The biometric solution selected by Sweden is based on an enrollment platform developed by Speed Identity that integrates Identix FaceIt biometric facial recognition technology. Sweden has adopted this solution for its e-passports to help ensure that it is in initial compliance with international standards for machine-readable travel documents, as well as to help meet the U.S. mandate that all visa-waiver countries begin issuing biometrically-enabled passports by October 2005.
The addition of Identix facial recognition to the Speed-Identity solution will also help ensure that Sweden's biometric passport complies with international interoperability standards. Facial recognition was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as the biometric standard for compliance with the U.S. mandate.
At the time of application for a new Swedish passport, a photograph and a signature from the applicant are captured in a Speed-Identity photo station, which is placed adjacent to the officer handling the passport application. The photo station verifies that the quality of the captured photo is in line with international standards, and that the photograph is suitable for verification by facial recognition software. This portion of the Swedish biometric passport program is expected to be introduced beginning of October 2005 with the initial roll-out of approximately 200 enrollment kiosks across the country. Sweden estimates that it processes more than one million passport applicants each year. The initial contract for is for a term of five years.
