The European Commission has already made a proposal in April 2022 to simplify the process of applying for a Schengen visa to digitize and simplify, which should be completed in 2026. This makes traveling to the EU with a visa easier.
The digitization project means that in the future travelers will be able to submit their Schengen visa application online and that the physical visa sticker is replaced. The purpose of this change is to make the process easier for all parties involved.
The EU's visa policy is important to the external borders of the EU Schengen area to work properly. It ensures that it is easier to travel in or through Schengen countries and that the legislation of all countries is the same when it comes to issuing visas.
Improving the application procedure for a Schengen visa
EU policy on Schengen visas has changed since the introduction of the Visa code in 2010 and the launch of the Visa Information System (VIS) in 2011. New technological developments offer opportunities to improve the application procedure for a Schengen visa.
Although the visa processing is already partly digital, there are still two important steps on paper: the visa application procedure and the visa sticker. These steps are burdensome for central national government authorities, consulates and visa applicants. To reduce this burden, the European Commission has on 27 April 2022 a legislative proposal presented to digitize the visa procedure.
Apply for a Schengen visa online and pay the visa fee
Currently, visa applications for Schengen are still submitted on paper and travelers must personally go to the embassy or an external service provider to have their biometric data collected. Once the new digital visa system is in place, travelers will be able to apply for their Schengen visa online and pay the visa fee, regardless of which Schengen country they wish to travel to. If travelers want to visit several Schengen countries, the system will automatically determine which country is responsible for the application.
All information on one platform
On the platform, the applicant can find all the information necessary to obtain the visa, such as the visa requirements, the procedures and any supporting documents required. Personal application at an embassy, consulate or external service provider is only required for travelers who are applying for the first time and need to have their biometric data collected, applicants whose biometric data is no longer valid and applicants with a new travel document.
The new visa will include advanced security features and the system will ensure that fundamental rights are always protected.
The proposal has yet to be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. If approved, member states will have five years to move to the new system. After this transitional period, all Member States will start using the online visa platform in 2031.
Source: Center of Expertise European Law
Questions and answers – digitization of the visa procedure (FAQ)
The Commission wants to make it easier to apply for a Schengen visa and has therefore proposed to digitize the visa procedure. Travelers can then submit their visa application via a European online visa platform and the visa sticker will be replaced by a more secure digital visa. The Commission wants to make the visa policy more modern, more customer-friendly and more secure for third-country nationals traveling to the Schengen area. The 2019 revision of the EU Visa Code and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the acceleration of the digitalisation of visa procedures. The Migration and Asylum Pact stipulates that the visa procedure must be fully digitized by 2025, including the possibility to apply for visas online.
In the future, all visa applications will be submitted online through the EU visa application platform. But if people need help, they can still submit a paper application at a consulate or visa application center. This is possible, for example, if they cannot submit the application online independently and need help from friends or family or if there is a special reason. Family members of EU citizens can still submit their application on paper if they exercise their right to free movement.
All visa applicants can submit their application completely online, including completing the application form, paying the visa fee, uploading supporting documents and checking valid biometrics. However, for first-time travelers and for applicants whose biometrics are no longer valid, it is still necessary to go to the consulate or visa application center in person to provide their biometrics. They can make an appointment online.
A visa issued on paper can be more easily counterfeited and stolen, posing a threat to the security of the EU. The new digital visa will instead be an electronic file in the Visa Information System, eliminating any physical features that can be falsified.
The proposal to digitize the visa process will make the process of applying for a visa easier, but the conditions for submitting the application and its processing will remain the same.
Eu-LISA, a European agency that manages large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice, will build and maintain the online visa application platform. The Commission will be responsible for updating general visa information on the platform to keep it up to date.
To apply for a visa through the EU visa application platform, applicants follow a few steps. First, they check whether they need a visa and create a secure account. Then they fill out an application form and upload the required documents. The visa fee is paid online and the application is submitted. The country where the main destination of the trip is will process the application and the applicants can check the status of their application through the platform and receive notifications about the status. After approval of the visa, applicants can access their visa online and, if necessary, extend their visa period online.
If you need a visa for a Schengen country, you can apply for a visa online via one platform and pay the visa fee. It does not matter which Schengen country you want to travel to. The platform will automatically determine which member state is competent to process your application if you want to visit multiple EU member states. You can find up-to-date information on short-stay Schengen visas and all the necessary information about visa requirements and procedures. The advantage of a single application platform is that applicants will find one harmonized and seamless application procedure, regardless of the Schengen country they wish to visit.
The Commission proposes to create a single application platform at EU level and to phase out separate national portals. Member States can join the platform for up to five years after it has been established. This allows Member States to flexibly phase out their national instruments and switch to the EU visa application platform.
The aim of both systems is to make traveling to the Schengen area easier while increasing security at the same time. The new initiative applies to people from third countries who need a Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days in the Schengen area in any 180-day period. ETIAS is intended for people from third countries who do not need a visa, but who must apply for a travel authorization before traveling.
The Commission has made a proposal to create a common online visa platform. The proposal is now being discussed in the European Parliament and the Council. Member States have five years to switch to the new platform. If the co-legislators approve the proposal, development of the platform could start in 2024 and become operational in 2026. Member States have until 2031 to start using the platform.
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