Canada debuts new ePassport

Less than 48 hours after Canada Day, Canada’s new 10-year ePassport has been made available to Canadian citizens.

Yesterday, the country’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney made the announcement about the passports, which contain digital security features and will cost citizens $160 and are valid for 10 years.

“The new, 10-year ePassport provides more convenience for Canadians, and facilitates safe, secure travel which, in turn, helps create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians,” Minister Kenney said. “The Canadian passport is not only a privilege of citizenship, but a reflection of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.”

The passports’ embedded chips contain personal information as well as a photo and digital government seal.

Though the new passports do not appear to store fingerprints, Canada has introduced some biometric objectives as of late.

Reported previously, Canada and the United States signed a biometric data-sharing deal in regards to information from visa applicants.

It was also recently announced that Canada will require biometric information from nationals of 29 different countries when applying for temporary visas, as a part of its Temporary Resident Biometrics Project.

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Canada  |  epassport  |  government