The deadline for all Dominicans to switch to biometric passports is approaching. The Commonwealth of Dominica mandates that all Dominican citizens must complete the transition before August 2022, which takes between 21 and 30 working days on average. However, according to the Government Information Service of Dominica, the government has extended the deadline until December 31st, 2022.
What’s the difference between a biometric passport and a traditional one? And why are they important in today’s world of global travel? Here’s everything you need to know to renew your passport.
What’s a biometric passport?
On the surface, the only thing that differentiates a biometric passport from a traditional one is a small logo on either the front or back cover of the booklet. Beyond that, those travel booklets are embedded with electronic chips that contain all critical printed information and unique passport identifiers. That includes your name, picture, biographical information, biometric information, a unique chip identification number, and a digital signature that protects the stored data from being altered.
The new document uses contactless smart card technology, and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) is used to authenticate the information on the chip, making it difficult and expensive to forge.
Why are most countries transitioning to biometric passports?
With technology advancing exponentially faster, fraud and identity theft rise as well. Biometric passports are extremely difficult to falsify. The biometric passport integrated chip uses digital signature technology to authenticate the information stored on it. The chip in the passport also employs PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology, which contributes to the prevention of data modification on the chip. This encryption key provides an additional layer of security. These measures help prevent and detect fraud and identity theft, keeping all passport users safe. They avoid tampering with passports and any unauthorized, illegal modification to travel documents.
In addition, the use of a biometric passport is convenient and fast, making travelers’ user experience smoother, hassle-free, and more secure.
How to switch to a Dominican biometric passport
Renewing a passport or transitioning to a biometric one is reasonably straightforward. The process takes between 21 and 30 working days on average. You must provide the following documents at the Embassy of Dominica in order to start your passport renewal process:
Complete color scans only:
- Certified Dominica Certificate of Registration
- Certified English Birth certificate (attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Certified English Marriage certificate if applicable (attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Required documents in original:
- Dominica Passport
- Two Certified Passport photos
Other documents for applicants aged 16 and above:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Photos (4 – 2 get legalized) (digital copy and original + signature of lawyer on the back)
- Passport copy + original
- Naturalization Certificate of Dominica
- Letter of authorization (Signed only by adults, if for child, parents sign on their behalf)
PassPro is a government-authorized agent, accompanying all its clients beyond citizenship acquisition into their world citizen life. If you acquired your second citizenship through PassPro, you have access to My PassPro services in perpetuity.
One of those services is passport renewal, and you can submit your documents to PassPro and get your Dominican passport renewed and updated hassle-free. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us by email [email protected] or call +971 4 554 1449
