HSP Asia 2025 Awards: Asia Sets the Pace in High-Security Banknotes and ID Documents
The 2025 High Security Printing (HSP) Asia conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, showcased some of the most advanced banknote and ID designs currently in circulation, with awards presented during a ceremony on 2 December.[web:460] The Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards recognised new circulation and commemorative notes, test house notes and next-generation passports and ID labels, with Japan, Bhutan, Thailand, Tajikistan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia all taking top honours.[web:460]
• Event: High Security Printing (HSP) Asia conference
• Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Date of awards ceremony: 2 December 2025
• Banknote categories: Best New Series, Best New Banknote, Best New Commemorative Banknote, Best New House Note
• ID categories: Best New Passport, Best New ID Document
• Other regional HSP events: HSP EMEA, HSP Latin America[web:460]
Best New Banknote Series: Japan and Bhutan
From paper yen to polymer ngultrum, series-level design and security excellence
| Issuer | Series | Denominations | Design Highlights | Security & Substrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Japan | New yen series (first in 20 years) | ¥1,000, ¥5,000, ¥10,000 (issued from July 2024) | Portraits of key figures in modern Japan on the front; culture and nature scenes on the back.[web:479] | 3D holograms that rotate when tilted; high-definition background watermark patterns integrated with portrait watermarks.[web:479] |
| Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan | New ngultrum polymer series | Nu.100, Nu.500, Nu.1,000 (first three notes unveiled 2025) | Designs reflecting monarchic continuity, national culture and inclusivity; no loss of traditional aesthetic despite moving to polymer.[web:460] | SAFEGUARD® polymer by De La Rue; ARGENTUM™, ROTATE™, enhanced GEMINI™, tactile emboss, and a holographic stripe with DEPTH™ and SPOTLIGHT® effects, including a dynamic dragon holding jewels on higher denominations.[web:460] |
Japan’s new yen family marks the first full series change in two decades, balancing continuity in denomination structure with upgraded visual storytelling and holographic protection.[web:479] Bhutan’s new polymer ngultrum family represents a strategic shift to durability and sustainability, using a highly visible optical toolbox to express innovation and the “enduring values” of the monarchy.[web:460]
Best New Banknote: Thailand’s 50 and 100 Baht Polymer Notes
Durability, cost savings and accessibility in everyday currency
| Denominations | Substrate & Supplier | Key Features | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 baht | SAFEGUARD™ polymer (De La Rue) | Colour-changing, iridescent and hide-and-reveal features integrated into the polymer window design.[web:460] | Retains familiar paper-note design to ease public acceptance while upgrading to modern polymer security.[web:460] |
| 100 baht | GUARDIAN™ polymer (CCL Secure) | Complex window with GSWITCH™ colour-shift flower changing purple→orange when tilted; secondary window with METALIX™ pentagon in bright metallic gold.[web:460] | Introduces highly visible public-authentication features, strengthening brand recognition for Thailand’s mid-range denomination.[web:460] |
The Bank of Thailand’s new 50 and 100 baht polymer notes, following the 2022 polymer 20 baht, are estimated to be four times more durable than their paper predecessors, saving roughly 350 million notes per year over an eight-year lifespan and reducing production, transport and resource costs.[web:460] Both notes include embossed and transparent diagonal lines as tactile cues for people with visual impairments, underlining a barrier-free design philosophy.[web:460]
Best New Commemorative Banknote: Tajikistan’s 100 Somoni
25 years of the somoni marked with RollingStar® Venus thread
| Issuer | Occasion | Denomination | Key Security Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Bank of Tajikistan (BMT) | 25th anniversary of the somoni, Tajikistan’s national currency | 100 somoni (first commemorative note since somoni introduction) |
• RollingStar® Venus 6mm thread (orange + violet) with Color MotifFlip™ and ColorFlip™ in three windows • Middle window: orange “100” numeral disappears into violet background while “БМТ” (National Bank of Tajikistan) appears in orange. • Upper/lower windows: Islamic ornamental ColorFlip™ motifs flipping between orange and violet. • RollingStar® Patch on front with demetallisation and violet→green ColorShift in a dynamic background where denomination and “БМТ” flip.[web:460] |
