Rules for passing passport control at the airport. When crossing the Russian border

Undoubtedly, the fastest, most convenient and comfortable mode of transport is a modern airliner. Numerous travelers choose the plane, because quite often only this transport can be used to get to the most remote cities on our planet. But what if the passengers are choosing an airliner for the first flight, because they do not understand all the procedures that they must go through? In this article we will try to explain what needs to be done at the airport.

It is very convenient to use an electronic coupon, which is bought via the Internet at a time convenient for the user. The main thing is to correctly enter the passenger's passport data in a special field. After receiving the itinerary receipt, which will be delivered to the user by e-mail, it is recommended to print the document. Passengers may need a printed receipt when passing through passport control at the airport.

When do you need to arrive at the airport?

You need to arrive at the air harbor for about 2 - 2.5 hours before departure to slowly go through all the formalities and not get into a stressful situation. This is especially true for those passengers who need to go through passport control at the airport with a child. It should also be noted that there may be traffic jams on the way to the air dock.

Arriving at the territory of the air harbor, you need to find the terminal from which the airliner takes off. The terminal number is written on the printed receipt, and the diagram can be studied on the airport's official website.

Before entering the desired terminal, passengers must go through the first control, which is called preliminary. To pass you need to do the following:

all bags and belongings, including personal ones, must be folded into a special container and put on the tape for scanning;
passengers need to go through a metal detector;
You should not leave a lot of things in the pockets of outerwear; it is better to put them in your personal purse or briefcase first. In this way, lengthy checks by the security service can be avoided.

Electronic passport control desks at UK airport

Registration

After passing through security control, you need to find a board that indicates the departure time of the airliners. Having found it, you should select the counter where passengers are checked-in for the desired flight.

At check-in, luggage is checked in, and you only need to leave things carried in your hand luggage with you. After that, an employee of the air harbor will issue a boarding pass. What size and weight of baggage is allowed to be carried free of charge, you should clarify on the website of the selected company in advance, and you are allowed to have a small bag or briefcase with you and a maximum weight up to 10 kg(each airline has its own restrictions on the weight and dimensions of carry-on baggage).

If there is still a lot of time before the plane takes off, and you are at the beginning of the check-in line, you can ask the airport employee to issue a boarding pass for specific place in the cabin of the airliner. The coupon contains the number of the exit (gate) to which you need to proceed.

Passing through passport control at the airport

If passengers fly out of their country, before boarding the airliner, they need to go through not only security checks, but also passport control. Many people are interested in the question: what is passport control at the airport, and what is checked at passport control?

This procedure is mandatory for passengers leaving the country. The procedure for passing through passport control is as follows:

in turn, each passenger must go to a special counter, where airport staff check documents;
for verification, you must show the original passport, at the request of the border guards - a boarding pass;
if everything is in order, the airport employee puts a stamp, which confirms that the state border was passed without violations, in accordance with the law.

Border services of the airport can carry out passport control according to their own rules, that is, apply a different procedure for carrying out this event. However, the end result should be in the form of a mark on the passage of the state border.

Flight with children

When flying with children under 13, parents often ask about how passport control is going on at the airport with a child and what documents need to be prepared for this procedure. To fly abroad with children, parents should prepare the following documentation.

A person planning an overseas rendezvous must be prepared to go through passport control. Sometimes this procedure can take a considerable amount of time from the passenger. To avoid troubles and annoying misunderstandings, the traveler must arrive at the airport 4-5 hours before departure.

Taking into account the fact that, or, for example, in conditions of traffic jams, it may not be easy, you need to leave the house long before the plane takes off.

Many are interested in the question of what they check during passport control. First of all, the legality of departure abroad is checked. ...

You can go through passport control after the end of the customs control procedure.

Subtleties of passport information

A person wishing to go through passport control undertakes to provide one of the following identity documents:

international passport;
diplomat's passport;
service passport;
special seaman's passport;
certificate of return to Russia.

