Facing the EES queues, many travelers hope for a way to register from home. There is a partial answer: a mobile app called 'Travel to Europe' that lets you pre-enter your details in some countries. Here is what the app actually does, what it does not do, which borders support it, and how much time it can really save.
What the Travel to Europe App Does
To ease the EES queues, some participating countries offer a mobile application called "Travel to Europe" that lets travelers enter their passport and personal data in advance. When you reach the border, that pre-entered information is already in the system, so the officer or kiosk can move you through the data-entry portion faster. Think of it as filling in the form before you arrive rather than at the booth.
What It Does NOT Do
Be clear on the limit: the app does not complete your EES registration and does not replace the border step. Your biometrics — fingerprints and facial photo — are still captured at the border, because a phone cannot reliably enrol fingerprints to the required standard. So the app shortens the data part, not the biometric part. It is a time-saver, not a skip-the-line pass, and it is definitely not the ETIAS authorization (that is a separate online system launching late 2026).
Which Countries Support It
Availability is uneven. The app and advance-registration options are being rolled out by individual countries and specific border crossing points rather than uniformly across the whole Schengen zone. Some borders offer self-service pre-registration points; some offer the mobile app; others offer neither yet. Because coverage varies and is expanding, check the situation for your specific arrival airport or crossing before you travel rather than assuming it will be available.
How Much Time Does It Save?
Where it exists, pre-entering your data can meaningfully cut your time at the border, since a chunk of the first-crossing process is capturing passport and personal details. But because the biometric capture remains, you will still stop at a kiosk or booth. The realistic benefit: a shorter, smoother first registration, not an instant walk-through. Combined with a biometric passport and an off-peak arrival, it is one more lever to avoid the worst of the queues.
Watch for Fake Apps
As with anything EES and ETIAS, beware imitations. Only use official government-provided apps and links. Third-party apps or sites promising to "register your EES" for a fee are a red flag — EES registration is free and happens at the border, and no legitimate app charges you to do it. The same caution applies to ETIAS, where copycat fee-mills are already circling; our scam field guide covers how to spot them. When in doubt, start from the official EU sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Travel to Europe app?
A mobile app offered by some countries that lets you pre-enter your passport and personal data before reaching the EES border, so the data-entry step is faster. It does not replace registration — your biometrics are still captured at the border.
Does the Travel to Europe app complete my EES registration?
No. The app only pre-enters your data. Your fingerprints and facial photo are still captured at the border, because a phone cannot enrol biometrics to the required standard. It shortens the process but does not skip it.
Which countries have the EES app?
Availability is uneven and expanding. Some countries and specific border crossings offer the Travel to Europe app or self-service pre-registration points; others do not yet. Check your specific arrival airport or crossing before you travel.
Is the Travel to Europe app the same as ETIAS?
No. The app is an EES data-entry convenience. ETIAS is a separate online authorization — a €20 form obtained before travel — launching late 2026. They are different systems.
Do I have to pay for the EES app?
No. EES registration is free and happens at the border. Any app or site charging a fee to 'register your EES' is a red flag. Only use official government-provided apps and links.
EES is already live at the border. ETIAS — the online pre-authorization that pairs with it — launches late 2026. Alert subscribers get the official €20 link the day the portal opens, before the fee-mill imitators.
Join the Portal-Open Alert →