Canadian citizens will be able to get e-passports as early as 2012, according to the federal government, joining about 60 other countries that have already adopted the high-tech document.
Passport Canada, the governmental agency responsible for the change, will start by offering the option of a 10-year validity period, as well as the current five-year period.
The agency is currently inviting Canadians to have their say about the changes, as the new passport is likely to bring some fee changes.
The biometric passport will contain the usual data in print (photo, name, gender, date and place of birth), as well as personal information embedded in a chip with radio frequency identification.
The public consultation will end on 7 May 2010. The government will then analyse the answers obtained and finalise details on the new passports, based on citizens’ feedback.
Old passports will remain valid until their individual specified expiry dates.
