Finland becomes world’s first country to test digital passport screening

As per the latest development, Finland has become the first country in the world to issue digital passports to its citizens.

If reports are to go by, this move is aimed at making travel faster, secure, and easier. Reportedly, the country has also begun testing this from August 28 in partnership with Finnair, airport operator Finavia, and Finnish police.
Reports further reveal that the Finnish Border Guard is also conducting this test, which they are carrying out at the border control of Helsinki Airport, and that this exercise will continue until February 2024. With this test, Finland becomes the world’s first country to test digital travel documents.
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Do note that as of now, it is only valid only for Finns flying to London, Manchester and Edinburgh on Finnair.
What is a digital passport?The Digital Travel Credential (DTC) represents a digital rendition of a physical passport, designed to be stored on a smartphone. It adheres to the guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is actively developing a global framework for digital travel documents. An unprecedented milestone in this realm is currently underway in Finland, where DTC is undergoing testing for the first time globally. Initially, this testing phase will be available exclusively to Finnish citizens who plan to travel between Finland and the UK using Finnair flights.

Individuals interested in participating in this trial must take several steps. They are required to download the ‘Finn DTC Pilot Digital Travel Document’ app, complete registration with the police, and provide their information to Finnish border guards within a window of 4 to 36 hours prior to their scheduled UK-bound flight. Reports suggest that once they are registered, travelers can use their digital document when traversing through Finland.

All that you need to know about the ruleUsing the digital passport, individuals can authenticate their identity by capturing their photo at Helsinki Airport and comparing it to the passport stored within their DTC. It's important to note that, since this is an ongoing trial, citizens are still required to have their physical passport with them and have it scanned at border controls both in Finland and the UK. However, if the pilot project demonstrates its effectiveness, future travelers may no longer need to carry physical passports.