The commemorative 100 somoni circulates alongside the standard 100 somoni denomination, extending day-to-day visibility of the anniversary theme.[web:460] The complex RollingStar® Venus thread and patch combine colour and motif transitions to create a strongly protected high-end note that showcases Louisenthal’s newest technology in a real-circulation context.[web:460]
Best New House Notes: KOMSCO and Perum Peruri
Test notes that blend storytelling with cutting-edge security
| Printer | House Note Theme | Concept | Key Security Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOMSCO (South Korea) | “80th Anniversary of Liberation” house note | Showcases advanced security printing for the Republic of Korea’s liberation milestone, with inclusive, barrier-free design.[web:460] |
13 high-level security elements, including: • Fluotune® multi-colour fluorescent ink • Hiddenface® latent image • Divo-Code voice-guidance digital code (audio navigation) • Louisenthal RollingStar® i+ security thread • SICPA SPARK Flow® and NEOMAG® (Hard Magnetic Variant) — first use of light-coloured, machine-readable magnetic ink enabling bright designs.[web:460] |
| Perum Peruri (Indonesia) | “Housenote 4.0” | Sustainability and environmental awareness: reverse shows dense, congested urban Jakarta; obverse depicts greenery and clean air, symbolising transition to a more liveable city.[web:460] |
• Hybrid paper substrate • SICPA SPARK® Stream optically variable ink for dynamic colour-shift effects • Design narrative contrasts current metropolitan stress with future balanced, nature-connected Jakarta.[web:460] |
KOMSCO’s liberation house note demonstrates how accessibility (tactile elements and voice-guidance codes) can be integrated directly into high-end security printing, anticipating future inclusive circulation designs.[web:460] Peruri’s Housenote 4.0 uses hybrid paper and OVI to visualise sustainability, positioning banknote design as a medium for environmental storytelling rather than only monetary symbolism.[web:460]
Best New Passport: Japan 2025 — Best New ID Document: Malaysia Pass Label
Polycarbonate datapages and KINEGRAM ZERO.ZERO® raise the bar for travel security
| Country / Issuer | Document | Core Innovations |
|---|---|---|
| Japan — MOFA & National Printing Bureau | 2025 Passport series |
• Transition from paper to multi-layer polycarbonate datapage with laser-engraved photo and biographical data (production from March 2025).[web:460] • Centralised personalisation at two NPB facilities, improving process control and fraud resistance.[web:460] • Visa pages continue the 2020 concept with all 36 views from Hokusai’s “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji”, sequenced to symbolise departure and return and complicate page substitution.[web:460] • Datapage reverse: embossed cherry blossom motif with 3D movement effect around a central Mount Fuji composition.[web:460] • Full ICAO ePassport compliance, with secure manufacturing and multiple visible and covert security layers.[web:460] • System-level: nationwide online application via MynaPortal, linked to family register data to remove paper extracts and streamline issuance.[web:460] |
| Malaysia — Immigration Department & PKN | Malaysia Pass (MAL Pass) visa/permit label |
• 2024 upgrade introduces KINEGRAM ZERO.ZERO® patch by Kurz / OVD Kinegram as primary optical security device.[web:460] • Unique metallisation enables very fine kinetic motifs that are easy for inspectors but hard to replicate with standard holographic foils.[web:460] • Patch combines metallised and transparent zones, delivering strong optically variable and kinetic effects for fast visual checks and better resistance to tampering, lifting and reuse.[web:460] • Machine-assisted inspection compatibility supports automated and semi-automated border control workflows.[web:460] • Upgrade strengthens security while keeping existing issuance processes intact, avoiding disruption at the front line.[web:460] |
Japan’s 2025 Passport shows how polycarbonate datapages, centralised personalisation and art-led visa-page design can be combined to deliver both strong anti-counterfeiting and a high-end user experience.[web:460] Malaysia’s MAL Pass upgrade demonstrates how DOVID technology such as KINEGRAM ZERO.ZERO® can extend the life and security of an established visa label without wholesale system redesign.[web:460]
How HSP Asia Picks Winners — and Why It Matters
Visual art, cultural storytelling and technical depth as core criteria
The HSP Awards are judged by an independent panel of retired experts from central banks and security printers worldwide, focusing on how each banknote or document fuses visual artistry with advanced security and clear cultural symbolism.[web:460] Judges look for designs that express national heritage and identity while integrating robust, next-generation security features that are both publicly recognizable and machine-readable.[web:460]
