E-passports to be launched by Canada immigration
by Harleen Kaur - April 13, 2010
Canada, 13th April: Going the UK way, Canada immigration department is all set to launch e-passports begining next year
Hence, all those applicants seeking Canadian immigration to live in Canada as permanent citizens will get e-passports with a little change in the appearance of the passports. They will contain their digital photographs and details of personal information including name, date of birth, place of birth and gender of the applicant.
The new Canadian e-passports will heighten security, and provide a shield against any incidence of fraud and tampering of the passports, asserted Passport Canada.
Presently, more than 60 nations the world over have already making use of e-passports and Canada happens to be the one and only member of the G7 which has not introduced e-passports for those seeking Canada immigration.
The latest move to be introduced by the Canada immigration is however, being received with caution by few experts. According to a professor in Toronto University’s Faculty of Information, Andrew Clement, privacy of the people might be at certain risk. Hence, there was an immediate need for a thorough and an independent analysis and assessment of various confidential aspects.
To know the views of Canadians, an online questionnaire is available on the website of Passport Canada which must be filled completely and submitted at the site latest by 7th May, 2010. Only after knowing the comments of the Canadians about new Canadian e-passports will the decision regarding E-passports will be finalized.
After the launch of e-passports by Canada immigration department, Canadians will have the option to choose either a passport valid for a period of 10 years or for the current five-year time.
Meanwhile, Canada immigration department has clarified that Canadian passports without an electronic chip will be valid until the period of their expiry.
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