Over 1,000 foreigners carrying false ID cards were expelled from Singapore last year following the implimentation of their biometric border controls.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) database stores information, photographs and fingerprints on 146,000 former Singapore residents since repatriated for committing offences.

Sneaking in to the city-state will become even more difficult by December when ICA officers have real-time access to the Interpol database of more than 12 million lost and stolen passports in 114 countries.

Attempts to bypass the security by burning or disfiguring the fingertip have rarely worked.  It seems that a large chunk of criminals attempt to return following vice offences - prepared to risk the 2 years and $3,777 maximum penalty for illegal entry to the country.  You have been warned!

Read some more over here.

Since their introduction in March this year, 2.5 million biometric-enabled ePassports have been distributed in the UK. 

Starting today, all new passport applications will be for the new biometric document - which will contain information on the holder’s face.  First-time applications will also be required to complete an interview before being granted their ePassport.

The new passport looks similar in design to the old one, but bears the international ePassport symbol as well as new security features including an intricate page design and watermark. British birds have been used as a theme throughout, apparently symbolising the freedom for travel, as well as providing scope for developing security features. The birds picked to appear include the red kite, merlin, kingfisher and red grouse.

The security boost provided by the biometric-enabled passports has come at a cost - a £15 price hike on adult passports since last year.

Over 40 countries currently have plans to introduce ePassports - here are the document prices for some of those countries:

Switzerland: £219

New Zealand: £123

Belgium: £96

Norway: £87

Iceland: £81

USA: £54

France: £41

Read more at the BBC.

A recent poll obtained by the Globe and Mail has revealed that most Canadians don’t understand what biometrics are, but do think the government should use them if it will curb the influx of illegal immigrants.

“Four out of five Canadians believe that by the end of this decade, it is likely almost every adult Canadian will have at least one biometric ID on file to verify their identity,” the survey notes. “Sixty-seven percent support conducting background checks to verify the identity of non-Canadians applying for an immigration visa to enter Canada.”

38% of those polled admitted they had no idea what biometrics was, with only 2% of the population able to link it to fingerprint and iris scans.

Read more at KnoxNews.

The Indian government has decided to introduce fingerprint-enabled biometric passports, and they look set to appear late 2007.

Aiming to cut down on the misuse of passports, these biometric documents will first be issued in the category of diplomatic and official passports, later becoming available to the general public.

“Whenever anybody with this passport approaches an immigration officer, he will be required to put his finger print on the computer window. If the finger print matches, the person is cleared,” an official said.

Introduction of this system will involve massive computerisation and the task has been entrusted to the government-owned National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also decided to introduce a system wherein a sticker, carrying all relevant information of its holder, would be pasted on passports.

Source - NDTV

Gemalto, a world leader in digital security, today announces that the Danish National Police has started issuing electronic passports that integrate its most advanced Setec(1) secure technology. For this nationwide deployment Gemalto manages the entire delivery process. In addition to its renowned secure electronic passport software and high security polycarbonate data page technologies, Gemalto will provide passport booklet assembly and individual personalisation of each passport.The agreement runs through to 2009, with an option for two additional years. The Danish authorities plan to incorporate the electronic capability in all new passports from now on and are expected to issue some 250,000 by the end of 2006. Between 700,000 and 800,000 traditional passports are issued annually.

As part of the Gemalto e-passport solution, the polycarbonate data page includes a contactless microprocessor chip running the company’s highly secure operating system. The chip not only features the information identity already laser-engraved on the first page, but also contains the passport holder’s digitised photo.

“As we have been producing and personalising the traditional Danish passports for the past two years, we have gained an in-depth understanding of the Danish authorities’ requirements.” commented Jacques Seneca, President Europe at Gemalto. “We are proud to further develop our relationship with the Danish authorities through latest generation smart and secure travel documents which will benefit to both administrations and citizens.”

Through this additional reference in the field of e-ID programs, Gemalto demonstrates its ability to manage the complete value chain of e-passports. Mastering the whole issuance process enables Gemalto to offer governments a variety of state-of-the-art services that will benefit to their citizens. Gemalto’s e-passport references include the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden and the United States of America.

(1) Setec is part of the Gemalto group (acquired in 2005). The Setec solutions include products that require extreme security, such as biometric and visual passports, electronic and visual ID cards, driving licenses and health cards.