Brazil will hold a voluntary demonstration on September 30 of a new biometric identification system for pedestrians entering the country from Ciudad del Este via Friendship Bridge. The presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the pedestrian entrance on the Brazilian side.
The initiative is part of the Smart Border project, led by Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service to modernize border controls. The system was developed by the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), Brazil’s information technology agency for public institutions.
The initial phase will be a demonstration to assess how the tool works before any possible adjustments and future implementation stages. Brazilian authorities are expected to provide details on the biometric registration process and on how participants’ data will be collected and used.
The modernization plan for Foz do Iguaçu for 2026–2028 includes the gradual introduction of technologies, automated systems and risk-analysis tools. The goal is to strengthen inspections and security without significantly increasing crossing times.
Daily traffic between Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu includes workers, students, merchants and other regular users. Participation in the test will be voluntary, so the demonstration does not mean that biometric identification will become mandatory for all pedestrians. Source: Diario La Jornada.