Australian holders of new microchipped e-passports are among the participants in a new test of the technology at airports in Sydney, San Francisco and Singapore, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Testing of the e-passports, which carry biometric identification technologies, is being conducted at San Francisco International Airport, as well as Changi Airport in Singapore and Sydney Airport in Australia.

The testing began Sunday in the United States at San Francisco and continues through April 15, with the help of the Australian, New Zealand and Singaporean governments, the department said.

"This test provides an important opportunity to work with our international partners...to put in place an e-Passport reader solution by the end of fall (September--November) of this year," Jim Williams, director of US-VISIT, a Homeland Security program, said in a statement.

The passports contain biometric information such as a digital photo, as well as biographic information.

The technology being tested promises to read and verify the electronic data when those carrying the e-passports attempt entry into the countries via participating airports.

U.S. diplomats, Australian and New Zealand citizens and Singapore Airlines officials are among those who have been issued the e-passports. These people will also undergo normal screening procedures at the international airports.

An Australian Customs spokesperson said testing at Sydney Airport would begin in February and run for 90 days.

This would see Australian citizens, with the recently-introduced Australian e-passport, test operational use and the interoperability of passports and readers in Sydney, Singapore and San Francisco, the spokesperson said.

The test will be used to gather information to help countries develop their respective electronic passport, the Department of Homeland Security said. The e-passport must comply with the standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Previously, the Department of Homeland Security conducted testing at the Los Angeles International Airport and Sydney Airport, after which it determined further testing was needed.