III. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS COMMON TO ALL MACHINE READABLE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Scope 1. This section defines specifications that are common to all machine readable travel documents (MRTDs) and, hence, the machine readable passport (MRP). Reference to the MRTD in Section III shall therefore constitute reference to the MRP. A reference to the layout of eye readable and machine readable data shall be interpreted as a reference to the machine readable data page of the MRP. All other specifications in this section apply to the full MRP. Physical characteristics 2. Issuing States and Organizations have the freedom to choose the materials to be used. Nevertheless, the MRTD shall, in normal use throughout its period of validity, meet the following requirements. 2.1 Deformation. The MRTD shall be of such nature that bends (not creases), i.e. deformation due to normal use, can be flattened by the reading device without impairing the use of the MRTD or the functioning of the reader. 2.2 : 1995). Toxicity. The MRTD shall present no toxic hazards in the course of normal use (see also ISO/IEC 7810 2.3 Resistance to chemicals. The MRTD shall be resistant to chemical effects arising from normal handling and use, except where chemical sensitivity is added for security reasons. 2.4 Temperature stability. The MRTD shall remain machine readable at operating temperatures ranging from –10°C to +50°C (14°F to 122°F). The MRTD should not lose its reliability after being stored at temperatures ranging from –35°C to +80°C (–31°F to 176°F). 2.5 Humidity. The MRTD shall be machine readable at a relative air humidity ranging from 5 per cent to 95 per cent, with a maximum wet bulb temperature of 25°C (77°F) (see also ISO/IEC 7810 : 1995). The MRTD should not lose its reliability after being stored at a relative air humidity ranging from 0 per cent to 100 per cent. 2.6 Light. The MRTD shall resist deterioration from exposure to light encountered during normal use (see also ISO/IEC 7810 : 1995). 2.7 While material choices remain at the discretion of the individual issuing State or Organization, no materials shall adversely affect any other component in the MRTD. Security aspects 3. The MRTD shall incorporate safeguards as deemed appropriate by the issuing State or Organization. Security features incorporated in the MRTD should permit reliable verification but shall not interfere with machine reading. Doc 9303 does not specify the security precautions to be taken against counterfeit and fraudulent alteration. However, the following security principles shall be observed in the production of the MRTD. -2- 3.1 Forgery. Reliable security measures shall be incorporated to facilitate the visual detection of any alteration to the MRTD. Such security measures should, if possible, also facilitate the automated detection of alterations. “Forgery” is defined as the fraudulent alteration of any part of the MRTD. 3.2 Counterfeit. To facilitate the visual and/or automated detection of counterfeits, a combination of reliable security features shall be incorporated in the MRTD. “Counterfeit” is defined as the unauthorized reproduction of the MRTD by whatever means. 3.3 Imposters. Security features should be incorporated to facilitate the visual and/or automated detection of the fraudulent use of the MRTD by an imposter. “Imposter” is defined as someone representing himself or herself to be some other person. 3.4 Materials. Whenever possible, materials should be of controlled varieties which cannot be easily acquired for other than official purposes. Where materials are not of a controlled variety, it is recommended that additional security features be integrated with these materials. Where different types of materials are integrated to form the MRTD or any part thereof (e.g. paper substrate with laminate), they shall be assembled in a manner to prevent reuse and reassembly following separation for purposes of fraudulent alteration. General layout of MRTD 4. The MRTD follows a standardized layout to facilitate reading of data on a global basis by both eye readable and machine readable means (global interoperability). 4.1 To accommodate the various requirements of States’ laws and practices and to achieve the maximum standardization within those divergent requirements, the MRTD is divided into seven zones as listed below. Zones I through VI constitute the visual inspection zone (VIZ). Zone VII is the machine readable zone (MRZ). Zone I Header Zone II Personal data elements (mandatory and optional) Zone III Document data elements (mandatory and optional) Zone IV Holder’s signature or usual mark Zone V Identification feature Zone VI Optional data elements Zone VII Mandatory machine readable zone (MRZ) 4.2 The locations and dimensional specifications of zones are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. Content, use and dimensional flexibility of zones 5. The content and use of zones, while common in large part to all MRTDs, vary to accommodate the unique requirements of the different types of MRTDs and the diverse requirements of issuing States and Organizations. 6. Visual inspection zone (VIZ) (Zones I through VI) 6.1 The VIZ consists of zones designated mandatory and optional to accommodate the diverse requirements of issuing States and Organizations while maintaining sufficient uniformity to ensure global interoperability for all MRTDs. -3- Captions in VIZ. Mandatory captions are defined for key data elements in the VIZ. Details are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 6.2 9303. 