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Portugal : Biometric Passport (2017 — 2022)

Portuguese passports are issued to citizens of Portugal for the purpose of international travel. The passport, along with the National Identity Card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union and European Economic Area.

This version was first issued on 28 August 2006 before being replaced by a new version on 10 July 2017.

As of 28 August 2006, the Portuguese government began issuing electronic passports (Portuguese: Passaporte Electrónico Português, commonly abbreviated as PEP) which in addition to containing enhanced security features also contain a contact-less microchip. The microchip includes all the biographic information printed in the passport as well as a digital version of the photograph suitable for use in digital facial recognition. While fingerprint information is obtained when applying for the passport, it is not included in the passport itself. European Union member states will be required to include fingerprint information in their passports by 28 February 2008.

The PEP meets ICAO standards for electronic passports, and contains the biometric passport symbol (a small eye-like image). The PEP meets all the requirements for the United States Visa Waiver Program. The passport is valid for 5 years, and can not be renewed (when it expires a new application needs to be made). Passports issued before the PEP are still valid as long as they have not passed their dates of expiry.

he new electronic passport was designed by Henrique Cayatte. Its final form incorporated a set of thematic elements related to the Portuguese poets, Luís Vaz de Camões and Fernando Pessoa, in both its technical and aesthetic elements. Images were provided by the Portuguese painter Júlio Pomar.