EU Greenlights Digital Travel Application to Streamline Borders
Representatives in Coreper approved the regulation, which outlines rules for the voluntary creation of digital travel credentials and their use when crossing the EU’s external borders, according to a statement.
Under the new system, travelers can provide their travel details in advance, enabling border authorities to remotely verify documents and conduct checks against border, police, and migration databases before arrival.
EU officials say this will shorten waiting times and strengthen security screening at border crossings.
The digital framework includes a mobile app, a backend validation service, and a traveler router, eu-LISA. Through the app, both EU citizens and third-country nationals can create a digital copy of the data stored on their passport or identity card, although participation remains optional.
The backend system electronically verifies a travel document’s chip to ensure the digital copy matches an authentic document, while the traveler router allows secure sharing of credentials with border authorities.
Travelers using the app will be able to pre-submit documents before traveling, letting border officers focus resources on cases flagged as suspicious.
The council noted that the tool will integrate with existing EU border management systems. Digital credentials will support pre-submission of information to the Entry/Exit System, which became operational in October 2025.
Once ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) launches in 2026, non-EU nationals will also be able to use digital credentials for travel authorizations or visa applications.
With the council’s position adopted, the presidency is now ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament once MEPs finalize their stance.
According to the European Commission, 593 million crossings of the EU’s external borders were recorded in 2022, creating pressure on border authorities and long queues for travelers.
The digital travel application is intended to ease this burden by streamlining procedures and improving checks on document authenticity.
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