Online Schengen Visa Applications: EU Council Gives Green Light

• EU Council adopted new rules that allow people who plan to travel to the Schengen Area to apply online for a visa.
• Application will be made through a single EU visa application platform.
• Current visa sticker will be replaced with a cryptographically signed barcode.

The Council of the European Union has given the green light to digitize visa application procedures for those planning to travel to the Schengen area. This means that people who need a Schengen visa will soon be able to apply for documents online, without having to go to a consulate or embassy and have to wait a long time to receive a response to the application their. Commenting on the decision, Spain's interim Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, said the online application process will have a positive impact on citizens as well as on administrative procedures. He further emphasized that the online application system is expected to streamline the entire process, allowing national authorities to respond to visa applications more quickly and effectively. As the Council explains, the important development lies in the creation of a European visa application platform. With some exceptions, Schengen visa applications will be transferred to this user-friendly online platform. On this platform, Schengen visa applicants will be able to enter all the necessary information, upload electronic copies of travel documents and supporting documents and pay the visa application fee. Additionally, through the same platform, applicants will receive notification of their visa decision. The platform automatically determines which country will process applications from people planning to visit more than one Schengen member state. However, applicants will continue to be able to indicate whether they want their application to be processed by a particular country based on the reason for their travel. This digital transformation promises efficiency and convenience that goes beyond traditional paperwork. Additionally, under the new regulations, appearing at consulates will largely become unnecessary, except for new applicants, those with new travel documents, and those whose biometrics have expired. term. This reduction in the in-person attendance requirement is intended to simplify the process, making it more accessible and less burdensome for everyone. In addition, under the new regulations, visa stickers will be replaced with more sophisticated and secure cryptographic signature barcodes. As the Council explains, this upgrade is in line with modern technological advances and ensures a higher level of security for visa documents while minimizing the risk of document falsification. The date of application of the new regulations will be decided after the completion of work on the visa and digital visa platform.