About your Canadian passport

Did you know?

Over 100 countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom, use ePassports. The International Civil Aviation Organization recommends their use.

All new Canadian passports are 36-page books that have a data chip in them. They are called ePassports.

The benefits of the ePassport include:

• reduced risk of tampering and identity fraud through more layers of identity checks
• a digital facial image lets facial recognition systems check the identity of the passport holder at the border, if the necessary equipment is in place.
• stronger identity checks which reduce the risk of other countries putting visa requirements on travellers
• digital security features and images that are unique to Canada and help border authorities ensure that the passport is authentic and valid

About the data chip and your information

The e-chip is electronically locked when information is first stored on it in the passport. This ensures that your information cannot be tampered with or edited. No additional information about you or your travels will be stored on the e-chip. The information stored on the chip is the same information printed on page 2 of the passport book. This includes:

• surname
• given name
• nationality
• date of birth
• sex
• date of issue
• your photo
• passport number

If your status changes, for example, if you change your name, the chip cannot be updated. You will have to apply for a new passport.

The information on the e-chip cannot be read unless the passport is held within 10 centimetres of an ePassport reader. Some of the information on page 2 of the passport must also be provided to access the information on the e-chip. It is unlikely that personal data stored on the ePassport chip could be read without your knowledge.

Visit a passport office to see the information stored on your e-chip and to make sure it is correct.

Crossing the border with an ePassport

If the border inspection checkpoint has an ePassport reader, your passport will be:

• opened by the border official and placed on the ePassport reader
• scanned on the printed machine-readable zone (the lines at the bottom of page 2) so the chip can be read
• verified by the reader that the ePassport data is authentic and valid
• checked for other security features

If a border checkpoint does not have an ePassport reader, your ePassport will be treated like a non-electronic passport. It will be scanned in the traditional way.