Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Passports

The United States has started using RFID "chips" in new passports. The new passports will be able to transmit information about you to electrical sensors, and will store your digital photo in order to make your photo available to facial recognition cameras.

The new computer chip in your passport will be mandatory.

The government answers some other frequently asked questions here. You may be concerned about the fact that your new electronic passport will be transmitting your personal data at all times, wherever you go in your travels, readable by any government RFID sensor, or any hacker who knows how to read the data.

You can read a long list of anti-RFID passport comments on the government web site here.