France chooses Thales for new biometric border Entry/Exit System

As soon as next year, in 2022, member states of the Schengen Area will be required to have a biometric Entry and Exit System with the aim of strengthening and better protecting the external borders of the Schengen area to improve security for its citizens. This ‘EES’ will improve security by automating checks on each traveler. It will also provide a more fluid travelling experience thanks to reduced queue and waiting times at border clearance. And great news: the French Ministry of the Interior will be using our Thales Gemalto Border Kiosks to fulfill their EES obligation!

The French Ministry of the Interior has ordered hundreds of our Thales Gemalto Border Kiosks, and will install them at the country’s air, sea, and land borders. These pre-registration kiosks will allow non-Schengen visitors to register their identity quickly and securely, including their biometric data (fingerprint and facial biometrics). The entire biometric registration and identity verification process can be completed in less than a minute, and is still secure enough to weed out imposters.

Explaining their choice, the French Ministry stated: “The new European entry and exit system represents a major challenge for Member States. On the one hand, they are required to be ready and compliant with the regulations by 2022; on the other hand, they are faced with the operational reality and the fact that millions of people have to be processed each year, for whom we want to offer the smoothest possible experience. Thales’ expertise in identity and border management provides us with technological reliability, without having to make a choice between security and ease of use”.