EU regulations

Initiated at the beginning of the decade, this European trend to make travel documents more secure has gained momentum thanks to:

- Council Regulation (EC) 2252/2004 of 13 December 2004

- The Commission’s implementing the decision of 28 February 2005 on the storage of the facial image of passport holders on the passport chip

- The Commission’s implementing the decision of 28 June 2006 on the additional storage of fingerprints on the passport chip

Twofold security purpose

By introducing biometrics in its citizens’ passports, the EU intends to improve the security of:

- the citizens themselves: by guaranteeing them a travel document that is almost impossible to forge, offering greater protection against identity theft;

- other territories: by fighting against identity fraud, which is constantly on the rise and which affects many states.

New procedure
Exceptions
EU regulations
Calendar by embassy or consulate
Other possibilities
FAQ