First-time passport applicants will have a face-to-face interview

The Passport Office has confirmed the move is in line with British government plans for a similar system in an effort to combat terrorism and identity theft.

A spokesperson for the office confirmed the measure saying they would not want the island to have "weaker defences" than the UK.

The new scheme will be introduced from October 2007.

The interview will confirm that the passport application that is being checked actually belongs to the applicant.

Only adults who have never previously held a British passport in their own name will need to have an interview.

It does not include people who held their own passport as a child, but it will apply to those whose names were included on their parents' passports.

A pilot scheme is likely to take place in the summer.

A spokesman for the passport office said although it will increase the time for securing a first passport the new scheme needs to be seen in the wider context of preventing identity fraud.