The Importance of Identity Documents and the Future of Integrated Travel Systems – Conclusion and Outlook
June 18, 2024
In this article, we explore how identity verification is evolving to meet the needs of modern travel within the European Union.Published: June 11, 2025
In this article, you will learn how the Advanced Passenger Information System (API) interacts with other border control systems to enhance security and efficiency at the EU’s external borders. Special attention is given to its connection with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), a key component of the EU’s Smart Borders initiative. By combining pre-departure passenger data with biometric border control measures, these systems provide a more integrated and data-driven approach to managing cross-border travel.
The Advanced Passenger Information System (API) and the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
The Advanced Passenger Information System (API) and the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) are central to the European Union’s strategy for modern, secure, and efficient border control. API allows airlines to transmit passenger data to national authorities before departure, enabling early risk assessment and identity verification. The EES, presented in 2024, will replace manual passport stamping by digitally recording entry and exit data of third-country nationals, including biometric information like fingerprints and facial images. Together, these systems enhance border security, streamline traveler processing, and support the EU’s goal of smarter, more automated borders.
What is the Advanced Passenger Information System (API)?
The Advanced Passenger Information System (API) is designed to collect biographic information from travelers before they begin their journey to the EU. Airlines and other carriers are required to transmit details such as full name, date of birth, nationality, and travel document numbers to national authorities. This early transmission allows border control agencies to run checks against security databases and assess whether a traveler poses any risk before arrival. By providing advance notice, API supports proactive decision-making, reducing delays and enhancing safety at border checkpoints. It also helps identify inadmissible persons or those flagged in international watchlists. As a result, API acts as a first line of defense in the broader EU border control system.
What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new automated border control solution developed by the EU to replace manual passport stamping and better manage the flow of third-country nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area. It records both biographic and biometric data at the time of border crossing, including fingerprints and facial images. This system not only helps authorities verify a traveler’s identity but also keeps a precise record of entry and exit dates. The EES is a key part of the EU’s Smart Borders Package and is designed to improve security, combat irregular migration, and streamline the traveler experience.
Purpose of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES): replacing manual passport stamps
One of the primary goals of the EES is to eliminate the need for manual passport stamping. This change addresses several issues associated with physical stamps, including inconsistency, forgery, and difficulties in calculating the duration of stay. Manual stamps are often illegible or incorrectly placed, leading to errors in verifying travel history. With EES, all entry and exit records are stored digitally, allowing for automated, accurate, and tamper-proof border checks.
Biometric data collection (e.g. fingerprints, facial image)
The EES incorporates biometric technology by collecting fingerprints and facial images from travelers during border crossing. This data is securely stored and used for identity verification in future entries. Biometric checks improve the accuracy of traveler identification and reduce cases of document fraud or identity theft. The system also supports automated border controls like eGates, which allow for faster processing of low-risk travelers.
Target group: third-country nationals (non-EU citizens)
The EES specifically applies to third-country nationals – travelers who are not citizens of EU or Schengen Area countries. This includes both those who require a visa and those who are visa-exempt. These individuals must register their biometric and travel data at the border, allowing authorities to monitor their movements more effectively. By focusing on this group, the EU aims to address concerns related to overstaying, illegal entry, and irregular migration.
Role in calculating stays in the Schengen Area
One of the critical functions of the EES is to track how long third-country nationals stay within the Schengen Area. The system calculates the exact number of days a traveler has been present by logging their entry and exit times automatically. This eliminates the guesswork and manual counting previously required with passport stamps. It also enables real-time alerts if someone exceeds the allowed 90-day stay within a 180-day period. Border guards can then take immediate action in line with EU immigration regulations.
A Smarter Approach to EU Border Management: Connecting API and EES
Advanced Passenger Information System (API) data is transmitted by airlines to the relevant authorities prior to departure to assist them in assessing risk and verifying travelers’ identities. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is intended to replace the current practice of border officials stamping passports. Together, these systems represent a shift toward smarter, faster, and more secure border management across the European Union.
Advanced Passenger Information (API): Pre-departure Risk Assessment
The Advanced Passenger Information (API) system allows airlines and other carriers to transmit key passenger details – such as full name, nationality, passport number, and travel route – to border authorities before the traveler departs. This early submission enables authorities to perform risk assessments, identity verification, and cross-checks against security databases in advance. It’s a proactive layer of control that helps prevent inadmissible passengers or flagged individuals from even boarding their flight to the EU.
By conducting this screening before travelers arrive, API reduces the burden on physical border checks and enhances operational efficiency. It also ensures better coordination between border authorities, carriers, and immigration services – improving the traveler experience while reinforcing security.
Entry/Exit System (EES): A Digital Replacement for Passport Stamps
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start gradually in October 2025 and marks a major modernization in border control. The EES will digitally register the entry and exit of third-country nationals (non-EU citizens) when crossing external Schengen borders. Instead of stamping passports, border control officers will collect biometric data (such as facial images and fingerprints) and automatically log the date, time, and location of the crossing.
The goal is to streamline the border-crossing process, improve tracking of short-stay limits, and prevent overstays. It will also strengthen the ability of EU authorities to detect irregular migration, identify security threats, and manage high traveler volumes more efficiently.
