BorderXpress border control kiosks updated to meet Canadian government biometric requirements

Mar 4, 2019 | Stephen Mayhew

Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) announced today that its self-service border control solution BorderXpress is the first in Canada to be updated to meet the Canadian government’s expanded biometric screening requirements.

All temporary resident visa, work permit, study permit, and temporary resident permit applicants (excluding U.S. Citizens) and all permanent resident applicants are now required to provide fingerprints and facial images for biometric identity verification when submitting an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Canada is now using fingerprint verification technology through Primary Inspection Kiosks to establish that a person seeking entry into the country is the same person that was issued their visa, permit or permanent residence documentation. Primary Inspection Kiosks are self-service, biometric-enabled kiosks that automate the border clearance process and will be phased-in at all major Canadian airports throughout 2019. YVR’s were deployed on January 29, 2019.

BorderXpress Primary Inspection Kiosks use a two-step process to expedite the border clearance process, reducing passenger wait times by more than 60 per cent. The kiosk is fully accessible to persons with disabilities, can be configured with up to 35 different languages and process any passenger, including families travelling as a group. The BorderXpress technology was developed by ITS, an independent business unit within Vancouver International Airport. Since 2009, ITS has sold more than 1,600 kiosks to 42 airport and seaport locations around the world.

“The Government of Canada has stated that the collection of biometrics is a critical aspect of their immigration program and one that allows for accuracy in establishing a traveler’s identity,” says Steve Hankinson, vp of innovation and planning at Vancouver Airport Authority. “Our BorderXpress Primary Inspection Kiosks are the first to be adapted to accommodate the needs of the Canadian government while also providing a border control solution that unites security, efficiency and innovation to transform the passenger experience, which is ultimately what drives our team forward.”

“Facilitating a quicker and more simplified experience at our borders is a key priority for the CBSA,” added Rosalyn H. MacVicar, regional director general for CBSA Pacific Region. “By leveraging innovative technology and working with our partners, like Vancouver Airport Authority, we are achieving this goal while preventing fraudulent entry into Canada.”