NO2ID

I read the UKPS website as saying that biometric passports will be rolled out sometime this year and will take around 6 to 9 months. 2008 will potentially see the introduction of fingerprints.

The RFID chip hold the biometric data so rfid and biometrics go hand in hand.

This site says that RFID-style chips will be used, but whether that means they'll work just like RFID or need to be held pretty close to a chip reader is a different matter altogether. Full-on RFID is certainly controversial in the US, and won't be introduced there for now.

Useability –
Border Authorities have a strong desire for a contactless mode of operation - this is the data storage technology alternative most amenable to the passport booklet format, and the easiest for passport holders to manage – rather than swiping or sensing the electronic data it is simply retrieved via short-range antennae – the holder placing their MRTD on top of a designated reading device. High Density Magnetic Strip, Optical Memory and Contact IC chips all require direct contact of the technology with a reader. 2DB requires direct, or line-of-sight, contact of the technology with a reader. The only technology that requires neither direct or line-of-sight contact is Contactless IC Chips.

Data Storage -
Transitional considerations aside, the minimum practicable data storage capacity needed for biometric verification given inclusion of facial images is approximately 15-20K (kilobytes) of data {ref Section 7, as well as Annexes B and C – Optimal Data Storage Sizes}. This need obviates the use of 2DB (typical capacity up to 2.2K, though some technologies up to 15.5K are available which have potential for deployment in localized travel document applications); and of High Density Magnetic Strip (typical capacity is up to 3,024 bytes gross; 2328 bytes net of overheads) The only technologies with sufficient capacity are Contact IC chips, Contactless IC Chips and Optical Memory.

Performance -
• The more data to be retrieved, the slower the retrieval rate for any given technology.
• The ability to retrieve randomly only the data you need as opposed to serially reading the entire record also improves performance throughputs.
• In general Contactless IC Chip technologies read faster than Contact IC chips. Furthermore to meet the necessary data retrieval requirements, an operating system on the chip is required which is as per ISO Standard 7816-4 (refer the LDS Technical Report).

Overall in terms of the considerations of Useability, Data Storage and Performance, Contactless IC Chip is the only Data Storage Technology that meets all three considerations.

Useability –
Border Authorities have a strong desire for a contactless mode of operation...

Data Storage -
Transitional considerations aside, the minimum practicable data storage capacity...

Performance...

BTW, couldn't find the above text in the PDF.

Hello, can you please tell me if the chips included in the new biometric e-passports are RFID (i.e. contactless) or if they are simple smart chips which must be in contact with the reader (as with chip-and-pin credit cards)?

Thank you.

Thank you for your enquiry.

The US expects countries that are covered by the visa waiver scheme to have a plan in place that clearly outlines how they will introduce biometric data to passports issued. The UKPS have a programme of work in place to offer its customers passport books and/or passport cards that will include a biometric identifier. Passports with a biometric will be produced early in 2006, but there will be a gradual roll out of these new passports and it is not possible to specify which sort of passport you will receive until UKPS cease production of the current design of passport.


>From the 26 June 2005 passports for visa free travel to the US must be machine-readable .From this date anyone who does not have their own machine-readable passport including Children included on a parents passport will need to apply for their own or OBTAIN A VISA to travel..

Thank you