Philippine Embassy Launches the ePassport
Posted on Monday, 21 June 2010
The Philippine Embassy will start issuing the ePassport on Monday, 28 June 2010.
The new Philippine ePassport is fully compliant with the high security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It features an embedded integrated circuit chip that allows faster verification of the identity of the passport holder. It is also virtually tamper-proof and a deterrent against identity theft, as it contains the biometric information of the holder and a unique identification number. Aside from basic passport information, the chip will contain the digital photo, signature and thumbprint of the holder.
The ePassport will cost S$102.00, slightly higher than the machine readable passport, but will have enhanced security features. Applicants are also no longer required to submit passport photos.
In order to prevent overcrowding and in compliance with Singapore safety and welfare regulations, the Philippine Embassy shall be instituting a cut-off of 80 to 100 applicants a day due to high consular traffic.
Applicants, especially professionals (S-Pass and E-Pass holders), are advised to schedule their visits on weekdays to avoid long queues on Sundays. The processing time will be six (6) weeks from the time of application.
