The European Union (EU) is working towards a fully digitalized visa application process to streamline procedures and improve efficiency for third-country nationals and Member State authorities. This initiative aligns with the EU’s goal of modernizing public services, as detailed in the 2030 Digital Compass communication. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the European Commission in 2020 aims to fully digitalize the visa procedure by 2025, introducing a digital visa and online application submission.
The proposed EU online application platform will enable visa applicants to apply for a visa through a single platform, regardless of their destination Member State. The platform will provide up-to-date information on Schengen short-stay visas, requirements, and procedures, as well as a communication mechanism to answer applicants’ questions. Applicants can submit their applications, provide required data, and upload scanned copies of their documents through the platform. The data will be temporarily stored before being transferred to the competent Member State’s national system for storage and processing.
In-person appearances at consulates or external service providers will primarily be mandatory for first-time applicants, those with new travel documents, and for the collection of biometric identifiers. Repeat applicants can apply fully online within 59 months after their initial successful application if using the same travel document.
Special provisions apply to third-country nationals subject to visa requirements who are family members of EU citizens or third-country nationals with free movement rights equivalent to EU citizens. The EU online visa application platform should fully respect the rights and facilitations granted to such individuals.
Applicants applying for a visa should provide proof of holding supporting documents, both digitally and physically. Visa fees can be paid through a gateway linked to the online application platform, with payments directly transferred to the appropriate Member State. If electronic payment is not possible, consulates or external service providers will collect the visa fees.
The EU application platform may contain an optional appointment tool for Member States to manage appointments at consulates or external service providers. Applicants will be notified if any information is missing and can correct their applications. An automated admissibility pre-check will be performed to ensure the provided information meets visa requirements.
Upon acceptance of the application by the competent consulate or central authorities, the data will be imported into the national system and deleted from temporary storage, except for contact data. Applicants will be informed electronically about updates regarding their application or visa status.
Visas will be issued in digital format as a 2D barcode, cryptographically signed by the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) of the issuing Member State, to reduce security risks related to counterfeited and stolen visa stickers. Visa holders can apply for confirmation of the visa in a new travel document through the EU application platform if their travel document is lost, stolen, expired, or invalidated.
Data stored in the EU application platform will be protected using privacy-enhancing measures. External service providers will have limited access to the platform, and they will not have access to data stored in the Visa Information System (VIS).
The start date for operations, including the digital visa and the EU application platform, is yet to be determined. Member States can decide not to use the online EU application platform for a period of 5-7 years from the start of operations but can join before the end of the transition period. During this transitional period, visa holders can still verify their digital visas using the web service of the EU application platform, even if the Member State processing their visa applications opts not to use the online EU application platform.
eu-LISA is responsible for ensuring sufficient capacities and functionalities for the EU visa application platform, enabling Member States to join during the transition period. The platform should be set up to allow Member States not yet fully applying the Schengen acquis to connect seamlessly once a Council decision has been taken. Storage capacity and interconnection with national visa information systems are particularly important. Competent authorities of concerned Member States should be involved in the platform’s development from the beginning.
Member States not fully applying the Schengen acquis may request eu-LISA to include a URL in the EU application platform, pointing to their national application procedures. The platform should also allow applicants and other entities, such as employers, universities, or local authorities, to verify digital visas. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania should have read-only access to digital visas stored in VIS.
eu-LISA is responsible for the technical development and operational management of the EU application platform and its components within VIS. The system architecture should reuse existing and upcoming systems within the new interoperability framework, particularly ETIAS and EES, while respecting technological limitations and investments made by Member States.
Financing for the development, interconnection, and operation of the EU visa application platform should come from the general budget of the Union. Member States may use the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy for necessary adaptations to their national visa information systems.
Checking digital visas at the border should rely on existing and upcoming EU system architecture for border management and visa holder information stored in VIS. Long-stay visas should also be issued in digital format, necessitating amendments to the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement.
The Regulation respects fundamental rights and observes principles recognized by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The introduction of the EU application platform and digital visa will fully respect personal data protection, private and family life, child rights, and the protection of vulnerable persons. The platform will also ensure easy access for people with disabilities by following the Accessibility Directive.
Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania each have specific provisions and agreements concerning their participation or non-participation in the adoption and application of this Regulation. The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted and delivered an opinion on June 21, 2022.
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7905-2023-INIT/en/pdf
