Muscat: The digitalization of Schengen visa application procedures, which was approved by the European Council last week, will be completed by the end of 2028.
In 2026, the EU visa application platform and the digital visa would coexist. After the end of the transition period (end of 2028), all visa applications would be lodged online through the EU visa application platform (except for a few exceptional cases for which a paper procedure would remain possible), according to Besart Bajrami, the founder of SchengenVisaInfo and VisaGuide, who shared the information to the Observer.
Taking into account the pre-pandemic trend of visa applications, by the time this platform starts fully functioning in 2028, between 22 and 25 million visa applications worldwide will be processed through this system, saving applicants hours of time and money, and the member states millions of euros in staff and resources.
In 2022, Schengen consulates in Oman received a total of 30,885 visa applications. Among these, 23,430 visas were approved, while 2,287 applications were denied, representing approximately 7.4 percent of the total.
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Bajrami said, "This is without a doubt a revolution in the sector of EU visa applications, which will completely reshape travelers’ experience on getting a Schengen visa, making it not only less expensive, but also less time and energy consuming, and thus less stressful. The platform will also eliminate the possibility of rejection for applying at the wrong embassy."
He also expects consulates to avoid a backlog of visa applications and visa decisions to be delivered within the foreseen period. However, Bajrami is a bit skeptical, when it comes to the full functionalization of the platform by 2028.
In 2022, when the EU announced its plans for such a platform, it claimed that the same would be ready by 2025. However, now the EU claims that the Member States will gradually start transitioning the in-person procedures online only in 2026, with the same expected to transition only in 2028.
Information shared by SchengenVisaInfo
What applicants can expect from the online procedures?
It will be possible to complete all procedures in one single platform.
Regardless of the country or number of countries a traveler wishes to travel to, whether for tourism, to visit family members or business, all applicants will have to file their request for a Schengen Visa through a single platform.
The platform will then determine which Schengen country is responsible for processing the application, and then forward it to the respective authorities.
Every Schengen Visa applicant must submit: Name, surname, place and date of birth, Passport information, Occupation, dates of previous trips to the Schengen Area
Information on previously held visas and trips made worldwide, travellers will also have to answer questions on which country they wish to visit, how they plan to fund their trip future trip, their accommodation, flights, etc.
It is not known how precisely travelers will be asked to provide proof for each of them.
Applicants won’t have to collect and print a ton of documents anymore.
One of the main changes visa applicants will experience in the future when it comes to getting a Schengen visa will be the number of documents required. While proof on several aspects of the application will still be required, applicants will no longer have to present them physically, instead, the digital form of will be enough.
Travelers will have to upload the required documents to the platform, amongst which will be a passport scan, digital biometric photos, proof on means of travel, flight tickets
proof of accommodation
Visa fees will also be paid online through the same platform.
Only first-time applicants will have to apply in person.
Some applicants will still have to show up in person at the visa center, or consulate, in order to file an application. However, this is a limited list of only three groups:
Those applying for a Schengen Visa for the very first time
Those whose biometric data are not valid anymore
Those who have a new travel document
Yet, even for those who have to show up at the visa center in person, it will still be easier as they won’t have to wait for an appointment or wait in line to submit their application due to crowds of people waiting to apply.
Visa stickers will be replaced with digital barcodes.
Finally, travelers will no longer have visa stickers posted on their passport pages, as the same will be replaced with digital barcodes. The visa sticker will soon become a relict of the past, that avid travelers can keep as a ‘souvenir’ from their past trips,
Once the platform is introduced and launched, consulates will no longer have to hire tons of staff in order to deal with visa applications. Most contracts with third parties like VFS Global, BLS International, VisaMetric, and TLS will be terminated or renewed in order to outsource fewer capacities to them.
At the same time, travelers will only have to pay the visa fee, thus saving their money on processing fees introduced by third parties, which sometimes are as high as the visa fee itself.
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