View source for PARAFE

{{Short description|Passport verification system in France}}
[[File:2016-08 PARAFE.jpg|thumb|right|350px|PARAFE self-service gates at [[Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport]].]]
[[File:Portique électronique de vérification du passeport - Roissy 2018.JPG|thumb|right|350px|PARAFE self-service gates at [[Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport]].]]
[[File:Portiques automatiques pour la vérification du passeport électronique.jpg|thumb|right|350px|PARAFE self-service gates at [[Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport]].]]
[[File:France Marseille Provence Airport border control.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Border control at [[Marseille Provence Airport]] (with PARAFE self-service gates under construction on the left).]]
'''PARAFE''' (abbreviation of '''P'''assage '''A'''utomatisé '''R'''apide '''A'''ux '''F'''rontières '''E'''xtérieures or automated fast-track crossing at [[External border of the European Union|external borders]]) is a passport verification and border control system deployed in [[France]] and operated by French [[border guard]]s. PARAFE consists of automated self-service gates, located at certain French border checkpoints (in arrival and departure halls) and offer a faster alternative to manual checks at desks staffed by border guards. The gates use [[facial recognition system|facial recognition]] technology to verify the user's identity against the data stored in the chip in their [[biometric passport]].
PARAFE gates are available for travels from or to countries which are not signatory of the [[Schengen Area|Schengen agreements]].
==Eligibility==
=== Eligibility for entry and exit ===
At present, citizens of the following countries can use the PARAFE gates for both entering and exiting the [[Schengen Area|Schengen area]], provided that they are aged 18 years or over and hold valid [[biometric passports]].<ref name="Service-Public.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35295 |title=Passage rapide aux frontières : comment utiliser un sas Parafe ?|language=fr-FR |publisher=[[Government of France]] |date=2021-10-29|access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref>
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*{{flagicon|EUR}} [[Passports in Europe|EU/EEA]]
*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Swiss passport|Switzerland]]
*{{flagicon|AND}} [[Andorran passport|Andorra]]
*{{flagicon|MCO}} [[Monegasque passport|Monaco]]
*{{flagicon|SMR}} [[San Marino passport|San Marino]]
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*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Australian passport|Australia]]
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[British passport|United Kingdom]]
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Canadian passport|Canada]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Japanese passport|Japan]]
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[New Zealand passport|New Zealand]]
*{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Singaporean passport|Singapore]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Republic of Korea passport|South Korea]]
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[United States passport|United States]]
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*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Argentine passport|Argentina]]
*{{flagicon|CHL}} [[Chilean passport|Chile]]
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Mexican passport|Mexico]]
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Peruvian passport|Peru]]
|}
Prior to 30 March 2019, only [[Passports in Europe|EU/EEA]] and [[Swiss passport|Swiss]] biometric passport holders could use the PARAFE gates.<ref>{{cite French decree|number or usual name=n<sup>o</sup>2013-1113 |date in French=4 décembre 2013|full name=relatif aux dispositions des livres Ier, II, IV et V de la partie réglementaire du code de la sécurité intérieure|language=French|URL=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000028276865}}</ref> On 30 March 2019, eligibility was extended to [[Andorran passport|Andorran]], [[Monegasque passport|Monegasque]] and [[San Marino passport|San Marinese]] biometric passport holders.<ref>{{cite French decree|number or usual name=n<sup>o</sup>2019-238 |date in French=27 mars 2019|full name=portant diverses dispositions relatives au traitement automatisé de données à caractère personnel dénommé PARAFE|article=6|language=French|URL=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000038284134}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.monacochannel.mc/Channels/Princely-Governement/News/The-PARAFE-scheme-is-now-available |title=The PARAFE scheme is now available |date=2019-08-01 |access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref><ref name="InterieurGouv">{{Cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Nos-conseils-pour-passer-l-ete-en-toute-serenite/Passez-les-controles-aux-frontieres-plus-rapidement-avec-PARAFE |title=Passez les contrôles aux frontières plus rapidement avec PARAFE !|language=fr-FR |publisher=[[Minister of the Interior (France)]] |date=2019-07-16|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> On 31 December 2020, eligibility was further extended to [[Australian passport|Australian]], [[Canadian passport|Canadian]], [[Japanese passport|Japanese]], [[New Zealand passport|New Zealand]], [[Singaporean passport|Singaporean]], [[Republic of Korea passport|South Korean]] and [[United States passport|United States]] biometric passport holders, and continued for [[British passport|British]] passport holders after the end of the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement|Brexit transition period]].<ref>{{cite French decree|number or usual name=n<sup>o</sup>2020-1735 |date in French=29 décembre 2020|full name=portant diverses dispositions relatives au traitement automatisé de données à caractère personnel dénommé PARAFE|article=6|language=French|URL=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000042759812}}</ref>
