Argentina’s New Passport: Security, Mobility and Trust

Over the past few years, Argentina has progressively modernised the design and issuance of its travel documents. At the centre of this evolution is the passport, which is the most widely recognised document authorising its holder to engage in international travel, provided that the countries of origin, departure and destination permit that movement.

From identity document to trusted credential

Passports are designed and produced in accordance with the international standards and specifications established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), principally through ICAO Doc 9303, ‘Machine Readable Travel Documents’ [1]. These provide the fundamental framework for the design, production, personalisation, issuance and international recognition of travel documents.

However, a travel document can only be considered reliable when the personal information it contains has been subject to appropriate due diligence and authentication. Officials responsible for issuance must therefore have confidence that the individual exists, that the identity belongs to that person and that the supporting information is backed by an appropriate chain of custody and authenticity.