NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Biometric passport

A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document that uses biometrics to authenticate the citizenship of travellers. The passport's critical information is stored on a tiny RFID computer chip, much like information stored on smartcards. Like some smartcards, the passport book design calls for an embedded contactless chip that is able to hold digital signature data to ensure the integrity of the passport and the biometric data. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 571 pixelsFull resolution (4128 Ã— 2944 pixel, file size: 15. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 571 pixelsFull resolution (4128 Ã— 2944 pixel, file size: 15. ... At Walt Disney World, biometric measurements are taken from the fingers of guests to ensure that the persons ticket is used by the same person from day to day For the use of statistics in biology, see Biostatistics. ... An EPC RFID tag used for Wal-Mart Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. ... A smartcard or smart card is a tiny secure cryptoprocessor embedded within a credit card-sized or smaller (like the GSM SIM) card. ... For Microsoft Corporationâ€™s â€œuniversal loginâ€ service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ... In cryptography, a digital signature or digital signature scheme is a type of asymmetric cryptography used to simulate the security properties of a signature in digital, rather than written, form. ...

The currently standardized biometrics used for this type of identification system are facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and iris recognition. These were adopted after assessment of several different kinds of biometrics including retinal scan. The International Civil Aviation Organisation defines the biometric file formats and communication protocols to be used in passports. Only the digital image (usually in JPEG or JPEG2000 format) of each biometric feature is actually stored in the chip. The comparison of biometric features is performed outside the passport chip by electronic border control systems (e-borders). To store biometric data on the contactless chip, it includes a minimum of 32 kilobytes of EEPROM storage memory, and runs on an interface in accordance with the ISO/IEC 14443 international standard, amongst others. These standards ensure interoperability between different countries and different manufacturers of passport books. A macro shot of a palm and the base of several fingers; as seen here, debris can gather between the ridges. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Retinal scan. ... Human eye cross-sectional view. ... JPG redirects here. ... JPEG 2000 is a wavelet-based image compression standard. ... An EEPROM (also called an E2PROM)[] or Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, is a non-volatile storage chip used in computers and other devices to store small amounts of volatile (configuration) data. ... â€œISOâ€ redirects here. ...

Types

European Union

European passports are planned to have digital imaging and fingerprint scan biometrics placed on the contactless chip. ^[1] This combination of the biometrics aims to create an unrivaled level of security and protection against counterfeit and fraudulent identification papers. Currently, the British biometric passport only uses a digital image and not fingerprinting, however this is being considered by the United Kingdom Passport Service. In Germany, two fingerprints will be stored on the chip beginning November 1st, 2007. In these EU nations, the price of the passport will be: A European passport is a passport issued by a member country of the European Union to its citizens. ... A macro shot of a palm and the base of several fingers; as seen here, debris can gather between the ridges. ... At Walt Disney World, biometric measurements are taken from the fingers of guests to ensure that the persons ticket is used by the same person from day to day For the use of statistics in biology, see Biostatistics. ... For other uses, see Counterfeit (disambiguation). ... In the broadest sense, a fraud is a deception made for personal gain. ... For Microsoft Corporationâ€™s â€œuniversal loginâ€ service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ...

Australian

The Australian biometric passport was introduced in October 2005. Like the U.S. version, the chip will only have a digital image of the bearer's face as on their passport photo. Airport security has been upgraded to allow Australian ePassport bearers to clear immigration controls more rapidly, and face recognition technology has been installed at immigration gates.^[2] Australian Passports are issued by The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Australia and overseas. ...

Canadian

Canada has recently introduced biometrics in the use of passports with the help of digitized photos. The future passports may contain a chip that holds a picture of the person and personal information such as name and date of birth. Cover of a Canadian passport Inside of a Canadian passport Canadian passports are issued to citizens of Canada for the purpose of international travel. ...

This technology is being used at border crossings that have electronic readers that are able to read the chip in the cards and verify the information present in the card and on the passport. This method aims at increasing efficiency and accuracy of identifying people at the border crossing. CANPASS, developed by Canada Border Services Agency, is currently being used by some major airports that have kiosks set up to take digital pictures of a person’s eye as a means of identification. [5] The Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System (CANPASS) is a suite of Canada Border Services Agency programs in place to streamline customs and immigration clearance for pre-screened, low-risk, frequent travelers. ...

Republic of China (Taiwan)

Available since late 2008 and costing NT$1,200 (Chinese) [6] For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... Republic of China Passport Cover. ...

Icelandic

Available since 23 May 2006 and costing ISK 5100 (ISK 1900 for under 18 and over 67). Icelandic Passports are issued to citizens of Iceland for the purpose of international travel. ...

Hong Kong SAR

The Hong Kong Immigration Department has, from 5 February 2007, introduced the electronic Passport (e-Passport) and electronic Document of Identity for Visa Purposes (e-Doc/I) which are compliant with the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Digital data including holder's personal data and facial image will be contained in the contactless chip embedded in the back cover of e-Passport and e-Doc/I. Hong Kong (香港; Cantonese IPA: ; Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2; Yale: heūng góng; pinyin: Xiānggǎng; Wade-Giles: Hsiang-kang) is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Cover of HKSAR ePassport Inside of the HKSAR ePassport Personal Data Page Under Fluorescent Light Visa Pages Back Cover with Contactless Chip The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport (Traditional Chinese: ) is the official international travel document issued to Chinese citizen who have the right of abode in the... The Immigration Department (Traditional Chinese: , known as äººæ°‘å…¥å¢ƒäº‹å‹™è™• before the 1997 handover) of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. ...

Applications for the HKSAR e-Passport & e-Doc/I will be accepted as from 5 February 2007. Application fees & procedures will remain unchanged. The Immigration Department pledges to complete the process of an application within 10 working days. For children under 11 year of age not holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card, the processing time is 19 working days. Existing HKSAR Passports and Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes will remain valid until their expiry. [7]

Macedonian

Malaysian

Malaysia is not a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and its biometric passport does not conform to the same standards as the VWP biometric document.^{[citation needed]} The Malaysian passport (Malay: Pasport Malaysia) is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia). ...

New Zealand

Like Australia or the USA, New Zealand is using the facial biometric identifier. There are two identifying factors - the small symbol on the front cover indicating that an electronic chip has been embedded in the passport, and the polycarbonate leaf in the back of the book inside which the chip is located. Cover of a New Zealand biometric passport New Zealand passport 1949 (photo by User:Edwardx) New Zealand passports are issued to citizens of New Zealand for the purpose of international travel. ...

Pakistani

The Directorate General Immigration & Passports of Ministry of Interior, Pakistan introduced Multi Biometric Passport on 25 October 2004. The passport is issued by [8] National Database Registration Authority through 25 Regional Passport Offices within Pakistan and 10 Foreign Missions are now equipped with Machine Readable Passport System and Machine Readable Passports are being issued from these sites. Pakistani passports are issued to the citizens of Pakistan for the purpose of international travel. ...

Singaporean

The Immigation & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore has introduced the Singapore Biometric Passport (BioPass) on 15 August 2006. Following this, Singapore has met requirements under the US Visa Waiver Programme which calls for countries to roll out their Biometric Passport before 26 October 2006 [9]. Cover of Singapore Biometric passport The Singapore passport is a travel document issued to the citizens of Singapore. ...

Swiss

The Swiss biometric passport has been available since 4 September 2006. It is still a pilot project and is optional. The RFID chip contains only the photo, fingerprints will be introduced when an EU standard is fixed. The price (250 SFr.) is roughly double the price of a normal passport. [10] Swiss passport 1956 Swiss passports are issued to citizens of Switzerland to facilitate international travel. ...

