Malta awards contract to De La Rue

De La Rue Identity Systems is supplying Malta’s Government with a complete ePassport system that fully integrates with the country’s existing National Identity Management System (NIDMS). According to the company, all elements have been specifically designed to meet necessary software development and integration needs, whilst also providing and linking the ePassport, border control, PKI1 and eID systems together. 

The first ePassport document was issued on 1 October, heralding visa waiver status and European Union compliance for Malta. The initial ePassport offers Basic Access Control (BAC); however, there is already a planned move to offer EAC (Extended Access Control) ePassports within the next calendar year. The contract duration is seven years and was awarded following a competitive international tender process. 

As part of the complete ePassport solution, De La Rue has installed its personalisation system, SIPS 500e. This technology encodes and subsequently locks the chip, personalises and laminates the physical book and then completes a full quality assurance check all within a single integrated process. In addition to the manufacture and supply of the e-booklets themselves, De La Rue is also providing border control systems including ePassport reading and validation stations, support network infrastructures and PKI administration, with eID solutions to follow.

The application process uses De La Rue’s MIDISTM 2 software for enrolment, data capture and audit control. The ePassport is also one of the first in the world to be protected with SHIELD, De La Rue’s latest datapage protection system that offers integrated, multi-level holographic security features as an ultra-thin film laminate.