Starting today, August 28, Finns will be the first people in the world to try out digital travel documents, according to the Finnish Border Guard.
All Finns flying with Finnair to London, Manchester or Edinburgh will be able to test the digital travel document, Border Guard said. This will give travelers the opportunity to pass through controls faster and without long waiting times.
“The Finnish Border Guard invites passengers on Finnair’s Great Britain flights to test their digital travel document at the border check at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport starting on August 28, 2023. Finnair customers on the London, Manchester and Edinburgh routes have the opportunity to go through the border control faster and more smoothly than usual without queuing,” the statement of the Finnish Border Guard reads.
By voluntarily registering as a digital travel document user, passengers can move through the processes more quickly, as mentioned earlier. Once registered, users can use their digital documents for travel to and from Finland.
Nonetheless, it is important to emphasize that the digital travel document can only be tested at Helsinki Airport. People who sign up for the system will have the opportunity to test the document until the conclusion of February 2024.
The Border Guard states that the DTC (Digital Travel Credentials) is currently being tested for the first time ever. DTC is a digital passport that is just as trustworthy as the physical one.
“DTC is a digital version of a physical passport and is equally reliable. It enables a smooth and fast border crossing without compromising safety,” the Finnish Border Guard notes.
Finland’s choice to trial digital travel documents aligns with the European Commission’s request for selected member states to conduct pilot projects, aimed at collecting valuable insights and experiences.
After compiling the necessary information, the Commission intends to put forth a proposal for the project’s adoption across all remaining member states.
The Commission is funding the project to make travel easier for everyone.
If the project, which begins today in Finland, is successful, passengers will no longer need to carry physical travel documents in the future. At the same time, other travel-related procedures will also be greatly simplified.