Details to be disclosed:
Liechtenstein Leads the Way in Passport Security
Liechtenstein has taken a significant step forward in passport security, becoming the first European country to implement the Supplemental Access Control (SAC) safety standard for electronic passports. This new standard, part of the updated cybersecurity and wireless standards regulated at the EU level, was effective on May 28, 2025.
The implementation of SAC in Liechtenstein's electronic passports upgrades the existing Basic Access Control (BAC) standard to PACE v2 and shifts the electronic access to the chip from symmetric to asymmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption provides a more secure chip access compared to conventional, symmetric encryption.
Claudia Schwendimann, CEO of OeSD International GmbH and project manager, has stated that Liechtenstein's citizens hold the most advanced passports due to the implementation of SAC. She attributes this to the six-digit Card Access Number (CAN) printed on the passport in Liechtenstein, which significantly simplifies manual input compared to the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) commonly used in other passports.
Klaus Astner, the technical project manager at OeSD, explains that the new safety standard SAC was implemented in Liechtenstein's electronic passports. This makes Liechtenstein's passports one of the most secure in the world, providing enhanced security for its citizens and visitors alike.
However, the timeline for full implementation of SAC by all EU member states is not explicitly detailed. The search results do not directly list which countries have already implemented the SAC standard for e-passports. Generally, implementation timelines for EU-wide standards involve a transitional period for member states to update their national systems, but this information was not detailed in the results here.
For precise country-by-country adoption status or deadlines, consultation with official EU bodies such as the European Commission, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), or national passport authorities would be necessary.
In the meantime, Liechtenstein continues to lead the way in passport security, offering its citizens a level of protection ahead of many other countries. The country's early adoption of SAC is a testament to its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens and visitors.
References: [1] Source for broader cybersecurity and telecom standards updates related to the EU as of mid-2025.
The new safety standard, SAC, implemented in Liechtenstein's electronic passports, utilizes asymmetric encryption, providing a more secure chip access compared to conventional, symmetric encryption. This technology upgrade contributes significantly to the security of Liechtenstein's passports, making them among the most secure globally.