Thai

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand introduced the first biometric passport for Diplomats and Government officials on 26 May 2005. From 1 June 2005, a limited quantity of 100 passports a day was issued for Thai citizens, however, on 1 August 2005 a full operational service was installed and Thailand became the first country in Asia to issue an ICAO compliant biometric passport.[11] The Thailand Passport () is the passport issued to citizens and nationals of Thailand by Passport Division, Department of Consular Affairs () within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (). Thailand biometric passports have issued since August 2004. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ukrainian

Available since June 2007 and costing 170 UAH (about €25), valid for 10 years.^[3] Internal passport cover Ukrainian passport is a passport issued to nationals of Ukraine as the main domestic identification document or for international travel. ...

The U.S. version of the biometric passport (which is also referred to as an "Electronic Passport") has descriptive data and a digitized passport photo, but does not have fingerprint information placed onto the contactless chip. However, the chip used in the U.S. passport will be large enough (64 kilobytes) to allow it to contain additional biometric identifiers should the need arise in the future. The U.S. Department of State began issuing biometric passports to government officials and diplomats in early 2006. It began issuing regular biometic passports at its Colorado Passport Agency on August 14, 2006; though they still expect that nearly all new or renewed passports issued by the department to American citizens will be biometric by the end of 2006, other sources say it won't happen until mid-2007. [12] [13] [14] [15] Although a system able to perform a facial recognition match between the bearer and his or her image stored on the contactless chip is desired, it is unclear when such a system will be deployed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at its ports of entry.^[4] United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... It has been suggested that U.S. Passport Card be merged into this article or section. ... For Microsoft Corporationâ€™s â€œuniversal loginâ€ service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ... â€œDepartment of Stateâ€ redirects here. ...

A high level of security became a top priority in late 2001 for the United States. This tightened security required border control to take steps in cracking down on counterfeit paper passports. In October 2004, the production stages of this high-tech passport commenced as the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) issued awards to the top bidders of the program. The awards totaled to roughly $1,000,000 for startup, development, and testing. The driving force of the initiative is the U.S. Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the "Border Security Act"), which states that such smartcard IDs will be able to replace visas. As for foreigners traveling to the U.S., if they wish to enter U.S. visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), they are now required to possess machine-readable passports that comply with international standards. Additionally, for travelers holding a valid passport issued on or after October 26, 2006, such a passport must be a biometric passport if used to enter the U.S. visa-free under the VWP. The logotype of the United States Government Printing Office In the United States, the Government Printing Office (GPO) provides printed (and now electronic) copies of documents produced by and for all federal agencies, including the Supreme Court, the Congress, and all executive branch agencies like the FCC and EPA. Court... A smart card, or integrated circuit(s) card (ICC), is defined as any integrated circuitry embedded into a flat, plastic body. ... Look up ID, Id, id in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Entry visa valid in Schengen treaty countries. ... The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program of the United States of America which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. ... For Microsoft Corporationâ€™s â€œuniversal loginâ€ service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ...

Venezuelan

Issued after July 2007, RFID chip has photo and fingerprints[16] ~ Passport cover Venezuelan passports are issued to Venezuelan citizens to travel outside of Venezuela. ...

Opposition

Privacy activists in many countries question and protest the lack of information about exactly what the passports' chip will contain, and whether they impact civil liberties. The main problem they point out is that data on the passports can be transferred with touchless RFID technology (like wireless technology) which can become a major vulnerability. Although this would allow ID-check computers to obtain your information without a physical connection, it may also allow anyone with the necessary equipment to perform the same task. If the personal information and passport numbers on the chip aren't encrypted, the information might wind up in the wrong hands. Privacy has no definite boundaries and it has different meanings for different people. ... Civil liberties is the name given to freedoms that protect the individual from government. ... An EPC RFID tag used for Wal-Mart Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. ... The term wireless technology is generally used for mobile IT equipment. ... Look up ID, Id, id in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... â€œEncryptâ€ redirects here. ...