On 30 June 2023, eligibility was further extended to [[Argentine passport|Argentine]], [[Chilean passport|Chilean]], [[Mexican passport|Mexican]], [[Israeli passport|Israeli]] and [[Peruvian passport|Peruvian]] biometric passport holders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Arrêté du 30 juin 2023 fixant la liste des pays tiers dont les ressortissants sont autorisés à bénéficier du traitement PARAFE en entrée sur le territoire |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000047772990 |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
=== Eligibility for entry only (minors) ===
Minors aged 12–17 who hold a valid biometric passport from the above table are also eligible to use the gates on arrival into Schengen territory, but not on departure because the French authorities have strict rules about unaccompanied minors leaving the country.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/Europe-et-International/La-circulation-transfrontiere/Le-passage-rapide-aux-frontieres-exterieures-PARAFE| title=ministre de l'intérieur et des outre-mer | date=23 September 2023 }}</ref>
=== Eligibility for exit only ===
On 30 June 2023, eligibility on exit of the Schengen area was extended to all adults (aged 18 years or over), without condition of citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Décret n° 2023-544 du 30 juin 2023 portant modification des dispositions relatives au traitement automatisé de données à caractère personnel dénommé PARAFE (article 1, II, 2°) |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/download/pdf?id=YhcJweal2mQJ9Kriwver-Chr-pozVDx7PfQAR7cq3Us= |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.legifrance.gouv.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Travellers remain subjected to the possession of a valid biometric passport. As of July 2023, this means passport holders from the following countries can use PARAFE:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fast-track crossing at external borders (PARAFE) |url=https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/Europe-et-International/La-circulation-transfrontiere/Fast-track-crossing-at-external-borders-PARAFE |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr |publisher=Ministère de l'intérieur |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
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*{{flagicon|ALB}} [[Albanian passport|Albania]]
*{{flagicon|DZA}} [[Algerian passport|Algeria]]
*{{flagicon|AZE}} [[Azerbaijani passport|Azerbaijan]]
*{{flagicon|BHS}} [[Bahamian passport|Bahamas]]
*{{flagicon|BRB}} [[Barbados passport|Barbados]]
*{{flagicon|BEN}} [[Benin passport|Benin]]
*{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Bosnia and Herzegovina passport|Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Brazilian passport|Brazil]]
*{{flagicon|CMR}} [[Cameroonian passport|Cameroon]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chinese passport|China]]
*{{flagicon|TLS}} [[East Timorese passport|East Timor]]
*{{flagicon|ECU}} [[Ecuadorian passport|Ecuador]]
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Georgian passport|Georgia]]
*{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Ivorian passport|Ivory Coast]]
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Kazakhstani passport|Kazakhstan]]
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*{{flagicon|KWT}} [[Kuwaiti passport|Kuwait]]
*{{flagicon|LBN}} [[Lebanese passport|Lebanon]]
*{{flagicon|MYS}} [[Malaysian passport|Malaysia]]
*{{flagicon|MDV}} [[Maldivian passport|Maldives]]
*{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Moroccan passport|Morocco]]
*{{flagicon|MDA}} [[Moldovan passport|Moldova]]
*{{flagicon|MNE}} [[Montenegrin passport|Montenegro]]
*{{flagicon|MKD}} [[North Macedonian passport|North Macedonia]]
*{{flagicon|NPL}} [[Nepalese passport|Nepal]]
*{{flagicon|OMN}} [[Omani passport|Oman]]
*{{flagicon|PAN}} [[Panamanian passport|Panama]]
*{{flagicon|PRY}} [[Paraguayan passport|Paraguay]]
*{{flagicon|PHL}} [[Philippine passport|Philippines]]
*{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Qatari passport|Qatar]]
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Russian passport|Russia]]
*{{flagicon|RWA}} [[Rwandan passport|Rwanda]]
*{{flagicon|VCT}} [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines passport|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
*{{flagicon|KNA}} [[Saint Kitts and Nevis passport|Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
