Finland Introduces World’s First Digital Passport, Paving the Way for Swift Travel
Finland has made history by becoming the first country to introduce fully digital passports on a trial basis, potentially revolutionizing international travel. This groundbreaking initiative, launched in collaboration with national flag carrier Finnair, airport operator Finavia, and the Finnish Police, aims to streamline travel experiences and eliminate long queues at passport control.
The trial, scheduled to run until February 2024, is currently available exclusively to Finnish citizens traveling with Finnair to and from London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. To participate, travelers must follow a specific process:
- **Download the ‘FIN DTC pilot travel document app.’
- Register with the police, providing consent, and having their photograph taken for facial recognition.
- Upload their journey details to the app.
Once registered, travelers no longer need to queue for passport verification. Instead, they can scan the app on their smartphones at designated checkpoints. Personal identities are confirmed by matching the traveler’s current airport photo with the one taken during registration. However, as the Digital Travel Credentials (DTC) system is still in the experimental stage, travelers are required to carry their physical passports as a precaution.
Digital passports offer several advantages, including significantly reduced waiting times at airports. Traditional passport verifications, including those with biometric chips, can take several minutes, whereas digital passport verifications can be completed within seconds. Moreover, there is virtually no risk of losing or having a digital passport stolen.
One potential concern is the risk of hackers accessing and misusing passport data, a matter being thoroughly examined by Finnish experts. Although the concept of digital passports is not new, Finland’s implementation represents the first complete digitalization of passports. Currently, the Finnish passport ranks as the third most powerful travel document globally. Other countries such as Poland, South Korea, Australia, the UK, and the US are also working on similar initiatives to digitize passports.
