As a pioneer in implementing the European Entry/Exit System (EES), the Estonian Ministry of Interior’s IT and Development Centre (SMIT) conducted real-world tests with mobile ID terminals. Their findings underscore the need for professional, specialised enrolment and verification devices, such as those supplied by Laxton.

Thanks to its extensive benchmarking and field testing, SMIT has qualified Laxton Chameleon 8 multimodal biometric tablet, incorporating the Elyctis ID BOX One. Chameleon 8 is an all-in-one multi-modal biometric device dedicated to ID control. The lightweight, handheld device integrates a camera, fingerprint scanner, MRZ scanner, passport contactless chip reader and secure communication capabilities.

Amidst the ongoing implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), Estonia is a leading innovator in adopting comprehensive technology solutions for optimal border control. The EES registers Schengen and non-Schengen travellers via their ePassport, visa, and biometric data as they cross the EU’s external borders. Therefore, control mechanisms must handle peak traffic and operate seamlessly under all conditions.Professional readers as the ideal solution for European EES

Under the direction of project manager Mr Rein Süld, the SMIT team has tested various solutions in real-life conditions, finding that professional mobile readers delivered by Elyctis and Laxton best fit the demanding technical requirements of the European EES.

Mr Süld said: “Unlike offices, where one can master the conditions, mobile biometric identification at borders require equipment performing Secure Document Authentication that can withstand the actual working conditions of border guards, police, and immigration officers. For instance, in Estonia, we need mobile equipment that can work at night and day, under rain and snow, and at -15 degrees.”

Reading MRZ lines of passports outdoors with a camera is less reliable than a dedicated scanner. Reading the MRZ is critical to accessing the chip, so this step must be fast and accurate under any conditions.
Also, EES mandates that biometrics are used to authenticate persons travelling with passports. So, the hardware must take a good facial image, accurately scan the fingerprints under any condition, and compare them with the data in the passport chip.”

“We also need to consider the actual situation at a border crossing: queues are forming fast if control is not completed in a limited timeframe. We need to read more than 99.99% of the presented ePassports in a few seconds each and finish a full enrolment process within two minutes. For this reason, we use mobile technology to read the chip of all ePassports without error,” he adds.
Mr Rein Süld concludes: “To deliver the needed services in real-life conditions, we must ensure the mobile devices we use to store data and communicate securely, something that cannot be certified on a smartphone. Also, to be practical, the battery should have a long life, and its shift should be fast and easy.

Ergonomics is paramount. Not only should the mobile terminal be a lightweight, compact, all-inclusive device, but it should also be handled in one hand as the border guard will hold the person’s passport in the other hand.”

Importantly, this advanced technology guarantees reading the MRZ lines of e-IDs or e-passports in under a second (0.8 seconds precisely). This was despite varying environmental conditions – indoors or outdoors, changing light, and even when passports are damaged or curved. This user-friendly system requires minimal training for agents; simply inserting the document into the designated slot enables the process.

The Chameleon 8 solution allows the simultaneous reading of the chip and the MRZ, a process completed in mere seconds with 100% reliability. It eliminates the need for the agent to transfer the passport from the camera to the contactless reader, enhancing the efficiency and ease of the process.

Leveraging the Elyctis SDK and a dedicated contactless reader ensures this rapid, efficient, and reliable process. This innovative solution guarantees the ability to read all passports worldwide, setting it apart from standard NFC readers not explicitly designed for this purpose, thus committing to full e-passport reading interoperability.