Remote Self-service to enhance your Entry/Exit System

Challenges in Smart Borders

How to tackle the challenges of implementing EES at border control points or in the field? Use remote registration so create a seamless traveller journey for third-country nationals.

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Core components of identity verification Inverid-1

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) was conceptualized in the early 2000s to modernize border control in the Schengen Area. EES faced delays due to technical complexities and the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now expected to be fully operational end of 2024. The EES will work alongside the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to strengthen border security and migration management.

This is both a joint European challenge as well as an individual responsibility of Member States. Every state must work on improving the quality as well as the efficiency of external borders at every point of entry, be it road, port or airport - a huge challenge!

Turn any smartphone into an kiosk

Traditionally, border control has been done at border control points, possibly automated with e-gates. Many border-crossing points do not have the resources, both space and people, to handle large streams of third-country nationals requiring additional processing. Self-service kiosks are being deployed to alleviate this somewhat, but it can still take several minutes of processing leading to long queues, frustration and possibly aggression at border control points.

We have shown how mobile or remote self-service can be done securely and reliably, using mobile technology. The functionality needed to read and verify passports as well do holder verification is part of any modern smartphone.

This opens the possibility of exporting the border, moving a substantial part of the process from the point of entry to an earlier stage, remotely including from home.

Mobile pre-registration: NFC + biometrics

Modern passports are equipped with a chip following the ICAO 9303 standard. This means that all information is digitally signed and encrypted and cannot be manipulated. Also, the face image is available at a high resolution, without any additional watermarks. Finally, a copied chip can be easily detected.

Any smartphone can be used to read and verify the chips in identity documents, without the need for expensive kiosk hardware. Our software product ReadID works on both Android as well as iPhone. ReadID is used to read the chip and our software at the server is used to verify the data and send the validated information to the entry/exit backend systems.

Remote document verification in 2 simple steps

Reading the chip digitally allows for verifying the validity of the identity document and reading the customer information without the risk of any OCR or typing mistake. The first step is to scan the VIZ page to get access to the chip and obtain a copy for storage. As a second step the chip is read and verified on a secure server.

In an identity proofing or preregistration process, we can also verify via face matching, that the person owning the passport is currently holding the passport (holder verification).

ReadID Identity verification explainer video

Combination of iProov and Inverid

In our technology we do both face matching – linked the holder to the image in the chip – as well as advanced liveness detection (called Dynamic Liveness), which prevents spoofing /impersonation attacks and even complex AI-based attacks including deepfakes. Face verification is performed using the technology of iProov.

The combination of ReadID and Dynamic Liveness has shown to be successful in many mobile onboarding cases, including the Frontex APP4EES. After Brexit, the UK Home Office incorporated our technology into their app for the EU Settlement Scheme, allowing EU nationals to apply online for residence status. Millions of EU nationals successfully went through this process. The same combination of technologies is used for Eurostar self-service.

Read the Eurostar case study

EES QuickBorder Project

Frontex initiated a pilot to implement the “APP4EES” concept to validate operational improvements that could be made to meet the Entry/Exit System requirements on travellers; notably, border processing times. This pilot project known as QuickBorder was run in conjunction with the Swedish Border Police, multiple Airlines, Arlanda airport and other stakeholders. Inverid supplied the document verification and orchestrated the face verification technology integrated into the pilot app and back-end services.

Ultimately this pilot proved the ability for Member States to benefit from traveller self-service, prior to the Border Control Points, that speed up processing travellers whilst meeting the stringent requirements of EES.

The QuickBorder pilot ran operationally for 6 weeks starting May 2024. The results were independently tested and were very encouraging. In addition to testing implementation guidelines for future Member States to join the scheme were produced.

Cases like Eurostar and QuickBorder have shown that remote identity proofing is possible with the highest security level, and all are fully automated. The data gathered can be used by border authorities to streamline processes at the border-crossing points to enable early screening with respect to watch lists and allow a faster simpler traveller experience ahead of border arrival With mobile pre-registration, you can reduce border congestion.

Mobile Border Officers

In addition to pre-registration by travellers, using smartphone based self-service, Inverid also supplies border agencies and police with the ability for their officers to verify document details in the field. This can be extremely effective for mobile queue busting in the case of EES, capturing elements of the EES requirements such as Questionnaire details, Travel Document and biometric details. This approach reduces requirements for infrastructure such as kiosks whilst alleviating processing times at the border control points.

Time is now

Launch for EES is set. With a project now underway for the provision of an enhanced “Travel to Europe” app, you will have the ability for remote pre-registration to ease the burden at, and impact at Border Control Points. The key to success now switches to the speed of adoption of “Travel to Europe” by Member States and associated agencies.

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Smart moves for smart borders

What should be your next step to prepare for EES?

Check out our ReadID Me personal app to experience what it means to have a eGate in your pocket.
Ask your national Frontex contact for more information on the availability of the pre-registration app for your member state.
Or contact us directly to integrate pre-registration with ReadID in your infrastructure.
Equip your border control officers with our client-only technology to check identity documents anytime, anywhere with their smartphone.