Swedish authorities have introduced a new pilot program for individuals from certain countries to have their passport checked digitally.

Key Points:

• Students and workers from 22 countries and territories are the first to be eligible to use the Freja identification app to show their passports.
• The new passport check procedure is initiated from the Swedish Migration Agency once an online application for a work or study permit is submitted. The email contains a personalized link to the verification e-service, which is valid for one week.

Additional Information: The new e-service is designed for visa-free students and workers to save time and money when traveling to Sweden. The government estimates that around 19,000 workers and 5,000 students are expected to benefit from the new digital passport check service every year.

BAL Analysis: The new passport check program is a welcome change for applicants and should provide a more efficient process when traveling to Sweden, since it is required to verify passports during the application process.