Interface Specifications

The Electronic Fingerprint Transmission Specification, or EFTS, defines the interface between Next Generation Identification (NGI) and other agencies’ systems. EFTS contains operational concepts, descriptors, field edit specifications, image quality specifications, and other information related to NGI services.

The Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS) is the latest upgrade to the FBI fingerprint specification and replaces EFTS Version 10.0.1. The scope of EBTS has been expanded to include additional biometric modalities (e.g., palm print, facial, and iris) in recognition of the rapidly developing biometric identification industry. The most recent update to the American National Standards Institute/National Institute of Standards and Technology-Information Technology Laboratory 1-2007 (ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2007) standard includes new record types to facilitate data sharing for new biometric modalities. Integrating biometric data in accordance with the ANSI/NIST standard, the FBI EBTS provides a description of all requests and responses associated with electronic fingerprint and other biometric identification services.

The most current EBTS, as well as all archived versions and other biometric standards information, can be found at: https://www.fbibiospecs.cjis.gov/