November 14, 2023
1 min read

EU Council Approves Online Visa Platform for Travellers to Schengen Area

The new regulations will enter into force 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU, according to the Council…reports Asian Lite News

 Travellers from third countries who wish to visit the European Union’s (EU) border-free Schengen area will soon be able to apply for their visa online, as two new regulations have been adopted by the EU Council.

“The possibility of applying for a Schengen visa online will be a great improvement for citizens and for the processing of the applications,” Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gomez, Spain’s acting minister of interior, said.

“It will simplify the application process for travellers and at the same time will ease the burden on national administrations, which will be able to respond more quickly and effectively,” he added.

The two new regulations will create an EU visa application platform, where all relevant documents can be uploaded and visa fees be paid, Xinhua news agency reported.

However, in-person applications at consulates are still required for first-time applicants, people whose biometric data are no longer valid and people with new travel documents.

On the new platform, the current visa sticker will be replaced by a cryptographically signed barcode. This should reduce the security risks linked to counterfeit and stolen visa stickers.

In the context of the recent migration and security challenges, and the Covid-19 pandemic that considerably slowed down visa processing and created the need for more digital procedures, the European Commission submitted a legislative proposal in April 2022 aiming at digitalizing visa procedures.

The new regulations will enter into force 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU, according to the Council.

Once the technical work on the visa platform and the digital visa has been concluded, the date of application of the new rules will be decided, it added.

ALSO READ-Ukraine gets signal of EU membership talks next month

Previous Story

Four Lebanese Killed in Confrontations Between Hezbollah

Next Story

Festival Feast without Guilt

Latest from -Top News

India, UAE Strengthen Green Partnership

At the IUCN 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh urged stronger India‑UAE climate and biodiversity cooperation….reports Asian Lite News The government said India and the UAE have significant potential to

India Commits to Afghan Growth

As a special gesture, India gifted 20 ambulances to the Afghan people with a symbolic handover being done by the EAM…reports Asian Lite News India on Friday announced plans to expand its

Islamabad, Rawalpindi Shut Down Over TLP Rally

Authorities have placed containers at Faizabad Interchange to block entry into Islamabad from Rawalpindi….reports Asian Lite News In Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi, roads and entry points were sealed, and communication

NY Attorney General indicted in mortgage fraud

The indictment comes just weeks after former FBI Director James Comey was charged in a separate, highly controversial case…reports Asian Lite News New York Attorney General Letitia James has been charged in

US targets Chinese flights over Russia

US carriers have long criticised the allowance of Chinese flights over Russia, arguing that the shorter routes reduce travel time and fuel consumption, providing an unfair advantage….reports Asian Lite News The Trump
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Russia vows response to EU hostility yet ready for dialogue

He said that while the bloc is mulling anti-Russian moves,

Omicron subvariant casts shadow over easing curbs in Europe

The EMA called non-vaccinated citizens to get jabbed as soon