The MagazineCanada

Canada is joining a broad international trend toward smarter travel documents. Alongside 95 other countries, Canada has moved to issue electronic passports as part of a program to improve border checks and protect travelers. Across the world, hundreds of millions of ePassports are in use, showing a growing trust in embedded chip technology to verify identity quickly and securely at checkpoints. What is an ePassport? It is not a copy of a passport burned onto a CD-ROM. An ePassport is an upgraded document that carries a small computer chip inside the plastic cover. The chip stores core personal details such as name, gender, date of birth, passport number, and the expiry date, and it can also hold digital security data that helps border officials confirm the document’s authenticity. The chip is designed to resist tampering and to reduce the risk of fraud. For travelers, this means faster processing at border crossings and stronger protection against identity theft. The move to electronic passports aligns with international efforts to raise safety standards while keeping the familiar paper book travelers rely on. The Government of Canada has outlined these aims as part of the national plan to modernize travel documents used by Canadian citizens and visitors. The trend toward electronic verification is supported by border agencies and international standards bodies, reflecting a shared commitment to safer, more efficient travel. This global shift is evident in many nations adopting similar formats, and Canada stands as an active participant in the change. Citations: Government of Canada.