TL;DR
Biometric passports (e-passports) embed a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip that stores unique physical identifiers — such as facial maps, fingerprints, and iris scans — alongside standard travel data. Issued by the U.S. since 2007, they offer significant advantages over traditional passports: faster border crossings, reduced fraud risk, and layered security protocols (including Active Authentication, Public Key Infrastructure Encryption (PKI Encryption) and Radio Frequency Shielding Mesh (RF-Blocking Mesh). As global adoption accelerates, travelers to Europe will soon need both a biometric passport and an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) authorization to enter the Schengen Area.
What is a biometric passport?
A biometric passport is a technologically advanced passport containing a chip that holds specific biometric information. This e-passport is sophisticated and secure. The RFID microchip is embedded into the passport. Often, the chip in the passport is so small that it is undetectable. Passports are needed to travel between countries and identify you. A biometric passport adds an extra layer of security by containing specific biometric information that can include facial mapping for facial recognition software, fingerprints, or iris scans. Biometrics are physical characteristics that are unique to you and can be used to authenticate identity, Homeland Security explains.
Biometric passports contain much of the same information as a standard passport, but they are more technologically advanced. They contain biometrics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. These e-passports are more convenient and can protect against identity theft and fraud. Biometric passports are extremely secure. A biometric passport and a special ETIAS authorization will be necessary in as little as a year from now to travel to Europe from the United States. Today, e-passports are increasingly more widely accepted, beneficial, secure, and necessary for traveling globally.
What are the advantages of an e-passport?
An e-passport is convenient and easy to use. Waivers and visas can be electronically linked to the biometric passport, so there is less paper to print and carry around. It ultimately makes it easier to keep track of everything. These are also scannable passports that can reduce time spent waiting in lines to have the passport checked. Many biometric passport countries have electronic passport gates that read the passport's chip to quickly verify your identity without the need for a manual check. The biggest advantage of a biometric passport, however, is the enhanced security. Biometrics are specific to each person. They are much harder to fake, hack, or steal. This is important, as identity theft and fraud are major concerns, with 4.7 million reports identified by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2020. The chip in an e-passport is technologically advanced and uses enhanced security features to prevent data "skimming" or unauthorized reading. Homeland Security details the following advantages of an e-passport:
- Protection against identity theft
- Secure identification of passport holder
- Privacy protection
- Harder to alter or forge for illegal entry into the country
How does a biometric passport differ from a standard passport?
Both a normal, or standard, passport and a biometric passport contain your basic identifying information. The difference is the chip in the e-passport that also contains biometric information. Biometric passports do not have to be read mechanically or manually. Instead, they can be scanned from a short distance. Passports issued in the United States since August 2007 are all electronic passports with the special integrated chip embedded into the back cover of the passport book. This chip has a unique chip identification number and allows for contactless reading of the information by specialized chip readers at a close distance.
| Feature | Standard Passport | Biometric Passport (e-Passport) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic identifying information | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip | No | Yes |
| Biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans, facial map) | No | Yes |
| Contactless scanning | No (manual/mechanical) | Yes (short-distance chip reader) |
| U.S. standard issue date | Before August 2007 | Since August 2007 |
What information is contained in a biometric passport?
A biometric passport will contain the following:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Photograph (often in a biometric form, such as a 3D map of the face that can be used in facial recognition software)
- Biographical information, such as birthplace
- Biometric information, which can include fingerprints or iris scans
- Unique chip identification number
- Digital signature that protects the stored data from being altered
How an e-passport works
A biometric passport has a microprocessor chip that is embedded into the passport and contains specific information that is unique to the passport holder. Generally, it is the digital image that is actually stored directly on the chip. Then, this image is compared against the biometric information and checked at an electronic border control system, or an e-border. The traveler will look into a screen while scanning the e-passport, which will cross-check facial measurements with those stored on the passport chip. The e-passport chip works much like a credit card that contains an integrated chip using digital signature technology to verify the authenticity of the information that is stored on it.
How does PKI encryption protect passport data?
The chip in the passport also uses PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology, which helps to prevent alteration of the data contained on the chip. This encryption key is an added layer of security.
How secure is a biometric passport?
A biometric passport is not foolproof, but it is hard to falsify, steal, or alter due to several systems and mechanisms in place to protect the data. These include the following:
- Active Authentication (AA): This helps to prevent cloning of biometric passports.
- Passive Authentication (PA): This detects chip modifications.
- Basic Access Control (BAC): This works to protect the channel of communication between the passport chip and the e-passport reader.
- Extended Access Control (EAC): This is an extra safeguard for iris scans and fingerprint data.
- Metallic Mesh: This RF blocking material is embedded into the passport booklet to prevent "skimming" or unauthorized reading of the passport, as it must be opened to be scanned.
- Random UID (RUID) Feature: This works to prevent tracking by issuing a new and random UID every time the chip is accessed and authorization to the data is granted.
How are biometric passports used globally?
Many countries around the world are moving to e-passports, and some are requiring them for entry. The United States, for example, requires travelers entering the country via the Visa Waiver Program to have and use an e-passport.
Which countries require biometric passports for entry?
Countries such as Slovakia have been using biometric passports for many years. Similarly, travelers wishing to enter Europe after the end of 2022 will be required to use a biometric passport and obtain an ETIAS visa waiver. You'll need to fill out an online form that includes personal information and security questions. Then, that waiver can be linked to a biometric passport, making for easy travel.
Frequently asked questions
Do all U.S. passports currently contain a biometric chip?
Yes. All passports issued in the United States since August 2007 are electronic passports with an integrated RFID chip embedded into the back cover of the passport book.
Can someone read my biometric passport without my knowledge?
It is very difficult. The passport must be physically opened to be scanned, and a metallic mesh embedded in the booklet blocks unauthorized radio frequency reading. The Random UID (RUID) feature also issues a new identifier each time the chip is accessed, preventing tracking.
What biometric data is actually stored on the passport chip?
The chip typically stores a digital facial image used for facial recognition, and may also include fingerprints or iris scans, alongside standard biographical data such as full name, date of birth, birthplace, and a unique chip identification number.
What is the difference between Active Authentication (AA) and Passive Authentication (PA) in a biometric passport?
Active Authentication (AA) is designed to prevent cloning of the passport chip, while Passive Authentication (PA) detects whether the chip's data has been modified or tampered with after issuance.
Will I need a biometric passport to travel to Europe?
Yes. Travelers wishing to enter Europe after the end of 2022 are required to use a biometric passport and also obtain an European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) visa waiver by completing an online form with personal and security information.
How does a biometric passport verify identity at the border?
At an electronic border control system (e-border), the traveler looks into a screen while scanning their e-passport. The system cross-checks live facial measurements against the biometric data stored on the passport chip to confirm identity without requiring a manual document check.
References
Biometrics. (June 2021). U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
New Data Shows FTC Received 2.2 Million Fraud Reports from Consumers in 2020. (February 2021). Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
E-Passports. (March 2020). U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
E-Passport: All About the Electronic Passport. U.S. Passport Service.
ETIAS for Americans. (2021). ETIAS.