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*{{flagicon|SRB}} [[Serbian passport|Serbia]]
*{{flagicon|TWN}} [[Taiwanese passport|Taiwan]]
*{{flagicon|TJK}} [[Tajik passport|Tajikistan]]
*{{flagicon|TZA}} [[Tanzanian passport|Tanzania]]
*{{flagicon|THA}} [[Thai passport|Thailand]]
*{{flagicon|TKM}} [[Turkmen passport|Turkmenistan]]
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Emirati passport|United Arab Emirates]]
*{{flagicon|UGA}} [[Ugandan passport|Uganda]]
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Ukrainian passport|Ukraine]]
*{{flagicon|URY}} [[Uruguyan passport|Uruguay]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Uzbekistani passport|Uzbekistan]]
*{{flagicon|VAT}} [[Vatican and Holy See passports|Vatican]]
*{{flagicon|ZWE}} [[Zimbabwean passport|Zimbabwe]]
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=== Optional nature ===
The PARAFE system is not mandatory. Travellers can choose the manual control of their travel documents by a border guard at the checkpoint.<ref>{{Cite web |author-link=Ministère de l'intérieur |title=Fast-track crossing at external borders (PARAFE) |url=https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/Europe-et-International/La-circulation-transfrontiere/Fast-track-crossing-at-external-borders-PARAFE |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/Europe-et-International/La-circulation-transfrontiere/Fast-track-crossing-at-external-borders-PARAFE |language=en-EN}}</ref>
==Operation==
To use the PARAFE gates, the traveller must have a biometric passport from one of the eligible countries (these ePassports have the biometric logo on the front cover).<ref name=InterieurGouv /> A computer in the gate scanner reads all the information contained in the chip inside the passport, while a camera takes a picture of the passenger from which biometric patterns are verified against those from the picture saved in the passport chip.<ref name=Gemalto>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gemalto.com/govt/customer-cases/smart-gates-paris|title=PARAFE: a new generation of smart gates for the ADP Group |access-date=2019-07-05 |publisher=Gemalto/Thales |date=3 October 2018}}</ref> The ePassport gate scanner reads all the information contained in the chip inside the passport and runs the data against numerous databases to determine if the traveller is a security risk, while a camera takes a picture of the traveller and an officer at a control station behind the gates checks that the image captured by the camera matches the one on the passport (facial recognition). Once the data verification and facial recognition process is complete, doors will automatically either open, signifying that the traveller is permitted to enter and/or exit the country, or remain closed and a stop icon illuminate, demonstrating that the traveller has failed the security checks and will personally meet with immigration officials.
==Availability==
At present, PARAFE Gates are available at the following locations:
* [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport]]
* [[Orly Airport|Paris Orly Airport]]
* [[Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport]]
* [[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg]]
* [[Marseille Provence Airport]]
* [[Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport]]
* [[Nice Airport]]
* [[Paris Gare du Nord|Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord Terminal]]
* [[St Pancras railway station|Eurostar London St Pancras Terminal]] ([[juxtaposed controls]])
* [[Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal]] ([[juxtaposed controls]]) {{Citation needed|reason=Passengers are in vehicles in Eurotunnel.|date=March 2023}}
* [[Eurotunnel Calais Terminal]] {{Citation needed|reason=Passengers are in vehicles in Eurotunnel.|date=March 2023}}
* [[Port of Calais]]
==History==
The previous generation of the PARAFE eGates used fingerprint technology verify the identity of the passenger and was first introduced in 2010. This was phased out since it was considered "insufficiently intuitive" (which hand, which finger), a slower process and non-French citizens had to actively sign up at a French airport every 5 years to be able to use the eGates.<ref name=Gemalto />
The first eGates were replaced in early 2017 for a pilot project of the facial recognition technology, which was extended to more airports and St Pancras station throughout the rest of 2017 and 2018.<ref name=Gemalto /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A12791 |title=Aéroports de Paris et Nice : des contrôles de passeports à reconnaissance faciale |date=18 July 2018 |accessdate=2019-07-05}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[EPassport gates|ePassport Gates]] - a similar system operated in the United Kingdom
* [[SmartGate]] - a similar system operated in Australia
* [[European Automated Border Control systems]]
==External links==
*[https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/flight-preparation/boarding-procedure/crossing-borders Crossing Borders: PARAFE, the automated immigration gates]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Authentication methods]]
[[Category:Biometric databases]]
[[Category:Biometrics]]
[[Category:Border crossings of France]]
[[Category:Expedited border crossing schemes]]
[[Category:Fingerprints]]
[[Category:Identification]]