Canada To Introduce Electronic Passports In 2012
Posted April 7, 2010 12:04 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Following the lead of the U.S., the United Kingdom, France and dozens of other countries, Canada will begin issuing higher-security electronic passports come 2012.
The new ePassports will look the same as the ones travellers use now but will have an electronic chip embedded in the back cover.
The chip will contain the same data found on the second page of the passport, but will clearly reveal to officials any signs of tampering and will sync with facial recognition technology.
Also, applicants will be able to choose from a 10-year validity period in addition to the current 5-year time frame.
Passport fees will rise with the introduction of the chip. But until May 7, Canadians can give feedback on how best to keep costs down as well as on ways to improve the passport and its application process.
As part of a pilot project that began in January 2009, Passport Canada has issued about 25,000 diplomatic and special passports containing the chip.
To have your say, visit the Passport Canada website.
