The international traveler’s ordeal with long queues and rigorous security checks will soon be a thing of the past. For verification, e-passports and e-visas are fast emerging as the preferred mode of authentication.
The Global E-passport and E-visa Market is witnessing impressive growth of a CAGR of 30.17 percent from 2014-2019.
TechNavio’s senior analyst and co-author of this report says:
After the 9/11 attack, governments worldwide started exploring the possibility of biometrics for passports, triggering massive changes in security measures and paving the way forward for the implementation of e-passports.
Also, the use of biometrics in passports and visas has been made mandatory by many governments to reduce terror activities, frauds, and forgery.
How Do E-passports and E-visas Function?
E-passports and e-visas are used to authenticate a traveler’s identity when crossing borders or entering into another country.
This technology stores data about the traveler on a smart chip, which includes a unique identification number and a digital signature.
Replacing Old Methods of Verification
The traditional method of using paper technology will soon be a passé with the implementation of E-passports and E-visas, and this will eliminate the possibility of data alteration and duplication.
The data stored electronically on the chip is authenticated by a public key infrastructure, also known as PKI, thus making e-passport forgeries impossible.
Facial, fingerprint, and iris recognition are some of the key biometric modalities used for this process.
Mandatory Adoption of E-passports and E-visas
While increase in cross-border travel is a primary driver for this market, there is also a surge in individual travelers who are visiting other countries as tourists or investors.
Given this scenario, the need for access control at the borders has also increased. And, therefore, to enhance the safety of individuals and to reduce terror attacks, the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has made it mandatory for its member countries to implement e-passports by 2015.
The Future of Travel
In future, international travel will witness increasing adoption of hybrid smart cards by various governments as a standard travel document.
Many countries have already started integrating hybrid smart cards in e-passports and e-visas as they provide information on a single chip which makes it feasible for both end-users and developers.
The presence of these drivers and trends is expected to help in the growth of the Global E-passport and E-visa market during the forecast period.
