Document security

The documents listed in this Sub-Section Specialised Documentation Centre are limited to the specific aspects of the subject. To get a more general documentation related to the Section as a whole, please visit the Specialised Documentation Centre of the introduction of the Section.

Only selected documents are presented in this section. For a full overview and the latest amendments, check out the EUR-Lex website.

I) Council conclusions

Council conclusions on common minimum security standards for national identity cards (1-2 December 2005, p. 34)

Council conclusions on biometric data (24 February 2005, p. 14)

II) EU legislation and recommendations

1. Adopted legislation

Joint Action of 3 December 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union concerning the setting-up of a European Image Archiving System (FADO) (98/700/JHA)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 of 13 December 2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States

Commission Decision C(2006) 2909 of 28 June 2006 establishing the technical specifications on the standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States [PDF File 417 KB] As the United Kingdom and Ireland took no part in adoption of this measure, no authentic English version of the whole specifications has been established. For information purposes only, refer to the draft version in the Annex to Commission Decision C(2006) 2909 [PDF File 164 KB]

Commission Decision C(2005) 409 of 28 February 2005 establishing the technical specifications on the standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States [PDF File 780 KB] As the United Kingdom and Ireland took no part in adoption of this measure, no authentic English version of the whole specifications has been established. For information purposes only, refer to the draft version in the Annex to Commission Decision C(2005) 409 [PDF File 315 KB]

Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 of 13 June 2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals; subsequent amendments introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 380/2008 of 18 April 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals

Council Regulation (EC) No 694/2003 of 14 April 2003 on uniform formats for Facilitated Transit Documents (FTD) and Facilitated Rail Transit Documents (FRTD) provided for in Regulation (EC) No 693/2003

Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 of 29 May 1995 laying down a uniform format for visas (consolidated version of 1 January 2007)

Council Regulation (EC) No 333/2002 of 18 February 2002 on a uniform format for forms for affixing the visa issued by Member States to persons holding travel documents not recognised by the Member State drawing up the form

Resolution of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Communities, meeting within the Council of 23 June 1981 (concerns uniform passport design)

Resolution of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 17 October 2000, supplementing the resolutions of 23 June 1981, 30 June 1982, 14 July 1986 and 10 July 1995 as regards the security characteristics of passports and other travel documents

Resolution of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 8 June 2004, supplementary to the resolutions of 23 June 1981, 30 June 1982, 14 July 1986 and 10 July 1995 concerning the introduction of a passport of uniform pattern

2. Proposed legislation and communications

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States

III) Background information

Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online (PRADO)