What is an E-Passport, and how does its RFID technology differ from supply-chain RFID tags?

An e-passport is an ICAO 9303 document combining passive RFID (13.56 MHz, ISO 14443) with biometric data; unlike logistics RFID it has short range (~10 cm), strong crypto, and complex multi-layer security.

Electronic passports are based on the international standard ICAO Doc 9303 (Oct 2004) and combine advanced RFID with biometric data.

Stored data: holder name, date of birth, passport number; face image; fingerprints and iris data (optional); high-resolution digital photo; a write area for future uses (e.g. digital visas).

Technical specs: based on ISO 14443; passive RFID (no battery); operating frequency 13.56 MHz; intended read range 10 cm; tamper-resistance; integrated cryptography.

Difference from supply-chain RFID: shorter range (10 cm vs ~5 m), comprehensive encryption and authentication, higher frequency (13.56 MHz vs 915 MHz), and complex multi-layered security protocols.

Tip: The deliberately short ~10 cm range is itself a security feature — you have to physically present the passport to a reader, which limits surreptitious long-range skimming.

Go deeper:

• Biometric passport (Wikipedia) — the ICAO 9303 chip, its short-range RFID and crypto layers.