Albania has officially become the 99th member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Public Key Directory (PKD)—a major step forward in strengthening border security and the global recognition of its biometric travel documents.
This membership marks a significant milestone in Albania’s integration into the international aviation and security community. By joining the ICAO PKD, Albanian passports can now be verified in real time by all ICAO PKD member states. This development enhances the fight against organized crime, terrorism, and document fraud, while also facilitating faster and more secure international travel for Albanian citizens.
The ICAO PKD is a global platform that enables the secure exchange of public keys and digital certificates for biometric passports through the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ). This cutting-edge technology ensures instant and reliable verification of travel documents at border control points and airports around the world.
For Albanian travelers, this means shorter wait times at borders, smoother travel experiences, and increased trust and recognition of their identification documents worldwide. It also positions Albania as a more credible and cooperative player in the field of international security.
A key contributor to this achievement has been the Albanian company IdentiTek, which played an active role in developing modern identification systems and preparing the country’s integration into the ICAO PKD system.
The official Key Signing Ceremony was held at ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, where Albania was represented by Ms. Freskida Halilaj, Administrator of IdentiTek, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Albanian delegation.
This development represents a new guarantee for Albanian citizens: their travel documents are secure, internationally recognized, and trusted, opening a new chapter in Albania’s participation in global networks of travel security and technology.