Malta to rollout new passports with cutting edge technologies and support for visually impaired by end of 2019, according to the recent government announcement.
Processes Julia Farrugia Portelli held that this “advanced bio-page solution will make the Maltese passport even more secure”.
The new Maltese passport will be amongst the first European passports to make use of this technology and will have the following security features.
- The polycarbonate bio-data page, which will be affixed to the new travel document, integrates highly sophisticated security features to protect the holders’ personal details.
- Advanced bio-page solution consists of a number of individual layers fused together under immense pressure and heat to create a secure card, which makes it extremely hard to counterfeit without leaving any signs of attack.
- The security features incorporated will include UV and IR prints, see-through window and dovid features.
- Personal data found on the polycarbonate bio-page will be laser engraved, producing a very high quality definition image replica. It also ensures strong performance, longevity and durability.
- The intricate imagery, having highly sophisticated layers of security features, will be printed in secure ink and was primarily intended for security reasons and not just aesthetic.
The gradual roll-out of the new Maltese passport will commence towards the end of 2019 and will happen over a number of years. The new travel document will be issued on the submission of a new application or renewal at no additional cost. Passports in circulation will remain fit for travel and valid until their expiry date.
Existing passports already conform to international security standards, but the new one will make use of latest technology to further prevent document forgery.
“Identity Malta Agency will facilitate the use of the Maltese passport for the visually impaired”, concluded Julia Farrugia Portelli.
Malta has been issuing Biometric/E-passports since 2008.
The Maltese passport (passaport Malti) is a passport that is issued to citizens of Malta. Every Maltese citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland. The Maltese passports share the common design standards of European Union passports. The cover is burgundy with the coat of arms of Malta emblazoned in the centre. The words “UNJONI EWROPEA” (English: European Union) and “MALTA” are inscribed above the coat of arms, with “PASSAPORT” (English: Passport) and the international biometric passport symbol below.
De La Rue, the company that designs passports has a history of 40 years in Malta, has successfully concluded the polycarbonate bio-page pre-production run which will safely capture the passport holder’s personal details.
The Maltese passport solution was first delivered by De La Rue in 1997 and has seen many enhancements and firsts over the last 20 years including physical solution and feature improvements, data capture and document personalisation. Since 2008 and the evolution of the ePassport, De La Rue has also been responsible for chip encoding, enhanced and supplemental access control and PKI infrastructure.
With a 200 year heritage, De La Rue works to the highest ethical standards and stands firm in its fight against counterfeit and fraud. The company has issued over 12 million identity documents in Malta
