The Council of the European Union (EU) gave the green light this Monday to the rules to digitize the visa procedure to enter the free movement space Schengenwith the possibility of making arrangements online and replacing the current label with a digital one.
The acting Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, indicated in a statement that the fact of being able to request a Schengen visa Online will simplify the application process and, at the same time, will ease the burden on national administrations, which will be able to respond more quickly and effectively.
Marlaska explained that the new procedure “will create a visa application platform for the EU” and“with some exceptions”visa applications will be made through it.
On the platform, applicants will be able to enter all relevant data, upload electronic copies of their travel documents and supporting documents, and pay the corresponding fees.
An in-person appearance will only be necessary for those submitting a first application, as well as for people whose biometric data is no longer valid and for those who have new travel documents.
Another novelty is that the current visa sticker will be replaced with a cryptographically signed barcode.
When a person intends to visit several countries in the Schengen area, the platform will automatically determine which of them is responsible for examining the application based on the duration of the stay.
The two visa regulations approved today will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force 20 days after publication.
The date of application of the new rules will be decided when the technical work on the visa platform and the digital visa.
Source: Gestion
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