Automated Fast Track Crossing at External Schengen Borders (PARAFES)

PARAFES (in French) stands for Automated Fast Track Crossing at External Schengen Borders.

In accordance with European Union provisions, this system, which was approved by Decree dated 3 August 2007, meets the challenges of a modern and efficient administration in its service to the public. With this facility, passengers can, if they wish, cross the border using automated passport control. Using biometric authentication technology based on fi ngerprinting, this system makes it possible to carry out border crossing formalities simply, quickly and without any hold-ups. It is an extremely practical alternative to the manual controls used at present.

The PARAFES system is free of charge and entirely voluntary.

Passengers who are adults and citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation, in possession of a current machine-readable passport, and registered beforehand on a specifi c national database, can use this system. Citizens of non-EU countries who reside in a European Union member state and who hold a residence permit marked “family member of European Union citizen” can also register.