New EU Digital Travel 2030 regulation: what will it really mean for European citizens?

In recent years, the European Union has taken decisive steps towards the full digitalisation of public services, mobility, and citizen identity. This process, accelerated by the Covid crisis and the rise of technologies such as artificial intelligence, has brought to light the need to transform how citizens travel across EU member states.

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his is the starting point for “EU Digital Travel 2030” – an ambitious legislative and technological initiative that seeks to reinvent international travel as we know it. Its goal is clear: to make the travel experience faster, safer, paperless, and fully compliant with European data protection regulations. 

A new framework under the Digital Europe Programme 

This project is part of the Digital Europe Programme 2030, which includes, among other measures, the creation of an interoperable European digital identity (known as the EU Digital Identity Wallet) and the digitalisation of border crossings through automated biometric verification systems. 

The implementation of this regulation will not only change the way Europeans identify themselves when crossing borders but will also fundamentally transform the roles of technology companies, airport operators, border authorities, and, of course, the citizens themselves. 

What is EU Digital Travel 2030? 

The EU Digital Travel 2030 initiative forms part of the European Union’s strategic effort to modernise the travel experience through digital technologies, biometric standards, and interoperable identity systems. Essentially, it is a regulatory and technological framework aimed at enabling European citizens to travel using digital identity credentials, without needing to physically present their passport or traditional documents at border controls. 

The system is based on Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs), as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which allow for the creation of a secure and verifiable digital version of a physical passport. The DTC does not replace the original document but complements it, allowing for advance verification and even automated border crossing through e-gates. 

The regulation also relies on the development of the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet), an official EU app that will securely store personal information and documents such as: 

• Digital passports 

• Electronic visas 

• Flight tickets 

• Health certificates 

• Other travel-related credentials 

The aim is not just to make travel faster and smoother, but also to improve security, reduce identity fraud, and lower the administrative burden at border crossings. 

Introducing TrustCloud Wallet: our project based on Self-Sovereign Identity 

This initiative is complemented by other European systems such as the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS, which are designed to strengthen control at the external borders of the Schengen area. 

• The EES replaces manual passport stamping with a digital record of entries and exits, including biometric data, to detect overstays and improve security. 

• ETIAS will require prior online authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, allowing for the assessment of potential security or health risks before arrival. 

Both systems will be integrated into EU Digital Travel 2030, enabling automated processes and more effective, pre-emptive migration control. 

Key objectives of the regulation 

The EU Digital Travel 2030 initiative is not just a technological update: it represents a structural shift in how international travel is conceived both within and beyond the European Union. 

1. Simplifying the travel experience
   One of the main goals is to make border crossings faster, smoother, and less reliant on paper. However, the regulation ensures that physical documents will remain valid and accepted, at least during an extended transition period. This is essential to respect citizens’ freedom of choice. 
2. Enhancing border security and preventing fraud
   By using verifiable digital credentials issued and checked by official sources, and biometrics, the EU aims to strengthen identity control, making it harder to use forged documents or impersonate others. Integrated with systems like EES and ETIAS, potential risks can be detected before the traveller reaches the border, allowing for proactive threat management and better response to suspicious profiles. 
3. Promoting European interoperability
   EU Digital Travel 2030 is designed to operate in a standardised and coordinated way across all member states, ensuring that a digital credential issued in one country can be recognised and verified seamlessly in another. 
4. Protecting privacy and data control
   A core principle of the framework is that citizens retain full control over their personal information. Digital credentials will be stored securely on personal devices, and only the data strictly necessary for each situation will be shared. The entire system will be designed in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with ongoing audits and regulatory oversight. 

How does it affect European citizens? 

For EU citizens, the implementation of EU Digital Travel 2030 will significantly change how they plan and undertake international travel, especially within the Schengen area and to countries recognising the new digital credentials. 

Although the use of this technology will be voluntary, its impact will become increasingly visible as adoption grows across airports, train stations, and automated border checkpoints. 

Travelling without physical documents 

Citizens will be able to store a digital travel credential (DTC) in their EU Digital Identity Wallet, containing passport data, visas, e-tickets, and other travel-related documents. This credential will allow for automated border control, with no need to show a physical document or interact with an agent, as long as the entry point is equipped with compatible systems. 

Full control over personal data 

A key aspect of the new model is that each person can decide which attributes to share in each situation. For example, to prove their right to enter a country, it will be enough to present only the strictly necessary data (such as name, nationality, or visa validity), without exposing additional information like address or document number. All of this is supported by a privacy-first architecture based on the principle of minimal disclosure. 

