IMAGE PROCESSING IN e-PASSPORTS

M.INDUMATHI M.sc., M.phil

Department of Computer Science,
Bangalore
indumscmphil@gmail.com
Abstract:
A biometric passport, also known as an e-passport. e-passport or a digital passport, is
a combined paper and electronic passport that contains biometric information that can be
used to authenticate the identity of travelers. The symbol for biometrics is usually printed
on the cover of such passports. It uses contactless smart card technology, including
a microprocessor chip (computer chip) and antenna (for both power to the chip and
communication) embedded in the front or back cover, or center page, of the passport.
Document and chip characteristics are documented in the International Civil Aviation
Organization's (ICAO) Doc 9303. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is used to authenticate
the data stored electronically in the passport chip making it expensive and difficult to forge
when all security mechanisms are fully and correctly implemented. The currently
standardized biometrics used for this type of identification system are facial
recognition, fingerprint recognition, and iris recognition. These were adopted after
assessment of several different kinds of biometrics including retinal scan. The ICAO
defines the biometric file formats and communication protocols to be used in passports.
Only the digital image of each biometric feature is actually stored in the chip. The
comparison of biometric features is performed outside the passport chip by electronic
border control systems (e-borders). To store biometric data on the contactless chip, it
includes a minimum of 32 kilobytes of EEPROM storage memory, These standards intend
interoperability between different countries and different manufacturers of passport books.

Keywords:
Microprocessor chip, Antenna, PKI, Fingerprint recognition, Facial recognition& Iris
Recognition

Introduction:
 Biometric technology is becoming the base for secure authentication of personal
identity. Many countries started to issue E-passports with an embedded chip containing
biometric data. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) started to work on MRTD
since 1968. The concept of Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) was introduced in 1980 which
contains two machine readable lines at the bottom of the identity page of passport. Finally,
ICAO started to operate on biometrics in 1997 . As the level of security and transaction
fraud increased the need for more secure authentication technologies have to be deployed.
The latest biometric standardized contains biometric features such as fingerprint, facial and
iris recognition and enhances the security mechanisms. Even though, biometric (RFID based
passports) is very advanced authentication mechanism, it can lead to several privacy and
threat issues. RFID is a technology and device that uses radio waves to transfer identifying
data from an electronic tag. Since, the data stored in RFID chip is transmitted in wireless
way, it is vulnerable to be attacked at a distance. The attack on September 11, 2001 in
United States of America warned government worldwide to handle and review the security
and border control issues that was in practice. Use of biometrics globally was one of the
reliable technologies to keep the identification of citizens. ICAO began to research on
biometric passports in 1997, and has developed a set of international recommendations for
the development and specification of globally interoperable biometric standards. With the
advancement in biometric technology, ICAO introduced a new concept to embed and RFID
chip on passports 2004. Since, then e-passport system has become a global issue and much
work has been carried out to make it more secure.
An e-Passport contains an electronic chip. The chip holds the same information
that is printed on the passport's data page: the holder's name, date of birth, and other
biographic information. An e-Passport also contains a biometric identifier. The United
States requires that the chip contain a digital photograph of the holder. All e-Passports
issued by Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries and the United States have security
features to prevent the unauthorized reading or "skimming" of data stored on the e-Passport
chip.
Problem Definition :

E-passport contains highly sensitive data of an individual. Protecting biometric and

biographical data is very important to the value and consistency of an authentication system.
Therefore, these data should be protected against unauthorized access and the quality of data
protection mechanism should be taken into account. Security mechanisms that are
implemented in RFID chips and biometrics data are vulnerable. The E-passports came into
operation since 1998 but still the technology is not free from attacks.

Biometric/e-passports indicates
A biometric passport is equipped with enhanced security features to verify the
citizenship of travelers. For past few years, various countries have introduced a wide range
of procedures and computerized methods to avert passport scams to address the concerns
related to international business and personal security. This passport has intricately designed
passport pages, complex watermarks and a data chip. This chip contains all crucial
information related to the passport holder such as digital signature data, which helps in
authenticating the passport. The biometrics are considered more personal and reliable than a
passport photo or a PIN, as it uses personal traits such as facial or eye maps and fingerprints
as primary identification features. These biometric features were accepted by The
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after analyzing multiple other biometrics
including retinal scan.
Biometric/e-passports processes
How Biometric passport works
An ePassport is also known as a biometric passport. It looks like a traditional passport
book, but it contains an electronic chip that is encoded with the same information found on
page 2 of the passport (surname, given name, date of birth and sex). It also includes a digital
picture of the bearer's face.The electronic chip increases security, provides greater
protection against tampering and reduces the risk of fraud.The goal of the ePassport is to
improve security by combating fraud. It may, in some cases, help speed up border crossings,
but there is no guarantee that this will be the case.
All children under the age of 16 receive ePassports that are valid for a maximum of
five years and we are allowed to submit a simplified renewal application if we wish to
replace your non-electronic passport with an ePassport, even if your current passport has
more than 12 months remaining. we must pay the full fee and must meet the other
requirements for simplified renewal. we must also provide a written explanation as to why
we are applying at this time (to obtain a new ePassport).
Please note that there is no requirement to replace your valid non-electronic passport with
an ePassport

Types of information is stored on the epassport

The only personal information stored on the epassport chip is the same information
you see printed on your passport data page – like your name, date of birth, etc. Additionally,
there is other digital security information stored on the chip that proves the passport and its
data are authentic. This includes one or more biometric identifier, which is used to verify
that the person presenting the passport is really its owner. The biometric requirement can
vary from country to country. There is also a digital version of your photograph.
Currently there is a plan to also add fingerprint biometrics.