A citizen of any foreign state, entering the territory of the Russian state, as well as making an exit, undertakes to provide the border service officers with valid documents. Particular attention is paid to the validity of the passport.

Crossing the border by a minor

To go through passport control with a minor in 2019, you will need to prepare in advance. Otherwise, the passenger may face serious troubles.

If a minor is accompanied by both parents, then his data must be entered in the passport of the father or mother. If the child is already 5 years old at the time of the trip, it is necessary to provide him with a high-quality photograph.

If the father and mother have different surnames, then you must have his child's birth certificate with you.

The situation looks somewhat different when a child goes to a foreign rendezvous only with his father or mother. In this case, it is necessary to provide not only a birth certificate at the airport, but also. The permit must be notarized.

The permit must contain information about the country to which the child is traveling. You also need to designate the period of time during which the minor will be outside the Russian state.

When a child travels abroad unaccompanied, then, in addition to a passport, he will need to present a permit to leave from his father and mother. This permission must also be certified by a notary.

Memo when exercising control

The procedure for passing through passport control begins when the passenger has already checked in for the flight, checked in and received a boarding pass. You need to move to the right side of the check-in counters. Target number one is the staircase that leads to the second floor. Having climbed there, the passenger finds himself in the passport control zone.

The rules for passing control at the airport in 2019 are the same for everyone. They are as follows:

going up to the 2nd floor, you need to choose a post and get in line;
when the turn comes, you must show your passport to the border guard officer (along with an identity document, you must provide a boarding pass);
get a passport and follow to the neutral zone.

You should not come close to the post. It is necessary to pay attention in a timely manner to the red line before the fast. It is important to understand that this line marks the Russian border. A person who has violated the border has every chance of being in the place of the hero from the wonderful Soviet film "Passport".

Many are confused by the intent, "studying" gaze of the border guards. Do not be embarrassed and turn your face away. The border guard simply compares the face he sees in front of him with the picture in the passport.

Sometimes border officials ask passengers questions. Most often, passengers are interested in where they got their passport and who accompanies them on the trip. You need to answer questions calmly, without nerves. If the border guard officer is confused by this or that detail in the provided foreign passport, he may ask for a general passport.

If the traveler has a second passport, then it makes sense to bring him to the airport as well. If a trip abroad is carried out on a tourist visa, then you must additionally have a paid tourist voucher or other document indicating the point of arrival.

In addition, it is advisable to have return tickets with you. The date of departure home must be before the end of the visa.

Latest innovations

Many metropolitan airports have recently begun to actively introduce new passport control technologies. Modern technologies imply automated border crossing control. According to the city authorities, this innovation helps to speed up the passage of all relevant formalities.

Today, only those Russians who have biometric foreign passports can appreciate the benefits of this know-how.

Thanks to this innovation, the passenger gets rid of the need to communicate with a border guard officer. To carry out the necessary procedure, he will only need to attach his passport to the scanner. The traveler is then allowed to pass through the turnstile.

In other countries, smart cards are used to carry out this procedure. It is also customary there to use special systems that allow face recognition in a three-dimensional image. These systems also allow identification based on fingerprints and other anatomical features. The identification is carried out even on the basis of the iris of the passengers' organs of vision.

The automated system of the largest Russian airport Sheremetyevo has successfully passed test operation. Not so long ago, two booths were installed in Terminal E, offering only automated service. Another major Russian airport, Domodedovo, followed the example of Sheremetyevo.

For all passengers, when checking in for a flight, it is mandatory to go through passport and visa control. On international flights, security control and customs inspection are also required. To avoid any trouble, you should arrive at check-in in advance. It should be borne in mind that travel to Domodedovo or Sheremetyevo airports may take longer due to traffic jams, so it is better to have a few hours in reserve before departure.

