PASSPORT CANADA WEBSITE & EPASSPORTS

NEW LOOK FOR PASSPORT CANADA’S WEBSITE

PASSPORT Canada has unveiled its new-look website, which has been reformatted to reflect the Government of Canada‟s latest design guidelines and accessibility standards.

The new website has a cleaner look and improved functionality for a more straight forward browsing experience and is organized so that it‟s easier for visitors to find all the information they need about Canadian passports, passport applications and renewals. Passport Canada has also placed its most requested information first, to ensure that visitors can find what they want with minimum navigation.

All key information is accessible from drop-down menus in the top menu bar and all material is fully bilingual.

EPASSPORT ROLL-OUT SLATED FOR SPRING 2013

PASSPORT Canada has confirmed on its website that, from spring 2013, all new Canadian passports will be electronic passports, or ePassports. The exact timelines will be announced at a later date but meanwhile the transition to ePassports will begin before the end of this year. The Canadian ePassport will have an electronic chip embedded in the back cover of the book. The chip adds an extra layer of security to the passport and makes it more tamper-proof. The chip in the ePassport stores the same personal information that is normally seen on page 2 of the passport (except for the holder‟s signature), the photo and a country specific digital security feature (or „signature‟) that proves the passport was issued by the Government of  Canada. No additional information about passport holders or their travels will be stored on the chip. The chip will only contain the personal information as seen on page 2, the holder‟s photo and a Government of Canada signature. ePassport readers will be installed in Passport Canada‟s 34 offices for people who would like to see the information stored on their chip to make sure it is accurate.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx