The ICAO PKD Board agreed to launch a pilot project to examine the use of ICAO PKD data by private sector entities in December 2021. A significant motivation at the time of launch was to enhance the global availability of public keys needed to efficiently verify health proofs and travel documents without contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Efficient and contactless document authentication is also fundamental to advancement of seamless travel initiatives. As a result, the pilot initiative has continued since 2001 to assess the usefulness and appropriateness of making PKD data available for use by private sector entities in their services and solutions for advancing cross-border travel.

 

Participation in the pilot has continued to grow as uses for the ICAO PKD and the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation in document authentication becomes more evident and as novel and innovative seamless travel initiatives are launched globally.

 

50 companies are currently participating in the pilot.

 

 

In 2025, the PKD Board, taking into account the positive outcomes of the pilot, agreed to launch a full-scale programme to replace the pilot initiative. The programme will offer private sector entities the opportunity to use PKD data on a paid-for basis. New services and capabilities have been implemented in the new PKD system that launched in March 2026. Final arrangements for this programme are being elaborated with all relevant governing bodies of the PKD and of ICAO.

 

Ahead of the expected launch of this new programme in 2027, we are offering a final opportunity for interested entities to enroll in the pilot. Signed agreements for such enrolment must be provided to ICAO by 16 August 2026. If you are interested in obtaining the text of the agreement for review or finding more out about the programme, please contact us at 

icao-pkd [at] icao.int (icao-pkd[at]icao[dot]int).