Passport control at the airports of the Russian Federation is carried out after passing through customs. Such control is carried out by the border service of the FSB of Russia. The rules for moving across the border are governed by agreements between states. The principles of passport and visa control consist in checking the legality of a passenger's stay in the Russian Federation, and do not apply to the legality of his entry into another state. During the security control, the passenger must present a document that proves his identity, as well as a ticket and boarding pass.

For control, you will need one of the documents:

Russian passport;
a document of a foreign citizen;
RF passport (civil or service);
residence permit for those who do not have citizenship;
birth certificate for a child;
military ID;
seaman's passport;
UN pass for business travel;
travel document for refugees;
deputy's certificate (for domestic transportation).

Citizens of other states when crossing the Russian border are required to present a valid visa and documents recognized by the Russian Federation.

Moscow airports Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo use new automated systems that speed up the passport control procedure. Only holders of biometric passports can use this innovation. To check, you just need to attach the document to the scanner.

Documents for minor children

If a minor citizen of the Russian Federation leaves the country unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or guardian, then he is obliged to present a passport and a written consent of the mother and father, certified by a notary, to leave. It must indicate the countries that he plans to visit and the date of departure.

Any citizen of the Russian Federation has the right to return to their state. If you lose your identity documents, you can contact the Consulate General or the Embassy of Russia.

Visa information

Most of the states in relation to the Russian Federation have visa requirements, so foreign citizens with general civil passports need a visa and a residence permit to cross the Russian border. The presence of a visa is not required for citizens of the former CIS and most of the Latin American countries, as well as for persons holding diplomatic or service passports.

The procedure for obtaining and extending a visa is described on the website of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for population migration. Arrivals must pre-book a hotel room. Foreign citizens who plan to stay in Russia for more than three days must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Often the hotel takes care of the registration procedure, so it is better to find out beforehand.

You cannot cross the border of the Russian Federation:

citizens of the Russian Federation who are prohibited from leaving by law;
stateless persons, as well as citizens of other states who are prohibited by law from staying in Russia.

Residents of other countries must obtain a visa two days before departure from the Russian mission or the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Foreigners traveling by transfer to Belarus or other countries need to obtain a transit visa of the Russian Federation. It is issued at the Russian Embassy or before the start of border control at the Consular Section of the Russian Foreign Ministry at the airport. To obtain, you need to present a visa of the country where the passenger is traveling and travel tickets.

Control procedure

Many are interested in what exactly is checked at passport control. One of the tasks of passport and visa control is to identify passengers who are prohibited from leaving / entering, citizens with open court proceedings, a criminal record, and large bank debts. The validity of the passport, the presence of a correctly issued visa and notarized documents for the departure of a minor child are also checked.

The passport control procedure is very simple:

First you need to go to the counter. There are racks for Russians and non-residents of the country. A placard indicating which counter you need to go to is located above the customs booths.
Stick to priority. The red line marks the border between states. It must not be crossed until a sign is given to signal that it can be passed. And even more so until the previous person has passed.
At the counter you must show your passport (passport) without a cover. After examining the passport and comparing the identity with the pasted photo, the employee will pass the document through the system and return it back. Then it will be possible to go to the place of the secondary examination of the passenger's personal belongings.

Sometimes the customs officer may ask about the point of arrival, the purpose of the trip and the period for which it is planned. To enter the Russian Federation now you need to have a return ticket and money for the duration of your stay in the country. Their presence can be checked. This is a common practice. During the check, do not be nervous and do not hide the facts. Submit everything you need and calmly answer the questions of interest. Citizens who do not have conflicts with the law go through control quickly and without problems.

Passport control is carried out according to a foreign passport. If you are in the civil service, you may need to present various other certificates: a seaman's passport, diplomatic passport and other documents. For those who cross the border with children, it is imperative to take birth certificates or foreign passports for each of the children. Children also require parental permission to leave. According to the requirements of some countries, this document is required, even if the family is traveling in full force.

