The European Union has adopted a regulation on the issuance of digital Schengen visas, according to a press release on the website of the European Commission.
The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have agreed on digitalizing the visa process. The regulation modernizes two main aspects of the procedure, which are the visa sticker and the digitalization of the visa application through a unique platform.
Applicants will be able to apply online and pay the visa fee through the single EU platform regardless of the Schengen country they wish to visit.
The platform will automatically determine which Schengen country is responsible for examining the application, including in the case where the applicant intends to visit several Schengen countries.
The platform will provide up-to-date information on short-stay Schengen visas and all the necessary information about the requirements and procedures (list of documents, visa fee, or the need to make an appointment for biometrics).
Digital visas will also be issued by EU countries that have not yet fully applied the Schengen rules: Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus. Schengen countries must join the platform within a transitional period of 7 years.
This regulation must now be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.