YVR becomes first to update their border control solution to Canadian government biometric requirements

Innovative Travel Solutions by Vancouver International Airport (ITS) recently announced that its border control solution, BORDERXPRESS, was the first in Canada to be updated in line with the Canadian government’s new biometric requirements. The team at ITS implemented their updated Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK) at YVR in advance of the March 31, 2019 deadline.

Under the Government of Canada’s program’s expansion, PIK kiosks at major Canadian airports now require fingerprint verification for all temporary resident visa, study and work permit applicants (excluding U.S. nationals), as well as all permanent residence applicants.

Biometrics, including fingerprints and photographs of the face, increase the security of the border by collecting physical characteristics of an individual which when captured, can be used to verify the identity or check against other entities in the database. They are also becoming increasingly standard with more than 70 countries around the world using the collection of biometrics as part of their immigration programs.

Understandably, each government has its own unique immigration requirements which can make modernization daunting. However, BORDERXPRESS offers a solution that can be configured to meet the specific needs of any government, accepts all passports and can be configured with up to 25 different languages. It can process any passenger, including families travelling as a group.

BORDERXPRESS kiosks use an efficient two-step process to expedite the border clearance process, reducing passenger wait times by more than 60 per cent. This leads to overall operating efficiency and space savings because it allows airports to expand passenger traffic without having to add additional space or staffing resources. The kiosks also allow border officers to focus on maintaining the safety of the border – which is of paramount importance to airports and a condition of governments when considering automation.

This global solution was developed by ITS, the innovation team at YVR, who bring together their experience as an airport operator and expertise in border management to provide unique insights into what it takes to facilitate the movement of people, without compromising security or customer satisfaction. Since 2009, ITS has sold over 1,600 kiosks at 42 airport and seaport locations around the world, helping more than 250 million passengers clear the border safely and securely.

With demand for air travel expected to double over the next two decades, incorporating biometrics to modernize border management has become a priority for many governments beyond Canada. This growth in traffic presents an opportunity for airports – and other ports of entry – around the world. But to best take advantage, they must start future-proofing their facilities with a proven border control solution that unites security, efficiency and innovation.

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