BRUSSELS
– European travelers will soon be able to apply for Schengen visas through a
digital platform, following an amendment adopted by European foreign ministers,
as reported by Al-Hurra TV on Monday.
اضافة اعلان
This
shift towards digitization eliminates the need for
visa stamps on passports,
sparing applicants from scheduling appointments at consulates or designated
offices. The change, revealed after a lengthy legislative process, will come
into effect once the technical work on the visa platform is complete, expected
to take several months before publication in the EU Official Journal.
The
Schengen Area, comprising 23 of the 27 EU member states, along with
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, will see this significant
change. Fernando Grand Marlska, Spain's Interior Minister, stated that the
electronic visa system "will streamline the application process for
travelers."
A new online process
Upon
the new system's launch, short-term travelers can upload electronic copies of
their travel-related documents, biometric information, and pay fees—all through
an online platform. Upon approval, applicants receive an encrypted code that
can be printed or stored electronically.
However,
first-time visa applicants or those with new passports or modified biometric
data may still need to attend appointments in person.
Countries
like Australia already have similar systems, linking electronic visas directly
to passport holders without the need for physical stamps. Citizens from 60
countries, including Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United
States, currently do not require Schengen visas for short stays.
In
the near future, they will need to apply online for entry visas following
pre-screening procedures under the
European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is expected to begin operation by mid-2025,
similar to the U.S.-approved ESTA system. The EU's automated entry and exit
system, long delayed but anticipated to commence by the end of 2024, will
record biometric data, entry and exit dates, and monitor overstays and entry
denials. Travelers to the EU, whether with a visa or visa exemption, will
undergo this automated entry and exit process.
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