passports
RSS passportsAll US passports to be RFID chipped
News All US passports will be implanted with remotely readable computer chips starting in October 2006, the Bush administration has announced. Sweeping new State Department regulations issued on Tuesday say passports issued after that time will have... [26 Oct 2005]
UK passports face massive price hike
News These passports contain chips that store biographical data and a digital facial image of the holder. Fees for adult UK passports have risen by £45 between 1998 and 2006 to £66 with the introduction of the first biometric ePassports. [10 Oct 2007]
RFID-chipped passports cross the pond
News A first wave of US passports implanted with RFID tags will soon begin making their way into the hands of American travellers despite lingering privacy and security concerns, federal officials said. The agency said it plans to issue the documents... [15 Aug 2006]
Biometric passports: Sidekicks, sunglasses, smiles and scarves banned
News It’s not just smiles that are forbidden on photos for Europe's forthcoming e-passports - oversized glasses and headwear will also be out. The directive will come into force in March 2005 in the UK and will form part of the Europe-wide drive towards... [12 Aug 2004]
Biometric passports take off
News He said the changeover to ePassports had taken place over a number of months, while the agency also dealt with record levels of demand for passports. The agency also pointed out that the switchover to biometric passports means the UK has beaten the... [05 Oct 2006]
Mobiles, iPods guarded more dearly than passports
News Britons take more care with mobile phone and iPods than they do with their passports, new research suggests. However, IPS executive director Bernard Herdan said passports are more valuable to a thief than gadgets. [24 Aug 2006]
E-passports emerge on US horizon
News The United States is moving forward with a plan to issue new high-tech passports this year that incorporate facial recognition technology - despite privacy concerns and possible technical problems. E-passports" - also dubbed "smart passports... [26 Oct 2004]
Tech upgrade for biometric passports and ID cards
News The UK Passport Service (UKPS) is working on a technology upgrade to help it cope with new demands resulting from biometric passports and identity cards. This will support government plans for biometric passports, which are a major building block... [19 Jul 2005]
'Keep your biometric passports' US to tell UK
News The US looks set to ditch its demands that all UK citizens wishing to travel to the US must have biometric passports by this October. Despite the legislation requiring biometric passports entering the US' statute books in 2002, the UK recently... [09 Jun 2005]
Forgers will crack e-passports within a decade
News The head of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) claims the biometric technology behind new passports will have to be updated more than once every 10 years in order to keep one step ahead of the criminal gangs who mass produce forgeries. [30 Jun 2005]
UK passports to go biometric
News Biometric data is likely to appear on all UK passports within the following four years, the UK Passport Office chief has stated. Passports will have a microchip embedded into them which contains unique data relating to fingerprints or iris... [21 Feb 2002]
EU gives thumbs-up to biometric passports
News Ministers of European Union member states on Tuesday agreed to introduce biometric passports. The first biometric passports are due to arrive in 18 months and will initially store facial characteristics of the bearer. [28 Oct 2004]
Enhancing Privacy for RFID Passports
White Paper While contactless reading of passports can be advantageous compared to traditional contact-based smart cards, e.g.avoid issues of contact contamination, the use of the RFID is only necessary when an authorized ofcial needs to inspect the passport... [14 Feb 2006]
First biometric passports issued to diplomats
News The Foreign Office has been conducting trials of the new passports, which will be issued to the public from February next year. A trial of the passports took place at the Paris consulate in September, and a second trial took place in Washington in... [08 Nov 2005]
Foreign Office faces up to biometric passports
News The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is spending £5m to equip embassies and consulates around the world with the technology to issue biometric passports. One in 10 British passports is issued overseas, and the new web-based Identity Document... [25 Jul 2005]
