The Chip
Doesn't Lie.
Read the cryptographic chip embedded in e-Passports and national eIDs. Verify government-signed data that's mathematically impossible to forge.
The Gold Standard of Document Verification
Since 2006, passports and national IDs have contained encrypted NFC chips with digitally signed biometric data. This is the same technology used at airport gates worldwide.
Why Chip Reading Changes Everything
Visual inspection can be fooled. Photos can be forged. But the cryptographic signature on an NFC chip is signed by the issuing government and cannot be faked.
Photo-Based Verification
- ✗ Relies on visual analysis
- ✗ Vulnerable to high-quality forgeries
- ✗ No cryptographic proof
- ✗ Cannot verify issuing authority
- ✗ Photo quality affects accuracy
NFC Chip Verification
- Cryptographic proof of authenticity
- Mathematically impossible to forge
- Government digital signature
- Verified chain to issuing authority
- High-resolution biometric photo
Three Layers of Cryptographic Proof
NFC chip verification uses multiple authentication protocols to ensure the document is genuine and hasn't been cloned or tampered with.
Passive Authentication
Verifies the digital signature on the chip data against the issuing country's certificate. Proves the data was created by a legitimate government.
- Document Security Object validation
- Certificate chain verification
- Data group hash validation
Active Authentication
Challenges the chip to prove it has a private key. This confirms the chip is genuine and not a clone with copied data.
- Challenge-response protocol
- Private key verification
- Anti-cloning protection
Chip Authentication
Establishes a secure encrypted channel with the chip using Diffie-Hellman key exchange. The strongest anti-cloning measure.
- Secure channel establishment
- Clone detection
- Encrypted data transfer
What's Stored on the Chip
e-Passport chips contain multiple data groups with identity information and high-quality biometrics—all digitally signed by the issuing government.
MRZ Data
Machine-readable zone data including name, nationality, date of birth, document number, and expiry date.
Face Image
High-resolution facial photograph—far better quality than the printed photo on the document.
Fingerprints
Fingerprint biometrics (EU passports). Protected by Extended Access Control.
Signature
Digital image of the holder's signature for additional verification.
Security Object
Digital signature covering all data groups, signed by the Document Signer certificate.
Header
List of data groups present on the chip and LDS version information.
Verified to the Source
Every e-Passport chip contains a complete chain of trust back to the issuing country's root certificate authority.
We maintain a complete trust store of Country Signing Certificate Authorities (CSCAs) from 150+ countries, updated regularly to ensure global coverage.
Supported Documents
NFC chip verification works with any ICAO-compliant e-Passport or national eID with an embedded chip.
e-Passports
All ICAO 9303 compliant passports from 150+ countries with the golden chip symbol.
National eIDs
European national ID cards, UAE Emirates ID, and other NFC-enabled national IDs.
Residence Permits
EU Biometric Residence Permits and other NFC-enabled residence documents.
Look for the golden chip symbol on the document cover
The Ultimate Verification: Three-Way Match
Combine chip reading with our biometric engine for the highest possible confidence. Match the chip photo, the document photo, and the live selfie for triple verification.
When You Need the Highest Assurance
High-Value Financial
Large transactions, wealth management, and high-risk account openings requiring maximum identity assurance.
Travel & Border
Airport check-in, border control automation, and trusted traveler programs.
Government Services
Digital government portals, benefits enrollment, and high-security citizen services.
Regulated Industries
Cryptocurrency exchanges, gambling, and other industries with strict identity requirements.
Healthcare
Patient identity verification for high-security medical records and controlled substances.
Legal & Notary
Remote notarization and legal document signing requiring highest identity proof.
Mobile SDK Integration
Our React Native SDK handles all the complexity of NFC chip reading. Just prompt the user to tap their document—we handle the rest.
// Read NFC chip with React Native SDK
import { OwlEyesNFC } from '@owl-eyes/react-native';
const result = await OwlEyesNFC.readPassport({
documentNumber: '123456789',
dateOfBirth: '1990-01-15',
dateOfExpiry: '2028-01-15'
});
// Cryptographic verification complete
console.log(result);
// {
// verified: true,
// passiveAuth: { passed: true },
// activeAuth: { passed: true },
// chipAuth: { passed: true },
// trustLevel: 'very_high'
// }Add Cryptographic Proof to Your Verification
NFC chip reading is the highest level of document verification available. When you need absolute certainty, read the chip.