Passports

This topic explains how proven identity is linked to travel documents, as regulated internationally by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), starting with passport. It is defined as a document issued by the competent authority of a State, valid for international travels.

Passport identifies the holder as a national of the issuing State and constitutes evidence of the holder’s right to return to that State. It is usual practice for all citizens of a State to be entitled to a passport, which is issued either through immigration, foreign affairs departments or the Ministry of the Interior, as stipulated by domestic law.

Glossary
passport

A document issued by the competent authority of a State, valid for international travels, which identifies the holder as a national of the issuing State and constitutes evidence of the holder’s right to return to that State.

Table
Table 1. Different categories of passports
ORDINARY PASSPORT
  • Issued to citizens of a State who meet application requirements
OFFICIAL/SPECIAL PASSPORT
  • Issued to government officials travelling abroad on duty or as delegates of the State
DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT
  • Special category of passports for the issuing State’s diplomats and their accompanying dependents, embassy staff or very senior State figures such as ministers or heads of State, heads of government for official international travel or residence in a host country
  • Diplomats with certain accredited status may be accorded diplomatic immunity (with conditions) by the host State
  • Diplomats are issued special visas after vetting and at most airports there are special processing lanes for their convenience

EMERGENCY TRAVEL DOCUMENT
  • Issued in emergencies to citizens of a State whose passports were perhaps lost or stolen without time to obtain a replacement
LAISSEZ-PASSER
  • Temporary travel document issued by national governments or international organizations as a type of emergency passport which allows persons to travel in emergency situations or situations in which they cannot acquire a national travel document
  • International organizations, including IOM and UNHCR, can arrange for such documents in cases in which migrants are stranded and unable to access their consular services, or found to be refugees or stateless
BORDER PASSES
  • Short-term border passes issued by neighbouring States so related communities can undertake cross-border activities
  • Such local arrangements exist between certain States that allow persons who have lived within a close range of the border for a specified number of years to apply for a special permit
  • Holders can thus visit the neighbouring border area for a set maximum number of days
E-passports

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set the standards for machine readable travel documents (MRTD) and pushed passport technology to high levels of travel document security, data integrity, and identity management. Emphasis was placed on higher-level storage capacity for biometric information on passports. In response to transnational organized crime and the need for greater security, debate on the virtues of biometrics grew. Consequently, a significant amount of research and development was launched with the goal of linking a passport to its rightful owner via biometrics . Such technology could be a vital tool in combination with other technologies for the global interoperability of e-passport specifications (that is, for e-passports to be globally recognized by passport management systems).

E-passports are considered to be the most secure travel documents in the world. E-passports add a layer of security to traditional non‑electronic passports by embedding a closed-circuit electronic chip that stores biographical information. This digital security feature, which has a country-specific “digital signature”, can be verified and authenticated at border control. However, the destination country border control must be able to access certain information from the origin country. For this reason, while States could exchange the necessary information bilaterally, the volume of information being shared might result in a highly complex and ineffective system that is susceptible to errors.

Image / Video

Source

IOM, 2012.

The ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) provides a central repository for exchanging the information required to authenticate e-passports. By playing the role of broker for this information, ICAO ensures that information adheres to the technical standards required to achieve and maintain interoperability, while ensuring that information is exchanged reliably, in a timely manner and on an open-ended, indefinite basis.

Putting in place validations systems for e-passports at borders might inspire States to invest in technological solutions for identity documents. This, in turn, would further contribute to improved border security and safer travel globally. The benefits of e-passport validation are collective, cumulative and universal; in turn, its broadest possible implementation and validation are desirable. Border inspection systems in this regard play a crucial role. Therefore, it is important for border officials to understand the ICAO PKD and the works of verification process in general.

To Go Further
  • International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO,) Machine Readable Travel Documents, 2021.
    ICAO Doc 9303 leveraged standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC37) for machine readable travel documents (MRTD). Data formats covering biometrics for face, finger, and iris images were published in ISO/IEC 19794. These and associated standards supported ICAO selection of facial recognition as the globally interoperable biometric for machine-assisted identity confirmation for MRTD, with the option to incorporate specifications for finger and iris images as well.
Biometrics
Glossary
biometrics

Automated means of identifying an individual through the measurement of distinguishing physiological or behavioural traits such as fingerprints, face, iris, retina or ear features. Nowadays, it is used also as a synonym of “biometric identifiers”, which are the pieces of information that encode a representation of a person’s unique biological make up (e.g. fingerprints, retinal scans or voice scans).

