JMRTD is an open source Java implementation of the Machine Readable Travel Document (MRTD) standards as specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The electronic passport (or "ePassport"), which by now has been introduced in many countries, is an implementation of these standards...
JMRTD provides both a card side application (the "passport applet") and a host side API for accessing ePassports. The passport applet makes it possible to create your own passports (in case you're starting your own country). The applet is written in Java Card.