The departments of Migration Service have always been crowded by huge queues, and in 2015 they almost doubled. The reason for this was the introduction in the system of a new type of document - the biometric passport.
The loud discussions immediately burst around this document, because only began to speak about the visa-free regime, but there was no question about any contracts in the international arena. Therefore, the Internet was throughout saturated with the inquiries such as "what is the biometric passport in Ukraine" and others that affect the subject of the necessary documents. We decided to write an extensive answer and to close this question for our readers and clients.
Biometric passport: the Ukrainian innovation or necessity?
Striving to become a part of the European Union Ukraine began printing new international passports. Of course, the question arises out - what is the biometric passport and what necessity is in its getting now?
The biometric passport is a document confirming a person’s identity, is made in the form of book and equipped with a special electronic device (the chip) for storing biometric data.
Outwardly it is very similar to an ordinary Ukrainian international passport: the cover differs only by the biometric passport logotype, however, the document has a number of differences inside, being the additional security elements.
Let’s transfer to the most interesting - what information is stored on the chip of the biometric international passport:
- Digitized photo;
- Personal data (surname, name and patronymic, citizenship, date and place of birth);
- Digitized signature;
- Fingerprints;
- Passport number, information about the date of issue and the date of expiry;
- Other optional data (blood group, eyes retina).
The chip itself is implanted into the first page of the document and is read by a special device by "customs employees". It meets the requirements of the international standards ISO/IEC 14443A in relation to recording and reading of data, as well as the requirements of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
Dynamics of the search inquiry “Biometric Passport” in Ukraine during 2007-2015
How appeared biometric passports
The progress always arises out in response to inconveniences, problems, tragedies, and the biometric data are not the exception. The reason for developing this kind of innovation was known to all tragedy of 11.09.2001 in USA - the terror attack on the World Trade Center (Twin Towers). The answer became the New Orleans Convention, the participants of which became 188 countries. This agreement qualified the facial biometrics as the key identification technology for future international passports and entry visas.
At the beginning the people all over the world did not know what is the biometric passport and took this innovation as the subject of "absolute control", therefore, this document still has its opponents.
The history of this document in Ukraine began on the 2nd of October 2012, after the signing of the Law "About Uniform State Demographic Register". According to this document, Ukraine undertook to adopt the electronic form of national and international passport and to enter the holders’ data in Uniform State Register. For Ukrainians this innovation was seen as a first step towards opening the borders of the Schengen area.
What is a biometric passport on short facts from our overseas neighbors
For 10 years of this document issuance, a lot of things have changed in the world, experiments and protests against this system took place in different countries, procedures of documents issuance have been changed.
As of today (the second half of 2015) the world has the following statistics:
- Biometric passports are issued in 101 countries of the world;
- 54 countries contain the data under such indices as the face and the fingerprints;
- Almost a half (47 countries) use exclusively the face as the biometric parameter of a person’s identification, among which 10 countries have in the plans the fingerprints’ use as the second index;
- Biometric passport storing the information on the eyes retina is not used in any country;
- In 23 countries are used the fully automated systems of border control under the passports with chips (АВС Automated Border Control).
Nowadays the biometric international passport is the additional mean of security increase, as well as simplifies the life for travelers and people, who visit other countries for working purposes. Issue for yourself a new international passport and get a number of advantages!
