Suriname Grants E-passport Funds to OeSD
Suriname has taken a significant step towards modernising its travel documents with the introduction of a new biometric ePassport. The Austrian company OeSD, in collaboration with Serbia's Vlatacom Research and Development Institute, has been awarded the contract for the production of Suriname's new generation of secure passports.
The new ePassport incorporates several innovative security features that align with international standards, enhancing both security and convenience for Surinamese travellers.
The ePassport includes biometric identification such as facial features and fingerprints, securely stored on an embedded RFID chip. This integration of advanced biometric technology reduces fraud risks and facilitates reliable identity authentication.
The RFID chip is integrated with an antenna in the passport cover, enabling contactless reading at border control points. This feature streamlines the border crossing process, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
The stored data is protected by globally recognized encryption protocols, including Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), and Extended Access Control (EAC). These layers ensure that the biometric and personal information cannot be accessed or duplicated by unauthorized parties.
The new ePassport is compliant with Surinam's existing eID system and meets the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for machine-readable travel documents, ensuring global interoperability and security.
The passport cover also features a gold-colored e-passport symbol to indicate the presence of embedded electronic data.
The production process involves close cooperation between OeSD and Vlatacom, leveraging advanced European technology expertise to implement these security and biometric features.
Citizens of Suriname will be able to register online for the new ePassport, with the option to make a personal appointment for biometric enrollment after the launch. The new ePassport will also include a state-of-the-art polycarbonate data page and additional innovative security features.
Claudia Schwendimann, CEO of OeSD, expressed pride in the company's role as the supplier of Suriname's new generation of modern ePassports. OeSD is a recognised and certified high-security company that offers its expertise in manufacturing modern biometric ePassports to international clients.
With the implementation of this new ePassport, Surinam joins the group of 140 states and non-state organisations that already issue ePassports, further underscoring OeSD's position as a reliable and efficient partner for states worldwide. The new ePassport will provide Surinam's citizens with one of the most modern travel documents worldwide.
The new ePassport was launched on April 25, 2025, replacing machine-readable passports while still validating existing ones until expiration. This significant upgrade in Suriname's travel documents is expected to significantly strengthen Surinamese passport security and global travel facilitation.
The new ePassport, an innovative travel document for Suriname, incorporates advanced biometric technology, such as facial features and fingerprints, securely stored on an embedded RFID chip to reduce fraud risks and facilitate identity authentication. The RFID chip, protected by global encryption protocols, is integrated with an antenna in the passport cover for contactless reading at border control points, streamlining the border crossing process.
