Biometric enrolment has become a standard requirement for visa applications to many countries. By capturing unique biological characteristics such as fingerprints and facial images, authorities can reliably confirm the identity of visa applicants, helping to prevent identity fraud, document substitution, and illegal entry. Because biometric data is highly sensitive, enrolment is most often carried out in the secure environment of a consulate or a visa application centre, under strict supervision and with robust technical safeguards in place. However, as international travel continues to grow, driving increasing demand for visas, governments and their external service providers are exploring ways to make the enrolment process more convenient for applicants. The challenge lies in improving accessibility and customer experience without compromising the integrity and security of the biometric process.
Remote biometric enrolment
One approach being explored by some governments is remote biometric enrolment. In specific scenarios, applicants are invited to confirm their identity using their mobile phone, typically by submitting a facial image or video and scanning an identity document via a dedicated application. This model aims to reduce the need for applicants to travel to a visa application centre, making the process faster and more convenient.
While remote enrolment offers clear benefits in terms of accessibility, it also presents notable security challenges. Verifying that the individual using the device is genuinely the document holder is significantly more complex in an unsupervised environment. Risks include spoofing attacks, deepfake technology, coerced enrolment, or the use of compromised devices. In addition, it is more difficult to guarantee the integrity of the capture environment and the secure transmission of biometric data. For these reasons, remote biometric enrolment is generally limited to specific use cases and often complemented by additional checks or in-person verification.
Self-service kiosks
Another potential solution is the deployment of secure self-service biometric kiosks in selected locations such as banks, government buildings, or shopping centres. Such kiosks would allow applicants to enrol their biometric data without having to travel to a visa application centre, while still operating within a controlled and purpose-built environment.
The underlying technology for biometric kiosks already exists, and we have put in place our own self-service kiosks at the Visa & Citizenship Application Service Points that we operate across the United Kingdom on behalf of the UK Home Office. However, before such systems can be rolled out at scale outside the secure setting of a dedicated application centre, it is essential to implement additional safeguards to mitigate the risk of fraud. These may include real-time remote supervision, enhanced liveness detection, tamper-resistant hardware, secure physical placement, and strict access controls. Without these measures, self-service kiosks could become vulnerable to misuse or manipulation.
On-demand services
There is growing interest from both governments and visa applicants in on-demand biometric enrolment services. These services offer a balanced alternative by combining convenience with a high level of security. A trusted visa outsourcing partner carries out biometric enrolment at a location agreed with the traveller, using a mobile biometrics kit that meets the same technical and security standards as a visa application centre.
Enrolment is conducted by two trained agents, accompanied by a security guard, to ensure procedural integrity. To further protect sensitive data, a secure VPN is used to transfer biometric information directly to the government server immediately after enrolment. This model can be applied to individual applicants or to groups and offers several advantages:
- Increased geographical coverage: Applicants can submit their biometric data locally, avoiding a long journey to a visa application centre that might be located far from their place of residence.
- Facilitation of group applications: Travel agencies can coordinate biometric enrolment for tourist groups at a single location, such as the agency’s premises or a local hotel, on a scheduled date.
- Premium services: High-net-worth individuals and corporate clients can complete their applications in a private and discreet setting that better suits their needs.
Read our article Improving customer experience in visa services with “Apply Anywhere”
Biometric enrolment will remain a key step in the visa application process as governments seek to secure their borders in an era of increasing international mobility. While new models such as remote enrolment and self-service kiosks show promise, they also introduce additional risks that must be carefully managed. On-demand biometric enrolment services demonstrate how innovation can enhance customer experience while maintaining rigorous security standards.
Ultimately, the most successful solutions will be those that strike the right balance: leveraging technology to improve accessibility and convenience, without undermining trust in the visa system or the protection of sensitive biometric data.