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Fingerprinting for new passports starts

Video footage has no sound.

People calling at the Passports Office to apply for a new passport or renew the existing one are now required to have their fingerprints taken, Infrastructure Ministry officials said today.

The requirement is part of an EU directive.

People whose passports are still valid will not be not required to submit their fingerprints until the renewal of their passports comes up.

The database of the fingerprints is very secure and the data cannot be shared or accessed by anyone, not even the police, the officials said.

The fingerprints will be carried in the chip forming part of the new biometric passports.

The process had nothing to do with the issuing of new Identity Cards. No decision has been taken yet on whether fingerprints will feature in the new e-ID cards.

In terms of the Schengen agreement, Maltese travellers can continue to go to Schengen Area countries using valid ID cards.

Similarly, people going to the US do not need to replace their passports as long as they are valid.

The fingerprints requirement does not apply for children under 12 and those people whose fingerprints cannot be read - as long as a doctor's certificate is produced.

Video footage has no sound.

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Marvin Spagnol

Jun 30th 2010, 09:26

Dear Maynard. The purpose of these documents is purely for easy identification for every idivisual residing in Malta. Its a security measure we ve deployed throughout the years to keep our island a peaceful place where you can allow even your kids going out without thinking that they will be stabbed on their back. Some british people still thinks that Malta is still under their collapsed empire and still have some attidute towards us. I know coz i meet british people every day. Believe me my friend UK is ruined because of its lack of security there is and the effective control of the incoming immigration. Documentation is important to secure and control everything. It doesnt matter if costs are involved as long as the country is secured. UK should learn from Malta .

victor vella

Jun 29th 2010, 11:58

Imma jekk ma nghamlux hekk ma jkunx hemm infieq ta flus u jekk ma jkinx hemm infieq ta flus ma jistax ikun hemm commission fuq ix xira ta apparat, u jekk ma jkunx hemm commission kif jista wiehed jghamel certa kapricci u igemma ghal meta jinbidel il gvern? Haga ohra din kif hawn Malta nobdu kull ma tghid l EU u pajjizi ohra mena frego x tghid lEU? Hawn Malta ma tistax tinbiegh il mazzita imma l Ingilterra tixtrija minn kullimkien. Imma meta nigu biex niehdu passi kontra certa kuntratturi ninsew li qedghin fl EU u inhalluhom, jghamlu li jriedu basta mhux tas Sliema imma ghax hemm joqodu l; ALLAT

J.Cini

Jun 29th 2010, 04:30

That's because Indonesia has high illeteracy rates, and it's a multi-ethnic country where people cannot sign their name effectively. It has nothing to do with Malta playing catch-up technologically.

A. Charles

Jun 28th 2010, 14:26

I have had a new passport a moth ago and it cost me about 78 Euro, which included the photo.

Phyllisienne Mallia

Jun 29th 2010, 14:26

€70

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