The European Union wants to replace the sticker system in passports in favor of a digital solution for Schengen visas. The online procedure is “easier, cheaper and faster” for applicants.
Visa procedures for the border-free Schengen area should be digitized. Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU countries agreed to that in Brussels this evening.
In the future, people should be able to apply for the visa online. Applicants can then upload all their relevant documents and pay the visa fee via a single platform, regardless of the country.
end of the stream universe sticker
The existing visa sticker in the passport will be replaced by a digital visa. This should make the visa procedure more efficient and the Schengen area safer.
In the case of first-time applications, a new passport, or changed biometric data, an in-person appointment may still be necessary even after the new regulations come into effect.
European Union: reduced risk of counterfeiting, fraud and theft
According to the EU Commission, the application procedures in different countries are currently different, and they are very paper-intensive and therefore also very expensive. A statement said physical visas are more likely to be counterfeited, forged and stolen than digital visas.
In the Schengen area, to which 26 European countries belong, there are no consistent identity checks at borders. The agreement must now be approved by the member states. After that, the necessary law can be officially passed.