With many European commercial vehicle and machinery OEMs popular in the Middle East, travel to the EU is common among people involved in the region’s PMV sector. For those who require Schengen visas to enter the EU, such travel has always meant preparing months in advance to obtain the required visa, restricting their mobility and affecting business. All this is about to change, however, with the upcoming digitalisation of Schengen visa services.
The Commission of the European Union has announced that the digitalisation of the visa application process is set to have a “significant impact” on the processing time for Schengen visas. European Commission Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Anitta Hipper, highlighted the positive effects of this development, and said that it will eliminate long waiting periods for visa decisions, according to a report by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Hipper elaborated on the changes, adding that with the full transition to online visa applications, physical document submissions will no longer be necessary.
“The digitalisation of the visa procedure means that Member States will process digital applications and issue visas digitally. This will reduce the administrative burden associated with handling paper applications, visa stickers and contribute to improving the processing time,” Hipper said.
This transformation comes as a result of agreements reached between the European Parliament and the Council, with the aim of modernising, simplifying, and harmonising visa procedures for third-country nationals applying for visas and for EU Member States responsible for granting them, the report said.
Visa sticker no longer required for Schengen visa
Hipper outlined two key aspects of this digitalisation.
First, the EU Visa Application platform will offer applicants a seamless and standardised procedure, reducing the need to visit consulates or visa application centres in person.
Second, visas will be issued in a digital format and digitally linked to the traveller’s document, eliminating the requirement to leave the travel document for visa sticker.
“This means that visa applicants do not have to leave their travel document at the consulate or Visa Application Centre to add a visa sticker, plus no costs to get the travel document back,” she said.
Hipper noted that certain factors affect Schengen visa processing times.
However, Hipper noted that certain factors affect Schengen visa processing times. The post-pandemic surge in visa applications has placed a strain on Member States, leading to delays, particularly during peak holiday periods.
To address these challenges, the Commission has called on Member States to increase their operational capacities and increase appointment availability.
Some Member States have responded by regularly updating their systems and scaling their staff levels according to demand to ensure that all visa applications are processed promptly, the report added.