1. Haj Pilgrims Registration Project

Having successfully completed the first large-scale Iris Identification project at the Hajj Airport for Pilgrims on their yearly visit to Mecca in early 2002, BioID Technologies is successfully extending that experience to further Airports (Border Control) where rapid enrollment and (token-less) identification is key.

Each of the selected pilgrims was enrolled in Bio ID’s iris recognition system upon entering the country. The Saudi authority has limit each country to 1 haj visa per 1,000 Muslim citizens. Security in the form of biometric face identification by iris scans, and digital fingerprint system are set up at immigration checkpoints. Pilgrims are allowed only to go to haj sites. Vice versa, everyone entering the pilgrim sites must have a pilgrim pass.

The pilgrim was then provided with ID card that contained a unique number that was tied to their unique Iris Code. Upon exiting the country, each pilgrim was asked to present the ID card and had his or her iris identified to verify that the person entering the country two weeks earlier was the same person exiting.

2. Afghan Refugees Registration Project

Working with the United Nations in Geneva (UNHCR) and in cooperation with Iridian Technologies, BioID developed a Refugee Identification System for the UNHCR operations in Pakistan.

Bio ID’s Iris recognition helps to verify the identity of Afghan refugees who wish to return to their homeland. These refugees are entitled to a one-time assistance package, provided they have not been processed through the program before. Iris recognition ensures that this is their first visit and that they are legitimately entitled to the aid. Iris recognition is helping to deliver aid to those refugees who are legitimately entitled to receive it. The anonymous enrollment process also helps to maintain the privacy of the Afghan refugees, as the only personal data that is recorded is the IrisCode record.

Individuals who arrives are enrolled into an iris recognition. The iris enrollment process takes only a few seconds. A video camera takes a black and white picture of the iris of the eye from converts the picture into an Iris Code template. If the iris recognition system detects that the individual is a recycler who has previously been enrolled, the person will be asked to leave the country and will not receive aid.