EU Tests Pre-Travel App to Ease Border Queues

The European Union has introduced a mobile application designed to reduce waiting times at border control during the busy travel season. The app, called "Travel to Europe", allows non-EU travellers to pre-register their details before arrival. It comes as the Entry/Exit System (EES), launched in October, continues to face delays linked to processing passenger data at several airports.

Travellers can submit personal and journey information through the app up to 72 hours before departure. The process also includes answering a short set of entry-related questions. While border checks will still take place in person, part of the required data can be completed in advance, which may help reduce time spent at passport control.

The rollout begins at Lisbon Airport, where long queues have drawn attention in recent months. Authorities expect the app to ease pressure on border control staff and improve the flow of arriving passengers. The system is expected to expand to other European airports in the coming weeks, depending on how it performs during the initial phase.

What the app changes at the border

• Pre-registration of personal and travel details
• Submission available up to 72 hours before arrival
• Short questionnaire on entry conditions
• In-person checks still required at the airport

Lisbon has been dealing with border control problems in recent months. A European Commission inspection found clear shortcomings in how checks were carried out. Following this, the Portuguese government paused the EES rollout for three months and added more staff at the airport, including 24 officers from the National Republican Guard, to help handle arrivals and reduce queues during busy periods.

The situation reflects a wider pattern seen across several EU countries following the introduction of the EES, where long queues and delays have been reported. The new app does not remove checks but shifts part of the process earlier. It points to a gradual move towards more digital border procedures, where preparation before travel becomes part of the journey itself.