Identification for asylum seekers and migrants in Europe is a complex and shifting landscape. There are discrepancies between national and European-level rules and regulations, all of which are subject to change. Much of the information regarding identification requirements is also siloed in different government and public databases and, in some cases, inaccessible.
Through scenarios that follow migrants and asylum seekers from diverse countries of origin, this study illustrates specific aspects of the procedural and identification requirements many face when migrating into the European Union: how migrants experience identification systems as they travel to and throughout Europe and the various challenges they may face when trying to acquire identification or to identify themselves. In doing so, it identifies key points of friction and provides insights into the intersection of digital identity management, migration policy, and human rights in the European context.