Role of ICAO and RFID in biometric passports

ICAO
The ICAO has also described the standardized file formats and communication practices
that should be used in passports. For example, the contactless chip used in a biometric
passport can store a digital impression of each biometric feature preferably in JPEG or
JPEG2000 format. This contactless chip allows you to store minimum of 32 kilobytes
biometric data and uses the interface compliant with the ISO/IEC 14443 international
standard. The biometric features stored in the passport are compared by electronic border
control systems or e-borders. These standards ensure not only the interoperability among
various countries, but also among different makers of passports.
The contactless chip would store the same data, which is visible on the photo page of the
passport. In addition, the chip would also include a digital photo of the passport holder,
which would facilitate the process of biometric comparison by using the facial recognition
technology. The new US passport carries a new look, and would enable international
security agencies integrate crucial anti-fraud and security features in the passports.
It is expected that by 2015, ICAO would have a database of over a billion people
worldwide. With a sudden rise in fraudulent methods, it has become mandatory for
international security agencies to reinforce security features in passports. Therefore, a
biometric passport helps in preventing the theft of identity and fraud. The ICAO suggests
facial recognition as the principal biometric followed by iris and fingerprint recognition.
The biometric information stored on passport helps in identifying fraud and automating
immigration checks in future.
RFID
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) RFID is sometimes called dedicated short range
communication (DSRC). RFID is a technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic
or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency (RF) area of the electromagnetic spectrum to
identify uniquely and track objects. RFID chips are being used everywhere such as tracking
animals, inventory tracking devices, to start cars, especially in e-passports
RFID system contains three components: an antenna, transceiver and a transponder. The
transponder is activated when it receives the signal from the antenna and after activation,
transmits data back to the antenna. RFID systems are one of the most ubiquitous computing
technologies to enhance the quality of service and to prevent theft in many applications.
RFID tags which do not have onboard batteries are known as passive RFID tags. They use
power from reader in order to be activated and start to broadcast the signals continuously
within the certain range from few centimeters to few feet. On the other hand, active RFID
tags with internal battery can transmit the signal hundreds of feet.
Process of RFID

Different views of e-passports

Different types of passport reader

 e-passport securities

Features of e-Passports
1. Cover
 Addition of an electronic travel document symbol
 2. Data page
 Made of polycarbonate
 Holder's personal particulars and photograph are engraved into the data page of the e-
Passport by laser engraving technology

Information on the data page of a HKSAR passport

3. Back cover
 Contains a contactless chip that stores the following digital data of the holder
 4. Digital photo
The passport holder’s photo is digitally printed and embedded into the page. It also
appears on the electronic chip.
5. Digitally-printed information
The personal data and signature are digitally printed and embedded in the page and cannot
be removed or erased. The information shown on page 2 is also stored on the electronic
chip (except for the passport holder’s signature and place of birth).
6. Laminate
Holographic images are embossed in the thin-film laminate used to secure the information
page. These images can be viewed by tilting the booklet in reflected light.
7. Special ink
There is "Optically variable ink" that changes colour under different lighting.
8. ePassport symbol
This symbol represents that this is an ePassport, which means it contains an
embedded electronic chip.
9. Secondary photo
A copy of the passport holder’s photo appears in greyscale.
10. Machine-readable zone
The last two lines at the bottom of the page are the machine-readable zone, which repeats
the passport holder’s personal information and passport details in a special format.

Conclusion
The latest privacy and security issues that evolved in the field of e-passport is a
challenging task and fundamental modification are needed to be implemented on both the
ICAO and EU security specifications. E-passports contain entirely the private information,
so protection of data is extremely essential. Authenticity, confidentiality and data integrity
are the most crucial factors and can be maintained by using cryptography. Biometric is quite
new concept and is stepping further evolution every year with new vision and system
improvement. The deployment of e-passport is an important step in passport technology that
provided important evidence and opened the door to build more secure and identification
platform where the exchange of private data will be better protected in the days to come.
Hence the emerging technology like e-passports facilitates the users in one hand but there
are still some big problems that need to be addressed and evaluated extensively. RFID and
Biometrics technology has huge impacts on privacy and security issues of an individual;
hence the government must not ignore and start to work on it

References
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2. Anil K. Jain, Fundamentals of Digital Image Processing, Prentice Hall,

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epassport/
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