Welcome to FBI Biometric Specifications (FBIBioSpecs)
This website will provide you the most up-to-date information regarding FBI biometric standards initiatives from the Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
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Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS)
The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division is moving toward a system that will contain a complete biometric and biographic profile of the subject records in its databases.
Though fingerprints will continue to be the FBI’s primary mode of identification for the near future, the scope of the EBTS has been expanded over previous versions to include additional biometric modalities (e.g., palmprint, facial, and iris) in recognition of the rapidly developing biometric identification industry.
- Proper methods for federal, state, local, tribal and international stakeholders to communicate with the FBI
- Transmission of biographic, biometric, and disposition information for purposes of criminal or civil identification
- Sharing of identity history information when appropriate and approved
- New message structures to send 1000ppi fingerprint images, palm print, face with subject acquisition profiles, scars, marks, and tattoos, and iris biometrics
The standards process evolves with the needs of the biometric community; it improves with community feedback.
Suggestions and questions are encouraged. Please submit them via the Website’s Comments Form.
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EBTS v11.0 Redlines – April 16, 2021
The EBTS 11.0 Redlines is now available. This redline document identifies only those changes associated with the latest EBTS version. Refer to the full EBTS Version for complete specifications.
– EBTS v11.0 Redlines
EBTS Version 11.0 Final – April 16, 2021
EBTS v11.0 remains the technical specification necessary for compliance with the FBI/CJIS NGI system. It contains all changes necessary to utilize functionality delivered with the NGI Full Operational Capability (FOC).
– EBTS Version 11.0
Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG)
Facial Image Analysis Training and One to One Facial Comparison Overview documents are approved and online.
Facial Recognition System Guidelines and Glossary were recently approved and will be online soon.
A draft facial image capture document was recently approved for release for public comment and will be online soon.
Click here to go to FISWG site for more.
A Practical Guide for Palm Print Capture – May 2013
On May 5, 2013, the FBI implemented the National Palm Print System (NPPS) as part of the Next Generation Identification (NGI) effort.
The NPPS provides authorized agencies the capability to search palm prints. To increase search accuracy, the FBI has provided the
"Practical Guide for Palm Print Capture" for agencies to use when capturing and submitting palm prints.
Latent Print Services
ULW v6.6.7 Software now available – August 25, 2017
The FBI CJIS Division is pleased to announce the latest release of the Universal Latent Workstation
(ULW) Software. The ULW is the new generation of interoperable and interactive
software for Latent Print Examiners. This tool represents the next step on the road toward total standards-based workstations by providing
users the ability to search various Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems and the FBI's NGI with a single encoding.
Latent Print Services
