E-Passports Have Hi-Tech Features
By Hj Ahmed Shaheeb

Bandar Seri Begawan - The new biometric passport or e-passport is part of the new generation of passports equipped with the latest technology in the form of a microprocessor chip.

The chip can permanently store personal details of the holder and the biometric facts of the individual such as facial and fingerprint images.

The new passport also has a new look and design derived from the MIB (Melayu Islam Beraja) concept. It also has patterns that reflect the Bruneian identity with designs including the picturesque places of Brunei such as the Istana Nurul Iman, Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien, Jame Asr' Hassanil Bolkiah, Bangunan Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Kampong Ayer and the Brunei River.

The new passport also includes security features such as latent printing, rainbow—fluorescence in security tread, scrambled design feature, IT printing, printed hidden mark (forensic feature) and negative embossing on the PECSEC data page.

The new biometric passport will cost $60 and be valid for a period of five years and is equipped with a chip which boasts high security features that meet the standard requirements of ICAO.

The new biometric passport will also include "unique" passport numbers according to serial numbers and also moves away from the use of the same numbers for identity cards and passports.

According to the Department of Immigration and National Registration, everyone should have an individual passport and will be issued to even children below the age of 12.

Those who wish to apply for the new biometric passport may do so at the travel document section (Bahagian Dokumen Perjalan) at the Department of Immigration and National Registration building. The department will take three working days to issue a passport.

The department reiterated that MRPs (machine readable passports) can still be used up to the expiry date and also urged the public to keep the new passports in a secured place as they are very important documents. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with