The European Union Parliament and Council have agreed upon the digitalization process for the current Schengen Visa system, as revealed by the Schengen Visa official website on Wednesday.
The EU countries are moving to digitize the visa system following a legislative amendment agreed upon.
The official source added that once officially approved and implemented, the new provision will enable travelers needing a visa to enter EU countries to apply online in lieu of in-person consulate or visa service office appointments.
The EU council expressed that the main objective of the proposal is to streamline the visa application process and improve its efficiency. In addition, EU authorities also aim to strengthen security within the Schengen zone with the introduction of new regulations which synchronize data relevant to that purpose.
Matias Nemic–European M.P. and a prominent, staunch advocate of this digital visa system–affirmed that subsequent to the adoption of this new e-visa system, the application process will be faster, more user-friendly, and more cost-effective.