EU Council agrees common position on new digital travel application law

BRUSSELS

EU member states on Wednesday endorsed the EU Council's negotiating mandate on a new law that will introduce an EU digital travel application, paving the way for travelers to submit their travel data before arriving at external borders.

The regulation, approved by member states' representatives in Coreper, sets out 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 plan, travelers will be able to digitally provide their travel information in advance, enabling border guards to remotely verify travel documents and run checks against border, police, and migration databases ahead of arrival.

EU officials say this will shorten waiting times and strengthen security screening at border crossings.

The digital system will include a mobile app, a backend validation service, and a traveler router, eu-LISA. Through the mobile component, EU citizens and third-country nationals will be able to create a digital copy of the data stored on their passport or identity card, though participation will remain optional.

The backend system will electronically verify a travel document's chip to confirm that the digital version corresponds to an authentic document. The traveler router will allow users to securely share their digital credentials with border authorities.

Travelers using the application will be able to pre-submit their documents before their trip, allowing border officers to focus resources on cases flagged as suspicious.

The council said the tool will also support existing EU border management systems. Travelers should be able to use their digital credentials when pre-submitting information to the Entry/Exit System, which became operational in October 2025.

Once ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is launched in 2026, non-EU nationals will also be able to rely on the digital credentials when applying for travel authorization or visas.

With the adoption of its position, the council presidency is now ready to start talks with the European Parliament once MEPs agree on their negotiating stance.