• Integration of cultural narratives and national symbols into the design
• Sophistication and layering of security features (overt, covert, forensic)
• Accessibility and inclusivity (tactile marks, barrier-free concepts, digital guidance)
• Sustainability and durability (polymer, hybrid substrates, lifecycle savings)
• System-level innovation (online issuance, automation, centralised personalisation)[web:460]
Taken together, the 2025 Japanese Passport and Malaysia’s upgraded MAL Pass underline a regional trend: Asian issuers are combining polycarbonate, DOVIDs, online service delivery and inclusive design to enhance both trust and usability in travel and identity documents.[web:460]
Where HSP Asia Fits in the Global Awards Landscape
Three regional conferences, one shared focus on high-security design
| Region | Event | Focus | Typical Award Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific | HSP Asia | Banknotes, ePassports, ID cards, visas and other government-issued secure documents with emphasis on emerging ID/travel technologies.[web:486][web:490] | Best New Banknote; Best New Series; Best New Commemorative Banknote; Best New House Note; Best New Passport; Best New ID Document.[web:460][web:493] |
| Europe, Middle East & Africa | HSP EMEA | Banknote and ID innovations across EMEA, including AI in ID, cash cycle optimisation and regional security trends.[web:488] | Best New Banknote; Best New Series; Best New Commemorative Banknote; Best House Note; Best New Passport; Best New ID Card; Best New ID/Travel Document.[web:488][web:493] |
| Latin America | HSP Latin America | Currency and identity documents for the Latin American region, mirroring Asia/EMEA award structure.[web:501] | Regional Banknote and ID Document of the Year Awards; similar categories to HSP Asia/EMEA.[web:501][web:493] |
HSP Asia runs alongside a focused trade exhibition of around 30 vendors in banknotes, ePassports, smart cards and authentication, giving issuers direct access to the technologies showcased in the winning designs.[web:486][web:490] Together, the three HSP regions create an annual global snapshot of best practice in secure document design, from paper and polymer banknotes to polycarbonate datapages and advanced DOVID-protected ID labels.[web:488][web:501]
FAQ — HSP Asia 2025 Banknote & ID Awards
Who organises the HSP Asia Awards?
The awards are organised by Reconnaissance as part of the High Security Printing™ Asia conference, a regional event focused on banknotes and government-issued identity and travel documents.[web:485][web:486]
What are the main judging criteria?
Independent judges assess visual artistry, technical sophistication, security strength, and how well the design reflects the cultural heritage and symbolism of the issuing country.[web:493]
Which banknotes won at HSP Asia 2025?
Best New Series: Bank of Japan (new yen series) and Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (new ngultrum polymer series); Best New Banknote: Bank of Thailand 50 and 100 baht polymer notes; Best New Commemorative Banknote: National Bank of Tajikistan 100 somoni 25th-anniversary note; Best New House Notes: KOMSCO “80th Anniversary of Liberation” and Perum Peruri “Housenote 4.0”.[web:460][web:485]
Which ID documents were recognised?
Best New Passport: Japan’s 2025 Passport series with polycarbonate datapage and Hokusai “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” visa pages; Best New ID Document: Malaysia’s upgraded MAL Pass immigration label with KINEGRAM ZERO.ZERO® patch.[web:485][web:503]
Are HSP winners always circulation notes and documents?
No. Some awards go to full circulation series and commemoratives, while others recognise house notes and test documents that showcase emerging substrates, inks and DOVID technologies prior to circulation deployment.[web:460][web:493]
Where can I see the full list of winners and technical details?
Reconnaissance publishes detailed write-ups on its website, and the official HSP Asia site provides award summaries and nomination criteria.[web:485][web:492][web:493]
Sources & Further Reading
- Reconnaissance: Design and Innovation in Banknotes and ID Recognised at HSP Asia 2025[web:485]
- High Security Printing™ Asia — Conference Overview[web:486][web:490]
- HSP Asia: Awards & Nomination Criteria[web:493]
- HSP Asia: Past Award Winners[web:492]
- Japan National Printing Bureau: Passport Design & Security Features[web:494][web:503]
- MOFA Diplomatic Bluebook 2025 – 2025 Passport Introduction[web:497]
- Notafilia: High Security Printing Awards 2025 Asia (Polish summary)[web:460]
This GlobeNote article is based on Reconnaissance’s official HSP Asia 2025 award report, cross-referenced with HSP Asia documentation, National Printing Bureau publications, and independent numismatic and security-printing sources.[web:485][web:486][web:494]
