Important Deadlines for Issuers and Producers of ePassports and Systems
- SECOIA
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Time is running out... Did you know? Does your Issuing and Border authority know?
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As a government authority and an active member of the ICAO New Technologies Working Group (NTWG) or the Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG), you will be aware of the important deadlines. The same applies to industry members active within ISO JTC1/SC17/WG3. However, it can be challenging to keep up with these important deadlines for the implementation of compulsory features or the introduction of new specifications.
The graph below, first published in the LinkedIn group 'ICAO e-Passports and e-ID Cards' by the group's moderator and the CEO of SECOIA, shows the current status of these milestones. Special attention should be given to the fields marked in red, as there are only six months remaining.
Biometric Encoding
From January 1st, 2026, the electronic Machine Readable Travel Documents (eMRTDs) MAY use the ISO/IEC 39794-5 biometric format instead of the ISO/IEC 19794-5. Consequently, border inspection systems MUST be able to inspect such eMRTDs using the new standard.
After a four-year transition period, starting on January 1st, 2030, all new eMRTDs MUST use the ISO/IEC 39794-5 biometric formats.
2nd character document code for passports
The various passports and other MRTDs using a 2-digit document type code, such as "PP", or "PD".
From January 1st, 2026, new passports using a second character document code (such as "PP"; not "P<") MUST use the document codes specified in the Doc 9303-4. Also, 1-sheet Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) according to Doc 9303-8 using the optional MRZ with a 2nd character document code MUST use the code "PU".
After a two-year transition period, starting January 1st, 2028, all new passports MUST use the second character document codes specified in Doc 9303-4. All 1-sheet ETDs MUST use the code "PU".
After a ten-year transition period, starting January 1st, 2038, all passports without a standardized second character document code MUST have expired.
Depreciation of BAC and phase-in of PACE
From January 1st, 2027, PACE will be mandatory, meaning that all new eMRTDs MUST have PACE implemented. BAC MAY still be operational as an additional authentication method.
From January 1st, 2028 onwards, new eMRTDs MUST NOT have BAC implemented.
After a ten-year transition period, all MRTDs yet supporting BAC MUST be out of circulation.
More updates are on the way. The 9th edition of ICAO Doc 9303 is also in development, with a focus on clearer, testable language and fewer non-essential policy paragraphs.
The graph below can serve as a temporary "cheat sheet".
