A polycarbonate e-passport (also known as an polycarbonate passport or a PVC passport) is a type of passport that contains a biodata page made of polycarbonate, a strong plastic material, instead of a laminated paper sheet. The polycarbonate layers protect the passport's electronic components and personal data by laser-engraving them into the deeper layers of the plastic data page, which improved the anti-counterfeiting, durability and reliability of the passport compared to the regular laminated biodata page.[1] [2] [3]
Finland introduced the world's first PVC passport data page in 1997,[4] and Sweden was the first to adopt a passport with a biometric personal data page made of polycarbonate material in the early era of e-passports. This design was then gradually introduced in various countries. Germany, Thailand, Malaysia have adopted this technology in their passports few years after.[5]
As of 2019, more than 40 countries have changed the material of their travel documents from the laminated paper to a polycarbonate one.[6]