Teodora Marinska, the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Public Affairs at the European Travel Commission, has recently confirmed that the introduction of the digital Schengen visa application will offer a more convenient and straightforward process for foreigners visiting the Schengen Area.
According to a report by Schengen visa news, Marinska indicated that the current process of visa application for foreigners who require a visa to enter the Schengen Area is often challenging due to the high demand for appointment slots. She also stated that some foreigners apply for a visa in a Schengen country embassy due to the ease of the procedure, coupled with a lack of appointments in the country they intend to visit.
Marinska noted that the digitalisation of the process will alter the game as it will provide an automatic allocation of appointments and a seamless procedure for visa applicants, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo. France became the first European country to issue digital Schengen visas to visitors for the upcoming Paris Olympics in January of this year. France has also announced plans to transition entirely to online procedures for 70,000 French Schengen Visas, aligning with the EU’s digitalisation plans.
The European Union announced plans to make the Schengen visa digital last year. In November, European Union foreign ministers approved the shift of the visa application process to an online platform. Once in effect, applicants will no longer need to obtain a sticker in their passport. This will streamline the application process, removing the need for consulate or service provider appointments.
The Schengen Area comprises 23 of the 27 EU member countries and associated neighbours Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s Interior Minister and the current holder of the EU presidency, stated that the online visa system “will streamline the application process for travellers.” Once operational, visa applicants for the Schengen Area can submit required documents, data, and electronic copies of their travel documents, including biometric information and make payments through the online platform.
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