Finance

Approval from the EP for the digitalization of Schengen applications

The European Parliament (EP) deputies accepted the report on the digitalization of Schengen visa applications.

The report, submitted to the European Parliament (EP) Civil Liberties Committee and in which 34 deputies voted against 5, aims to speed up visa processes and increase security by making visa applications digitally.

Within the legal process required for the digitalization of visa applications, the EU Board, which consists of representatives of the European Union (EU) countries, the EU Board and the EP must reach a conclusion through joint negotiations.

With the agreement of the EU institutions, visas will no longer be printed on passports, but will be processed into the digital system instead.

It is envisaged to reduce visa application costs and processes, to receive applications on a single platform, to integrate the system with EU border administration and database systems, to prevent fraud and to increase security thanks to digital visas.

In addition, the presence of a multi-language option in the digital visa application system, thus preventing the collective rejection of applications made from the same IP address, is also included in the report passed by the parliament.