Biometric passports, or e-passports, contain much of the same information as a standard passport, but they are more technologically advanced. A biometric passport contains an RFID chip that holds more specific information than just your name, date of birth, and country of origin. Biometric passports also 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 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.
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 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
Biometric passport vs. 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.
Information 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. 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.
Biometric passport security
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.
Global use for biometric passports
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. 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 (European Travel Information and Authorization System) 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.
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.
Pasipoti za Biometriki (e-Passport) ni aina ya hati ya kusafiri ambayo ina habari nyingi kama hati ya kusafiri ya kawaida, lakini ni ya hali ya juu zaidi. Pasipoti ya biometriki ina chip ya RFID ambayo ina habari maalum zaidi kuliko jina lako, tarehe ya kuzaliwa, na nchi ya asili. Pasipoti za biometriki pia zina biometriki, kama vile alama za vidole, utambuzi wa uso, au skani za iris. Pasipoti hizi za elektroniki ni rahisi zaidi na zinaweza kulinda dhidi ya wizi wa utambulisho na udanganyifu. Pasipoti za biometriki ni salama sana. Pasipoti ya biometriki na idhini maalum ya ETIAS itahitajika katika muda mfupi kama mwaka mmoja kutoka sasa kusafiri kwenda Ulaya kutoka Marekani. Leo, pasipoti za elektroniki zinakubaliwa zaidi na zaidi, zina faida, ni salama, na zinahitajika kwa kusafiri ulimwenguni pote. Pasipoti ya biometriki ni nini? Pasipoti ya biometriki ni pasipoti ya kisasa ya kiteknolojia yenye chip ambayo inashikilia habari maalum ya biometriki. Pasipoti hii ya elektroniki ni ya kisasa na salama. Microchip ya RFID imewekwa ndani ya pasipoti. Mara nyingi, chip iliyo katika pasipoti ni ndogo sana hivi kwamba haiwezi kugunduliwa. Pasipoti zinahitajika kusafiri kati ya nchi na kukutambulisha. Pasipoti ya Biometriki inaongeza safu ya ziada ya usalama kwa kuwa na habari maalum ya biometriki ambayo inaweza kujumuisha ramani ya uso kwa programu ya utambuzi wa uso, alama za vidole, au skani za iris. Biometrics ni sifa za kimwili ambazo ni za kipekee kwako na zinaweza kutumiwa kuthibitisha utambulisho, Usalama wa Nyumbani unaelezea. Faida za pasipoti ya elektroniki Pasipoti ya elektroniki ni rahisi na rahisi kutumia. Vifaa vya kuajiri na visa vinaweza kuunganishwa kwa njia ya elektroniki na pasipoti ya biometriki, kwa hivyo kuna karatasi kidogo ya kuchapisha na kubeba. Hatimaye hufanya iwe rahisi kufuatilia kila kitu. Pia, pasipoti hizo zinaweza kuchunguzwa na kupunguza muda unaotumiwa kusubiri kwenye foleni ili pasipoti hiyo ichunguzwe. Nchi nyingi za pasipoti za biometriki zina milango ya pasipoti ya elektroniki ambayo husoma chip ya pasipoti ili kuthibitisha haraka utambulisho wako bila haja ya ukaguzi wa mwongozo. Hata hivyo, faida kubwa zaidi ya pasipoti ya biometriki ni usalama ulioimarishwa. Biometrics ni maalum kwa kila mtu. Ni vigumu sana kuibadilisha, kuibadilisha, au kuiba. Hii ni muhimu kwa sababu wizi wa utambulisho na udanganyifu ni wasiwasi mkubwa, na ripoti milioni 4.7 zilizotambuliwa na FTC mnamo 2020. Chip katika pasipoti ya elektroniki ni ya kisasa kiteknolojia na hutumia vipengele vya usalama vilivyoimarishwa kuzuia data "skimming" au kusoma bila ruhusa. Usalama wa Taifa (Homeland Security) unafafanua faida zifuatazo za pasipoti ya