Press release archive
The changing face of British travel documents - UK Passport Service issues first British ePassport
Monday 5th March
The UK Passport Service confirmed its place as one of the frontrunners in the international race to combat fraud and forgery when it issued the first British biometric ePassport today.
The new passports will have a new design with additional security features, including a chip with the holder´s facial biometric. They will be introduced gradually throughout 2006 and will be issued to all applicants by the end of August.
These technological advances are being adopted across the world to improve the security of travel documents and border controls, with over 40 countries in the process of introducing ePassports. Countries such as the UK, which are part of the US visa waiver scheme, must comply with new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and begin issuing biometric passports incorporating a facial image to remain in the scheme by October 2006.
Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said:
"ePassports are the first step in secure biometric identity documentation. Not only will they improve the integrity and security of British passports, they will also help in the detection of forged or manipulated documents while confirming the identity of the individual.
"Biometric technology makes use of the unique features we all have and there is no doubt that the use of biometric information to link a person to a passport will enhance security. In step with our European partners we will also be considering the inclusion of fingerprints as well as facial data in due course.
"Around the world, more and more countries are taking action to ensure the security of their travel documents. British citizens deserve first class passports and we are making every effort to ensure the UK is leading the way."
The UK is introducing biometrics in its passports to:
- help fight passport fraud and forgery;
- ensure the British passport remains one of the most secure and respected in the world;
- meet international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation;
- ensure British citizens can continue to benefit from visa-free travel to the USA; and
- avoid disadvantaging British passport holders as other countries switch to more secure biometric passports.
Externally, the new Biometric Passport will appear very similar to the current one, although it will feature a logo indicating that there is a chip inside. Internally, the chip will be visible and there will be many new security features including pages with intricate designs and new complex watermarks.
Notes to Editors
- The UKPS and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have been issuing the current digital passport since 1998. To ensure a smooth transition from digital passports, the biometric passport will be introduced gradually over a period of five months in 2006. During the early stages of transition, some people will receive a new biometric passport, but most customers will receive an existing digital passport. Existing passports will remain valid until their expiry date and holders will not be required to exchange them for biometric passports.
- Biometrically enabled passports help to verify an individual’s unique biological features and physical characteristics. Examples of biometric identifiers include facial image, fingerprints and iris patterns.
- Facial recognition maps various features on the face, for example, the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears. The measurements will be digitally coded and held on an electronic chip secured in the passport page. This can then be used for comparison and verification purposes. UKPS will be able to derive applicants’ facial biometrics from their passport photos.
- The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO – which sets international standards) nominated facial recognition as the primary biometric with iris and fingerprint as back-up but not mandatory.
- The new biometric passport will have many new security features including a chip. The new design will be harder to forge, the new security features will show if the passport is genuine or that it has been tampered with and the facial biometrics on the chip will help link the passport holder to the document.
- The price of a standard 10 year adult passport is £51. The UKPS continually searches for security enhancements which will be funded through the passport fee.
- The UKPS and FCO, who are responsible for issuing passports overseas, have been working closely on the development of ePassports which are already available from the British Consulate Generals in Washington and Cairo. The rollout to all FCO passport-issuing posts overseas will be completed by July 2006.
- The US Senate announced on 15 June 2005 a one-year extension (to 26 October 2006) to their requirement for biometric passports. This means that the digital passports currently issued by UKPS and FCO (machine-readable, with a digital image) will continue to meet the criteria of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) and most British Citizens will not require a US visa. All passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will need to be biometric to benefit from visa-free travel to the US. For more detailed information about US visa and immigration rules visit www.usembassy.org.uk (new window) or www.fco.gov.uk (new window).
