The European Union is promoting the Travel to Europe mobile app, designed to simplify registration under the Entry/Exit System (EES) — the digital system that records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals at the EU’s external borders. The EES has been operational since 12 October 2025 and is gradually replacing passport stamping. The app allows part of the traveller’s data to be pre-registered before arrival, helping reduce the number of steps at border control and making the process smoother.

For travellers from Moldova and Ukraine heading to European countries using the EES, this matters especially during busy travel periods and on routes to major airports or heavily used entry points. The app is intended for non-EU travellers with a biometric passport, it is free to use, and it can be used for short stays. Information can be submitted up to 72 hours before entering or leaving the EU, and co-travellers can also be added, which is useful for families and group travel.

Travellers should also know that the app does not replace border checks and does not automatically grant entry. The final decision remains with border authorities, and fingerprints still need to be taken at the border in the presence of a border guard. At present, the app can be used when entering Sweden, where passport data, facial image and the entry questionnaire are supported, while in Portugal the entry questionnaire is available, with the initial rollout launched at Lisbon Airport and expansion planned to other airports.

For carriers and passengers, the takeaway is straightforward: before departure, it is worth checking whether the destination country and the specific border crossing point already support the app. Where it is available, pre-registration may save time and make entry into the EU more efficient. Where it is not yet active, travel continues as normal through the standard border control process.