The European Commission has proposed the digitalisation of the Schengen visa. This would modernise the application process, which currently involves the need to visit an embassy or consulate in-person.
Some EU countries currently have their own individual online application portal for a Schengen visa. However, the Commission is now proposing a harmonized system to be implemented in the coming years.
Under the new proposal, the existing national online visa portals would gradually be phased out. They would be replaced by a unified system that will allow applications to be processed in one place, similar to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The move is expected to reduce the practice of ‘visa shopping’ where travelers submit visa applications to a Schengen country which may have faster visa processing times than their destination country. It is also set to greatly simplify and expedite the process.
History of the Schengen visa digitalisation process
The idea of digitalising the Schengen visa first arose in 2018 when the EU Commission proposed amending the Visa Code. With individual Schengen countries implementing electronic portals, they stressed that digital visas were the way forward in the long run.
“With some Member States already switching to digital, it is vital the Schengen area now moves forward as one”, said Margaritis Schinas, the Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life.
When the Visa Code was revised again in 2019, the idea of a common solution for online Schengen visa applications was solidified. The portal would make full use of recent legal and technological developments.
The COVID-19 pandemic renewed calls from Member States to digitalise the Schengen visa. During this time, visa processing operations were highly affected by the difficulty of receiving applicants at embassies and consulates in person.
When will the Schengen visa be digitalised?
The Commission proposed a Pact on Migration and Asylum in September 2020. This would speed up work on the digitalisation of the Schengen Visa. They set the objective of fully digitizing the visa application procedure by 2025.
Depending on the outcome of negotiations between co-legislators, development on the electronic Schengen visa application portal could start in 2024. It would then become operational in 2026.
Member States would have 5 years to switch to the common online platform for the Schengen visa. Considering this transition period, all Member States could be using the platform by 2031.
How will the online Schengen visa application work?
The digitized Schengen visa platform will be part of the recently revised Visa Information System. This was recently upgraded to contain state-of-the-art data protection safeguards. The portal will be built by eu-LISA (European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice). The Commission will be responsible for ensuring visa information on the platform is up-to-date. The online system will allow applicants to:
- Check whether they need a visa or are required to submit an ETIAS application
- Create a secure account and fill out an application form online
- Upload all the necessary documents in digital format
- Pay the Schengen visa fee electronically using a credit or debit card
- Check the status of their application on the platform and receive email notifications
- Access the visa online once it has been approved
- Extend and renew the Schengen visa online
The portal will allow travellers to submit visa applications for all Schengen Area countries. The platform will automatically determine which country is responsible for processing an application, particularly when the applicant intends to visit several.
Schengen-affiliated countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Ireland will not be served by the platform. This is because they do not apply the Schengen acquis in full and do not issue Schengen visas.
Difference between the digital Schengen visa and ETIAS
The main difference between ETIAS and Schengen visa digital platform is that the latter will be used by travellers who require a visa for European countries in the Schengen Area. ETIAS is not a visa: it is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals. There are some similarities between the 2 platforms:
- Aim to facilitate travel to Schengen countries while also strengthening its security
- Reduce security risks posed by physical documents, including falsification, fraud and theft
- Remove the need to travel to an embassy or consulate in person to apply
“Half of those coming to the EU with a Schengen visa consider the visa application burdensome, one-third have to travel long distance to ask for a visa“, said the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, of the current process.
Under the new online system, only first-time Schengen visa applicants who need to supply biometric identifiers would need to appear in-person at an embassy or consulate. This would also apply to those with out-of-data biometric data or a new travel document.
