NEW DELHI: Finland has become the first country in the world to introduce digital passports. A digital passport is a mobile application that allows travelers to store and present their passport information on their smartphones instead of carrying a physical passport.
Here is a summary of how Finland launched its digital passport project and what benefits it offers:
– Finland started a pilot project on August 28, 2023, in collaboration with Finnair, the Finnish police, and Finavia, the airport operator.
– The project is part of a larger EU initiative to test digital passports to improve travel technology and security.
– The project involves travelers on some Finnair flights from Helsinki to the UK and back, who can register their digital passports at the Vantaa Main Police Station’s license services.
– The travelers need to download the FIN DTC Pilot app, which uses facial recognition and biometric data to verify their identity.
– The travelers can then transmit their data via the app to the Finnish Border Guard 36 to 4 hours before departure and use their smartphones to scan a QR code at the border control.
– The project aims to make travel faster, smoother, and more secure by reducing the need for physical documents and human interaction.
– The project will run until February 2024 and will be evaluated for its feasibility and user satisfaction.
However, Finland is not the only country that is developing or implementing digital passport projects. Other countries such as Poland, South Korea, the US, and the UK are also working on similar initiatives. Some countries such as Ukraine, Singapore, China, Estonia, and Israel have also introduced digital health or vaccine passports to facilitate travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Digital passports are expected to become more common and popular in the future as they offer convenience and security for travelers.