Digital passport check has saved the equivalent of 86 trips around the world

To make it easier for people applying for a residence permit, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a pilot for digital passport check in May. More than 5,100 people have taken advantage of the opportunity and during the first hundred days, the service has saved the equivalent of 86 trips around the world.

“We are now focusing on how we can further develop the digital passport control and give more groups access to it”, says Fredrik Larsson, expert at the Swedish Migration Agency.

To apply for most types of residence permits, you need to show your passport before the Migration Agency can make a decision. This usually requires an in-person visit to a Swedish mission abroad - sometimes in another country.

However, at the end of May, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a pilot project for digital passport check, which means that some people now do not have to travel to show their passport. At present, the digital passport check is open to visa-exempt persons from 22 countries and territories, who apply for a residence permit to study or work in Sweden.

So far, more than 5,100 people have taken advantage of the digital passport check e-service. In the first 100 days, the service has saved almost 3.5 million kilometres of travel - equivalent to 86 laps around the world*.

“It is encouraging that we can already see such clear results from the new e-service. Usage varies by country and has been slightly lower for work permit applications. But almost 80% of those who applied for a residence permit for studies and could use the e-service have done so,” says Fredrik Larsson.

The service will be further developed

Work is now underway to further develop the digital passport check e-service so that more people can access it. The aim is also to make the e-service even easier to use.

“In the long term, we also hope to integrate passport check into the Swedish Migration Agency's e-services, so that people can use it to identify themselves when applying for a residence permit. In addition to better service, such measures could help to increase security and prevent abuse,” says Fredrik Larsson.