Experiences with epassports.
 

I do not have an epassport (ie, a passport with the new chip in it). I have a lot of travel between now and December and by the time that is done my passport will be full. I can submit an appilcation when I return in which case I'd be issued a regular passport with no chip. Or, as I don't have any flying at the beginning of 2013 I can wait until the Canadian government starts to issue the new epassports. I am debating which is best. I would like to hear from FTers what their experience has been with epassports and if they are worth getting or avoiding.

Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks.

If you plan on being able to use automated check-in kiosks, it's a big hassle to not have the e-passport. When I was coming back from Germany last, the kiosk I was using had a broken passport scanner, so I had to enter the passport number and personal info by hand(which takes a long time on those kiosk touchscreens).

It is troublesome, though, to be that long without a valid passport. It's not usually an issue, but I have had some international trips at the last moment--which would be impossible if I didn't have a usable passport.

I would expect all non-e-passports to be just fine and valid, no noticeable difference anywhere. All regular Canadian passports currently being issued will be just as valid and bonafide as the e-passports, until they all expire and eventually all new ones will be the enhanced ones.

Not sure on this, but having an e-passport is not going to give you any priority in EU, USA or at even at Canadian POE's. Everyone still has to queue up to get that stupid customs declaration form signed by CBSA.

I doubt if any country will refuse access to Canadians not having the e-passport, if any does it would be the US. I don't travel there so its not an issue for me. I don't think Europe will impose any conditions.

Experiences with epassports.
 

Frankly, I don't think a lot of countries are even ready for epassports yet. As far as I can tell, none of EU points I have been using, FRA, BRU, GVA, for example give any preferential treatment to epassports. The only two lines are EU citizens and non-EUs.

Going into the US is the same. Makes no difference. But again, I use my nexus card for the most part.

Another note to consider, countries like India, China, are years behind with epassports. It would be impossible for introduce any sort of requirements on epassports until some of these most populated countries are ready to go.

Just a thought.

The UK has epassport gates at some airports. However, they can only be used with passports from UK, EU and EEA, so won't help our North American friends.

I, for one, being Danish cannot wait until I can go through the 3-deep line at Stansted instead of the 20-60-deep one. Next spring I'll be renewing my passport for one with a chip.

DanishFlyer

Many thanks for the replies. I should clarify the reason why I started this thread is not to ask whether my non epassport will remaind valid but to learn of the pros and cons of the new technology from people who have used it. Sometimes new technology is supposed to be new and improved, but it isn't and has many drawbacks. Hence, the reason why I started this thread.

Another question, I've read the covers on epassports are thicker, are they still somewhat flexible? I usually have my passport in a money belt around my waist so it bends a little.

I tried the automatic passport control at Heathrow a month ago. It must have been quite new because there was a person assisting anyone going through the machine.

It was a bit strange for me to enter a country without talking or showing my passport to any human being.

Useful for an EU citizen in the EU
 

I've used epassport gates in the UK and Europe. They certainly saved time standing in much longer lines. Place passport on reader. Look into camera, gate open, walk through. In the UK this was usually followed by a personal examination of the passport, but not so in Europe.

But, all of the above info will be of no use to a Canadian passport holder!

Used my Au one a few times coming home and love it so far. However on my last return I was stuck in the line behind a couple of amateurs who slowed things down a little - one who raced ahead and tried to stick her silly face in the frame with the person ahead of her in line (trying to see how it worked I guess), and someone else who removed his glasses and then couldn't see what he was supposed to do as far as looking at the lens.

There are E-gates for AU and NZ epassports at Australian points of entry.
The US requires epassports for the VWP (unless the passport was issued before October 2006).