Australia and New Zealand are in discussion about trialling a ‘cloud’ passport meaning travellers would no longer need to carry it with them.
The world leading initiative would mean the risk of losing or having their passports stolen would be significantly reduced.
It would work by storing the identity and biometric data of holders online so it could be checked digitally, which would eliminate the need to carry a physical copy.
The idea was presented during an InnovationXchange meeting in Canberra..
Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop says security standards would need to be met before widespread implementation
‘We think it will go global,’ foreign minister Julie Bishop said of the idea of passport-less travel.
Australia implemented ‘e-passports’ in 2005, which feature an embedded chip storing travellers digitised photograph, name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and the passport expiry date.
