VZCZCXRO6159
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBD #0139 1270835
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060835Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4213
RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH 0038
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEAORC/USCBP WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000139 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/VO, CA/FPP AND INL/HSTC 
DEPARTMENT PASS KCC 
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CPAS CVIS KFRD CMGT ASEC BX
SUBJECT: Brunei Issues Biometric Passport 
 
REF: A) Bandar Seri Begawan 133 
B) Friedman-Rupp e-mail 5/5/08 
C) 07 Bandar Seri Begawan 69 
 
-------------------------- 
SUMMARY and ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On May 5, the Government of Brunei (GoB) began issuing 
ICAO-compliant biometric passports.  Post requests Department 
clearance to issue the press release in paragraph 4 and update our 
web information for Brunei citizens seeking visa waiver travel to 
the U.S.   END SUMMARY and ACTION REQUEST. 
 
------------------ 
COUNTRY CONDITIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) On May 5, the GoB announced the official launch of its 
biometric passport program.  In his public remarks, Minister of Home 
Affairs Pehin Adanan Hj Mohd Yusof reportedly stated that the new 
passport will allow Brunei citizens to enjoy visa waiver travel to 
the U.S.  Post has already received media inquiries about the impact 
of the issuance of the new passports on the Visa Waiver Program. 
 
¶3. (U) Although post has yet to receive our exemplars of the new 
passport, we have been assured by our Immigration Department that 
the new passports are fully compliant with ICAO standards for 
biometric passports.  According to press reports, the new passport 
produced by the German firm Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) incorporates 
the standard 72-kbyte encrypted RFID chip which will contain 
biodata, photo, and 10-print fingerprints.  Other security features 
include digitized photograph, rainbow fluorescent security threads, 
microprinting, and a polycarbonate security laminate on the data 
page.  The new passports will be issued with five years' validity 
and will have a unique serial number - a break from Brunei's past 
practice of using the holder's unique national identity card number 
as the passport number.  This past practice meant that replacement 
passports for lost, stolen, or just expired passports were issued 
with the same number as the old passport. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Post would like to issue the following press release to 
educate the public about the impact of the new passports on the visa 
waiver program. 
 
BEGIN DRAFT PRESS RELEASE and WEB POSTING: 
 
The Embassy of the United States congratulates His Majesty's 
Government on the announcement that it has begun issuing ICAO 
compliant biometric passports. 
 
The United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows Bruneian 
passport holders to enter the United States without the requirement 
of a visa as long as they meet certain criteria.  Brunei continues 
to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, along with a select few 
other countries. 
 
Holders of Brunei's new biometric passports are eligible to apply 
for entry to the U.S. as temporary visitors for business or pleasure 
without a visa.  Holders of a non-biometric, machine-readable 
passport issued, renewed or extended on or after October 26, 2006, 
must apply for a U.S. visa before they travel to the U.S.  This is a 
requirement for all VWP travelers worldwide.  Holders of 
non-biometric, machine-readable passports issued, renewed or 
extended before October 26, 2006 may still use this passport to 
participate in the Visa Waiver Program. 
 
If you have any questions on this new requirement or require 
clarification on whether this requirement will affect your travel 
plans, please contact the American Embassy Consular Section at 
222-0384.  Additional information on the Visa Waiver Program may 
also be found at www.travel.state.gov.  Thank you. 
 
END DRAFT PRESS RELEASE and WEB POSTING. 
 
SKODON