Biometric Passports
All new, full UK passports are biometric. This means that they carry biological information about a person that links them to their passport.
You will be issued with a biometric passport when you apply for your first UK passport or to renew your passport.
Your passport will use 'facial biometrics'. You must ensure that the passport photographs you provide meet the required standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Biometric UK passports are an important counter-fraud measure introduced by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).
Read rules for passport photos and download the IPS Guide to taking a good photo for your passport
Why Biometrics?
The increasing threat of identity fraud means we must strengthen security features in passports.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets international standards, chose facial recognition as the primary biometric.
The use of biometric information to link a person to a passport can help to counter identity fraud.
In practice, biometric verification can be used at border controls and to verify the image on a passport renewal application against images held on record.
Biometric information is also used to:
- allow automated immigration checks in the future
- ensure that British citizens can continue to benefit from visa-free travel to the USA
- avoid disadvantaging British passport holders as other countries switch to biometric passports.
How do facial biometrics work?
Facial recognition maps various features on the face - for example, the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears.
The measurements are digitally coded and this can then be used for comparison and verification purposes.
Biometric technology is perfectly safe as facial biometrics can be taken from a good quality passport photograph.
BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Passport Service (UKPS) have been working closely to develop biometric passports. From March 2006 onwards the FCO started its programme to rollout biometric passport producing equipment to all overseas British passport-issuing posts. The British Embassy in Vienna started producing biometric passports from 2 June 2006. Digital passports in the previous format are now no longer being issued.
The company which produces UK passports has advised us that new 48 page (jumbo) biometric will be temporarily unavailable until early 2007. Standard 32 page biometric passports remain unaffected. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause frequent travellers.
For further details on biometrics passports, please see:
The company which produces UK passports has advised us that new 48 page (jumbo) biometric will be temporarily unavailable until early 2007. Standard 32 page biometric passports remain unaffected. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause frequent travellers.
For further details on biometrics passports, please see:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What are biometrics?
1. What are biometrics?
Biometrics is an automated process that verifies an individual’s identity based on his/her physical characteristics. Examples of biometric technology include facial recognition, fingerprints and iris patterns.
2. What is the biometric passport?
The biometric British passport has a new design with additional security features, including a chip with the holder’s facial biometrics.
3. Why has the UK introduced biometrics in its passports?
The increasing threat of identity fraud makes it necessary to strengthen the security features in passports. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO – which sets international standards) nominated facial recognition as the primary biometric, with iris and fingerprint as backup but not obligatory. The use of biometric information to link a person to a passport can help to counter identify fraud. In practice, biometric verification can be used at border controls and to verify the image on a passport renewal application against images held on record. The use of biometric information to link a person to a passport therefore serves two purposes, to a) help to detect counterfeit or manipulated documents and b) confirm the identify of the individual.
4. How do facial biometrics work?
Facial recognition maps various features on the face, for example, the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears. The measurements are digitally coded and held on an electronic chip secured in the passport page. This can then be used for comparison and verification purposes. UKPS will be able to derive applicants’ facial biometrics from their passport photos.
IMPORTANT! The standard of photographs you attach to your application is critical. If your photographs do not meet the required standard you will be asked to provide photographs that do, and your application will be returned.
5. Why have facial biometrics and not fingerprints/iris been introduced?
Facial biometrics can be implemented with minimal changes to the image capture (i.e. photo booths) and application process. The technology is very well suited for border control checking, enabling immigration officers to produce an image of the passport holder, in order to check the authenticity of the document against the person. The UKPS is still considering a secondary biometric in a later version of the passport.
6. How is the new passport different?
Externally, the new biometric passport appears very similar to the former one, although it features a logo indicating that there is a chip inside. Internally there are many new security features, including pages with intricate designs and new complex watermarks.
7. What information is stored on the chip?
The chip stores the passport holder’s digital photo and signature. Other personal details printed on the passport bio-data page are also stored on the chip. The chip complements the security features contained in the machine-readable zone (two lines of data at the bottom of the data page) of the passport. The machine-readable zone is needed to ensure immigration desks can continue to use existing readers.
8. Is the biometric passport secure?
The new biometric passport has many new security features, including a chip. The new design is harder to forge, as the new security features indicate whether the passport is genuine or has been tampered with, and the facial biometrics on the chip help link the passport holder to the document. The data on the chip (your photo and personal information as printed on page 31 of the passport) are protected against skimming (and “eavesdropping”) by an advanced digital encryption technique. The chip complements the security features inherent in the machine-readable zone (found on the personal data page of the passport).
9. When do I need to apply for a new biometric passport?
Your current passport will remain valid until its expiry date. You do not need to exchange it for a biometric passport.
10. Do I need a biometric passport to enter the US?
The US Senate announced on 15 June 2005 a one-year extension (to 26 October 2006) to their requirement for biometric passports. This means that the former digital passports (machine-readable, with a digital image) will continue to meet the criteria of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) for the time being, and most British Citizens will not require a US visa. Please visit www.usembassy.org.uk or www.fco.gov.uk for more detailed information about US visa and immigration rules.
11. Where should I apply for a biometric passport?
Applications are processed by the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Vienna. Application forms remain the same and can be downloaded from the “Applying for a passport” page on this website.
Applications are processed by the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Vienna. Application forms remain the same and can be downloaded from the “Applying for a passport” page on this website.
12. How long will the application process take?
Our aim is to continue to process straightforward applications within ten working days, once we have received the required documentation and the fee. But the production process will inevitably be slightly longer and delays may occur, especially at busier times of the year. We therefore strongly advise applicants to apply well in advance of any planned date of travel.
Our aim is to continue to process straightforward applications within ten working days, once we have received the required documentation and the fee. But the production process will inevitably be slightly longer and delays may occur, especially at busier times of the year. We therefore strongly advise applicants to apply well in advance of any planned date of travel.
13. Are biometric passports more expensive?
Given the new security features, biometric passports are inevitably more expensive than the previous format passport. A child's passport costs €92 (€70) and an adult passport €142 (€107) (previous prices are in brackets). Unfortunately 48-page Biometric passports will not be available until further notice, very probably this will be by early 2007.
Because all new UK passports use facial biometrics, you must make sure your passport photographs meet the required standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.