Since 1 December 2014, all Belgian passports produced have an additional control feature called « supplemental access control », designed to further protect data when reading the chip. In line with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and a requirement of the European Commission, the personal data of citizens, stored on the chip, most particularly his/her fingerprints, are thus better protected against any attempt at unauthorised reading.

Already 10 years since our passports are electronic

Since 2004, Belgian passports are equipped with an electronic chip incorporating various information such as personal data, photograph, signature and – more recently – the fingerprints of the passport holder. Belgium was at the time the first country in the world to incorporate this security system for which the Belgian passport received an Interpol prize.

The Belgian passport is internationally recognised as one of the safest in the world and allows our citizens to travel visa-free to over 170 countries. Along with the Netherlands, Belgium was ranked 3rd in the 2014 “Henley & Partners Visa Restriction Index”, which compares the number of countries to which a passport gives access visa-free.

Additional Information

History of securing Belgian passports

Since 1998, the Belgian passport has gone through several stages in terms of security:

• Before 1998: municipalities personalised passports by hand
• 1998: passports’ production is centralised
• 2004: addition of an electronic chip in the passport. The latter contains the personal data, signature and photograph of the passport holder
• 2011-2012: registration of fingerprints in the chip of the passports issued in our embassies and consulates
• 2013-2014: registration of fingerprints in the chip of the passports issued in Belgian municipalities and provinces
• 1/12/2014: new protection feature of the chip, « supplemental access control »

Number of Belgian passports issued:

	2014 (01/01 to 30/11)	2013
In Belgium	456.974	485.999
Abroad (embassies and consulates)	43.839	45.497
TOTAL	500.813	531.496