The paper passport will soon disappear. New solutions are in the testing phase to make life easier for travelers.
At the end of the year, many changes will take place. The potential replacement for our traditional passport has appeared. This document will offer the prospect of simplifying procedures and saving time when traveling. Even though the passport is an essential document for any traveler, it is often associated with endless procedures. Whether in terms of extended deadlines or the need to provide a multitude of documents, obtaining a new passport takes time!
But that’s not all ! Once in possession of this precious document, you have to deal with multiple checks and endless queues. This is particularly the case at international airports where, sometimes, crowds are annoyed by waiting at customs posts. So what solution was proposed? We tell you more in this article!
The digital passport already tested
Good news seems to be on the horizon. Indeed, passport manufacturers and States have been working on modern solutions for several years. Recently, real progress has been made, suggesting a possible end to the traditional paper passport. Several airports are already experimenting with new approaches. First of all, the passenger is subject to a check before boarding, but this is done using a digital document that is easy to obtain. Then, the “passport-free” traveler can download a dedicated application in which they fill out a short digital file in a few minutes.
A similar experiment is already underway at Helsinki airport. However, it is restricted for certain flights and destinations. Passengers on Finnair flights to the United Kingdom can opt for a passport-free approach. Indeed, faced with the new requirements of the United Kingdom following its departure from the European Union, the identity card is no longer sufficient for European travelers. However, thanks to the DTC app, passengers can go through border control faster and without waiting in line. The authorization to board is integrated into a QR Code to be presented to a dedicated controller. According to published sources, other countries such as Croatia, the Netherlands and Canada have also announced similar initiatives. It is therefore possible that France, in the future, will also test this digital document to facilitate travel and reduce the hassle linked to administrative formalities.
