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New Zealand’s Advance Passenger Screening

andBiometrics

Presentation to :

BALI AHEG IIIdentity Management Workshop

17 March 2004

Rob BoltonChief Information Officer

New Zealand Immigration Service

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Presentation Topics

• Advance Passenger Screening– identifying and screening passengers

prior to boarding

• Biometrics– testing of facial recognition in the

Passport issuing process

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Background to Advance Passenger Screening

• Terrorist attacks, people smuggling and trans-national crime have increased the need to identify and screen travellers more effectively

• An International ‘data standard’ for advance passenger information (API) has been developed by the WCO, IATA and has been endorsed by ICAO

• APEC economies agreed to a set of standards for members to adopt API systems.

• NZ’s Advance Passenger Screening solution has adopted these standards.

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Introducing APS to NZ

• January 2002 NZ Govt announced new counter-terrorism measures

• August 2003 NZ launched APS• Uses the APP system already implemented

by airlines for Australia• APP enables NZIS to screen passengers

before they board their flight to NZ• Also enables in-depth profiling while

passenger en route.

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Benefits of introducing APS

• Enhances NZ’s border security by:– Reducing risk passengers entering NZ– Checking passport, visa & alerts before

passenger boards flight– Providing Airlines with electronic board

directive (Board/Do Not Board)– Providing accurate API for further

profiling

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Benefits of introducing APS• The APP system also provides:

– A vehicle to provide API requirements to other NZ Govt Agencies.

• Airlines will be able to use the APP system to provide one set of data to all border agencies

• NZ govt agencies will be able to share this information

– A vehicle to share data with other Govt’s– Ability for NZ to play its role in the

region’s security

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Implementation Challenges• Relationships

– airlines– border agencies– other governments– IT and telecommunications providers

• Systems development and deployment• Airline support (24*7)• Privacy and security• Legislation• Data sharing

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Technical Issues• APP is a generic solution

– tailored to meet NZIS requirements.• Business Rules

– business rule matrix.– over 300 rules applied to APP system.

• Integration with existing NZIS systems and data

• Data Quality– relies on good quality Immigration data– manual data entry errors by Airline check-in

staff.

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Data Sharing•Access to Australian Government data

Data Required Process before access

granted Tentative Timing

AUST Visa Data April/May 2004

AUST Passport Data

May/June 2004

NZ Passport Data June 2004

AUST Lost & Stolen Passport Data

Late 2004

AUST Alert Data

CEO agreements

Legal access

Systems approved

Security approved

Privacy issues addressed

MOU completed

Late 2004

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APS Implementation Update– Launched August 2003– Airlines implemented to date:

• Air New Zealand• Thai Airways• Malaysian Air• Freedom Air• Royal Tongan

– Remaining Airlines to implement by July 2004

– 25 embarkation ports are APP screening.

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What APS Screens for

• Invalid travel documents (NZ & Aust)– eventually, other countries as NZ

negotiates data exchanges

• Expired passports

• Valid visa if visa required

• Person Alerts

plus …

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What APS Screens for

• Travel document alerts

• Outward ticket requirements

• Fraudulent visas

• Persons on “banned lists”

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APS Results (to date)• 50% travellers now screened before

entering NZ• 100% by July 2004 (including transits)

• Some false boarding directives• Allowed to board after contacting NZ’s APP

Support Office

• 34 pax prevented from entering NZ• Using stolen passport• Lack of visa• No outward ticket

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Considerations for implementing API systems• Availability of accurate immigration data• MOUs for data sharing• Legislation for mandatory API and data

sharing• Regular communication with key

stakeholders• Training tools for staff, airlines & border

agencies• 24 x 7 support for airlines check-in staff

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Future enhancements to APS

• Greater data sharing between Governments worldwide

• Enhanced risk profiling

• Access to PNR data through Airline Reservations systems

• Use of biometrics to verify travellers’ identity

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Questionsand

Discussion