge or tamper with, providing a robust defense against identity theft and passport fraud. The personal- and biometric data in the chip can be compared to the person and the document being presented.
Moreover, ePassports streamline border control processes significantly. At many international airports, travelers can use automated e-gates that quickly read the data from the ePassport chip and verify the traveler’s identity. Instead of waiting for a border patrol agent, you hold your passport over a scanner. The machine then matches your data with face-match technology. This automation reduces the time spent in queues and speeds up the entire immigration process, making it more efficient for travelers and border officials alike.
Verify with Keesing AuthentiScan
If you are an organization that needs to verify passports and IDs, the Keesing AuthentiScan solution can help you. Whether it’s done remotely or in person, AuthentiScan checks the authenticity of the document and does biometric checks such as a selfie face match or a face verification. Our global document coverage and unique reference and template databases allow verification of ID documents from over 200 countries and issuing authorities. In case of exceptions, Keesing’s Expert Helpdesk, staffed with certified document experts, advises organizations with document-related questions.
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