Agencies from Jordan have formed a partnership with iris recognition provider IrisGuard and VFS Global to enable Jordanian expatriates overseas to access government services more easily. The British biometrics company is facilitating the activation of the national digital ID service, known as Sanad, for Jordanian citizens living abroad, utilizing only their iris for identification.
Initially available in the U.S. and Canada, the iris of Jordanians will be matched against the National Iris Database at the Jordan National Information Centre to issue the digital ID.
“This collaboration empowers Jordanians living abroad to seamlessly access their governmental services with the highest level of security and convenience,” stated Imad Malhas, founder and managing director of IrisGuard. He added, “This is another example of how our biometrics are revolutionizing the government-to-citizen service space, and we look forward to extending this to other countries.”
The service is currently operational in five cities across North America, allowing more than 200,000 Jordanians to unlock access to governmental services without needing to travel back to Jordan.
IrisGuard provides an Android iris biometric scanner and integrated software capable of performing one-to-millions authentication in real-time, ensuring the correct individual is physically present during the activation process. Its patented EyePay technology utilizes end-to-end iris recognition, paired with Android technology in an EyePay phone.
IrisGuard’s partners in this initiative include the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MODEE) in Jordan, Jordan Post, VFS Global, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. The British company has a strong track record of collaboration with the Jordanian government.
