What are India’s chip-based e-passports? – Firstpost

India is giving its passport system a high-tech makeover.

To spice up identification and safety, the federal government has began rolling out e-passports, a contemporary model that integrates superior digital passport know-how with the standard paper passport.

These new passports are a part of a pilot programme beneath the Passport Seva Programme 2.0, which formally kicked off on April 1, 2024, as per the Ministry of Exterior Affairs. The e-passports are at present being issued in choose cities throughout the nation, with a plan to broaden the rollout nationwide within the coming months.

Right here’s a fast take a look at the whole lot that you must know.

How do e-passports work?

India’s e-passports come embedded with an antenna and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, built-in right into a particular inlay.

These superior passports securely retailer the traveller’s biometric and private information — together with facial pictures, fingerprints, title, date of delivery, and passport quantity.

All of this info is encrypted and shielded by world safety protocols akin to Primary Entry Management (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), and Prolonged Entry Management (EAC), making the information tough to tamper with.

They’re additionally simple to identify, because of a particular gold-coloured image printed beneath the entrance cowl, setting them other than common passports.

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Why this issues

Biometric e-passports have grow to be the worldwide customary for safe and seamless worldwide journey.

With an embedded chip that allows real-time id authentication, these passports permit for automated, contactless immigration checks at e-gates.

The end result? Shorter queues, sooner clearance, and a much more handy expertise for travellers.

Past velocity and comfort, e-passports additionally considerably enhance information safety. They minimise the possibilities of id theft, forgery, and faux passport incidents throughout border checks.

Additional, by introducing this know-how, India is aligning itself with the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO) requirements, putting its residents on equal footing with travellers from international locations that already use such high-security paperwork.

Up to now, greater than 120 international locations — together with the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, and Japan — have adopted chip-based biometric passports, and India is now formally becoming a member of that league.

Additionally learn:
From Australia to UAE, how international locations are rolling out simple visas for Indians

Which passport seva centres are providing e-passports?

E-passports are at present being issued in 13 cities throughout India as a part of the preliminary rollout part. These cities embody Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Ranchi, and Delhi.

The Ministry of Exterior Affairs has confirmed that this marks solely the start. The nationwide rollout is predicted to increase to all Passport Seva Kendras by mid-2025.

In Tamil Nadu, the method formally started on March 3, 2025, with e-passports being issued on the Regional Passport Workplace in Chennai. By March 22, the state had already issued 20,729 e-passports.

The best way to apply for an e-passport?

Making use of for an e-passport is simple and follows the identical steps as an everyday passport.

Begin by visiting the Passport Seva Portal, fill within the required particulars, pay the relevant charges, and ebook an appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Publish Workplace Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).

Throughout your appointment, biometric information akin to your {photograph} and fingerprints can be collected.

All e-passports are printed and embedded with chips on the India Safety Press in Nashik. This ensures that your entire manufacturing course of is managed inside the nation, supporting the Make in India initiative and sustaining management over delicate private information.

It’s additionally value noting that switching to an e-passport is just not obligatory. Present passports will proceed to be legitimate till their date of expiry and can be utilized with out subject.

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