Biometric passports, which are also referred to as digital passports or e-passports, use contactless smart card technology to store and present biometric information that can be used to authenticate the passport holder’s identity.
A biometric passport has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip and antenna, typically on the cover or center page. The chip stores a digital passport photo of the individual, including other identifying details. It does not, however, contain the individual’s fingerprints. The information is authenticated using a public key infrastructure.
All U.S. passports issued after August 2007 are biometric passports.