Passport security paper examinations were the focus of OSCE and Latvia-led training for Ukrainian forensic experts

Travellers flipping through their passports can often feel unique textures and raised patterns in the paper. These tactile features are carefully created to help verify authenticity, as genuine passport pages are made from special materials that often cannot be replicated in counterfeit documents. This sense of touch is vital not only for protecting travellers, but also for forensic experts trained to detect forgeries. 

From 2 to 4 December, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with Latvia’s State Forensic Science Bureau (SFSB), delivered a specialized training course on passport security paper examination for forensic document experts from the Main Forensic Center of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) in Riga, Latvia.

The training, hosted at the SFSB forensic laboratory, took participants through advanced methods for detecting forgeries and verifying the authenticity of security documents. Experts highlighted methods for chemical examinations of inks and paper, and demonstrated the use of modern analytical tools such as chromatography and Raman spectrometry. These techniques are used to examine the chemical composition of inks and paper without damaging originals, helping to determine the origin and potential alterations of documents. 

Participants practiced using non-destructive approaches, including software, to analyse document age and detect subtle modifications. They also learned about state-of-the-art equipment and processes used in material examinations and how these fit into forensic examinations systems and international standards. 

As part of the training, participants visited Baltic Banknote, Latvia’s sole producer of security documents. They got a first-hand insight into specialized production processes and anti-forgery technologies embedded in passport security paper. 

“By equipping our specialists with cutting-edge skills in security paper analysis, we are significantly raising our ability to uncover document forgery. The direct exposure to advanced laboratory techniques and modern industrial document production not only elevates the quality of our forensic examinations, but also ensures our practices keep pace with international standards. Such training is essential for safeguarding our national borders and supporting our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of examinations,” said one of the representatives from the Main Forensic Center of the SBGS during the visit.

The training course was part of an ongoing extrabudgetary project supporting the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing illegal border crossings by using fake or stolen identities. This project is funded by the United States.