Semlex passport meets the recommendations of the document N°9303 from the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and the dimensions of the machine readable passport will be conform to the ISO 7810 format ID3 : 88 mm (+/-0.75mm) x 125 mm (+/-0.75 mm). Moreover the passport will contain a MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) which will allow an automatic reading of the name, passport number, nationality, birth date, sex, expiring date and personal identification number.
The chip is an integrated circuit (microchip) embedded in passports for the storage and processing of data. The chip, not visible in most documents , communicates with the card reader via electromagnetic waves (Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)). To start the transmission, proximity to the reader is required. The chip may (as illustrated) be embedded within a thick transparent laminate, within the document cover, or within a special polycarbonate page. In e-passports, biometric data is stored in an embedded microchip (integrated circuit).
Pursuant to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) specifications, a microchip – contactless as a minimum requirement – stores the data visually displayed in the MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) of the biodata page of the passport and the facial image as the interoperable biometric identifier. Other biometric identifiers, e.g. fingerprint or iris images, can be added optionally. Any ICAO-compliant e-passport will feature the international e-passport symbol on its front cover.
To maintain data security, basic access control (B.A.C.) is used – the contactless chip can be read by the relevant reader only once it has been unlocked by a validated PIN code, as well as extended access control (terminal authentication) – within the document’s MRZ (Machine Readable Zone); data exchange is protected by means of an encoded PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) protocol
A personal biological (anatomical or physiological) or behavioral characteristic which can be used to establish a person’s identity by comparing it with stored reference data. Traditionally, the most popular biometric identifier is the fingerprint. Other frequently used biometric identifiers include the facial image, iris image and hand geometry. Semlex integrates biometric features through different means:
PDF 417 bar-code (two-dimensional barcode) storing data along two dimensions and is therefore capable of containing much more information than the 1D barcode.
In order to guarantee the authenticity of your documents and to prevent falsification, various technical securities are offered:
Hot foil stamping mainly involves the transfer of foil by means of a heated stamping die.
Booklet paper will offer appropriate ruggedness and absorption characteristics. Fibers with fluorescent properties (visible under UV light) which are mixed into the paper pulp during the paper manufacturing process to serve as a security feature. They may be visible (colored fibers) or invisible under normal light.
Pages can be held together with a thread (can also consist of several individual, interlaced, threads), which fluoresces in one or several colors seen when exposed to UV light .
The watermark is a picture, text or character motif, which is incorporated into the paper during manufacture by displacement of the paper fibers, leading to a varying thickness of the paper.
Printing ink containing optically variable pigments will show large color shifts (strong variations in color) depending on the angle of observation or lighting.
Ink containing fluorescent substances (pigments) which is used to print text or motifs. This type of ink fluoresces under UV light.
Printing technique whereby the image to be printed is etched or engraved in the surface of a printing plate, suitable for the effect of latent image.
Image which appears depending on the angle of the oblique light.
Thin film deposited on tiny mica flakes causing interferences with the incident light. This creates shiny, pearl-like shimmering effects.
Photochromic inks change their color when exposed to sunlight and remain for a certain time before the color reverts to its original state.
Fine (intricate) designs consisting of interlaced continuous lines arranged in geometric patterns with the aim of raising the barrier for re-origination and reproduction.
This coloring process used in offset printing is used to protect security documents against color separation or copying, by subtly merging colors into each other resulting in a gradual color change.
Printed security features integrated in the background printing to protect against simulation through copying. The printed images and patterns contain embedded (hidden) information that is invisible to the naked eye under normal inspection conditions but becomes visible or legible, or causes flaws (mistakes) to appear after copying or reproduction with a scanner.
Lines or motifs made up of very small letters or numbers that are barely perceptible to the eye that basic methods of reproduction can’t reproduce.
A unique sequential number that is printed and perforated in the passport, which allows the document to be traced if it is lost or stolen.
Holographic film that is affixed to the personal data page by means of pressure (cold-applied laminate) and/or heat (heat-applied laminate) in order to protect data entries against falsification. Laminates can incorporate specific security features which are not usually available on the market. They are laminated at 165°C on the page for total adhesion.
Tactile laminate features on the passport’s cover such as intricate designs of fine line patterns or microprint, which are incorporated into security laminates by embossing.