Deadline Date: November 05, 2026
The European Commission has launched the Accessible and Available Travel Facilitation program under Horizon Europe to support the development of inclusive, secure, and seamless travel and border crossing solutions across the European Union.
The program focuses on improving trusted and automated travel facilitation systems, ensuring accessible and inclusive border crossing and visa procedures for all travellers, reducing digital divides, enhancing user experience and practitioner safety, supporting adaptable solutions for all European border control staff and border crossing points, minimising risks of bias and discrimination, strengthening integrated border management, promoting seamless travel technologies, improving biometric matching with enhanced data protection, and advancing innovative technologies, processes, and knowledge for border management systems.
Travel and border crossing procedures across the European Union are evolving through advanced technologies and updated regulatory systems such as automated border control gates, no-gate solutions, seamless travel systems, the Entry-Exit System (EES), the Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and digital travel credentials. Despite these advancements, several travellers, including families, groups travelling together, persons with disabilities, individuals with reduced mobility, and people with lower digital skills, still face barriers in accessing smooth and fair border facilitation services.
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action aims to address these challenges by supporting projects that develop and test advanced travel facilitation and border crossing solutions that are accessible to everyone regardless of age, sex, gender, disability, physical ability, or digital capability. The initiative places strong emphasis on protecting fundamental rights while improving passenger flow and border security.
The supported solutions may include innovative technologies, operational procedures, knowledge systems, or a combination of these elements. Proposed systems are expected to integrate automated decision-support tools that help border management practitioners select appropriate procedures, technologies, or databases without infringing the rights of travellers. The projects should also incorporate privacy-conscious biometric matching systems that minimise shared data, such as limiting exchanges to matching scores.
Projects funded under this topic are expected to align closely with the priorities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). Applicants are encouraged to consider the European Border and Coast Guard Capability Roadmap during project design and implementation phases. The call operates under the Horizon Europe Innovation Actions framework with a total budget of €8 million, while individual projects are expected to receive around €4 million in funding.
Eligible applicants include any legal entity regardless of country of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided they meet the conditions established under Horizon Europe regulations. Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before grant agreement signing.
For more information, visit European Commission.