Russian passport control

Passport control is carried out by employees of the immigration police and security services. During the check, the officer first checks whether your passport is genuine, and then identifies and verifies it against databases. Security officials may ask additional questions that differ in Russia from those asked abroad.

Passport control in Russia finds out your identity, verifies the photo on your passport with your appearance, and also looks to see if there are any circumstances that prevent you from traveling abroad. These may include a ban on leaving on duty, various orders from tax bailiffs, non-payment of alimony, and others. The presence of stamps on crossing Russian borders for previous trips is also very carefully checked. Russian security officers usually do not care about the availability of visas and how you cross the borders of other states, but if you have something wrong with Russian stamps, this will raise questions.

Foreign passport control

Security officials of other countries, accordingly, are not interested in your affairs with the Russian state. They only care about how correct you are in relation to their countries or commonwealths. For example, if you are entering the Schengen area, the officer can count the days of your stay in Europe, and if there are more than allowed, deny you entry. It will also be checked whether you have any outstanding obligations for violations in the territories of other countries during previous visits. If you violated the traffic rules, but did not pay the receipt, this may become the basis for denying entry.

If a migration permit is required to enter a country, then it is filled out before passing through passport control at the entrance to this country. Usually, blanks of migration cards are freely available in the same room where the check-in counters are located. Often, people fill out migration offices while standing in line; often, cards are handed out on planes, trains and buses shortly before arrival.

Foreign passport control also checks your visa. You may be asked to show return tickets, hotel reservations, reasons for staying in the country, and other questions that clarify the purpose of your visit. In case of suspicion, the passport control officer can take you to a separate office, where he will hold a conversation with you, on the basis of which he will decide whether to let you into the country. If this happens, then do not be nervous, answer the questions calmly and honestly. If everything is in order with your documents, then the employee usually does not have a reason not to put you an entry stamp.

Things to Remember

Keep in mind that the passport control procedure is sometimes delayed due to queues. At some major airports, it can take 4-5 hours at peak times. This is a rarity, but it is imperative to lay in an additional hour to two for passing the control.

The peculiarities of passing through passport control depend on the country, whether a person enters or leaves it. In some cases, a valid foreign or even internal passport is sufficient. Others require slightly less paperwork than applying for a visa.

You will need

- international passport (or internal, child's birth certificate, if permissible on the basis of interstate agreements);
- permission to leave the parents or one of them, if relevant;
- migration card (if provided by the legislation of the country);
- documents confirming the purpose of your entry and its compliance with the one specified in the visa, availability of accommodation, insurance, money.

Instructions

If the legislation of the country provides for the filling out of the migration card by the visitors, it is usually necessary to do this in advance. A migration card is usually issued by a flight attendant, a conductor, a ship's crew, a driver, depending on the vehicle you are crossing. When driving your car, or, you can take it directly at the point.

There are also known cases when a migration card is issued directly at the consulate. For example, the Czech Republic practiced this before joining Schengen, after which it lost the need for control, since it has no borders with those that are not part of the agreement.

Submit your passport to the border guard with the completed migration document, if any. In any case, he is interested in whether your document gives the right to leave or enter, whether its validity period has expired, whether you are in the photo.

When a foreigner leaves, it is also checked whether the visa has expired and whether the period of stay has expired from the date of entry indicated in the mark in his passport and / or migration.

If you are accompanied by a child, submit his passport (or birth certificate) along with yours and do not forget to enter his details on the migration card, if required, or fill out a separate one for him.

When a minor travels with one of the parents, a notarial permit from the other will be required. Or from both, if the child is traveling with an outside guide or as part of a group.

In many visa countries, in particular those in the European Union, the border guard is also entrusted with the authority to decide on the advisability of your entry into the country, based on whether you have evidence of the well-intentioned nature of your goals and their compliance with those stated in the visa.

Confirmations are usually the same as for the consulate: an invitation, a voucher for accommodation, a letter of enrollment for a course for students, a return ticket (not always), the presence of insurance, a sufficient amount of money, etc. The nuances associated with a specific country can be clarified in her diplomatic missions and find out from those who have recently returned from there (for example, from their reviews on the Internet).

