BIOMETRIC TRAVEL DOCUMENT AS OF 21 SEPTEMBER 2009

This year a second biometric feature is to be added to the travel documents of EU member states.  Every travel document will carry two fingerprints.  The European Union has amended its regulation governing standard security features in travel documents.  As a result, parents will no longer be allowed to add their children to their own passports in the near future.  It has not yet been decided when the addition of children to adults' passports will be abolished.  The EU has yet to decide on the commencing date.

Abolition of the child sticker:  children no longer to be added to parents' passports

On 14 January 2009, the European Parliament passed an amendment to the EU regulation, introducing the principle of one person per passport throughout the EU.  In the near future parents will no longer have the option of adding their children to their own passports.  The European Parliament has also agreed another amendment to the EU regulation, which exempts children under 12 from the requirement to have their fingerprints stored on a chip in their travel documents.  EU member states will be obliged, from 28 June 2009 onwards, to include fingerprints in the new travel documents of anyone over 12.

Why the one peson, one passport principle?

The one person, one passport principle is recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a leading expert in the field of travel documents.  This UN body takes the view that the one person, one passport rule will make it easier to establish and verify passport holders' identities.  The EU believes that introducing the new rule will also make it easier to prevent child trafficking and smuggling.  In any case, it will be an improvement on the current situation in the EU, in which various member states issue different types of additions to passports.

When will the child sticker disappear?

It has not yet been decided when the addition of children to adults' passports will be abolished.  The EU has yet to decide on the exact date.  However, the one person, one passport principle is expected to be introduced in 2009.  The EU regulation has direct effect, setting aside the provisions of the Passport Act.

Consequences for existing child stickers and passports which include children

Parents will no longer be allowed to add children of any age to their passport.  But passports with child stickers and children added will still be valid once the one person, one passport principle is in force.

No fingerprint requirement for children under 12

Children under 12 will be exempt from the requirement, effective from 28 June 2009, to provide fingerprints for storage on the chip in new passports or Dutch identity cards.

For more information on the introduction of biometric travel documents see  www.minbuza.nl