Biometric scanning is the process whereby measurements are collected into a computer system for the purpose of verifying or searching for a person’s identity. Its dual purposes are to perform automated clearance for registered travellers and to identify document irregularities. Unlike images and text information, biometrics are stored as secure templates that can only be “opened” by those who are specifically authorized.

Image / Video

Source

IOM, 2015.

Given their reliability, biometric technologies have become a vital part of identity management, further enhancing security in migration and border management processes. For instance, once South Sudan switched from paper registration to biometric registration in 2017, the overall total population, according to the records, decreased by 55 per cent. This demonstrates that biometric systems prevent duplication and provide a realistic picture of the total population. Increased accountability and precision can help data collection. They also help to identify vulnerable individuals who may require additional assistance, including pregnant women, persons with physical disabilities and unaccompanied children.

Because of the reliable data it provides, biometric identification affects the delivery of assistance and swift protection to beneficiaries. It can also enable relief agencies to provide more targeted assistance based on accurate data, while reducing the risk of multiple registrations of the same person with different identities and preventing fraudulent entitlement claims. Although biometrics are now being adopted for wide use in border facilitation, there are three major issues which still have to be addressed, as illustrated in the table below.

Table
Table 2. Key considerations with regards to biometrics
ENROLMENT
  • Biometrics will repay government investment so long as the population of travellers worldwide continues to grow, and if there is proper screening to prevent fraudulent documents and imposter data
STANDARDIZATION
  • Since biometrics, like any technology, will continue to evolve and improve over time, there need to be standards to ensure interoperability in a heterogeneous system of controls and types
  • While standards have been developed through bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Biometrics Institute, data privacy relating to personal information are still a major issue.
INFRASTRUCTURE
  • A system still needs to be developed to be able to efficiently distribute biometric information and facilitate its use at border checkpoints, airline check-in facilities and other sites which need enforcement and streamlining processes

 

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has focused on ways that border officials can use biometrics to screen applicants, prevent identity theft and block the establishment of dual identities. An increasing number of countries are testing and adopting new strategies for using biometrics. Ultimately, the challenge will be to embrace solutions that have an acceptably low false acceptance rate (FAR) ensuring that unauthorized parties do not evade controls, and a user-friendly false reject rate (FRR) providing an adequate level of service to international travellers.

Each of the following biometric options offers advantages and disadvantages, but all contribute to improving facilitation and border security:

  • Finger imaging. Fingerprint images remain at the core of many criminal justice systems and counter-terrorism prevention schemes because of its crosschecking capability;
  • Facial recognition;
  • Iris scans;
  • Hand/finger geometry.
Policy Approaches
Responsible use of biometrics
  • Use biometrics responsibly by ensuring the protection of personal data of beneficiaries and respect for the rule of law. Data should be collected in a lawful and fair manner with the consent of beneficiaries. The purpose of biometric data processing should be specified and legitimate.
  • Ensure that biometric data are kept secure and protected by appropriate measures against unauthorized modification and tampering, unlawful destruction, accidental loss, improper disclosure and undue transfer.
To Go Further
Key messages
  • Travel documents, designed in line with relevant international standards, allow fast and secure travellers’ identification when facilitating their processing at the border. However, travel document fraud, obtained on the basis of false identities, is an ever-present challenge and difficult to detect.
  • Constant technological improvements are required to meet emerging challenges related to fraudulent travel documents and imposters. As a result, an increasing number of governments are continuously upgrading their security measures using machine readable travel documents (MRTDs).
  • E-passports are considered to be the most secure travel document because of the added layer of security in the form of a closed-circuit electronic chip which stores biographical information.
  • Standards developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other organizations protect the integrity of travel documents and incorporate the latest authentication technology and information sharing links.
  • Biometrics could be used as a vital tool (in combination with other technologies) in border facilitation. However, there are issues which are yet to be resolved related to enrolment, standardization and infrastructure.
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