In an age where security, speed, and seamlessness are the benchmarks of global mobility, the passport has become more than a mere travel document. It’s on its way to becoming a digital identity instrument and India has made a crucial move in that direction. In 2025, India officially became part of 140 countries, such as the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Australia, by issuing biometric e-passports to its citizens. This important upgrade is not cosmetic; it facilitates India to enhance identity authentication and provide streamlined global travel.
In appearance, the new e-passport seems no different from a normal passport. But hidden behind the usual navy blue cover is a tiny technological entity: a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, embedded in the back cover. The chip contains not only the owner’s demographic information such as name, passport number, and date of birth but also biometric facial information and fingerprints.
A small gold rectangle symbol on the front communicates this upgrade, showing that electronic functionality is included. These passports are globally accepted and are aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements which mandate secure, interoperable identification procedures for use during international travel. India’s use of biometric e-passports is based on a multifaceted approach. The government is seeking to improve national and border security, streamline immigration and visa processes, prevent identity fraud, document forgery and be in step with global digital identity standards.
Under Passport Seva Programme 2.0, a technology-driven update of the national passport issuing system, India started testing the e-passport launch in April 2024 in cities such as Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, and Amritsar. The nationwide large-scale rollout is to be finished by mid-2025. All e-passports are produced at the India Security Press in Nashik, maintaining centralised data integrity to ensure privacy and national security standards compliance. India’s 2025 passport overhaul is not just about adding chips. A number of changes are part of the government’s plan to overhaul the entire system such as these:
Birth certificate requirement: Only a government-issued birth certificate is accepted as a proof of date of birth for applicants born after October 1, 2023.
Digital addresses: Home addresses are no longer printed at the back but kept in encrypted digital format, accessible by authorised staff only.
Exclusion of parents’ names: Parental or guardian names have been omitted to ensure privacy, especially for single-parent households. These changes are meant to enhance efficiency, privacy, and consistency in the passport system.When the pilot project of e-passport in India started in April 2024, about 80 thousand passports were issued in two cities, Bhubaneswar and Nagpur, till November 28, 2024.
Over 20,700 e-passports were issued in Tamil Nadu alone in the first three weeks of its March 2025 rollout, the ministry of external affairs said. As India transitions to a full national implementation, biometric passports will become the rule and not the exception soon. For Indian visitors, these developments are not just more ease and convenience but also a passport that embodies a 21st-century digital identity which promises security, smartness, and being internationally recognised.
Global trend
India is not the only one making this digital leap. Other countries around the world are also following suit:
United States: The United States was one of the early adopters of e-passport technology, implementing it in 2007. All American passports issued since then have an implanted RFID (radio frequency identification) chip that stores biometric information such as a digital image and, in some situations, fingerprints. These passports let travellers access automated e-gates at airports, which speeds up the entry process and improves security.
Singapore: Singapore Biometric Passport (BioPass) was introduced in 2006, and all new passports issued since 2006 are Singapore BioPass. The passport is valid for 10 years. The Singapore passport is designated the most powerful passport multiple times.
South Korea: The government of the Republic of Korea implemented a new electronic passport (e-passport) system with better security measures, and all new and renewal passports are now e-passports, effective in July 2008.Canada: Canada started issuing e-passports since 2013 which have an electronic chip that efficiently saves the passport holder’s personal and biometric information. These documents contain improved security measures, such as digital signatures, which assist prevent data tampering.
Japan: As a pioneer in technological innovations, Japan rolled out e-passports in 2006. Chips in Japanese passports store biometric information and are widely employed in automated passport check systems around the world. Japan’s early investment in secure, modern travel documents has made it easier for its citizens to access a number of other countries.
Italy: Italy launched e-passports in 2006, which are equipped with a chip that contains biometric facial and fingerprint information. Italian officials have integrated the system into border control operations, allowing for faster screening and a better overall travel experience for citizens. These passports are completely compliant with EU and ICAO criteria.
France: France began issuing biometric e-passports in 2006. These passports have a chip that secures biometric facial data and, in certain circumstances, fingerprints. France’s e-passports are part of the EU’s endeavour to develop standardised, secure travel credentials. French nationals benefit from speedier and safer travel throughout the Schengen Zone and beyond.
United Arab Emirates: In 2011, the UAE began issuing machine-readable passports or e-passports to UAE nationals in compliance with the ICAOs technical and security standards. The e-passport is distinguished by advanced technological and security features. The last page has a remotely readable electronic chip that saves the passport holder’s personal and biometric information. The chip is encrypted to avoid counterfeiting.