Frontex To Launch Digital Tool to Support EES Rollout Across Schengen

Jasper De Luna News & Events 30 June 2025 | Updated On July 2, 2025 | 0

As the European Union prepares to implement the Entry/Exit System (EES) later this year, Frontex, the EU’s border control agency, has introduced a new mobile app aimed at making border crossings faster and more efficient for non-EU travellers.

The app, called Travel to Europe, allows travellers to pre-register their personal and travel information before arriving at a Schengen border. This includes passport details, a facial image, and answers to standard EES entry questions. The goal is to shift much of the data entry process away from busy border checkpoints and into the traveller’s own hands.

The EES is a major digital upgrade to how Europe tracks entries and exits at its external borders. It will replace manual passport stamping with automated electronic records, improving security and reducing delays.

The Travel to Europe app supports this shift by allowing travellers to submit key data in advance, enabling faster processing once they arrive at the border. Border guards will still perform identity checks, but with most information already uploaded, the process becomes significantly quicker.

According to Frontex, this will cut down wait times, ease congestion at high-traffic airports, and reduce the administrative burden on border officials.

Early Adoption Across the EU

The first confirmed use of the app will be at Arlanda Airport in Sweden later this year, with pilot programs also in the works in France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Portugal and Greece have expressed interest as well.

While use of the app is voluntary for both travellers and EU countries, Frontex is encouraging adoption—especially in busy international airports where it can have the most impact.

Uku Särekanno, Deputy Executive Director at Frontex, emphasised its benefits during a recent speech:

“Although it’s voluntary, we encourage EU countries to make maximum use of it. It’s not for every border crossing point, but we see clear added value in big travel hubs.”

Benefits for Travellers and Member States

For travellers, the app means:

Shorter border queues
Smoother arrivals into the EU
Less paperwork at the checkpoint

For Schengen Member States, it offers:

A ready-to-use, scalable tool to integrate with national systems
Reduced strain on border officers, who can focus on verification rather than data entry
Improved data accuracy and compliance with upcoming EU digital border regulations

This is especially important as the EU also prepares to launch the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in late 2026, which will work alongside EES to manage visa-exempt travellers.

A Step Toward Smarter Borders

Though the app does not replace in-person checks, it significantly reduces the manual workload and enhances efficiency at borders. It also helps establish a more consistent approach across Member States—each of which can choose how and where to implement the tool.

As more countries adopt digital solutions like Travel to Europe, the EU is signaling a move toward modern, tech-enabled border control that balances security with convenience.

This is more than just a technical rollout—it’s a strategic upgrade to how Europe manages travel, paving the way for smarter, faster, and more coordinated borders across the Schengen Area.

Would you give the app a try to save time at the airport? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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