EC Proposes an EU Digital Travel Application

The European Commission adopted two proposals to digitalize passports and identity cards. The proposals, also called the ‘EU Digital Travel application,' are for individuals traveling to and from the Schengen area.

Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens are subject to systematic checks when crossing the EU's external borders. Currently, these checks are made physically at the border crossing point. With almost 600 million crossings recorded in 2023 only, there is a need to speed up border controls and ensure smoother travel while maintaining a high level of security, ensuring that each traveler is checked.

The EC is therefore proposing a common framework for the use of digital travel credentials and a new ‘EU Digital Travel applicationț, for travellers to create and store their digital travel credentials. The new rules will make traveling to and within the Schengen area easier and more secure. Digital travel credentials are a digital version of the data stored on passports and identity cards.

The data includes information contained in the chip of the passport or ID card, including the facial image of the holder, but not the fingerprint. A digital travel document can be stored on a mobile phone. It will be completely voluntary for travelers to ask for or use this digital version of their documents, free of charge.

The EC says that this will allow smoother and faster border crossings for travelers, facilitate freedom of movement and reduce administrative burdens for EU citizens, improve the efficiency of border controls, and improve the security of the Schengen area. The EU Digital Travel application will be developed by the Commission, with the support of eu-LISA, and deployed at the EU level. The application will be available for all EU and non-EU citizens with a biometric passport or EU identity card traveling to or from the Schengen Area.

Thanks to the EU Digital Travel application, travelers will be able to create digital travel credentials, using their passports or, in the case of EU citizens, their identity cards. They would also have the opportunity to submit travel plans and documents to the border authorities in advance, reducing waiting times at border crossings since most checks will be completed beforehand.

The EC says that the application will ensure the traveler's data is protected. The application requires user consent before processing personal data. Additionally, Member States will be required to provide border authorities with comprehensive training on data security and data protection rules before authorizing them to access the data. The EU digital travel application will become available in 2030. This will provide the possibility to store the digital travel credentials in the European Digital identity wallet.

It is now for the Council and the European Parliament to agree on the proposals. Once adopted, following the relevant procedures, the EU Digital Travel application and the necessary technical standards will be developed. The proposals deliver on the Schengen strategy adopted in 2021, which committed to further digitalizing procedures at the external borders. The proposals are also linked to the establishment of European Digital Identity Wallets where digital passports and ID cards can be stored alongside digital driving licenses, medical prescriptions, and other documents.