Taiwan's E-passports to be Launched with Facial Image
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to start issuing ePassports on December 29, 2008, making the Republic of China (Taiwan) the 60th country in the world to move to upgraded passports. The most distinctive feature of an ePassport is the contactless chip embedded in the end cover. Passport bearer biographical data and facial image are stored in the chip, which cannot be altered once personalized. Therefore, chances of forgery can be greatly reduced. The look of the front cover will remain the same except for the ePassport symbol ( ) added on the bottom. Design of the inner pages is renovated and finds its theme in Taiwan tourist attractions, landmarks, and social icons.
The application fee will stay at NT﹩1,200 for the first year of issuance, considering the recent inflation of prices and economic factors. Ordinary ePassports is still valid for ten years. Previously issued passports will remain good until their date of expiry. However, application of an ePassport prior to the expiry of an older version is also welcomed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the stored information of an ePassport does not include finger prints or iris of its bearer. Privacy of every ePassport holder is protected. Moreover, the chip is readable from only a couple of centimeters away. Under normal circumstances, the stored data will be safe from interception. The issuing of ePassports, apart from being in line with international trends, is expected to shorten passenger clearance time after airports worldwide are equipped with ePassport automation system. Eight million Taiwanese passengers will benefit from this advancement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up anPassport website? For more information on ePassport and its application procedure, please visit http://www.epassport.com.tw.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