elektroniki: Ulinzi dhidi ya wizi wa utambulisho, utambulisho salama wa mmiliki wa pasipoti, ulinzi wa faragha, ngumu kubadilisha au kutengeneza kwa kuingia kinyume cha sheria nchini, pasipoti ya Biometriki dhidi ya pasipoti ya kawaida, na pasipoti ya biometriki. Tofauti ni chip katika pasipoti ya elektroniki ambayo pia ina habari ya biometric. Pasipoti za biometriki hazihitaji kusomwa kwa mashine au kwa mkono. Badala yake, zinaweza kuchunguzwa kutoka umbali mfupi. Pasipoti zilizotolewa nchini Marekani tangu Agosti 2007 ni pasipoti zote za elektroniki na chip maalum iliyojumuishwa kwenye kifuniko cha nyuma cha kitabu cha pasipoti. Chip hii ina namba ya kitambulisho cha kipekee ya chip na inaruhusu kusoma bila kugusa habari na wasomaji wa chip maalum kwa umbali wa karibu. "Kama ""kitambulisho cha kipekee"" cha pasipoti, kitambulisho cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee cha kipekee." Kwa ujumla, ni picha ya digital ambayo ni kweli kuhifadhiwa moja kwa moja juu ya chip. Picha hiyo inazingatiwa na habari za biometriki na kuchunguzwa kwenye mfumo wa kudhibiti mipaka ya elektroniki. Msafiri ataangalia kwenye skrini wakati akichunguza pasipoti ya elektroniki, ambayo itakabiliana na vipimo vya uso na zile zilizohifadhiwa kwenye chip ya pasipoti. Chip ya pasipoti ya elektroniki inafanya kazi kama kadi ya mkopo ambayo ina chip iliyojumuishwa kwa kutumia teknolojia ya saini ya dijiti ili kuthibitisha uhalisi wa habari zilizohifadhiwa. Chip ya pasipoti hutumia teknolojia ya PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) ambayo husaidia kuzuia mabadiliko ya data zilizo kwenye chip. Ufunguo huu wa encryption ni safu ya ziada ya usalama. Usalama wa Pasipoti ya Biometriki Pasipoti ya Biometriki sio foolproof, lakini ni ngumu kuibadilisha, kuiba, au kubadilisha kwa sababu ya mifumo kadhaa na taratibu zilizopo kulinda data. Hizi ni pamoja na zifuatazo: - Active Authentication (AA): Hii husaidia kuzuia cloning ya pasipoti biometric. - Passive Authentication (PA): Hii hugundua mabadiliko ya chip. Usimamizi wa Ufikiaji wa Msingi (BAC) - Usimamizi wa Ufikiaji wa Msingi (BAC) ni mfumo wa mawasiliano kati ya chip ya pasipoti na msomaji wa pasipoti ya elektroniki. - Extended Access Control (EAC): Hii ni ulinzi wa ziada kwa ajili ya scans iris na data ya alama za vidole. - Metal Mesh: Hii RF kuzuia nyenzo ni embedded katika kitabu pasipoti kuzuia <unk>skimming<unk> au kusoma yasiyo ya ruhusa ya pasipoti, kama ni lazima kufunguliwa kuwa scanned. - Random UID (RUID) kipengele: Hii kazi ya kuzuia kufuatilia kwa kutoa mpya na random UID kila wakati chip ni kupatikana na idhini kwa data ni kupewa. Utekelezaji wa Pasipoti za Biometriki: Nchi nyingi duniani kote zinatumia Pasipoti za Kielektroniki, na zingine zinahitaji kwa kuingia. Marekani, kwa mfano, inahitaji wasafiri wanaoingia nchini kupitia Programu ya Utoaji Visa kuwa na na kutumia pasipoti ya elektroniki. Nchi kama vile Slovakia zimekuwa zikitumia pasipoti za biometriki kwa miaka mingi. Kwa mfano, kwa wale wanaotaka kuingia Ulaya baada ya mwisho wa 2022, watahitaji kutumia pasipoti ya biometriki na kupata ETIAS (Mfumo wa Habari na Uidhinishaji wa Usafiri wa Ulaya) visa ya kuachiliwa. Unahitaji kujaza fomu ya mtandaoni ambayo inajumuisha habari za kibinafsi na maswali ya usalama. Kisha, msamaha huo waweza kuunganishwa na pasipoti ya biometriki, na kufanya usafiri uwe rahisi. Biometrics (Biometrics) (Juni 2021). Idara ya Usalama wa Ndani ya Marekani (DHS) Takwimu mpya zinaonyesha FTC ilipokea ripoti milioni 2.2 za udanganyifu kutoka kwa watumiaji mnamo 2020. (Feb 2021) Tume ya Biashara ya Shirikisho (FTC) Pasipoti za elektroniki. (Machi 2020). Idara ya Usalama wa Ndani ya Marekani (DHS) E-Pasipoti: Yote Kuhusu Pasipoti ya Elektroniki. Huduma ya Pasipoti ya Marekani ETIAS kwa Wamarekani (2021) ETIAS