The use of fake documents and identity fraud is a global challenge. The European Union has addressed the issue by creating an online archive that helps EU authorities identify fake documents. FADO is key to border security and public safety.
The False and Authentic Documents Online system (FADO) helps prevent irregular migration in the EU.
The online image-archiving system allows images of genuine and false travel documents to be shared rapidly amongst EU nations, a valuable tool in the fight against document and identity fraud.
FADO, at the time a ‘European image archiving system’, was established in 1998 and managed by the Council General Secretariat.
With the implementation of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation, responsibility for FADO has been transferred to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). Data protection requirements and the content of the system shall now be defined by the agency.
This article looks at EU data to show why FADO is so important in the prevention of illegal cross-border activity.
WHICH FAKE DOCUMENTS DOES FADO HELP DETECT?
Using the False and Authentic Documents Online system, EU authorities can share information about genuine and fake documents, primarily the following:
- Visas
- Passports
- Driving licenses
- Residence permits
- Civil status documents
The EBCG Agency, as well as national police officers and border guards, use FADO to help them identify false documents and therefore limit the number of individuals using a fake passport or other fake ID to cross the border and enter EU territory.
FALSE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
The database is available to the general public as well as to European authorities. The Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO) is the public component of the system.
PRADO can be accessed by individuals, businesses, and organisations to check the authenticity of documents.
DATA PROCESSING AND PROTECTION
Given that the information stored in the FADO database is accessible to authoritative figures and the general public, data protection is a key consideration.
In order to abide by the EU’s data protection law, the minimum amount of personal information necessary for FADO is processed. For additional security, when possible individuals should not be identifiable from the data.
EUROPE’S DOCUMENT AND IDENTITY FRAUD STATISTICS
The extent of the document and identity fraud, and therefore the relevance of FADO, can be seen by looking at the number of refused entries due to fake documents across the EU.
Eurostat data shows the number of individuals who were stopped from entering each EU Member State between 2010 and 2019 because they were found to have falsified travel documents, visas or residence permits, identified with the help of FADO.
The key features and most noteworthy details are examined below.
TOTAL NUMBER OF REFUSED ENTRIES TO THE EU
Across the EU, the total number of persons refused entry to an EU country because they had a fake travel document, visa, or residence permit rose from 5,050 in 2010 to 7,545 in 2019.
Notably, the number of people stopped from entering the EU with false travel documents during the period fell from 2,585 in 2010 to 1,835 in 2019 whilst the false visa and residence permit detection increased from 2,465 to 5,710.
It is also worth note that increases and decreases are not lineal. The detection of fake visas and residence permits dipped to 2,100 in 2013 before climbing again to reach its 2019 peak.
Similarly, 2018 saw a slight rise in fake travel documents compared to the 2 previous years, despite a downwards trend over the period as a whole.
COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REFUSED ENTRIES
By looking at the statistics on a national level, it is possible to see which EU Member States are most affected by attempted identity fraud and fake documentation.
FALSE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
France is the member state which refused entry to most people with a fake passport or another false travel document.
The highest number recorded was in 2018 when 885 people were found to be carrying fraudulent travel documents. 2019 saw a marked improvement as the number dropped to 515.
Nevertheless, this remains significantly higher than the country with the second-highest statistics: Hungary reported 305 cases in 2019.
At the other end of the scale, neither Norway nor Iceland have had to refuse entry to foreigners attempting to use fake travel documents.
FALSE RESIDENCE PERMIT OR VISA
Ireland is the country with by far the highest number of refused entries based on false visas or residence permits. In 2019, 4,940 of the 5,710 refused entries reported across the EU occurred in Ireland.
The Schengen countries most affected by fake visa and residence permit use are Spain and France, both of which deal with hundreds of cases each year.
During the period, the number of people attempting to enter France with a fake visa or residence permit has halved, from 330 in 2010 to 155 in 2019. On the other hand, statistics have remained fairly stable in Spain which registered 200 incidents in 2010 and 195 in 2019.
Norway, Iceland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Liechtenstein did not refuse entry to any individuals for having a fake visa or residence permit.
MOST NOTABLE EVENTS DURING THE 2010-2019 PERIOD
To understand peaks and troughs across the period, it can be useful to look at world events occurring at the time and the effects these had on individual member states and the EU as a whole. The following years stand out when analysing the data:
2011
- False visa or residence permit jumps from 90 to 555 in Germany, before falling to 70 in 2012
2012
- The year with highest refused entry to the EU due to fake travel document
- False travel document denial in Poland rises from 20 to 110 (before declining to 10 by 2019)
- An exceptionally large number or refused entries to Greece, 1,060 attempts to cross the border with false travel documents, by 2019 the number is just 25
2019
- The year with highest refused entry to the EU due to fake visa or residence permit
FURTHER EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EUROPE’S BORDER SECURITY
FADO is just one of the ways in which the EU is working towards strengthening borders and preventing irregular immigration.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is to be launched in 2026 with the aim of boosting public safety. Unlike FADO, ETIAS is aimed specifically at travellers who do not need a visa for Europe.
THE ETIAS VISA WAIVER FOR THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS
Citizens of more than 50 third-countries can cross an external EU border using just a valid passport, they do not need a visa. Once ETIAS is active, these travellers will be prescreened and issued an ETIAS visa waiver before being granted access.
Applicants register for ETIAS online, providing some basic personal information and passport details. ETIAS data protection will be thorough, encryption will prevent unauthorised copying of details for fraudulent purposes.
This information is cross-checked against EU security databases, potentially dangerous individuals will be refused the travel authorisation and unable to cross the border legally.
On approval, ETIAS is attached to the electronic chip in the passport, it will be extremely hard for criminals to create a fake visa waiver. Along with FADO, ETIAS should make it even more difficult for criminals to enter Europe using fraudulent documentation.
