So if you’re getting a new, or replacing an old passport you’ll now receive what is called a Next Gen Passport.
The new passport is a modernized U.S. passport book which they started issuing in 2021. While previous electronic passports (ePassports) are secure, the Next Generation Passport book (NGP) uses new technologies to produce a more robust passport with enhanced security features, such as a polycarbonate data page, laser-engraved personalization, and updated artwork.
It’s much more muted than the old passport which features a huge eagle, which personally I shall miss as it says something about the American character, big, bold and powerful. Somehow the Great Seal doesn’t deliver the same impact!