The Japanese Justice Ministry has agreed to introduce cards with fingerprint data as part of an immigration control system to identify travelers.
Ministry officials said the cards will make re-entry faster and easier for Japanese citizens at international airports, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday. The cards, containing integrated circuit chips, will be issued on an optional basis to those who request them. Cardholders will be exempt from passport checks at immigration and allowed to move straight through a turnstile at each airport.
The ministry plans to begin trials of the system in April, and hopes to fully introduce it in 2006.
Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia have similar systems in place.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