Prepare the necessary documents in advance.

Clearly answer the questions of the border guard, if necessary, support your words with papers.

If they are all right, you will make the most favorable impression on him, and you will easily enter or leave the country.

Tip 4: How to go through control and registration at Domodedovo

Large airports can confuse anyone. There is noise, bustle, a lot of people everywhere - you can get confused. Therefore, it is useful to know in advance how the pre-flight procedures are carried out at the airport from where you are going to fly.

What to take with you and when to arrive

To go through passport control and check-in for the plane, you will need an identity card, as well as an air ticket or a prepared itinerary receipt. Sometimes security officers ask you to present it at the entrance, so it is best to always print this document.

Check-in at Domodedovo begins no later than three hours before departure, but more often even earlier, especially at international flights... This procedure ends 40 minutes before departure. It is best to arrive at the airport a little early.

It is recommended to arrive on domestic flights at least two hours before departure, and on international flights about five hours. Some destinations may require lengthy checks, usually they are additionally reported when purchasing a ticket.

Registration at Domodedovo

When entering the airport, you need to pass your belongings through the baggage scanner, and go through the frame yourself. Then you will find yourself in a large hall, where you can see a board right next to the entrance, on which the check-in desks are indicated. Find your flight there.

In terms of check-in, Domodedovo is the most convenient airport in Moscow, as it is not divided into several terminals, where inexperienced passengers are usually confused. All check-in counters are located in one place. They are numbered, making it easy to find your flight.

Show your documents at the counter, check in your luggage. You will be given a baggage check (a small sticker with a number and barcode) and a boarding pass. The gate contains the gate number on the ticket. After registration, you need to go to passport control. An airline employee at the check-in counter will tell you where he is.

Passport control

Usually there is a queue at the control. Do not cross the yellow line when you wait - you will see a warning on the spot. Next, you need to give your passport to the border guard, he will check your document, and then put an exit stamp on it. That's it, you officially left Russia. Now you need to go through inspection and customs control.

If you are exporting something of value that needs to be declared, then you will be given papers that you need to fill out. For those who are unlucky enough, simply put all metal items and carry-on luggage in the tray, put it on the tape and go through the scanner. Scanning devices have been installed at Domodedovo, for which you do not need to take off your shoes: a nice little thing.

Landing

After passing the control, you find yourself in the duty free zone. Here you can do some shopping, have a snack or relax if you have time. You need to go to your gate no later than 30 minutes before the departure time so as not to be late for boarding. Signs with exit numbers are everywhere, so it is very difficult to get lost. If in doubt, you can ask any airport employee a question.

When boarding begins, the last check will be waiting for you - this is a scan boarding pass... One part of it will remain with the airport employee, the other will be given to you. All that remains is to get on the bus that will take you to the plane. Often, a special ladder is served to the plane, through which you can get inside directly from the airport building.

Passport control is a mandatory procedure when crossing state borders. The process does not take long. But in order not to miss your flight, it is better to know in advance how to go through passport control at the airport.

When crossing the Russian border

Passport control includes checking the documents that give you the right to fly to another country. Depending on the visited documents, it can be different. General - this is the presence of a valid passport, but other documents may be required. For example, the presence of a Schengen visa for the countries of the Schengen agreement.

If only the mother is traveling with him, the employee has the right to ask for a notarized permission from the father to take the child out of the country.

The passport control officer may ask you for a return ticket confirming your intention to return to the country, or ask you to show your hotel reservations.

Do not forget that at passport control they check whether bailiffs are not prohibited from leaving the country.

If everything is in order, you will be stamped with departure.

More information about the documents can be found in the embassies of Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, travel agencies. Be sure to check for the latest changes to the rules, which happen quite often.

Upon returning to the territory of the Russian Federation, passport control is not so strict. They simply put a stamp on your entry back without additional questions.

