Border Management After COVID-19: New Strategies Required

The WHO has an opportunity to align public health and domestic politics on border measures after the pandemic. Border restrictions have been a defining feature of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency in January 2020, it recommended against travel or trade restrictions. By April 2020, all states had adopted border measures, and the WHO acknowledged that travel measures applied with other interventions could help manage COVID-19. The pandemic provides insights for how governments and the WHO should address border measures during future outbreaks.

The International Health Regulations and Border Measures

Since the nineteenth century, international law on infectious diseases has sought to balance public health with travel and trade interests. Under the IHR, the WHO must issue recommendations—which can address border measures—to help states parties respond to a declared public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The ubiquity of border restrictions challenged a core aim of the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR)—that responses to COVID-19 avoid "unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade." Domestic political pressures were a key factor explaining why many states ignored WHO advice. In the face of a pandemic of a novel virus, changing policies based on new information is understandable.

Modern Technological Solutions for Border Control

Securing country borders while addressing the ever-increasing number of travellers is governments’ top priority. To meet these challenges, technology providers are developing advanced systems. With Augmented Borders, IDEMIA’s comprehensive border control suite, border officers can overcome this challenge by moving from a document-centric to a person-centric and risk-based approach. This exhaustive suite of solutions enables governments to better manage their borders from the equipment in interaction with the travelers to the management systems that are used before or during the border crossing.

Key Components of Smart Border Management

Veridos Border Management Solutions combine cutting-edge technology and seamless automation to make border crossings faster, safer, and smarter. The following solutions provide essential functionality for modern entry and exit points:

• BORDERGUARD™ Intelligence: National border management with centralized control and real-time intelligence.
• BORDERGUARD™ eCounter: Supporting border guards with secure, multibiometric verification.
• Veridos Self-Kiosks: These enable travelers to complete identity checks quickly and securely, reducing wait times and easing pressure on border staff.
• Innovative eGates: These enable the efficient management of immigration processes at a country’s entry and exit points to deal with high volumes of travelers.

Implementation and Global Success

Many regions are already deploying these advanced strategies. IDEMIA’s innovative border control solution increases security at Ras Al Khaimah Seaport in the United Arab Emirates. Similarly, Veridos delivers automated Border Control Solution for Luxembourg's Airport, where processing corresponds to the rising number of passengers. These systems offer integrated full document (ePassports and eIDs) verification and biometric matching. Ultimately, with Veridos Border Management solutions, governments benefit from smart borders, seamless travel, and trusted security — all in one integrated system.