Strengthening EU Borders: Integrating Advanced Passenger Information System (API) Data With the Entry/Exit System (EES)
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will modernize how the EU manages its external borders by collecting detailed information on third-country nationals, including biometric data, entry/exit records, and travel duration. When combined with Advanced Passenger Information (API) received before departure, authorities gain a powerful tool to verify identities, detect irregularities, and streamline border checks – enhancing both security and efficiency across the EU.
How Advanced Passenger Information System (API) and the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Work Together
While API provides advance biographic data, EES captures real-time biometric and movement data at the border. When used together, these systems allow authorities to cross-check a traveler’s intent (from API) with their actual border crossing behavior (in EES). This layered approach significantly improves identity verification, reduces the risk of fraud, and increases situational awareness for border guards.
By comparing data from both systems, authorities can spot discrepancies early – for example, if someone tries to enter the EU using a stolen or falsified identity, or if they previously overstayed. This combination of pre-departure intelligence and on-arrival biometric checks creates a highly secure and efficient border control process.
How API Data is Cross-Checked With EES Information
API provides early travel and identity details which can later be compared with biometric records collected by EES at the border. If a traveler presents information that doesn’t match the API submission, this may signal a fraud attempt or identity issue. Automated systems can flag inconsistencies for manual inspection. This cross-verification helps ensure that only legitimate travelers gain entry and that system records remain consistent.
Technical Systems and Databases Involved
API and EES operate through a network of interoperable platforms managed by national authorities and coordinated at the EU level. Key systems include carrier check-in interfaces, national border IT systems, the EES Central System, and shared biometric matching services. These systems rely on secure data exchange protocols and harmonized formats like PNRGOV and EDIFACT. Interconnection with other systems such as SIS, ETIAS, and VIS further extends their effectiveness.
The Power of Integration: API and EES Working Together
The integration of API and EES represents a major leap forward in the EU’s strategy for smart and secure borders. While API provides pre-arrival data, EES delivers on-the-ground verification through biometric checks and detailed movement tracking.
When these systems are connected:
- Authorities can compare intended travel (API) with actual border activity (EES)
- Discrepancies or anomalies – such as suspicious routes or identity mismatches – can be flagged early
- Risk assessments become more accurate, and identity fraud becomes harder to conceal
- Border processing is faster for compliant travelers and more thorough for high-risk individuals
- This synergy between systems ensures a multi-layered, data-driven approach to border management, increasing operational efficiency without compromising security or traveler experience.
Toward Global Border Control Harmonization: The TSA’s Potential Adoption of API/EES-like Systems
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States already uses advanced passenger vetting programs like Secure Flight and works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to manage international travel. However, the EU’s API and EES model offers a more integrated and layered approach by combining pre-arrival biographic data with biometric verification at the border. For the TSA and other U.S. agencies, adopting similar systems could streamline identity verification, reduce processing time, and enhance threat detection. It would also enable more seamless collaboration with international partners and improve data-sharing mechanisms across borders. As travel becomes increasingly global, interoperability between systems like API/EES and U.S. counterparts may become essential to maintaining both efficiency and security.
Transport and Security Administration (TSA) in the USA may do Something Similar
While TSA primarily focuses on domestic transportation security, its collaboration with CBP on programs like Global Entry, PreCheck, and biometric boarding indicates a growing emphasis on technology-driven border management. Incorporating an EU-style API system could help U.S. authorities access passenger data earlier in the process, enabling better pre-departure screening. Likewise, expanding biometric verification capabilities at international points of entry would align with EES functionalities. These steps would not only enhance national security but also support faster, more consistent processing for international travelers.
Connection of Advanced Passenger Information System (API) to Other Systems – Conclusion and Outlook
The integration of the Advanced Passenger Information System (API) and the Entry/Exit System (EES) marks a transformative shift in the European Union’s approach to border management. By combining pre-departure passenger data with real-time biometric verification, the EU is building a layered, intelligence-led system that enhances both security and operational efficiency. This synergy helps verify traveler identities with greater accuracy, detect potential risks earlier, and automate routine checks to improve the overall travel experience.
Looking ahead, the ongoing expansion of interoperable systems – such as ETIAS, SIS, and PNR – will further support a unified and data-driven border control environment. As global mobility continues to rise, the European Union is setting a new standard for digital border security, one that other regions, including the United States, are already considering emulating. The continued evolution of these technologies offers promising potential for global collaboration, improved traveler facilitation, and a higher level of security for all.
Why Choose the Digital Solutions of OVD Kinegram
With its deep understanding of identity verification, OVD Kinegram is uniquely positioned to support the development and implementation of integrated, future-proof identity document verification solutions that meet the complex demands of today’s border authorities.
The highly reliable and scalable MOBILE SCAN SDK and MOBILE CHIP SDK and KINEGRAM DIGITAL POLICING are built for high-performance environments – ensuring secure, fast, and accurate identity document verification at every stage of the travel journey. From data capture and transmission to biometric authentication and system integration, OVD Kinegram provides end-to-end capabilities that align with EU regulations and international standards.
Choosing OVD Kinegram means partnering with a trusted innovator committed to secure, scalable, and seamless border management.
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