To protect against such unauthorized reading, or "skimming", in addition to employing encryption the U.S. has also undertaken the additional step of integrating a very thin metal mesh into the passport's cover to act as a shield to make it even more difficult to read the passport's chip when the passport is closed^[5]. A U.S. company Identity Stronghold is now manufacturing an RFID blocking sleeve to prevent any skimming while the passport is inside the sleeve. Research students from Vrije University in the Netherlands speaking at the August 2006 Black Hat conference in Las Vegas showed that RFID passports can be cloned relatively easily, and can be remotely spied upon despite the radio-blocking shields included in US designs. They found they could read the passports from 60 centimetres (23.6 inches) away if they are opened by just 1 cm (0.39 inches), using a device which can be used to hijack radio signals that manufacturers have touted as unreadable by anything other than proprietary scanners. ^[6]^[7]^[8] A black-hat is a term in computing for someone who compromises the security of a system without permission from an authorized party, usually with the intent of accessing computers connected to the network. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial unit of length. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ...

At the same conference, Lukas Grunwald demonstrated that it is trivial to copy the biometric certificate from an open e-passport into a standard ISO 14443 smartcard using a standard contact-less card interface and a simple file transfer tool. This is hardly surprising, given that the certificate is simply stored as a file, and had been obvious to those involved in the design of the ICAO e-passport standard throughout its development. In particular, Grunewald did not change the data held on the copied chip, which binds biometric data (e.g., photo) to identity data (e.g., name and date of birth), without invalidating its cryptographic signature, which means at present the use of this technique does not allow reprogramming of fake biometric data to match a different user. Grunewald also did not clone the Active Authentication functionality, an optional feature of the ICAO e-passport standard that some countries implement such that the embedded microprocessor is not only a floppy-disk-like data carrier for a biometric certificate, but also a tamper-resistant authentication token that can participate in a public-key cryptography based challenge-response protocol. Nevertheless, Grunewald created international media headlines with his claim that such copying of the biometric certificate constitutes the creation of a "false passport" using equipment costing around USD$200.^[9] In cryptography, digital signatures are a method of authenticating digital information often treated, sometimes too closely, as analogous to a physical signature on paper. ... A big random number is used to make a public-key pair. ...

A group of German privacy hackers have come up with a portable device that can wipe a passive RFID-Tag permanently, called the RFID-Zapper.

On December 15, 2006, the BBC published an article on the British ePassport, citing the above stories and adding that: is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

and adding that the Future of Identity in the Information Society (FIDIS) network's research team (a body of IT security experts funded by the European Union) has "also come out against the ePassport scheme... [stating that] European governments have forced a document on its citizens that dramatically decreases security and increases the risk of identity theft." There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

The encryption scheme used to protect the flow of information between the Dutch biometric passport and a passport reader was cracked on July 28 2005. Though it hasn't been attempted in practice yet, in theory and under ideal conditions some of the data exchanged wirelessly between the passport's built-in contactless chip and a reader (more precisely, the one-way flow of data from the reader to the passport) may be picked up from up to 10 meters away. Once captured and stored, the data then can then be cracked in 2 hours on a PC [17]. This is due to the Dutch passport numbering scheme which does not provide sufficient randomness to generate a strong enough key to secure the exchange of information between the passport and reader. is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A key is a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm. ...

Other passports such as the U.S. passport do not contain this particular flaw as they use a stronger key to encrypt the data exchange. Also, some readers provide shielding for the passport while it is being read, thus preventing signal leakage that might be intercepted by another device. Moreover, the fairly secure and monitored environment of the passport control area in airports would make it difficult for someone to illicitly set up the sensitive equipment necessary to eavesdrop on the communication between passports and readers from any significant distance. However the same would not be true for hotels or other places that may ask to see passports.

Some passports, such as the Irish Passport, employ an additional encryption system which prevents the RFID chip being read without the passport being "unlocked" by the machine readable zone being read first.

