The Canadian government has unveiled a new, more secure, high-tech passport. Officials also promise Canadians can renew their passports online starting later this year.
“The new passport has been redesigned from cover to cover with state-of-the-art security features and new artwork, maintaining its status as one of the most secure and universally accepted travel documents in the world for all Canadians,” officials said today at a press conference at Ottawa International Airport.
“The new passport includes state-of-the-art security features designed to keep Canadians’ identities safe, such as a polycarbonate data page—a technology similar to Canada’s driver’s licences. Passport holders’ personal information will now be laser engraved instead of being printed with ink, making the data page more durable and resistant to tampering and counterfeiting.
“Other features include a Kinegram over the main photo, a custom see-through window with a secondary image of the passport holder, a variable laser image, and a temperature sensitive ink feature.
“The new passport celebrates Canada’s heritage and identity with iconic images of Canada’s natural beauty throughout the four seasons. It also includes a new cover design with an outline of a maple leaf—the first significant change in decades.”
The new passport will start rolling out in later this summer. Until then, the current passport remains secure and reliable, so Canadians with valid passports will only need to renew them when they are getting close to their normal renewal date.
More details regarding the roll-out will be provided at a later date.
The Government of Canada has also been working to offer more online service options for Canadians. Starting later this fall, Canadians will be able to renew their passport, pay their fees, and upload their photograph securely and conveniently online, officials promised.
Little Niagara-on-the-Lake at Little Canada in downtown Toronto. JIM BYERS PHOTO
HOTEL TOE NIBBLERS, WESTJET PILOT JOB ACTION AND OTHER TRAVEL NEWS
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