As of 28 August 2006, the Portuguese government began issuing electronic passports which in addition to containing enhanced security features also contain a contact-less microchip. The microchip includes all the biographic information printed in the passport as well as a digital version of the photograph suitable for use in digital facial recognition. While fingerprint information is obtained when applying for the passport, it is not included in the passport itself. European Union member states will be required to include fingerprint information in their passports by 28 February 2008. The PEP meets ICAO standards for electronic passports, and contains the biometric passport symbol. The PEP meets all the requirements for the United States Visa Waiver Program. The passport is valid for 5 years, and can not be renewed. Passports issued before the PEP are still valid as long as they have not passed their dates of expiry.
Appearance
The 2006 version electronic passport was designed by Henrique Cayatte. Its final form incorporated a set of thematic elements related to Portuguese poets Luís Vaz de Camões and Fernando Pessoa in both its technical and aesthetic elements. Images were provided by the Portuguese painter Júlio Pomar. The 2017 version was designed by Jorge Silva. It features a set of 20 elements of the Portuguese UNESCO World Heritage throughout the interior pages.
Cover
The regular passport is a deep red colour with golden print, and is written only in Portuguese. Following European Union Standards the passport bears the title União Europeia above the country name and the title of Passaporte. The passport contains images of the Portuguese Coat-of-arms. Security features on the cover include: invisible ink printing which is visible under an ultraviolet light.
Biographic information page
The biographic information is the first page at the front of the passport. It includes the following information: Type Code of Issuing Passport Nr. 1) Surname 2) Name 3) Nationality 4) Height 5) Date of Birth 6) Personal Nr. 7) Sex 8) Place of Birth 9) Date of Issue 10) Authority 11) Date of Expiry 12) Holder's Signature
Visa Pages
The passport has 32 pages, however only 28 are suitable for visas Security features on the visa pages include: security paper with watermark, passport number is perforated into the bottom of all pages.
Languages
Following European Union passport standards, the passport contains all official languages of the EU. The cover is only printed in Portuguese The fields on the biographic page are printed in Portuguese, English, and French, with translations in the last three pages of the passport
Application
All citizens of Portugal are entitled to a Portuguese passport. In Portugal, applications for a Portuguese passport need to be made in person in particular Civil Registries or Departments of Citizen Cards or in a Loja do Cidadão Overseas applications need to be made in person at a consular authority. To apply for a passport, an individual needs to provide proof of citizenship i.e. with a valid Bilhete de Identidade or a valid Cartão de Cidadão. Consular authorities may require other pieces of identification as required by local law. Currently no photograph is required, as a digital photograph is taken at the time of the application.