Gallery

See also

A machine readable passport (MRP) is a passport where the data on the identity page is encoded in optical character recognition format. ... An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an authorisation for entry to Australia available to holders of certain states passports. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program of the United States of America which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. ... The Registered Traveler Pilot Program is an airline passenger security assessment system that was tested in the United States air travel industry in 2005. ... The No Fly List contains the names of individuals who are not permitted to board a commercial aircraft for travel in the United States. ... Secondary Security Screening Selection or Secondary Security Screening Selectee, known by its acronym SSSS, is an airport security measure in the United States which randomly selects passengers for additional inspection. ... Bags are scanned by X-ray machine, people are scanned by metal detectors Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and by extension aircraft from crime and terrorism. ... The Terrorist Screening Center has consolidated the names of all known or suspected terrorists within the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). ... CAPPS II (Computer-Assisted Airline Passenger Screening System) is a United States aviation security program proposed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, shortly after the hijackings of September 11, 2001. ... The Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (often abbreviated CAPPS) is a counter-terrorism system in place in the United States air travel industry. ... US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) is a program of the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America aiming to protect the country from terrorist attacks by tightening the border security and recording the entry and exit of non-US citizens to and... The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS, INS Special Registration) is a system for registration of certain non-citizens within the United States, initiated in September 2002 as part of the War on Terrorism. ... For the astrological sign, see Pisces. ... The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) is a national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ... The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a networked computersystem set up in the United States to track information on non-immigrant international and foreign exchange students attending school in the U.S. The SEVIS system requires schools to maintain attendance records for foreign students. ... Genera Threskiornis Pseudibis Thaumatibis Geronticus Nipponia Bostrychia Theristicus Cercibis Mesembrinibis Phimosus Eudocimus Plegadis Lophotibis Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. ... The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), also often called Advanced Passenger Information System[1], is a system established for commercial airline and vessel operators. ... The Automated Targeting System or ATS is a United States Department of Homeland Security computerized system that for every person who crosses U.S. borders scrutinizes a large volume of data related to that person (see below), and then automatically assigns a rating for which the expectation is that it... The Immigration Advisory Program (IAP), based on a program developed for the former INS originally known as the Immigration Security Initiative, is a pilot developed by Customs and Border Protection, which appropriated $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2005. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Travel Technology is a term used to describe applications of Information Technology (IT), or Information and Communications Technology (ICT), in travel, tourism and hospitality industry. ...

References

The Australian Customs Service (ACS) is responsible for overseeing international movement of trade goods and people into Australia, for the collection of customs and excises, for undertaking border management activities, and for detecting drugs coming into the country. ... The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C.. It is also one of the citys oldest papers, having been founded in 1877. ... New Scientist is a weekly international science magazine covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English-speaking audience. ...

External links

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since August 2007 | Authentication methods | International travel documents | Passports | Biometrics | Data security | Identity management systems | Information sensitivity There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... For Microsoft Corporationâ€™s â€œuniversal loginâ€ service, formerly known as Microsoft Passport Network, see Windows Live ID. For other types of travel document, see Travel document. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport (Traditional Chinese: ) is the official international travel document issued to Chinese citizens who have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and hold Hong Kong permanent identity cards. ... Black and white copy of the MSAR passport cover. ... Republic of China Passport Cover. ... Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Montenegrin passport (Serbian: ) is issued to Montenegrin citizens at any age, and it is the primary document of international travel issued by the Republic of Montenegro. ... The Serbian passport (Serbian: ) is issued to Serbian citizens at any age, and it is the primary document of international travel issued by the Republic of Serbia. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Andean passport was created in June 2001 pursuant to DecisiÃ³n 504. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 432 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1088 Ã— 1511 pixel, file size: 61 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Self-made scan of my passport. ... An internal passport is an identification document issued in some countries. ... A machine readable passport (MRP) is a passport where the data on the identity page is encoded in optical character recognition format. ... The title page of European Union passports bears the name of the issuing country, then the name European Union, in the languages of all EU countries. ... A sample of camouflage passport cover. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... On October 1, 2001, EU and other countries introduced the option for domestic animal owners to apply for Pet passports, PETS for short, but also known as Pets Travel Scheme for pets returning from abroad to the United Kingdom. ...

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