The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have agreed to abandon traditional visas in favor of digital ones, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Thus, the EU Council wants to make the process more efficient, convenient and safer. Because a digital visa is harder to fake.
According to the official website, it is planned to create a digital platform that will allow applicants to enter information, upload electronic copies of documents and pay the visa fee online.
It is planned that Schengen visas will be issued in digital format in the form of a two-dimensional barcode with a cryptographic signature. The visa decision will be answered through the same website.
Only those applicants who apply for a visa for the first time, as well as those whose travel documents have changed or whose biometric data has expired, will have to visit the consulate in person.
Despite the obvious advantages, there is still no exact date for the introduction of the new system, since it must be approved by the EU member states.