Biometric passports

By IDEAS

The country’s immigration service announced that the country’s new biometric passports are already being granted to prevent identity fraud and ease identity verification and authentication processes for holders at airports.

A biometric passport is a traditional passport with an embedded microchip containing the holder's biometric data such as facial characteristics, fingerprints and personal information.

"This passport elevates us to the highest level in global mobility trends. Its high-tech components prevent forgery and alteration, making it extremely secure," said Costa Rica's General Director of Migration and Foreigners, Raquel Vargas.

For the new passport's design, the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners had the support of the country brand Essential Costa Rica, whose team oversaw the graphic composition of each page of the passport, including visual images.

The visually engaging graphics seen in the internal pages are epresentative of the country's four trademark pillars:

-Biodiversity: represented by the country's islands, hammerhead sharks, ocean waves, turtles, coral reefs, butterflies, and sloths.
-Renewable energy: represented by the nation's volcanoes and hydroelectric plants.
-Education and peace: represented by the torch of independence, schoolbooks, and of course, "Pura Vida."
-Talent: represented by the traditional ox cart, pre-Columbian spheres, Boruca masks, sculptures, and the music of marimba, calypso, and even the native Creole swing.