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Polycarbonate e-passport
Biometric travel document From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A polycarbonate e-passport is a type of travel document that features a biometric data page made from polycarbonate, a durable thermoplastic material, rather than a traditional paper or laminated paper sheet. Polycarbonate passports are designed to improve document durability, security, and resistance to tampering, by laser-engraving information into the inner layers of the plastic, which significantly enhances protection against counterfeiting and ensures greater long-term reliability compared to traditional laminated pages.[1][2][3]
Examples of polycarbonate data pages
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History
Finland was the first country to introduce a passport with a polycarbonate data page in 1997.[4] Sweden followed shortly after, becoming the first to implement a biometric polycarbonate data page during the early adoption of e-passports. Since then, the design has gradually been adopted around the world.[5]
As of 2019, over 40 countries have transitioned from laminated paper biometric data pages to polycarbonate alternatives in their passports.[6]
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Global adoption
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Australia: Issued since September 2022.[7]
Brunei: Issued since 2008.[8]
Cambodia: Issued since 2014.[9]
Canada: Introduced in May 2023.[10]
Colombia: Issued since September 2010.[11]
East Timor: Issued since 2017.[12]
Hong Kong: Issued since 2007.[13][14]
India: Issued since 2025.[citation needed]
Indonesia: Issued since 2023.[15]
Japan: Issued since March 2025.[16]
Jordan: Issued since 2025.[17]
Macau: Issued since 2009.[18]
Malaysia: Issued since 2013.[19]
New Zealand: Issued since 2009.[20]
Singapore: Issued since 2006.[21]
South Korea: Issued since 2021.[22]
Thailand: Issued since 2020.[23]
United States: Issued since 2021.[24]
Ukraine: Issued since 2015.[25]
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See also
References
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