Biometric passports to start being issued in October

Preparations are in an advanced stage for the introduction of biometric passports which should start being issued in October, timesofmalta.com reported yesterday.

A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic document. Under normal circumstances, such passports would be ready for collection in four days. Biometric data would be collected through a special image capture device at the Passport Office. Photos and the individual's signature would be taken at the counter. The biographic data and features of the passport holder would be reproduced in the passport's electronic chip.

A spokesman for the Communications Ministry told the online portal that the plan was for expired passports to be replaced with biometric ones on renewal.

The preparations being undertaken include the recent transfer of the Passport Office from St Paul Street in Valletta to Evans Building at the bottom of Merchants Street, also in Valletta.

The ministry is implementing a National Identity Management Information System so that all identity management aspects will be handled by one office.

The office would be subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act and the management of personal data to the review or audit of the Data Protection Commissioner.

This would ensure Malta's compliance with new European standards for passports and allow the country to join the US visa waiver programme.

Passports would be personalised on site in a security controlled environment conforming to stringent and established international standards.

When registering for a passport, applicants would be given the option to register for an electronic ID.