Heard about the travel to europe app? Currently only Sweden actually supports it though.
Planning a trip to Europe this summer? Arrival rules have changed. Since October 2025, non-EU travellers are now registered digitally at Schengen borders which means no more passport stamps. If you're travelling from the UK, US, Australia, or anywhere outside the EU, here's what the new Entry/Exit System means for you, and more about the official app that can (when it is supported by more countries) make your border entry faster.
Holding an Irish passport? You're an EU citizen and EES doesn't apply to you, whether you're travelling from Dublin, London, or anywhere else...
The Travel to Europe app is an official mobile application developed by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to support the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES).
It allows non-EU travellers (British travellers are non-EU unless you have dual-EU citizenship) to pre-register their travel document data and facial image for the EES before arriving at a border crossing point.
The Travel to Europe app is free, available on iOS and Android, but does NOT replace border control procedures, it aims to make them smoother and faster.
No, you don't need it.
However, if you haven't travelled to the EU recently, want to avoid any potential queues; and are travelling to Sweden, you can.
The fact is, currently only Sweden supports the app.
You can register physically for the EU Entry/Exit System so do not worry.
We have a specific article to explain the new EU Entry/Exit System however, to understand why the app exists, you need to understand the EES. The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of the European countries.
It started in October 2025, with full implementation replacing manual passport stamping by 10th April 2026.
No more stamps in your passport. Your face and fingerprints are taking its place.
Just so you know, a short stay is defined as a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, and this rule applies across all Schengen states, meaning days spent in France, Spain, or any other participating country are counted together, not separately.
The EES applies to two main categories of travellers: visa-exempt travellers (nationals from countries not requiring a Schengen visa for short stays) and short-stay visa holders.
Citizens of EU member states and Schengen-associated countries are not subject to the system.
Notably, Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the EES Lufthansa, so travellers entering Europe through those countries won't be registered.
Pre-registration with the app can be done within 72 hours before arriving in or departing from a European country using the EES. App Store
To use it you'll need:
The steps are: create a journey by selecting your destination country and border crossing point, scan your passport's details page and chip, take a selfie, answer a few questions about your travel plans, optionally add co-travellers, then submit your journey and receive a confirmation. Google Play
Pre-registration should take no more than 5 minutes. European Union
Important: using the app does not replace checks by border authorities and does not guarantee entry. The final decision can only be taken by local border authorities. Google Play Fingerprints still need to be scanned in person at the border.
This is where here's confusion online. The use of the app is voluntary for EU Member States, who can decide if, when, how and where they may wish to use it. Frontex
Currently the app is available in Sweden and more countries will be added later. App Store France, the Netherlands, and Italy are working with Frontex to offer the app at some of their major border crossing points in 2026, with Portugal, Greece, and Hungary also having expressed interest. Insurte
The up-to-date list of supported countries is maintained at travel-europe.europa.eu/ees.
The Travel to Europe app and the EES are just one part of a broader shift in how Europe manages travel. While EES tracks actual border crossings, ETIAS will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain pre-travel authorisation online before heading to the Schengen area. Jobbatical ETIAS is expected to become operational at the end of 2026. Insurte
If you're a non-EU national travelling to Sweden specifically, yes, it's worth doing. Using the app is voluntary but may help speed up border procedures, as some information will already be available to border authorities. Sweden Abroad
For other Schengen destinations right now, the app currently has limited utility until more countries integrate it, but downloading it ahead of travel and familiarising yourself with the process is a smart move as rollout accelerates through 2026.
Source: Frontex
