NO2ID

Could current biometric passport holders be forced to add finger prints, iris scans etc to their passports in the future? The Passport Service’s website says that they’re considering adding other biometrics to future generations of biometric passports – does this mean that it isn’t technically possible to add fingerprints, etc to current biometric passports? Also how strict are the Passport Service about getting your renewal application countersigned if your appearance changes and about following the photo guidelines? Do your photos now have to be perfect to be accepted or are you given some leeway from the published guidelines?

Yes, the Home Office intend to do so. They are likely to start adding fingerprints when they decide that they have succeeded (or must claim to have succeeded) in their deployment of passports containing facial biometrics. Irises are likely to follow. However, there are no legal barriers to them attempting this as soon as they believe they are able.

No, these biometrics could be added now. However, there are logistical difficulties in collecting fingerprints and iris scans from all passport applicants. This is where their plans for compulsory registration on the National Identity Register enter the picture.

I don't know, but I don't recall hearing anyone complaining that they are overly strict.

Yes, they must be perfect. The immature and unreliable capture technology cannot cope with anything outside strictly defined parameters so they are rejecting tens of thousands of photos: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4594674.stm. Of course, the fact that a photo meets the criteria is no guarantee that it accurately represents anyone's face. I don't see how they could detect subtle distortions introduced to digital photos.

So if I renew my passport now and receive a biometric passport, the passport service could make me attend an interview some time in the future to add my fingerprints to my exisiting biometric passport?

Very, very unlikely. It would much easier for them just to cancel your existing passport and issue you with another. Other than the risk of people remotely interrogating your passport's RFID tag remotely, accepting a chipped passport with facial biometrics does not place you in any greater danger from the Home Office than getting an old-style machine readable travel document.

Renewing now offers some protection from the new procedures that the Home Office will soon introduce. I believe that the benefit of this far outweighs any possible concerns about having a new style passport.