When crossing a foreign border

What documents will be checked and what the passport control officer in another country will ask you upon arrival depends on the agreements between the states. Find out all the requirements in advance. In some countries, for example, they require a passport, which expires no later than six months after the trip. If there are even 5 months left until the end of the validity of your passport, and you arrived for 2 weeks, the airport employee has the right to refuse you entry.

Russia has agreements on visa-free stay with many states. This means that you can visit the specified country without a tourist visa. But you will be asked to fill out a special document, such as an immigration card.

If the visa is not a tourist visa, you may be asked a whole package of documents. For example, with a work visa, they will ask for a work permit. Or if the visa is an educational one, they will ask for documents from the educational institution.

They may ask about the purpose of the trip, also ask to show return tickets and hotel reservations, confirm availability Money sufficient to stay in the country. If you do not have documents, you may be denied entry. If everything is in order, they will take your photo and put an arrival stamp indicating the date of arrival and the deadline for departure.

When you fly back to Russia, they simply put a departure stamp in your passport, and also check whether the period of stay in the country has been exceeded. If so, be prepared to pay a fine.

Often, passport control officers do not ask you to show everything required documents, but do not rely on chance. It is at passport control that passengers are denied entry or exit. Better to have a little more papers with you, and they will not be useful to you, than you miss your plane.

Visit the sights

Start with cultural entertainment... The island has on. First of all, visit the Rhodes Fortress. It was built in such a way that a small detachment could fight off an entire army of attackers. Its solid walls even withstood the impact of cannonballs. The fortress wall is recognized as the longest in Europe, it covers over 15 km of city buildings. So the valiant knights would still have lived there, but one day a traitor appeared in their ranks. As a result, Turkish troops drove the noble knights from Rhodes and the fortress gradually fell into decay. Take a walk inside the fence, there you can see the Palace of the Masters, where the highest knightly ranks sat.

If you want to get a glimpse of the entire island of Rhodes, do not limit yourself to its capital of the same name. Go to Mount Filerimos. This is a kind observation deck created naturally. To climb to the very top, you need to follow the famous path "The Road to Calvary". They say that its length is equal to the distance that Christ traveled to crucify. By the way, the mountain is crowned with a giant 17-meter cross. Lovers of heights and spectacles can climb to its top, a narrow spiral staircase has been specially made for this. In addition to the stunning views that will capture the view, you can visit the ruins of the temples of Zeus and Athena, Christian ancient churches with preserved frescoes and knightly castles.

Go to Monte Smith Mountain. There you can see the ruins of the Greek Acropolis. Although the preservation of the cultural monument can be called conditional, there is something to see. The remains of the Temple of Apollo, Cicero's oratory and a large sports stadium have survived to this day. It should be noted that it is better to visit such attractions with a guide, he will help you immerse yourself in the historical atmosphere and provide you with a large amount of knowledge.

Nature reserves and parks

A must visit the Prasonisi Peninsula if you are into surfing. It is there that the waters of the two seas meet. Look at 7 holy sources. This is the name of the place where 7 keys are connected and formed into a large stream flowing through a huge tunnel. Then the stream flows into the most beautiful lake. Peacocks fearlessly walk on the shore of the reservoir. Rumor has it that those who are not afraid to walk along the stream will be completely cleansed of their sins.

If you love to enjoy natural scenery, you need to visit the Valley of the Butterflies. Wonderful insects hang in clusters on the trees, forming a beautiful carpet. However, the rules of the reserve are strictly forbidden to touch them. Therefore, one can only look at an amazing natural phenomenon.

Contrary to popular belief, Belarus is trying to keep up with the times. The latest technologies, albeit with a slight delay, are actively coming to our country. The proof can be an innovative project actively implemented by the State Border Committee - electronic gates with identification of passengers by photo, which should speed up the process of passing border control and increase the level of security.

