NO2ID

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-new ... -lycw.html

Changes to passport processing planned

January 11, 2010

Radical changes to the way passports are processed are on the cards, with authorities looking to do away with paper forms and photos and move most of the application process online.

As part of plans to replace the decade-old Delta passport processing system - in order to cope with a surge in passport applications in the next few years - the Australian Passport Office is examining ways to speed up the process, with centralisation part of its plans.

Proposals in an APO document obtained by WAtoday.com.au show that instead of taking photos and signed forms and themselves to a passport office, applicants would have their photo and signature taken "live" electronically during the interview process, with the details uploaded online immediately.

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Posted here to highlight what the Australians are not proposing; there is no plan to issue fingerprint passports in Australia. If anyone tells you that the UK "has international obligations to issue fingerprint passports" or that "we'll need fingerprint passports to get into the USA", you can tell them that it just isn't true, and the actions of other countries like Australia proves it.

Incidentally, the USA has also announced no plans to fingerprint its own citizens for their passports (although they do fingerprint non-Americans going into their country).

It might be worth compiling a list of countries that have no plans to issue fingerprint passports. I'll start:

Australia
USA

... ?