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Digital travel credentials will be free, voluntary and less hassle, offering a smoother and more secure experience, the European Commission says .
Travelers to and from the EU's Schengen area will be able to store their travel credentials digitally, under plans unveiled by the European Commission on Tuesday.
Data currently stored on the chip of a passport or identity card could be transferred to a smartphone to allow a faster border crossing, the European Commission said.
"Today's proposal for the digitization of passports and identity cards paves the way for a smoother and safer travel experience," Věra Jourová, Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency, said in a statement.
Submitting travel plans and documents to authorities in advance will cut time at border crossings, allowing them to verify authenticity and focus on more worrying cases such as migrant smugglers, the Commission argues.
The plans must be approved by the EU Council, which represents member states as well as lawmakers in the European Parliament - and comes as the bloc prepares to introduce a new, separate system to control entry and exit from the EU's Schengen Area. .
The entry-exit system is due to become operational in November, although recent reports suggest it could face further delays.
This means non-EU travelers must go through a scanner when entering Schengen, the internal passport-free zone that covers most of the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, but excludes Ireland and Cyprus.
The digital passport service will be voluntary and free for travelers, the Commission said, and could come into effect by 2030.