The idea of using biometric identifiers and microchips in security documents is almost ten years old. However, the development of biometric specifications and the implementation of biometric chips only gained impetus when the US required citizens from visa waiver countries to carry biometric passports. Since then, other countries have also warmed to the idea, and the EU - among others - is in the process of finalising specifications for a biometric passport. One of the pioneers in this area is Setec, a company headquartered in Vantaa, Finland. This article offers an overview of the company’s latest endeavours in the field of biometrics.