New European Entry/Exit System Rulings are Shifting Automated Border Control Requirements

Following initial plans to come into effect in March 2023, which saw delay, the turn of the year will see new regulation in Europe concerning the monitoring and collection of data of those outside the Schengen area when entering and exiting European borders. The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-European Union (EU) nationals travelling within Europe. It aims to modernize border management by increasing efficiency and the quality of border processes, envisioned to replace passport stamping, and to streamline data collection through automated equipment. Once in effect, the EES will make easier identifying citizens who do not have the right to travel, or who have been in European countries for longer than permitted. Through more comprehensive and modernized data collection, the EES hopes to better monitor, prevent, detect, and investigate potential terrorist offences or other serious crimes, including making easier the detection of illegitimate passports by eliminating human error through more reliable document reading technologies. As part of the new EES, data collected from citizens will be stored for three years, or five years if no exit through the border is recorded. Citizens will be refused entry if they do not submit the required Information. This includes travel document data, date and location of entry and exit of the border, facial and fingerprint biometrics, and refusals of entry, if applicable.

The collection of data of those outside the Schengen area when travelling in Europe under the EES is mandated. It is a regulated market, with the registration of citizen information being enforced. As such, governments and border control authorities must invest in adherence to the coming requirements to be equipped for the impending changes, particularly in consideration of the uptick of international travel coming out of COVID-19, where a greater emphasis on Automated Border Control (ABC) Systems has been placed. The consensus mechanism by which this data will be collected is via biometric self-service kiosks, capable of ePassport reading and biometric capture, a technology which has been present for many years following initial development and introduction in the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There has already been significant investment in Europe in preparation for the EES date to arrive. This is expected to continue in 2023, where appropriate deployments of kiosks are essentially a necessary investment to keep ABC systems in line with European ruling, particularly as it relates to the need of biometric capture. As such, the market has seen a strong increase of kiosk demand to allow for the appropriate citizen registration to be made where needed. Again, this requirement is furthered when considering the sharp bounce back of international travel after COVID limitations have ceased, where border control agencies do not want to delay investment and be ill-prepared for the EES.

Prior to this development, kiosks were still a commonplace ABC solution, often used in conjunction with an immigration officer where data is captured efficiently at the ABC equipment and the traveler is cleared by the officer with ease, alongside traveler registration. Notably, this includes deployment in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and, as mentioned, has seen a strong foundation in the US for many years. Now, with European demand booming, a significant market opportunity has arisen. Vendors within the ABC systems domain should consider investment in development and manufacturing requirements to meet increasing demands. While not currently a viable solution, the possibility of merging use cases of a traditional eGate border crossing with kiosk traveler registration is being considered by some vendors. In such a case, an eGate would simultaneously perform the traditional function of clearing a traveler through the border, while also capturing the necessary data in line with EES specification. Should this innovation be realized, the resultant solution would hold a significant value proposition, particularly within the European market.