EU phone app to speed up process
It is intended to be used up to seven days before the journey
The EU has created a phone app called Travel to Europe (it was previously named Quick Border).
It is intended to allow travellers with modern biometric passports to, optionally, enter much of their information before they travel so as to speed things up.
EU borders agency Frontex reports it is ready and is able to rapidly collect passport data by placing your phone on your biometric passport. It can also take a facial image, via a selfie.
Individual EU countries are, however, free to adopt it or not for use for entry to their territory, and may adapt it.
Frontex says it is set to go live in selected travel hubs, starting with Arlanda airport in Sweden.
“In parallel, Frontex is planning jointly with Dutch, French and Italian authorities, pilots in selected major entry points in 2026,” it said.
No further information was given. The basic version is intended to be used up to seven days before a person’s actual entry/exit.
Users are asked to input the country they plan to enter/exit and the intended date, then it asks ‘travel questions’ including purpose of stay (study, work, tourism, family visit etc), how long you plan to stay, if you have a return ticket and roughly how much you will have available to spend (or you may state that someone else will provide for you).
You can add other members of your travel group at the same time.