According to a report, the European Union (EU) has authorized a new plan to convert physical Schengen visa applications and stickers to a digital platform.
The report on the digitalization of visa processes in the Schengen area was approved by the EU Parliament with 34 votes in favor, five votes against, and 20 abstentions.
Following the EU parliament’s initiatives to “speed up the process, reduce the efforts and costs required to make an application,” thereby promoting security, the new digital visa procedure was approved.
Digitalization of Schengen Visa
Furthermore, the report states that the parliament emphasized that the digitalization of the visa registration procedure would also guarantee standardized processes throughout the EU.
The plan, according to a statement from the EU parliament, “aims to reduce the costs and efforts required to make an application, while ensuring harmonious processes throughout Europe and improving its security.” By streamlining the visa application process for the Schengen area.
In the future, visa requests would be handled by a “single online platform” that would let applicants know which nation would be handling their request.
Additionally, the members of the EU parliament also want to make sure that visa applications do not get refused if they are submitted from the same IP address, which is possible due to poor internet connectivity in the area.
MEPs also argue that IP addresses should be processed or collected as part of the visa application, the report said, adding that the EU Parliament is now expected to announce the interinstitutional negotiations on the file. “If there are no objections, negotiations on the final details can begin.”