Biometric passport facts for kids
A biometric passport (also called an electronic passport or e-passport) is like a regular passport but with a tiny computer chip built inside. This chip holds special information about you, like your fingerprints or a picture of your face. It helps prove that you are the real owner of the passport.
These passports use a technology similar to contactless smart cards. Imagine a small computer chip and an antenna hidden in the cover or a page of your passport. The important details from your passport, like your name and birthdate, are printed on a special page and also stored on this chip. A special security system helps make sure the information on the chip is real and very hard to copy or fake.
Many countries around the world now give out biometric passports. Malaysia was one of the first countries to start using them back in 1998. By 2019, over 150 countries were using these modern passports!
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What is a Biometric Passport?
The special information stored on the chip is called biometric data. This usually includes a digital picture of your face, your fingerprints, and sometimes even a picture of your eye's iris. These are unique features that help identify you.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) helps set the rules for how these passports should work. This makes sure that a biometric passport from one country can be read and understood by border control systems in other countries. The chip only stores a digital image of your biometric features, like a photo file. When you go through border control, special electronic systems compare your live features to the ones stored on the chip.
The chip itself is quite small, holding at least 32 kilobytes of memory. It uses international standards to make sure different passport makers and countries can all work together. Some national ID cards also have these special chips, making them similar to biometric passports for travel.
Keeping Your Passport Data Safe
Biometric passports have special ways to protect your personal information and prevent people from trying to fake them.
- Secret Codes: The information on the chip is often protected with secret codes, like a digital lock. This makes it hard for someone to read your data without permission.
- Digital Signatures: The passport chip has a special digital signature from the country that issued it. This is like a unique stamp that proves the data is real and hasn't been changed. If someone tries to change the information, the digital signature won't match, and the system will know it's a fake.
Experts, like those at ICAO and the German Federal Office for Information Security, regularly test these passports. They make sure all the security features work correctly and that the passports are safe to use. Even though experts sometimes find ways to test the security, governments work hard to fix any issues and keep your information protected.
Why Some People Have Questions
Some people have questions about biometric passports, especially about privacy. They wonder if the information on the chip, which can be read wirelessly, might be accessed by people who shouldn't have it.
It's important to know that these passports are designed with security in mind. Governments and experts are always working to make sure your personal information is kept safe and private. They use advanced technology to prevent identity theft and make sure only authorized people can read the chip. Discussions continue on how to make these passports even more secure and protect everyone's privacy.
Countries Using Biometric Passports
Today, most countries around the world issue biometric passports to their citizens. This includes countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. For example, countries like Ghana, India, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Brazil all use biometric passports. While the exact features, costs, and validity periods can vary from country to country, the main goal is the same: to make international travel safer and more secure for everyone.
Taking Your Passport Photo
When you get a biometric passport, your photo is very important because it's stored on the chip. There are specific rules to follow to make sure your photo works correctly:
- Face Forward: You need to face the camera directly.
- Expression: Keep a neutral expression, with your mouth closed.
- Eyes Clear: Both of your eyes must be clearly visible and open. Make sure no hair covers them.
- Glasses: If you wear glasses, there should be no glare or reflections on them. Avoid thick frames that might hide your eyes. Only wear glasses if you wear them all the time.
- Head Coverings: Head coverings are usually not allowed unless they are for religious reasons. Even then, your entire face, from your hairline to your chin and ears, must be clearly visible.
- Background: The background of your photo should be a plain, light color, like white or light blue. This helps your face stand out clearly.
Even if some countries use slightly different photo sizes, they usually adjust them to fit the international standards for biometric passports.
