[spetznaz]

How would such a passport work in reality? I thought all modern airports would check such things digitally. Which would mean that no matter how perfect a document may look it would never be able to pass muster at a modern airport. Or am I mistaken?

[LordOddsocks]

I think you are correct, in that biometric passports are considerably more difficult to misuse.

Biometric/RFID passports are the default across Europe and automatic entry/exit gates are everywhere at airports, but not at land & sea borders - the obvious vector for smuggling people.

Though there’s still that awkward issue with the facial recognition part.