Finland has resumed testing digital travel documents (DTCs) at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
This comes a month after temporarily suspending DTC border checks for departing and arriving Finnish passengers.
The Return of Digital Passports
The Finnish Border Guard announced last week that DTC border checks at the Helsinki Airport reopened on December 15, 2023.
Testing of digital travel credentials will continue until March 31, 2024.
In a statement, the Finnish Border Guard said, “DTC inspection lines have been reopened for pilot use. If you have completed the registration, you can send the DTC information as before and use the DTC inspection lines as before.”
Finland became the first country to start testing DTCs in August this year.
Since the launch, all Finns have been able to register and evaluate digital passports.
Current State of Testing
At present, Finland’s DTC is being evaluated by citizens on Finnair flights between Helsinki and London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and vice versa.
The Finnish Border Guard stressed that new destinations will be added to the DTC system in the coming weeks.
How DTCs Work
The DTC is a digital version of a physical passport.
Finns using the document can pass through border controls faster without waiting long in queues.
During testing, DTC inspection took only about 10 seconds per passenger. This promises a smooth crossing experience for travelers.
Global Recognition
Finland’s DTC was recognized by Time magazine among 2023’s groundbreaking inventions in the “Apps and Software” category. It earned its place thanks to the expected improvement in travel processes.
Besides Finland, Croatia is also testing DTCs after implementing the project in October.
Fast-Tracked Border Crossing
The Finnish Border Guard has reopened DTC border controls at the Helsinki Airport for departing and arriving traffic on December 15, 2023.
The agency will pilot DTCs at the airport in cooperation with Finnair, the Finnish Police, and Finavia.
How Travelers Can Use DTCs
The DTC pilot allows passengers on Finnair’s UK flights to and from Helsinki to pass through border control faster than usual.
This is possible by registering as a voluntary DTC user and utilizing it when leaving or entering Finland.
Finnair will soon add more international routes to the DTC system over the coming weeks.
The Border Guard will announce new destinations as they are included.
Real-World Testing
The pilot aims to evaluate DTCs in an actual border control setting, reportedly the first of its kind globally.
As a digital twin of physical passports, DTCs offer smooth, fast border crossings without jeopardizing security.
Registration and Use
Travelers must complete three steps to use DTCs:
- Download the FIN DTC Pilot app on a smartphone and enable a screen lock like fingerprint or face recognition.
- Register in-person at the Vantaa Main Police Station license services in Tikkurila or at Helsinki Airport. This one-time registration verifies identity using a passport.
- Send DTC data to the Border Guard four to 36 hours pre-flight for outbound and inbound trips through Helsinki.
- Use DTC line 1 when departing and arriving in Finland. If DTC fails, present the passport to the officer. Report any issues to the Border Guard.
Potential Impact on EU Visitors and Immigrants
The DTC pilot has implications for European Union (EU) visitors and immigrants to Finland.
Once implemented more broadly, DTCs could allow faster immigration processing for long-term residents like families, investors, digital nomads, and students.
The ETIAS visa waiver, launching in May 2025, will also interact with digital documentation.
DTCs may eventually facilitate ETIAS screening by enabling rapid information exchange.
For now, options remain limited.
However, in the future, DTCs could ease immigration for EU citizens immigrating to Finland through digital verification.
Testing Drives Policy Change
At this stage, Finland’s DTC pilot does not directly change immigration laws.
However, it signals a digital-first future for border security and travel credentials.
The real-world testing could shape EU-wide policy on digital documents, touching on border control, visas, and immigration.
DTCs based on successful trials may be adopted into the Schengen framework alongside innovations like ETIAS.
As other nations follow Finland’s lead, digital credentials seem poised to enable frictionless travel while upholding security.
The DTC test run kicks off a new policy conversation on immigration in the digital age.
Pioneering the Future of Travel
With testing now back on track, Finns can once again help evaluate DTCs as a pioneering digital alternative to traditional passports.
The data gathered in trials will shape the future of travel documentation across the globe.