The security of international travel depends on trustworthy documents and systems of international cooperation and information exchange. International standards are necessary for an effective passport and visa system. This topic will discuss important policy questions and practices for the production and management of authentic international travel documents. The equipment chosen to operate the system, its costs, how it will be acquired, the level of security and the design of the issuing process are all explored in this topic.

Evidence of identity

Secure identification is not only about document security and the accuracy of the information they contain. It also depends on the processes for the legal establishment and registration of the identity of every person, as well as the management of these data, to ensure secure identification. As identity management evolves from paper-based documents to digital/electronic identity data, a person’s name may, increasingly, no longer be used as the primary identifier. However, for now, names are still the standard way to establish identities. Consistent and uniform use of name rules and practices by government agencies and registries can strengthen a State’s identity management system and reduce risks to national security. Secure and efficient systems for civil registration and identification, as well as residency registration, are also key components of identity management infrastructure.

Good Practice
Norwegian Identification Center

The existence of a robust identity management infrastructure that supports the issuance of identification documents is essential. A good example of a national identity agency is the Norwegian Identification Center, which runs an identity database with information on identity documents and counterfeiting trends in different countries, along with analysis of false and counterfeit documents. . It is an independent administrative body, attached to the Norwegian Police Directorate. The objective of this Center is to strengthen and support the immigration authorities and the police in their work related to identity, for example in determining the identity of people arriving in the country or foreign nationals applying for residence.

Source

Norwegian ID Centre, n.d.

As the most important instrument for identifying international travellers, travel documents designed in line with relevant international standards allow fast and secure identification. However, despite the fact that highly secure passports with biometric chips are now in wide use, the processes to obtain passports vary from country to country and are often not as secure as required. The emerging trend in travel document fraud is that authentic documents are obtained on the basis of false identities, making them extremely difficult to detect.

This highlights the importance of secure national identity documents as the source of travel documents which underlines the necessity of information sharing. Where possible, travel document issuing authorities (TDIA) should refer to secure databases of civil registration to verify identity and citizenship. Reliance on physical documents is inadequate. Additional measures can include biometrics, verifying a person’s social footprint on social media platforms (such as Facebook), insisting on a guarantor and/or reference and interviewing the applicant [Subgroup of the Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG) and Working Group of the ICAO Technical Advisory Group on the Traveller Identification Programme (TAG/TRIP), 2016].

National registration systems

Governments are the primary authorized issuers of identity credentials that are the foundation for the issuance of other documents, such as birth certificates, passports or national identity cards. Linking a unique physical characteristic to a person, such as photo or other biometrics, establishes a verifiable link between name and identity. As a result, a document chain occurs where the issuing of a certain document is based on another document. For instance: a national identity is required to obtain a passport; a passport is required to be issued a visa; a residence permit will only be issued upon proof of nationality and identity.

Individuals establish a social footprint through interactions with government, businesses and other individuals. A range of identity documents can verify a person’s use of name in the community, including government-issued credentials (for instance, medical card, social security card[s], war service card); national or municipal-issued documents (for example, marriage certificate, change of name certificate); credit card or account card issued by a financial institution operating in the State. Some of these documents can then be linked to evidence of a residential address via a utilities notice (electricity, gas, water) or property rental details.

Policy Approaches
Establishing effective policies through sound national registration systems
  • Types of national identification used as source documents for obtaining passports might include the following: birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, existing passport or other travel document and national identity card. Some governments might require supporting original documents such as register of electors, census record, medical record or card, social security or tax record, employment record, driver’s license, motor vehicle ownership record or financial record.
  • The following should be registered in the national registration system: name and gender of the person born; place of birth; date and time of birth; name of each parent.
  • Births should be registered as soon as possible (or as dictated by domestic law).
  • Discrimination should be avoided against minorities and persons who may have difficulties obtaining identity documents due to disability, impoverishment and other circumstances.
  • Measures for ensuring document security and for preventing their counterfeiting, forgery and fraudulent use should be put into effect, while upholding the right to privacy and protecting personal data.
  • Unregistered persons and nationals residing abroad should be contacted, to ensure they also have access to relevant identity and civil registry documentation.
  • The design of travel documents should follow international standards.
Good Practice
Issuing national identity cards and travel documents through a linked system

Many governments have invested in information and communications technology solutions in order to establish a “linked system” for issuing national identity and other travel documents.

  • In Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, national identity cards issued by local immigration authorities can be used in place of passports to travel within the East African Community (EAC). This is especially important in emergency situations, and applies to citizens who cannot be readily issued with a passport.
  • The Smart National Identity Card (SNIC) was introduced in Pakistan in 2012. It contains a microchip that stores biometric data along with the following information: name of the individual, father’s name, photograph, address, and date of birth. Given its security features and adherence to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules for machine readable travel documents (MRTD), it is acceptable at many international airports as a secondary identification document, and can allow card holders to access cash disbursement, financial transactions, health insurance, life insurance and electronic voting.
Source

East African Community, n.d.; Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 2013.

Statelessness and identification documents

Among other difficulties, it is hard for stateless persons to obtain personal identification documents, which affects their ability to enjoy basic rights such as access to healthcare or education, participation in the labour force and travel abroad. As a consequence, travel might take place irregularly. Without any way to prove their identity and where they come from, stateless persons risk being detained for prolonged or repeated periods due to their lack of status. Stateless persons who do not have a valid visa and resident status face risks until they are either granted a visa/residence or exit the country (see The right to nationality and Nationality law).

Good Practice
Granting more permanent status to stateless persons

While the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons guarantees stateless persons a right to identity, travel documents and administrative assistance, some governments have also considered granting more permanent protection status to stateless persons, even if they are not seeking asylum or considered to be refugees. In Portugal, for instance, Article 35(1) of Decree-law N. 83/2000 grants stateless persons who reside in the country a “passport for foreigners” with a maximum validity of two years under Article 38(a) and Article 69 of the Portuguese Asylum Law.

Source

UNHCR, 2018.

To Go Further
Key messages
  • Secure and efficient identity management systems ensure the registration of every person, while guaranteeing document security and the accuracy of the information they contain, as well as the management of these data.
  • Identity documents are the foundation for the issuance of other documents, serving as a useful means of identifying individuals, their dealings with the State and their ability to enjoy certain rights.
  • Stateless persons are often impeded from obtaining personal identification documents, which affects their ability to enjoy basic rights, including travel abroad. As a consequence, travel might take an irregular form and even lead to detention.
  • While the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons guarantees stateless people a right to identity, travel documents and administrative assistance, some governments might want to consider granting more permanent protection status to stateless persons.
PreviousInternational instruments, initiatives and dialoguesNextTravel documents