6.3 Entered data in VIZ 6.3.1 Selection of typeface and type size used within the VIZ is at the discretion of the issuing State or Organization. However, OCR-B, size 1, constant stroke width characters with a width spacing of 2.54 mm (0.1 in) as specified in ISO 1073-2 : 1976 are recommended. 6.3.2 The horizontal printing density and the vertical line spacing may be adjusted at the discretion of each issuing State or Organization, provided that in the VIZ all data are printed in a size such that they can be easily read and assimilated by a person with normal eyesight. Note.— Where OCR-B, size 1, is not used, a maximum horizontal printing density of 15 characters per 25.4 mm (1.0 in) should not be exceeded. This printing density has been chosen as the smallest in which information is clear and legible. 6.3.3 If any optional field is not used, the entered data may be spread out in the VIZ consistent with the requirement for sequencing zones and data elements specific to the different types of MRTDs. 6.3.4 Use of upper case characters is recommended. 6.3.5 Organization. Diacritical marks may be used with either lower or upper case letters, at the option of the issuing State or 6.4 Use of languages with non-Latin alphabet characters. For entered data in the visual zone, national languages with non-Latin characters should be transliterated or transcribed into the Latin alphabet. Where representation in the national language with non-Latin alphabet is required, each data element shall first appear as prescribed in the data element directory for the relevant type of MRTD, followed by a blank space, an oblique character and another blank space, followed by the same data element in the national language, subject to available space in the field concerned. Case and size of font for the non-Latin alphabet data entries may be selected at the discretion of the issuing State or Organization. Whenever possible, however, the same size of font should be used as for the machine readable zone. In all other respects, the layout, fields and data elements for the VIZ, as set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303, shall be observed. 6.5 Zone position/data position/data elements/print specifications/print position in VIZ. Details are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 7. Mandatory machine readable zone (MRZ) (Zone VII) 7.1 Purpose of the MRZ 7.1.1 MRTDs produced in accordance with Doc 9303 incorporate an MRZ to facilitate inspection of travel documents and reduce the time taken up in the travel process by administrative procedures. In addition, the MRZ provides verification of the information in the VIZ and may be used to provide search characters for a database inquiry. Equally, it may be used to capture data for registration of arrival and departure or simply to point to an existing record in a database. -4- 7.1.2 The MRZ provides a set of essential data elements in a standardized format for each type of MRTD that can be used by all receiving States regardless of their national script or customs. 7.1.3 worldwide. The data in the MRZ are formatted in such a way as to be readable by machines with standard capability 7.2 Properties of the MRZ 7.2.1 In consideration of national privacy laws, the data in the MRZ must be visually readable as well as machine readable. Data presentation must conform to a common standard such that all machine readers configured in conformance with Doc 9303 can recognize each character and communicate in a standard protocol (e.g. ASCII) that is compatible with the technology infrastructure and the processing requirements defined by the receiving State. 7.2.2 To meet these requirements OCR-B typeface is specified in Doc 9303 as the medium for storage of data in the MRZ. The MRZ as defined herein is recognized as the machine reading technology essential for global interchange, and is therefore mandatory in all types of MRTDs. 7.3 Constraints of the MRZ 7.3.1 The characters allowed in the MRZ are a common set (as defined in Appendix 2 to this section) which can be used by all receiving States. National characters generally appear only in the computer-processing systems of the receiving States in which they apply and are not available globally. They shall not, therefore, appear in the MRZ. 7.3.2 Diacritical marks are not permitted in the MRZ. Even though they may be useful to distinguish names, the use of diacritical marks in the MRZ would confuse machine-reading equipment, resulting in less accurate database searches and slower clearance of travellers. 7.3.3 The number of character positions available for data in the MRZ is limited, and varies according to the type of MRTD. The lengths of the data elements inserted in the MRZ must conform to the sizes of the respective fields as specified in the data element directory in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 7.4 Data position/data elements/check digits/print specifications/print position in MRZ 7.4.1 therein. Data position. Appendices to the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303 define the location of the MRZ and the nominal position of the data 7.4.2 Data elements. The data elements corresponding to specified fields of the VIZ shall be printed, in machine readable form, in the MRZ beginning with the left most character position in each field in the sequence indicated in the data structure specifications for each document type. Details on the data elements to be included in the MRZ are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 7.4.3 Check digits. The data structure of the machine readable lines provides for the inclusion of check digits. The position of check digits and the data used in their calculation differ between MRTDs, and a table defining this information is set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 7.4.4 Print specifications. Machine readable data shall be printed in OCR-B type font, size 1, constant stroke width characters, at a fixed width spacing of 2.54 mm (0.1 in); i.e. horizontal printing density of 10 characters per -5- 25.4 mm (1.0 in) as specified in ISO 1073-2 : 1976. Printed characters are restricted to those defined in Appendix 2 to this section. 