Since the launch of the Australian M Series passport in November 2003, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and NPA have been working closely on the process of chip insertion to meet the US visa waiver program.
Over the past 12 months, DFAT in conjunction with Kugler Womako have developed and manufactured a new machine that will place the chip inlay in the centre of the book. This position was selected in an attempt to further improve tamper resistance and meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
In October 2004, NPA produced its first e-passports, which were used in trials with the US authorities in November 2004.
