We all know the procedure of applying for the Schengen visa is painful. The cherry on top during the peak season is the waiting period to get the appointment, then at the visa centre and eventually to get the visa! A better solution to this is going to start soon as the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union announced an agreement on Tuesday, 13 June, to allow for the digitisation of the Schengen visa procedure.
The introduction of this new system could make the application process significantly smoother, taking away the need for visa stickers and heaps of paperwork, while also reducing costs for applicants. Member states will be given a seven-year transition period to join the online visa application platform.
All you need to know about the Schengen visa application being digital
Currently, there are 27 Schengen countries – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
These are the new rules that will be set up once EU creates a visa application platform:
Once all the rules are in place, the EU would create a visa application platform.
1. Online Visa Application form
The EU Online Visa application platform will allow travellers to submit the application online. The online application will include form and the paid visa fee.
2. Create a secure account and receive updates
Applicants will have to create their own secure account on the platform. This will let them receive updates about their application status online.
3. All information on new platform
The new platform will offer all the necessary information like the supporting documents to be submitted, visa fees and processes along with appointments for biometrics.
4. Platform will determine which Schengen state will examine
When it comes to travelling to multiple countries in the Schengen area, you have to determine which embassy you will be applying your Schengen visa to. The platform will be now automatically determining which Schengen country will be examining your application.
5. Online quick and easy answers
Instead of searching for answers elsewhere, you can now simply ask your query to the chatbot function on the online platform. This will help the applicants fetch quick solutions to their questions.
6. Digital Schengen Visa
Currently the travellers physically get the Schengen visa sticker on their passport once approved. Going forward this will be replaced with a digital Schengen visa with an encrypted 2D barcode. This will also apply also for long-stay visas.
7. Applications sent to national visa systems
The online applications will be sent to the respective national visa systems based on the countries they have been applied for.
Other than a few exceptions, applications for all Schengen visas will be submitted online on the website. Once the visa application status is final, the platform would notify the applicant of the final decision.
Also read: Get Your Schengen Visa in Time With Tips and Tricks From Expert Travel Agents
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