Thales gets multi-year contract for new generation US Passport eCovers
- The contract is scheduled to last up to 10 years and will provide the latest passport electronic cover (eCover) technology for U.S. passport holders.
- Thales, a global leader in digital security, has delivered more than 127 million U.S. passport eCovers since 2005.
Arlington VA, May 11, 2023 – Thales, the world’s leading supplier of ePassport solutions for more than 40 national programs worldwide, was recently awarded a new U.S. passport eCover contract with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) for up to the next 10 years.
Since 2005, Thales has delivered over 127 million eCovers and collaborated with GPO to provide secure technology and components for U.S. passport covers. GPO manufactures the U.S. passport—including many of its components—for the Department of State, who then personalizes the book for American travelers, Government officials, and diplomats.
Incorporating electronic security technology into highly-durable passport cover materials gives another degree of security, as the electronically stored data is safeguarded from alteration or forgery. Thales eCovers maximizes and integrates all the attributes required in an ePassport, highest security, durability, and aesthetics.
“Providing citizens, businesses and governments with stronger identity document security is a key mission at Thales,” said Tony Lo Brutto, Executive Vice President for Thales Identity and Biometric Solutions in North America. “As the global leader in digital security with the most extensive long-term experience for e-covers worldwide, Thales continually offers the most sophisticated solutions for safeguarding personal identities for travel documents.”
More than 140 States and non-state organizations (such as the United Nations and the European Union) are presently issuing ePassports, and there are more than 1 billion of them in use. By incorporating an electronic chip in the passport booklet that holds the biographical data that can be seen on page 2 of the passport as well as a digital security feature, ePassports strengthen the security of conventional non-electronic passports. This “digital signature” is a national aspect of digital security. These digital signatures are distinct and their corresponding certificates can be used to confirm them.