The passport cover will contain a contactless chip that, on top of the identity information found on the first page, will store a digital photograph of the holder. In 2009, a digital fingerprint will also be introduced in full biometric passports.
New US laws are demanding that visitors from 27 mostly European countries have personal identity information stored in microchips in their passports in order to enter the US without a visa. These electronic passports will now make it possible for French travellers to do so.
Two deadlines have been set to add biometric data and contactless smart card chips to passports. The first, for the 25 EU-member states, is 28th August and the second, for participants in the US Visa Waiver Programme, is October.
