ID Tech

Biometric Border Control

Biometric border control uses face or fingerprint recognition at checkpoints to verify travelers and automate border processes.

Biometric border control systems automate entry and exit checks with biometric capture and matching at e-gates or manual stations.

Latest Updates

  • 2025-06-30: Somalia deployed the U.S.-backed PISCES border system at Mogadishu airport, capturing fingerprints and face images for real-time watch-list checks, with national roll-out planned.

References

Vendors using Biometric Border Control

Cognitec SystemsCLEAR Secure, Inc.Thales Group

Latest Data Cards

  • Data Card

    Aruba Airport Launches Enhanced Passenger Processing with CBP and iProov

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    Aruba Airport Authority says Enhanced Passenger Processing is live at its U.S. Pre-Clearance facility, using facial biometrics to verify travelers against passport data and CBP’s Traveler Verification Service.

    • The deployment is described as available automatically to U.S. citizens departing Aruba without pre-enrollment.
    • The airport authority says travelers typically do not need to present a physical passport unless additional review is required.
    • The program is positioned as reducing queues and processing time through biometric identity verification.
  • Data Card

    Airports Group Warns of Disruption Risk as EU Entry/Exit System Scales Up

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    ACI EUROPE called for an urgent review of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), citing outages and operational issues that it says could cause disruption as processing volumes increase in early 2026.

    • ACI EUROPE says EES began operations on October 12, 2025 and uses facial images and fingerprints to register third-country nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area.
    • ACI EUROPE cites planned increases in the share of travelers processed through EES, including a published target of roughly 35 percent starting January 9, 2026.
    • The group cites airport reports that processing times at some locations increased by as much as 70 percent compared with pre-EES baselines.
  • Data Card

    NEC and emaratech Deploy Biometric Smart Gates for flydubai Crew at Dubai Airport

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    NEC and emaratech say they deployed facial-recognition smart gates to automate immigration clearance for flydubai crew in a dedicated operations environment at Dubai International Airport.

    • The deployment is described as scoped to flydubai crew operations rather than general passenger processing.
    • NEC says the system is based on its NeoFace Express X5 facial recognition terminal and matches against immigration records maintained by Dubai’s residency and foreigners affairs authority.
    • The companies frame the gates as reducing manual document checks and processing time for crew movement through secure areas.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is biometric border control?
It uses biometrics like fingerprints or face images at border crossings to verify travelers.
Where is it used?
Many countries deploy biometric e-gates at airports and land checkpoints for security.
How does it help travelers?
Automated gates reduce wait times while enhancing identity assurance.
What’s the difference between entry and exit checks?
Entry typically verifies a traveler against their travel document and watchlists (1:1 and 1:N). Exit can confirm departure and detect overstays, often with facial verification at gates.
How do systems handle spoofing?
They combine document checks, live capture quality controls, and presentation attack detection (PAD) to detect photos, masks, or replays.