Why are French emergency passports only valid for one year (vs. 10 years for regular passports)? E.g. are they less secure than regular passports?
I read on https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1373 (mirror):
Un passeport temporaire peut être délivré en urgence pour un motif d'ordre médical ou humanitaire ou pour des raisons professionnelles. Les services préfectoraux décident de la délivrance en fonction de la situation. Ce passeport est valide seulement 1 an.
A temporary passport can be issued urgently for medical or humanitarian reasons or for professional reasons. The prefectural services decide on the issue depending on the situation. This passport is only valid for 1 year.
Why are French emergency passports only valid for one year (vs. 10 years for regular passports)? E.g. are they in some way less secure than regular passports?
Best Answer
Yes, emergency passports have fewer security features (not only RFID chip, the distintion already existed before biometric passports were introduced). Emergency passports are made on the spot and not at the Imprimerie nationale. They can also be issued after more superficial verifications. I once held an emergency passport issued at an embassy, where I was unable to provide the usual documents (birth certificate, previous passport). The binding was coming apart at the seams, which resulted in a very careful examination at the border.
Many comments mention passports valid for a single trip or retained by the authorities when (re)entering the country. Such a document also exists in France but it is called a laissez passer and is distinct from an emergency passport. Importantly, the issuance of emergency passports is discretionnary. You're not entitled to it (unlike a regular passport) and a consulate may very well decide to give you a French laissez passer instead if they deem it more appropriate.
Pictures about "Why are French emergency passports only valid for one year (vs. 10 years for regular passports)? E.g. are they less secure than regular passports?"
How long is a French passport good for?
Renewing a French passport The standard French passport is valid for 10 years or 5 years for children under 18. You must renew the passport once it expires.Can you travel to France with an emergency passport?
The Government of France does not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport, issued by U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, as a valid travel document for visa-free entry into France. If traveling on this emergency passport, you may be refused boarding and/or entry by immigration officials.How long does it take to get an emergency passport in France?
Replacing an Emergency Passport Processing time is approximately two weeks. Please include: Completed, printed and signed form DS-5504.How long is a US emergency passport valid for?
Generally, passport applications are processed in less time; however, we require up to 15 business days to ensure that we can issue a passport. If you are traveling within 15 business days, we may elect to issue you an emergency U.S. passport, which will be limited to a maximum of 12 months validity.Exodus: I tried to fly to London on a fake passport - BBC News
More answers regarding why are French emergency passports only valid for one year (vs. 10 years for regular passports)? E.g. are they less secure than regular passports?
Answer 2
I read on 'Décret n°2005-1726 du 30 décembre 2005 relatif aux passeports" that the French emergency passports, unlike regular passports issued after May 2006, don't contain any electronic component (RFID chip), so I am guessing this (partly?) explains why French emergency passports are only valid for one year:
A titre exceptionnel et pour des motifs de nécessité impérieuse ou d'urgence dûment justifiée, il peut être délivré un passeport d'une durée de validité d'un an ne comportant pas de composant électronique lorsque les conditions ci-dessus ne permettent pas de délivrer le titre dans les conditions prévues aux chapitres Ier à IV.
Exceptionally and for reasons of overriding necessity or duly justified urgency, a passport with a validity of one year not including an electronic component may be issued when the above conditions do not allow the permit to be issued under the conditions provided for in Chapters I to IV.
The lack of RFID chip also explains why one cannot use a French emergency passport to enter the United States via the Visa Waiver Program.
The same limitation applies to Australian emergency passports (mirror).
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mikhail Nilov, Nataliya Vaitkevich, Olya Kobruseva, Monstera