EU digital travel document would improve efficiency of border controls and ensure smooth travel

The European Commission proposes a new EU Digital Travel application for travellers to create and store their digital travel credentials, among other things. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposals by submitting a Union communication on 19 December. 

With almost 600 million external border crossings recorded in 2023 alone, there is a need to speed up border controls and ensure smoother travel, while at the same time maintaining a high level of security, ensuring that each and every traveller is checked.

Digital travel credentials would be a digital version of a physical passport

Digital travel credentials would be a digital version of the data stored on passports or identity cards. They would include the same information as the chip of the passport or identity card, including a facial image of the holder, but not their fingerprints. A digital travel document could be stored on a mobile phone. It would be completely voluntary for travellers to ask for or use this digital version of their documents, free of charge.

Both EU and non-EU citizens would be able to submit their digital passports or identity cards ahead of the journey, for an advance border check, when travelling to or from the EU. This would allow smoother and faster border crossings for travellers.

Improving efficiency of the authorities' activities would improve security

A digital travel document would improve the efficiency of border controls. Border management authorities would be able to focus their time and resources on detecting cross-border criminals and migrant smuggling thanks to advance checks made possible by digital travel credentials.

It would be easier for the authorities to verify the authenticity of travel documents, making it harder to use fake documents or pass through borders undetected. In this way, a digital travel document would also improve the security of the Schengen area.

Digital wallet for EU citizens

The proposals also relate to the establishment of a European Digital Identity Wallet in which a digital passport and identity card can be stored alongside a digital driving licence, digital prescriptions and other digital documents.

The aim is to digitalise public services and provide all Union citizens with digital identification by 2030. The EU Digital Travel application is also scheduled to be available in 2030.

The proposals deliver on the Schengen strategy adopted in 2021, which committed to further digitalise procedures at the external borders. 

Inquiries:
Jouni Lahtinen, Border Management Specialist, tel. +358 295 421 134, jouni.lahtinen@raja.fi