Dominica is amongst the first islands in the Caribbean to launch its official biometric passport, allowing citizens to travel more safely, efficiently, and seamlessly.
“The most important aspect in our border security improvement is our migration from the machine-readable passport; our e-passport or biometric passport is almost counterfeit-proof,” shared Dominica’s Minister for National Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore.
Dominica’s biometric passport will store the holder’s personal information on a microchip embedded in the document, including biometric face, fingerprint, and iris data, all of which can be used to verify the holder’s identity while traveling.
The new passport will be put together by Canadian Bank Note, which specializes in offering the highest standards to the design, development and integration of secure, leading-edge technology for governments across the globe.
For many airlines, airports and governments alike, biometrics offer an obvious mechanism to improve the travel experience and enhance security at the same time. And the call for innovation has only grown louder during the pandemic.
The minister noted that the initiative would help cultivate a watch list for persons of interest before they arrive in Dominica, as well as inform officials of passenger information and cargo coming into the country.
While biometric passports are still relatively rare in the Caribbean, they have become increasingly common in other parts of the world. In fact, as of 2020, over 150 nations were issuing e-passports.
Currently, Dominica’s passport is ranked 28th, with a Mobility Score of 97.
Share post
Most recent report
