SINGAPORE : Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
has unveiled its next generation of passports, which will include
biometric data and new security features.
Singaporeans can apply for the new passports from as early as
August this year.
On the front cover, it is still the familiar look of the Singapore
passport, but with the inclusion of the International Civil
Aviation Organisation's logo.
Flip open the new BioPass and you will find the visa pages have
been given a facelift.
The Esplanade has been blended with the city skyline and
Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, is at the top
right hand corner.
ICA says it is still reviewing the price of the new passport, but
it is likely to cost more than the present passports, which are
S$60 over the counter and S$50 for an Internet application.
The most significant addition to the new passport is the
polycarbonate page, which is a plastic-like material.
It contains an embedded microchip, which will have the passport
holder's facial and fingerprint information.
The first group of people to use the new BioPass will be government
officials and Singapore Airlines personnel, who are part of the
phase one trial, which starts April 29.
ICA officials say the immigration process is not likely to change
very much using the new passports.
The use of the identification number as the passport number has
been dropped; each BioPass will now have its own passport
number.
Since January, these new passports have been tested, recognised and
accepted by immigration authorities in countries like the United
States, Australia and New Zealand. Trials are still ongoing.
Said Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, "As a result of ICA's
efforts in achieving interoperability, the US has confirmed that
the BioPass has achieved Level 2 certification under their visa
waiver programme. This means that tests conducted by the US
Department of Homeland Security have shown the BioPass to be in
full compatibility with their passport readers."
The new BioPass will be accepted nationwide in the US when
authorities there deploy their e-passport readers on October
26.
To prevent tampering and forgery, added security features include
the use of Optical Variable Ink, two multiple laser images and a
kinegram.
You don't have to wait for your current passport to expire to get
the new BioPass.
Singaporeans can apply for a new BioPass August this year.
The new passports will have a validity of five years. - CNA /ct