More convenience throughout the travel journey 

Thanks to advance verification, citizens will be able to complete part of the migration process from home or during online check-in, avoiding queues and speeding up access to boarding gates or fast lanes. This will be especially useful in busy airports, where a frictionless experience is expected. 

Respect for freedom of choice 

One of the most valued aspects for citizens is that the adoption of these tools will not be mandatory. Anyone who prefers to use their physical passport will still be able to do so without restrictions or discrimination. This coexistence between the physical and digital worlds is key to leaving no one behind and ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach everyone, regardless of their familiarity with technology. 

Inclusion and the digital divide 

The EU has stressed that the system’s rollout must be inclusive and accessible to all, including older people and citizens without smartphones or digital skills. For this reason, in-person support options will remain available, and digital education campaigns will be promoted to help citizens understand and take advantage of the new model. 

Impact on identity verification providers 

EU Digital Travel 2030 will mark a turning point for the ecosystem of technology companies operating in the fields of digital identity, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. In particular, identity verification providers will play a key role in this new framework. 

New collaboration opportunities with the public sector 

The EU and member states will require robust, interoperable, and certified infrastructures to ensure the issuance, storage, and validation of digital travel credentials. This will open up a new market for providers offering: 

• Verification of digital and physical documents 

• Biometric comparison (e.g., photo vs live selfie) 

• Passive liveness detection 

• Advanced anti-fraud mechanisms (e.g., deepfake or synthetic identity detection) 

• Integration with digital wallets and public systems 

Greater technical and regulatory demands 

To operate in this space, providers will need to comply with strict EU standards for security, interoperability, and data protection. They will need to: 

• Obtain certifications such as eIDAS 2.0 for high assurance levels (High LoA) 

• Ensure GDPR compliance 

• Guarantee full traceability and auditability of their solutions 

• Pass interoperability tests with national identity and border systems 

Integration into automated border processes 

Identity verification solutions will not only be used in digital onboarding apps. They will also be needed in biometric terminals, boarding gates, self-service kiosks, and physical access controls, where border crossing will depend on biometric matching between the traveller and their stored credential. In these cases, the margin for error must be virtually zero. 

Differentiation through responsible innovation 

In this context, companies in the sector have an opportunity to lead through innovation, provided it is guided by principles of digital ethics, privacy by design, and transparency. Those investing in explainable AI, inclusive verification, and user-centred design will be best positioned to become strategic partners for governments. 

Implementation timeline and rollout phases 

Phase 1: Pilots and technological validation (2023–2025)
During this phase, the European Commission, together with several member states, is conducting pilot projects in strategic airports such as Amsterdam-Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Helsinki. These programmes test credential interoperability, integration with biometric gates, and pre-verification mechanisms. Trials have also taken place on flights to non-EU countries like Canada and Croatia to explore international applicability. 

Phase 2: Voluntary initial rollout (2025–2027)
Following initial pilots, the system is expected to expand gradually across major EU entry points. This phase will be open to citizens who wish to use digital credentials voluntarily. Member states will define their own adoption timelines, while aligning with common standards. Legal frameworks will be reinforced in parallel to ensure provider certification and personal data protection. 

Phase 3: Extended adoption and harmonisation (2028–2030)
In this final stage, the goal is widespread adoption of the system across the EU, both for EU citizens and for travellers from third countries with mutual recognition agreements. Digital travel credentials will be usable at any compatible border control point. While physical documents will remain valid, digital solutions are expected to become the dominant standard. 

Target date: 2030
The year 2030 is not arbitrary. It aligns with the EU’s Digital Decade programme, which sets concrete goals for Europe’s digital transformation. Among them is ensuring that all citizens have access to an interoperable, secure, and widely accepted digital identity for use in both public and private services. 

The EU Digital Travel 2030 initiative marks a turning point in how European citizens will move around the world. By introducing a new model of mobility based on verifiable digital credentials, the EU is aiming for a travel experience that is faster, safer, and more connected, in line with the technological and security challenges of the 21st century. 

However, the real value of this transformation lies not just in operational efficiency or border process automation. What matters most is preserving the balance between innovation, fundamental rights, and individual freedom. Allowing a citizen to choose between using a physical passport or a digital credential is not merely a technical issue – it’s a matter of respecting personal autonomy. 

Moreover, the system’s success will depend on member states ensuring inclusive, interoperable, and transparent implementation, and on technology providers delivering robust, auditable, and privacy-centred solutions. Only then can a model be built that inspires trust – in both institutions and in the technology powering the new era of digital travel. 

In short, EU Digital Travel 2030 does not impose – it proposes. And within that proposal lies the opportunity to rethink how we travel, how we identify ourselves, and how we protect our rights at the intersection between the physical and digital worlds.