The Commission of the European Union revealed a digitalisation initiative that might be a game-changer for Schengen visa processing.
The long and arduous waiting period for Schengen visas may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to a digitalisation initiative revealed by Anitta Hipper, a spokesperson for the Commission of the European Union, who said that the impending change will wield a significant impact on visa processing times.
What is the update?
Presently, applicants endure an average wait time of approximately 15 working days for their Schengen visa applications to be processed.
Hipper revealed in an interview with schengenvisainfo.com that the entire application process will transition to a digital realm. This includes the issuance of the visa itself, effectively eliminating the need for physical document submissions. This digitalisation is poised to alleviate the administrative burden associated with managing paper applications and affixing visa stickers.
What’s next?
The European Commission committed to this digitalisation drive in June as part of a broader effort to ‘modernise, simplify and harmonise’ visa procedures for non-EU nationals applying for Schengen visas.
This transformation encompasses the digitalisation of both the visa sticker and the application process through the creation of an EU online visa application platform. Consequently, applicants will no longer be obliged to part with their passports at consulates or visa application centres.
The commission has noted that this digital transformation is geared to take effect by 2025.
Impact in the Gulf
For applicants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in other Gulf states like Qatar, where visa applications are processed through centres like VFS Global, this digitalisation comes as a significant relief.
These centres have grappled with overwhelming demand, exacerbated by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The resulting surge in demand, especially during holiday seasons, has frequently led to protracted waiting times for visa appointments, impacting travel plans.
Hipper addressed this matter in her interview, revealing that the Commission has urged member states to enhance their operational capacities and mitigate this issue by releasing more appointment slots.
Notably, several member states have taken decisive measures, such as continually updating their systems and expanding their workforce to align with the surges in demand and to ensure that visa applications are handled promptly and efficiently.
Schengen-style visa plans in the GCC
GCC countries are currently in talks to launch their own ‘Schengen-style’ visa which will facilitate entry into all partner countries under one visa. The development was revealed during this year’s Arabian Travel Market on a panel with Bahrain Tourism Minister HE Fatima Al Sairafi, UAE Undersecretary HE Abdulla Al Saleh and Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin.
Original article published on hoteliermiddleeast.com.
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