Polycarbonate e-passport
Examples of polycarbonate data pages
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A polycarbonate e-passport is a type of travel document that features a biometric data page made from polycarbonate, a durable thermoplastic material, rather than a traditional paper or laminated paper sheet. Polycarbonate passports are designed to improve document durability, security, and resistance to tampering, by laser-engraving information into the inner layers of the plastic, which significantly enhances protection against counterfeiting and ensures greater long-term reliability compared to traditional laminated pages.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]Finland was the first country to introduce a passport with a polycarbonate data page in 1997.[4] Sweden followed shortly after, becoming the first to implement a biometric polycarbonate data page during the early adoption of e-passports. Since then, the design has gradually been adopted around the world.[5]
As of 2019, over 40 countries have transitioned from laminated paper biometric data pages to polycarbonate alternatives in their passports.[6]
Global adoption
[edit] |
Argentina: Issued since February 2026.[7]
Australia: Issued since September 2022.[8]
Bangladesh: Issued since January 2020.[citation needed]
Brunei: Issued since 2008.[9]
Cambodia: Issued since 2014.[10]
Canada: Introduced in May 2023.[11]
Chile: Issued since December 2024.[12]
Colombia: Previously issued from September 2010 [13] to April 2026.[14]
Cyprus: Issued since 2026.[15]
East Timor: Issued since 2017.[16]
Hong Kong: Issued since 2007.[17][18]
Indonesia: Issued since 2023.[19]
Japan: Issued since March 2025.[20]
Jordan: Issued since 2025.[21]
Macau: Issued since 2009.[22]
Malaysia: Issued since 2013.[23]
Maldives: Issued since 2016.[24]
New Zealand: Issued since 2009.[25]
Poland: Issued since 2018.[26]
Singapore: Issued since 2006.[27]
South Africa: Issued since 8 April 2009.[28]
South Korea: Issued since 2021.[29]
Thailand: Issued since 2020.[30]
United Kingdom: Issued since 2020.[31]
United States: Issued since 2021.[32]
Ukraine: Issued since 2015.[33]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Understanding the Key Differences Between Polycarbonate E-Passports and Regular E-Passports". Indonesia Consultant Agency. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2024-11-24.[dead link]
- ↑ "Information about the Next Generation U.S. Passport". travel.state.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ↑ "KINEGRAM for passport protection and passport authentication". www.kinegram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ↑ "Finland Selects Gemalto for Its New Secure Electronic Passport and eID". printed electronics now. Jan 22, 2016.
- ↑ "The Paper vs Polycarbonate Passport Debate An ITW Security Division White Paper – March 2017" (PDF). www.itwsf.com.
- ↑ Jacquot, Frederic (October 5, 1996). "How Polycarbonate is Creating More Secure Passport Datapages". HID. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024.
- ↑ "Nuevo Pasaporte Argentino". www.argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-04-14.
- ↑ "Australia has a new passport". Australian Passport Office. 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023.
- ↑ "New biometric passport to be launched today". www.bt.com.bn. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
- ↑ Everyday (2014-07-16). "Cambodia introduces new passport with ten-year validity". Everyday.com.kh. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ "Canada unveils new passport design with state-of-the-art security features". www.canada.ca. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Nuevos pasaportes y cédulas de identidad: innovadores, inclusivos y con mayor seguridad para Chile y sus habitantes". minjusticia.gob.cl. El Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos de Chile. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "If you are leaving Colombia, check your passport and avoid inconveniences due to not having the document in order". www.cancilleria.gov.co. 24 Apr 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Estos son los nuevos pasaportes colombianos que se imprimirán en Colombia a partir de este 1 de abril". www.portafolio.co (in Spanish). 2026-04-01. Archived from the original on 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-04.
- ↑ Veridos GmbH (2026-06-18). "Cyprus is ready to Go Live with pilot phase for new national ID documents produced by Veridos Matsoukis in Greece". Veridos GmbH. Retrieved 2026-07-20.
- ↑ Thales Group (2017-06-06). "East Timor government goes live with Gemalto's electronic passport solution". Thales Group. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ "New passports to come with security upgrades, creative UV prints". South China Morning Post. 1 February 2019.
- ↑ "Physical Features and Design of Electronic Passport". Hong Kong Immigration Department. 1 February 2019.
- ↑ Directorate General of Immigration (2023-05-04). "Apa Itu Paspor Elektronik Lembar Polikarbonat dan Di Mana Bisa Mengajukannya? Simak Penjelasan Berikut Ini!". Directorate General of Immigration (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ "Passport Design To Be Changed To Combat Forgery ; New Passport Applications Will Be Available Online From March 24". japannews.yomiuri.co.jp. The Yomiuri Shimbun. 4 January 2025.
- ↑ Agency (Petra), Jordan News. "Jordanian e-passports to be issued early next September-CSPD". Jordan News Agency - Petra. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ↑ NEWS GOV-MO: 第三代澳門特區旅行證件 智•慧齊升 [The Third Generation of Macao SAR Travel Documents: Smarter and More Intelligent]. NEWS GOV-MO (in Chinese (Macau)). Gabinete de Comunicação Social do Governo da RAEM. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ↑ Thales Group. "The Malaysian electronic passport is a piece of art". Thales Group. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ Immigration, Maldives. "Maldivian Passport". Maldives Immigration. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
- ↑ "New style ePassport released today". Beehive.govt.nz. Government of New Zealand. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Uruchomiono produkcję nowego polskiego paszportu". Interia Biznes (in Polish). 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
- ↑ "Evolution of Passports". ICA. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
2006: Singapore's biometric passport (BioPass) was officially launched. The BioPass contained the holder's unique biometric identities such as fingerprint data, facial image and passport details on a contactless chip. With the personal particulars digitally stored in the chip embedded in a polycarbonate data-page, the BioPass complied with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation for electronic machine-readable travel documents.
- ↑ "South Africans get new high security passport from today".
- ↑ "외교부 여권안내 홈페이지".
- ↑ Perala, Alex (2020-08-11). "Thales Formally Delivers Thailand's New Biometric Passport". ID Tech. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ "Types of British passports (accessible)". GOV.UK. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Information about the Next Generation U.S. Passport". United States Department of State. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "New series of Ukrainian passports in 2015". www.catalogueofcurrencies.com. Retrieved 2025-10-02.