Biometric boom

Biometric technologies were developed for strategic purposes and were used primarily to protect state secrets and military secrets. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States served as an impetus to the explosive growth of research in the field of security systems and the introduction of biometrics in various areas of everyday life. And one of the first places they came to were airports.

Air harbors in various countries became experimental sites for testing software and equipment. Since the introduction of the first biometric passports, dozens of national and international programs have been deployed to automatically identify and authenticate individuals. So, one of the first was the US program, under which citizens of 27 countries, with biometric documents, could enter the country without a visa.

The next logical step was the creation of the so-called electronic gates (e-gates), which allowed a person to independently, without the participation of border officials, pass all the necessary identity checks. Today, similar equipment is installed in dozens of airports around the world: in Prague, Dublin, Istanbul, London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Chisinau, Lisbon, Singapore, Sydney and many others.

How it works?

All biometric identification and authentication systems operate on the same principle. The technology works with unique personal characteristics: fingerprints, iris, voice, handwriting, face, and sometimes even DNA. This information is processed, converted into mathematical code and stored in this form. When passing the test, the device reads the specified parameters of a person, also converting this information into a digital code, which is compared with the previously recorded one.

Most of the systems currently operating on the territory of airports do not fully use all technological capabilities, conducting only visual identification of a person. At the same time, the program uses complex algorithms to recognize a person by constructing a geometric model of the face. To do this, she defines up to 40 characteristic elements, highlighting the contours of the eyes, eyebrows, lips, nose, facial contours, hair line and much more. As a rule, the system takes into account changes in lighting, facial expressions, head rotation, and in some cases it can compensate for the presence or absence of glasses, mustache and beard.

However, with all the complexity of biometric systems, there is always the possibility of error. These chances, according to the developers, are extremely small, but, nevertheless, they do not allow the debate about the level of security of such systems to subside. So, in early August, the security personnel of the Brussels airport went on strike, wishing to draw the attention of the administration to the insufficient reliability of the electronic gates installed in the departure zone: through them two strangers got on board one of the planes.

What do we have?

However, back to Belarus. Our country has repeatedly addressed the issue of introducing national biometric passports. We were closest to the civilized world in 2012, when a trial batch of such documents was released for detailed study. It didn't go further.

We are going hand in hand with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in this process: when colleagues begin to issue such passports to our citizens, we will have to work with them at the border, '' said the website of the Deputy Head of the Information Technology Department of the State Border Committee.

However, not only the hope for the emergence of biometric passports pushed the border guards to the idea of electronic gates. In 2014, the year of the Ice Hockey World Championship, passenger traffic at the Minsk National Airport increased by almost 19%. An upward trend is also observed this year: from January to July, passenger traffic increased by 5%.

Positive dynamics passenger transportation naturally led to an increase in queues and an increase in the time for passing control procedures. Of course, Minsk is still far from the workload of the Moscow Domodedovo or Warsaw Chopin, but the State Border Committee prefers to forestall possible difficulties.

There are several reasons for the introduction of such a novelty: partly based on the growth of passenger traffic, but also in order to increase the readiness for the introduction of Belarusian biometric passports. That is, we are working for the future, - Dmitry Taranko explained.

E-gates: pilot project

In July, the first stage of a pilot project to deploy an automatic border control system using the principle of electronic biometric identification of a person (the so-called "electronic gates", e-gates). While the equipment near the border control line cannot yet be called full-fledged electronic gates - it is only a kind of "kiosk" for personal identification. On the other hand, this is a key element of the entire system; it will not be difficult to install the actuating mechanisms - turnstiles - afterwards. The main goal of the pilot project is to determine how it is possible to apply these technologies and equipment in our country.

The experiment is being carried out in partnership with several companies. The main manufacturer and supplier of equipment is the Portuguese Vision-Box, which has already eaten the dog on security systems. Their Automated Border Control (ABC) software solution is implemented in train stations, in seaports and airports in Portugal, UK, Netherlands, Brazil, Qatar, Norway and many others.

