Portugal has introduced the "Travel to Europe" app, a new mobile application designed to expedite border control procedures at airports across the country.www.euronews.comwww.theportugalnews.com The app allows travellers from outside the European Union to pre-register their personal and travel information up to 72 hours before arrival, streamlining the entry process during peak travel season. Available for download on major platforms, the application is currently operational at Lisbon Airport and will be progressively rolled out to other Portuguese airports in the coming weeks.

The launch of the app comes as a response to ongoing challenges with the Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been suspended in Portugal since December 2025 due to logistical issues and delays in biometric data processing. The European Commission had previously identified "serious deficiencies" in border security control at Lisbon Airport following an unannounced assessment. While the app is optional and does not replace standard border control procedures, authorities emphasize that pre-registering information will significantly reduce processing times and help alleviate the long queues that have plagued Portuguese airports in recent years.

Although using the application is voluntary, it represents a temporary solution to manage border traffic while the full EES system undergoes further testing and refinement. Travellers can enter their personal details and answer entry condition questionnaires through the app, allowing border officials to process much of the information in advance. This approach aims to make entry into Europe faster and easier for non-EU visitors while Portuguese authorities work to resolve the technical and logistical challenges affecting the broader European Entry/Exit System.