# I just got my new ePassport

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 8, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829 "2006-05-08T01:22:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829/1 "2006-05-08T01:22:31Z")

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And very swish it is too. It has a microchip embedded between the centre pages. I wonder what the chances are that the chip will last for the full 10 year period of validity of the passport?

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**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829/2 "2006-05-10T03:55:29Z")

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Ooo how do I get one? Is it cheaper than a regular passport?

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829/3 "2006-05-10T04:46:12Z")

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It has a chip? Does the chip have visible contacts, like those on some bank cards, or is it one of those buried RFID chips that responds to a pulse of radio waves from a reader?

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829/4 "2006-05-10T05:35:53Z")

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> [@LunaV](#):
>
> Ooo how do I get one? Is it cheaper than a regular passport?

No it’s the normal cost and I assume it’s going to be the standard format for all passports from now on. But when I paid for it the EFTPOS machine seemed to malfunction and so far no money has been deducted from my account. So it may in fact end up being a free passport. Here’s hoping…

> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> It has a chip? Does the chip have visible contacts, like those on some bank cards, or is it one of those buried RFID chips that responds to a pulse of radio waves from a reader?

I don’t know. The chip is embedded between the centre pages, so I can’t see it.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-new-epassport/355829/5 "2006-05-10T06:18:34Z")

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You’re lucky, **Cunctator**. They brought in ePassports here recently, but they cost more than the old kind, and only last for 5 years, from 10 years for the old ones.