The European Union has rolled out the Travel to Europe app on March 21, 2026, to address anticipated delays from the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) at Schengen borders, with Portugal becoming the second country after Sweden to implement it.www.connexionfrance.comwww.mightytravels.comwww.portugalresident.comwww.travelandtourworld.com Designed for non-EU travelers with biometric passports, the free app—available on Google Play and the App Store—allows users to pre-register personal details, journey information, and a selfie within 72 hours of travel, generating a QR code for quick border scans. Portuguese authorities emphasize that while optional and not replacing standard checks, it streamlines processing for smoother entry.

In Portugal, the app launches at Lisbon's main airport, with plans to expand to other international airports soon, targeting peak summer crowds where EES could cause hours-long queues. Users log their entry point and arrival time, add co-travelers, and submit data via passport scan where available, reducing manual interventions by up to 20% through AI pre-assessments for low-risk passengers. This builds on Sweden's model but starts simpler in Portugal, focusing on questionnaires before full biometric integration.

Other EU nations like Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands have shown interest, signaling a continent-wide push amid EES and ETIAS rollouts expected later in 2026. Early data highlights heavy use by business travelers with complex itineraries, and expansions to land borders and ferries in Portugal aim to boost tourism recovery without mandating adoption across the bloc.www.visasupdate.com The initiative reflects coordinated efforts, including soft launches in France, Spain, Germany, and Greece, to prevent holiday disruptions.