EXPLAINED: What Are e-Passports And Should You Apply For One?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier this month announced the successful rollout of the e-Passport for citizens of India. The MEA stated that the introduction of e-Passports, alongside PSP V2.0,

marks another significant milestone for the nation.The e-Passport is a hybrid passport that combines both paper and electronic elements. It features an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an antenna, which store and secure the holder's data in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, the MEA explained. Critical information printed on the data page is also stored electronically on the chip, enabling enhanced security and authentication. Going forward, all newly issued passports will be e-Passports, while existing non-electronic passports will remain valid until their expiry, according to the MEA.

What is an e-Passport?

An e-Passport is a combined paper and electronic passport with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Chip and an antenna embedded as an inlay of passport that contains the personal particulars and biometric information of the passport holder, the government's Passport Seva explains.The ePassport will be visually identifiable as small additional gold colour symbol printed below the front cover of the passport.

What are the benefits of having an ePassport?

The major benefit of the e-Passport comes with an enhanced ability to maintain the integrity of passport holder’s data. The ePassport will have the data in printed form on the booklet, as well as digitally signed in the electronic chip, which can be securely authenticated by immigration officials globally; thus, safeguarding the passport from forgery, and potential fraudulent activities like fake passports, while confirming the genuineness at border controls.The underlying technology supporting the security of the ePassport is the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) solution which is the foundation for safeguarding sensitive information and confirming the integrity and origin of the personal and biometric data stored on the chip within the ePassport.

Is e-Passport necessary if you have a physical passport?

No. All Passports issued by Govt of India will continue to remain valid till their validity expiry date. As and when a respective Passport Office is technically enabled for issuance of ePassport, the citizens applying under that passport office will get the ePassport. The phase wise roll out of ePassport covering all Passport Offices across India may take few months.