EU to Digitalize Schengen Visa Application Procedures

Photo source: Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – Photo © EFE/ Fernando Villar

The Council of the European Union adopted new rules on Monday that will allow people who plan to travel to the Schengen area to apply online for a visa.

The Schengen area is a zone of 27 European countries which have abolished many types of internal border controls.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez. Photo source: EU Council

The goal of the new rules is twofold: to make the visa application procedure more efficient and to improve the security of the Schengen area.

According to Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, acting Spanish minister for the interior, the possibility of applying for a Schengen visa online will be a “great improvement” for citizens and for the processing of the application.

“It will simplify the application process for travelers and, at the same time, will ease the burden on national administrations, which will be able to respond more quickly and effectively,” he said.

The regulations adopted by the Council:

– will create an EU visa application platform. With a few exceptions, applications for Schengen visas will be made through that platform. On the platform, visa applicants will be able to enter all the relevant data, upload electronic copies of their travel documents and supporting documents, and pay their visa fees
– render in-person appearance at the consulate redundant. In principle, in-person appearance will only be necessary for first-time applicants, people whose biometric data are no longer valid and people with a new travel document
– replace the current visa sticker with a cryptographically signed barcode

Photo source: European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs

According to the Council, following signature, the two regulations will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the twentieth day after publication.

The date of application of the new rules will be decided when technical work on the visa platform and the digital visa has been concluded.