EU Council Approves Online Schengen Visa Applications

The Council of the European Union has endorsed the digitization of the visa application process for individuals intending to travel to the Schengen Area. Soon, those requiring a Schengen visa can conveniently apply for it online, eliminating the need for consulate or embassy visits and the prolonged waiting period for application responses, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

Acting Spanish Minister for the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, emphasized the positive impact of the online application process on both citizens and administrative procedures. He highlighted that the new system is expected to streamline the entire process, enabling national administrations to promptly and efficiently handle visa requests.

The online Schengen visa application marks a substantial enhancement for citizens and the application processing system. It simplifies the traveler's application process and concurrently lightens the load on national administrations, enabling quicker and more effective responses.

According to the Council, the pivotal development is the establishment of an EU visa application platform. With few exceptions, Schengen visa applications will transition to this user-friendly online system.

On the platform, applicants can input all necessary information, upload electronic copies of travel and supporting documents, and pay visa fees. Additionally, the platform will provide notifications on visa decisions. It will also automatically determine the country responsible for processing applications for those visiting multiple Schengen Member States, although applicants can still specify a preferred country based on their travel purpose.

This digital transformation ensures efficiency and convenience, departing significantly from traditional paperwork. Furthermore, the new regulations render physical appearances at consulates largely unnecessary, except for first-time applicants, those with a new travel document, and individuals with expired biometric data.

This reduction in in-person requirements aims to simplify the process, enhancing accessibility and reducing burdens for all parties involved.

In alignment with the new rules, the visa sticker will be replaced by a more secure and sophisticated cryptographically signed barcode. This upgrade aligns with modern technological advancements, ensuring a higher level of security in visa documentation and minimizing the risk of counterfeiting.

The date for implementing these new rules will be decided once the work on the visa platform and digital visas is complete.