7.4.5 Print position. Reference centre lines for the OCR lines within the MRZ and a nominal starting position for the first character of each line are set out in Appendices to the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 8. Dimensional flexibility of zones 8.1 Visual inspection zone (VIZ). The dimensions of individual zones within the VIZ (i.e. Zones I through VI) may be adjusted to accommodate the diverse requirements of issuing States and Organizations. Details are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 8.2 Machine readable zone (MRZ). The dimensions of the MRZ (Zone VII) are fixed for each type of MRTD. Details are set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. Convention for writing the name of the holder 9. Visual inspection zone (VIZ) 9.1 The issuing State shall establish which part of the name is the primary identifier — this may be the family name, the main name, the surname, and in some cases, the entire name. This shall be entered in the field for the primary identifier in the VIZ. It is recommended that upper case letters be used. 9.2 The remaining parts of the name are the secondary identifier. These may be the forenames, familiar names, given names, or any other secondary names. These names shall be written in the field for the secondary identifier in the VIZ. It is recommended that upper case letters be used throughout. If a single field is used for the name, then the secondary identifier should be separated from the primary identifier by a single comma (,). A comma is not needed if multiple fields are used. 9.3 It is recommended that prefixes and suffixes including titles, professional and academic qualifications, honours, awards, and hereditary status, not be included in the VIZ. However, if an issuing State considers a prefix or suffix to be legally part of the name, the prefix or suffix can appear in the VIZ. Numeric characters should not be written in the name fields of the VIZ. Where the use of numeric characters is a legal naming convention in the issuing States, these should be represented in Roman numerals. 9.4 National characters may be used in the VIZ. If the national characters are not Latin-based, then a transliteration into Latin characters must be provided. 10. Machine readable zone (MRZ) 10.1 In the MRZ the name of the holder shall be printed using uppercase characters without diacritical marks. 10.2 The primary identifier, using the Latin character transliteration (if applicable), shall be written in the appropriate machine readable line, with the starting character position as set out in the section(s) specific to the -6- preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. It shall be followed by two filler characters (<<). The secondary identifier, using the Latin character transliteration (if applicable), shall be written starting in the character position immediately following the two filler characters. 10.3 If the primary or secondary identifiers have more than one name component, each component shall be separated by a single filler character (<). 10.4 Filler characters (<) should be inserted immediately following the final secondary identifier (or following the primary identifier in the case of a name having only a primary identifier) through to the last character position in the machine readable line. 10.5 The number of character positions in the name field is limited and differs for the different types of MRTDs. If the primary and secondary identifiers, written in the relevant machine readable line using the above procedure, exceed the available character positions, then truncation shall be carried out using the procedure set out in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. In all other cases, the name shall not be truncated. 10.5.1 In truncating the name components, the last character of the name field shall be an alpha character (A to Z inclusive) as an indication that truncation has occurred (see the Data Element Directory of the MRZ in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303). Note.— Where long names extend to the last character position in the name field, the presence of an alpha character means that the name must be treated as though truncation had occurred. 10.5.2 Examples of truncation of names are contained in the section(s) specific to the preparation of the different types of MRTDs contained in the applicable part of Doc 9303. 10.6 Prefixes and suffixes, including titles, professional and academic qualifications, honours, awards, and hereditary status, shall not be included in the MRZ except where the issuing State considers these to be legally part of the name. In such cases prefixes or suffixes shall be represented as components of the secondary identifier(s). 10.7 Numeric characters shall not be used in the name fields of the MRZ. 10.8 treated as follows: Punctuation characters are not allowed in the MRZ. Where these appear as part of a name, they should be Apostrophe: This shall be omitted; name components separated by the apostrophe shall be combined and no filler character shall be inserted in its place in the MRZ. Example VIZ: D’Artagnan MRZ: DARTAGNAN Hyphen: filler character (<). Example VIZ: Marie-Elise MRZ: MARIE