Canada is finally joining 95 other countries in one specific technological advancement! They will be issuing “ePassports” in the spring of 2013. The Government of Canada stated that there are already 400 million ePassports being used internationally and they have proven to be quite useful.
So what are ePassports? No, it’s not a copy of your passport burned onto a CD-ROM… An ePassport is basically an upgraded version of your current passport with a chip implemented inside. The chip features improved security components that could reduce identity theft and make it tampering.
Passports include your basic information, such as your name, gender, passport photo and number, birthday and expiry date. All of this information is set to be stored inside the chip, too.Furthermore, the ePassports for adults cost $135.00 and can be used for a maximum of 10 years. However, there is a cheaper alternative available: adults can purchase the 5 year option for $95. Also, kids will only have to pay $57 for the new passport! Below is the American ePassports model. With these updated passports, we can expect travel to be a whole lot safer in 2013!