The second partner was the Belarusian company Regula, which specializes in the production of expert instruments for document research and development. software for its equipment, while for a long time and closely cooperates with the Portuguese. It is "Regula" that is the manufacturer of the passport reader, which is now being used in the framework of the pilot project.

Recognition probability - 95%

The contractor of the State Border Committee, which maintains the existing automated border control system, has developed a software module for interacting with new equipment and collecting statistics.

Proven software algorithms are used by the hardware designer, which provide a probability of face recognition of about 95%. During the month of work, about 4 thousand people passed through our equipment - these are the passengers who, at the request of the employees, took part in the experiment. The statistics of successful identification are quite high, although there are some nuances. They are associated, for example, with bright women's makeup, which can change the face so much that software algorithms do not recognize it. But these are exceptions that are within the statistical error. Children under a certain age will not be able to use the equipment. There are certain difficulties with the twins, - a representative of the State Border Committee explains to us. And he adds: "A person will always have an alternative: use new equipment or go through the control in the traditional way."

Despite the rather positive preliminary results of the experiment, Dmitry Taranko stressed that the issue of using such equipment at the national airport has not been finally resolved.

I think the testing stage will last another month or two, after which it will be possible to make a decision and move on to another stage. The Portuguese partners asked us to evaluate their developments. Therefore, we collect statistics not only for ourselves, but also for them. All equipment has been provided free of charge so far.

The interlocutor also noted that Vision-Box is far from the only company developing automated control systems. There are a great many manufacturers, equipment options, and they differ not only in visual performance, but also in functionality. Therefore, if the use of electronic gates is still approved, the State Border Committee will be faced with the task of choosing the most suitable technical solution.

The technology and principles of using this equipment will still be developed. Although already now, in the testing process, we are working out a list of questions that we will have to solve in case of a positive result. In any case, the use of such equipment is a global trend, so sooner or later we will come to this.

Instead of photographs - biometrics

If the electronic gates nevertheless prove themselves well and are installed, the priority right to use them will be in the first place for Belarusian citizens. Now, in the absence of biometric passports, the State Border Committee uses a database of passport photos temporarily provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The scheme of action is as follows: the passport is applied to the reader and scanned, then the camera of the equipment takes a picture, which is compared with two photographs - directly from the passport and from the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Dmitry Taranko admits that this is far from an ideal work scheme. That is why the idea to carry out the so-called preliminary registration of the traveler has arisen and is now being discussed. If this principle is put into effect, the passenger will need to leave the border guards once with their biometric data (photo, fingerprints, etc.), which will be entered into the system. This will not only significantly simplify the passport control process and speed up border crossing using electronic gates, but also increase the level of security.

In addition, this will allow you to resolve controversial situations: with the same twins or girls in makeup. The passenger does not have to stand in line at the passport control booth: the automatic matching procedure, as European practice shows, takes up to 30 seconds. Due to specific legislation, the principle of pre-registration for frequent travelers is also used at some European airports. In addition, there is an idea to use electronic gates at road checkpoints, for example, for pedestrians or in the check-in halls of regular buses.

The deputy head of the Information Technology Department of the State Border Committee notes that they have already assessed the software principle of the equipment.

- To evaluate electronic gates in the traditional sense of this concept, it remains only to connect the actuators. This is modular equipment, it does not require installation: you just need to connect it to the industrial and local networks. Naturally, if a decision is made, we will not break the spears right away: we will first place 1-2 such turnstiles and see how passengers will use them, whether there will be a need to place additional ones.

And at this time in the world

For most European airports, just automatic border controls are practically a thing of the past. Many companies are developing a project to automate all the processes that a passenger has to go through at the airport, from check-in for a flight to boarding a plane.

In Belarus, we are not talking about full automation yet. However, the fact that innovative technologies still find ways to be introduced into the daily life of our country gives reason to hope for the best.

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