HID Global Delivers ePassports to Libya

HID Global is providing the technology for Libya’s new ePassport program. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will be using the HID Integrale solution to streamline applications and facilitate the issuance and management of travel documents.

Thanks to HID Integrale’s use of public key infrastructure (PKI), the new passports will be compatible with the latest international ICAO standards and can be used as valid proof of identity at locations all over the world. It will also allow Libya to update the passports with new security technologies (including biometrics) as they become available. The PKI service will enable the personalization of eDocuments with keys from Libya’s Country Signing Certification Authority (CSCA), and allow those keys to be verified through the ICAO Public Key Directory.

The passport booklets themselves will be built with a polycarbonate datapage, with encrypted chips and laser engraving for additional security. The new solution was designed and delivered in a short four-month period, and came with a web-based support package that allowed HID Global’s engineers to conduct Ministry training online.

“Our collaboration has yielded a robust and complete ePassport system that we have seamlessly integrated with our existing processes,” said MOFA representative Mohamed Elkoni. “HID’s identity document expertise and ongoing technical support has greatly simplified the implementation of our new systems.”

“A successful ePassport system enhances each touchpoint of the user experience, from application to travel,” added HID Global SVP and Head of Secure Issuance and Citizen ID Solutions Craig Sandness. “By opting for HID’s Integrale software suite, the Libyan government has created a solid and future-proof foundation to issue diplomatic and special ePassports.”

The news advances HID Global’s recent efforts to bring modern identity documents to residents of Africa. The company has previously provided ePassports for the government of Tanzania, and later expanded that program to include visas and residency permits.

In 2019, HID Global acquired De La Rue’s identity solutions business in an effort to bolster its own passport portfolio. The company has also delivered an ePassport solution for Argentina.

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March 11, 2021 – by Eric Weiss