The False and Authentic Documents Online (FADO) system is entering a new era which will upgrade technical standards for capturing and storing digital images of ID and travel documents.
Passport checks carried out by document examiners will be more rigorous to detect authenticity or forgery.
For 20 years, Frontex has rolled out the FADO system for the European Border and Coast Guard, keeping a digital record of all genuine and false documents to support member states to combat the fraud.
As fraudsters advance their techniques for forgery, the IT systems that support these agencies to capture crucial identity data on all passengers must “keep pace”, Frontex said.
The documents will still be screened by a border control workforce as well as technology consisting of border guards, forensic specialists and technology developers. Everyone is working to the same benchmark for document security however authorities can utilise faster processes, while developers have a specialist insight into fine-tuning tools.
Frontex said the next-gen system will develop consistency of the same rules “everywhere in Europe” to ensure “less guesswork” and instill “more confidence”.
“Grounded in EU law”, the system will create one common reference point for image-quality and how images should be captured and stored.
Member states have had a hand in drafting these standards.
The new standards for digital images of authentic and false documents in the EBCG FADO system are publicly available here.
As Frontex sets new benchmarks in travel document security with its harmonised digital image standards, Identity Week Europe 2026 stands at the forefront of these developments. The event will delve into the latest in identity verification technologies, including advancements in document security, biometrics, and digital identity frameworks. Olga Arnese-Vessere, Head of Sector Centre of Excellence for Combatting Document Fraud at Frontex will be speaking on the topic “Document security design – equilibrium of innovations and real-life implementation”.
This convergence offers a unique opportunity for stakeholders to engage with cutting-edge solutions and discuss the future of secure identity management in Europe.
