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Definition
A biometric passport, often called an ePassport, is a travel document that contains an embedded electronic chip storing the holder’s biometric data, such as a facial image, fingerprints, or iris data, plus the passport information page. The chip enables automated verification that the document belongs to the person presenting it.

Why it matters
Biometric passports significantly reduce identity fraud and passport forgery by linking physical documents to unique biometric identifiers. They speed up border control with automated eGates, improve traveler experience, and help governments enforce immigration and security checks more reliably.

Example use case
A traveler scans their biometric passport at an airport eGate. The gate reads the chip, compares the stored facial image to a live camera match, and grants fast automated entry when the identity is verified.