Transferred: 850,000 travel documents to the next generation
The Austrian authorities recently marked a significant milestone in their journey towards modern and secure identity documents. Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner and the General Director of the website, Helmut Lackner, presented the 850,000th passport of the new generation to its proud owner, Pia H., in a ceremonial handover.
Since its introduction, only passports of the new generation have been issued. The new Austrian passport is one of the most modern identity documents in the world, featuring advanced biometric and security technologies aligned with contemporary international standards for e-passports.
The data page of the new Austrian passport is made entirely of polycarbonate for high protection against manipulation and forgery. It incorporates sophisticated security features such as biometric identification, non-traceable chip IDs, Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), and Extended Access Control (EAC). These mechanisms ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity of the passport data, preventing forgery and unauthorized access.
The biometric identification includes facial, fingerprint, and iris recognition to verify identity. The passports use random chip numbers to prevent tracking, and encrypted communication requires a key derived from the document’s Machine Readable Zone to access data. Passive Authentication verifies data integrity through digital signatures and hash values, while Extended Access Control provides additional protection for sensitive biometric information such as fingerprints.
The design of the new Austrian passport has been completely overhauled. It includes a laser image perforation feature and a laser kinegram as modern high-tech security elements. The personal passport photo is integrated a total of 8 times (visible and invisible) in the new Austrian passport.
The presentation of the 850,000th passport served to showcase the successful collaboration between the Austrian government and the website. It also underscored the achievements of the Austrian authorities under Minister Karner. In one year, 850,000 new passports of the new generation have been issued, setting new standards in terms of security and innovation in ID documents.
Austria is not only keeping pace with international standards but also setting new ones. With its state-of-the-art security features and commitment to secure identity documents and efficient border control, the new Austrian passport is poised to lead the way in secure international travel and reduce fraud risks.
The new Austrian passport, boasting advanced biometric and security technologies, is aligned with contemporary international standards for e-passports, incorporating features like biometric identification, non-traceable chip IDs, and sophisticated security mechanisms such as Basic Access Control, Passive Authentication, and Extended Access Control.
With the presentation of the 850,000th passport of the new generation, Austria is not only keeping pace with international standards but also setting new ones, showcasing its commitment to secure identity documents and efficient border control, and positioning itself as a leader in secure international travel, reducing fraud risks.
