main: Passport

The currently standardized biometrics used for this type of identification system are facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and iris recognition. These were adopted after assessment of several different kinds of biometrics including retinal scan. The International Civil Aviation Organisation defines the biometric file formats and communication protocols to be used in passports. Only the digital image (usually in JPEG or JPEG2000 format) of each biometric feature is actually stored in the chip. The comparison of biometric features is performed outside the passport chip by electronic border control systems (e-borders). To store biometric data on the contactless chip, it includes a minimum of 32 kilobytes of EEPROM storage memory, and runs on an interface in accordance with the ISO/IEC 14443 international standard, amongst others. These standards ensure interoperability between different countries and different manufacturers of passport books.

European Union

European passports planned to have digital imaging and fingerprint scan biometrics placed on the contactless chip. This combination of the biometrics aims to create an unrivaled level of security and protection against counterfeit and fraudulent identification papers. Currently, the British biometric passport only uses a digital image and not fingerprinting, however this is being considered by the United Kingdom Passport Service. The German passports printed after November 1, 2007 contain two fingerprints, one from each hand, in addition to a digital photograph. In these EU nations, the price of the passport will be:

• Austria (available since 16 June 2006) An adult passport costs €69.90, while a chip-free child's version costs €26.
• Belgium (introduced in October 2004): €71 or €41 for children + local taxes. Passports are valid for 5 years.
• Czech Republic (available since 1 September 2006): 600 CZK for adults (valid 10 years), 100 CZK for children (valid 5 years)
• Denmark (available since 1 August 2006): DKK 600, 155 DKK for under 18 and 350 DKK for over 65 (valid for 10 years).
• Estonia (available since 22 May 2007): EEK 450 (valid for 5 years)
• Finland (available since 21 August 2006) €46 (valid for max. 5 years)
• France (available since April 2006): €60 (valid for 10 years)
• Germany (available since November 2005): ≤23 year old applicants (valid for 6 years) €37.50, >24 years (valid 10 years) €59.00 1
• Greece (available since 26 August 2006) €76,40 (valid for 5 years)
• Hungary (available since 29 August 2006): 6000 HUF (€24), valid for 5 years, 10000 HUF (€40) valid for 10 years.
• Ireland, Republic of (available since 16 October 2006): €75, valid for 10 years. Free for people over 65.
• Italy (available since 26 October 2006): €44.66 for 32 page book, €45.62 for 48 page book, valid for 10 years. 2
• Latvia (available since 20 November 2007): An adult passport costs Ls15 (€21.53 to June 25, 2008), valid for 5 years.
• Lithuania3 (available since 28 August 2006) LTL 100 (€29). For children up to 16 years old, valid max 5 years. For persons over 16 years old, valid for 10 years.
• Netherlands (available since 28 August 2006): Approximately €11 on top of regular passport (€38.33) cost €49.33
• Poland (available since 28 August 2006): 140 PLN (€35) for adults, 70PLN for students, valid 10 years.
• Portugal (available since July 31, 2006 - special passport; August 28, 2006 - ordinary passport): €60 for adults (€50 for those who are over 65 years old), valid for 5 years. €40 for children under 12, valid for 2 years. All passports have 32 pages.
• Slovakia (available since 15 January 2008) An adult passport(>13years costs 1000Sk(€33)valid for 10 years, while a chip-free child's(5-13 years) version costs 400Sk(€12)valid for 5 years and for children under 5 years 250Sk(€7,5), but valid only for 2 years.
• Slovenia (available since 28 August 2006): €36 for adults, valid for 10 years. €31 for children from 3 to 18 years of age, valid for 5 years. €28 for children up to 3 years of age, valid for 3 years. All passports have 32 pages, a 48-page version is available at a €2 surcharge.
• Spain (available since 28 August 2006) at a price of €16.50. There are plans to include fingerprints of both index fingers in three years time. (Aged 30 or less a Spanish passport is valid for 5 years, otherwise they remain valid for 10 years).
• Sweden (available since October 2005): SEK 400 (valid for 5 years)
• UK (introduced March 2006 4) £72 for adults and £46 for children under the age of 16.) 5.