PM Modi promises Indians to issue chip-based passports | Here are details

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 here on Tuesday, said that work is on to issue chip-based e-passports to Indian citizens under a centralized passport system.

"Our embassies and consulates are being connected to the Passport Seva Project worldwide," he said.

"This will prepare a centralized system connected to the passport service for all of you," he added. "Going one step ahead, work is on for issuing of the chip-based e-passport."

He also said that the government's endeavour was on to simplify the process of issuing visas to PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards.

"In the last four-and-a-half years, more than two lakh Indians stranded in crisis situations abroad have been helped by the government and its efforts," he said.

Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth, the chief guest at the event, commended India's efforts in reaching out to the diaspora.

Organised by the External Affairs Ministry and the Uttar Pradesh government, the Indian diaspora conclave this year has over 5,000 delegates registered.

What is an ePassport?

An ePassport is a biometric passport, designed to increase security, making it more difficult to change data recorded on a passport and therefore limiting the chance of fraud.

It includes a chip, which can be used at the automated ePassport gates instead of having your passport checked by a Border Force officer.

The chip holds the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page: the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information. In some countries, including Germany, ePassports include two fingerprints as well.

Using your e-passport

At border control, people with an ePassport can go through the automated gates, which have their own lanes labelled with the ePassport symbol. Once at the gates, you simply scan your passport on the sensor at the barrier.

However, under-18s cannot use the ePassport gates, so if you are travelling with children you will have to go through standard passport control.