India has formally entered the league of over 120 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, and Japan, by implementing chip-based biometric e-passports. This significant development is a major milestone in modernizing India’s international travel framework, with the objective of enhancing border security, curbing identity fraud, and accelerating the immigration process for Indian passport holders.
The introduction of biometric e-passports signifies a substantial advancement in Indian passport technology. The nationwide implementation began in April 2024 under the revamped Passport Seva Programme 2.0. Initial pilot programs were launched in strategic cities including Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. The government expects a full-scale rollout of the program to be completed by mid-2025.
These cutting-edge e-passports incorporate a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an antenna embedded in the back cover. This chip securely holds the passport holder’s biometric and personal data, such as facial photographs, fingerprints, full name, date of birth, and passport number. All the stored information is encrypted and shielded by international security protocols like Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), and Extended Access Control (EAC).
Biometric e-passports have become the global benchmark for secure and efficient travel. The embedded chip enables real-time verification of traveler identity at immigration checkpoints. Automated and contactless border controls through e-gates make the process much faster and eliminate the need for manual document inspections. For travelers, this means shorter wait times and a more seamless transit experience.
India’s adoption of e-passports brings it in alignment with security and travel standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This alignment places Indian citizens on par with travelers from technologically advanced countries, thereby enhancing India’s global standing and credibility.
India’s move toward biometric passports is consistent with a broader global pattern. A look at how different regions have approached this transition underscores the scale of the shift.
In the Americas, the United States has been using biometric passports since 2007, featuring both facial and fingerprint data. Canada followed in 2013, incorporating support for automated border kiosks. Mexico implemented its e-passport system in 2021 to reinforce border security. Other countries in South America—such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru—adopted biometric passports between 2010 and 2016. These are all ICAO-compliant and widely accepted across the globe.
In Europe, nations like France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany were early adopters between 2005 and 2006, integrating their passport systems with Schengen e-gates. Ukraine and Russia also have fully biometric passports with integration into digital identification frameworks.
Asian countries including Japan, China, and South Korea have had operational biometric passport systems since the mid-2000s, with ongoing enhancements. South Asian neighbors such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal also run active e-passport programs. Malaysia, notable for being a pioneer, introduced biometric passports as early as 1998 and upgraded them to meet ICAO standards by 2010. Other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Indonesia are fully integrated into global border security systems.
Africa has also made notable strides. Nations like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda have introduced biometric passports that conform with both regional and global regulatory frameworks. In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand were among the first to adopt e-passports and have integrated them seamlessly into their intelligent border control systems.
With India now joining this global cohort, Indian citizens can benefit from quicker and more secure entry into countries that offer visa-on-arrival or use e-gate systems. This reinforces India’s standing in the international travel domain and boosts the mobility of its citizens.
Applying for these e-passports remains a user-friendly experience. Citizens must apply through the Passport Seva Portal, schedule an appointment at a nearby Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra, and provide biometric data during their appointment.
All chip-enabled biometric passports are manufactured and embedded with chips at the India Security Press in Nashik. By keeping production domestic, the Indian government reinforces its “Make in India” initiative and strengthens national control over sensitive personal data, enhancing the country’s data sovereignty.
The upgrade to biometric passports carries immense importance, especially in a post-pandemic world. With more than 1.5 billion international arrivals recorded in 2023, nations are increasingly moving to biometric technologies to efficiently and securely manage the growing volume of travelers.
Traditional machine-readable passports are vulnerable to counterfeiting and unauthorized alterations. In contrast, biometric e-passports provide an advanced level of protection through the integration of biometric authentication and encrypted data storage, thereby making identity theft virtually impossible and improving the immigration process.
Looking ahead, India’s e-passport project forms just one part of a larger strategy to digitize global mobility. The future may bring innovations such as mobile passport wallets, blockchain-based identity verification systems, and seamless integration with existing digital tools like DigiLocker and Aadhaar. Additionally, digital visas might soon be stored directly on the chip embedded in the passport.
These emerging technologies have the potential to eliminate the need for physical documents entirely, setting the stage for a completely contactless and intelligent travel experience. The goal is to streamline travel, maximize security, and reduce human error and fraud.
The rollout of biometric chip-based passports signifies India’s move into the realm of the most technologically progressive nations in global travel. This leap not only fortifies India’s international borders but also empowers its citizens by facilitating faster, safer, and smarter global mobility.
As biometric verification systems become the global norm, India is not merely adapting to existing standards. Instead, it is helping define the future of international travel..With the launch of chip-enabled biometric passports, India joins the world’s most advanced nations in reshaping the future of travel. This digital leap not only secures India’s borders but also places its citizens at the forefront of a global, tech-driven transformation in mobility. As biometric systems become the new normal, India is not just keeping pace—but helping set the standard for what comes next.