ePassport (MRTD)

Contactless

Electronic passport with contactless chip storing biometric data (face, fingerprint) for automated border control.

Contactless | ICAO Doc 9303 (ePassport) | Depuis 2004

Quick Specs

Contactless
Interface Contactless
Chip Type Microprocessor
OS JavaCard
EAL Level EAL5+
Lifespan 10 years
First Deployed 2004

Spécifications complètes

Matériel

InterfaceContactless
Type de puceMicroprocessor
Système d'exploitationJavaCard

Communication

ProtocoleISO 14443
APDU étendu Non
Canaux logiques1

Sécurité

Niveau EALEAL5+
Élément sécurisé Oui
Résistant aux altérations Oui
Coprocesseur cryptographique Oui
Prise en charge biométrique Non

Algorithmes cryptographiques

RSA-2048 RSA-4096 ECC-P256 SHA-256 3DES AES

Questions fréquemment posées

Consider four key factors: interface type (contact, contactless, or dual-interface), security requirements (EAL certification level), application domain (payment, identity, transport), and chip platform (JavaCard, MULTOS, native). For EMV payments, dual-interface cards are now standard. For government eID, EAL5+ certified cards are typically required.

Contact smart cards require physical insertion into a reader and communicate via the ISO 7816 interface (gold contact pads). Contactless cards use radio frequency (ISO 14443) and work within a few centimeters of a reader. Dual-interface cards combine both interfaces on a single chip, offering maximum flexibility.

EAL (Evaluation Assurance Level) is part of the Common Criteria framework for evaluating IT security. For smart cards, EAL4+ is common for payment cards, while EAL5+ or EAL6+ is required for government identity documents and ePassports. Higher EAL levels indicate more rigorous security testing and formal verification methods.