The new passports contain a chip that holds a biometric facial image.Other biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans may be added to the passports at a later date. Beginning in 2007, first-time adult passport applicants in the U.K. will also have to attend an interview to confirm their identity.
Existing passports remain valid until their expiration date, and holders do not need to exchange them for biometric passports.
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