Morocco’s government approved a decree on Thursday paving the way for a new generation of biometric passports with stronger security features and design elements reflecting the country’s identity, while allowing existing passports to remain in use during the transition.
Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas said the measure forms part of efforts to strengthen protection of the Moroccan passport and establish a new biometric document designed to improve security.
The Government Council approved draft decree No. 2.26.551, presented by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, amending a 2008 decree that established Morocco’s biometric passport system.
Baitas said the new generation would “guarantee security and reflect Moroccan identity in its various components,” without providing details on the document’s new technical features, appearance or expected launch date.
The decree provides for a joint decision by the authorities responsible for the interior and foreign affairs portfolios to determine procedures and conditions for issuing the new biometric passport.
The government has not yet announced when applications for the new document will open or whether passport fees will change.
said implementation provisions would determine when the new system enters into force, while stressing that current Moroccan passports would continue to be used until they are replaced by the new document.
The measure amends Decree No. 2.08.310 of Oct. 23, 2008, which created Morocco’s biometric passport framework.
Morocco currently issues biometric passports containing an electronic chip used to store identifying information. The government’s announcement signals a further upgrade to that system, but officials have not yet disclosed whether the new generation will introduce additional biometric data, redesigned security elements or changes to issuance procedures.
The next operational details are expected through the joint interior and foreign affairs decision provided for under the decree.
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