Digital Application Period for Schengen Visa Begins!

Europe's travel understanding is evolving once again with digital transformation, and a new era is beginning for those wishing to obtain a Schengen Visa: The Digital Application Period!

It is known that the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), has accepted a new regulation that allows applications for Schengen visas to be made online. According to this regulation, citizens of countries subject to the Schengen visa, including Turkey, will have the opportunity to apply for a visa online under certain conditions without having to go to consulates or embassies.

You can learn all the details about the digital application period for Schengen visas and much more by continuing to read the article.

Contents

1. The Digital Application Period for Schengen Visas is Starting!
2. 1.1. How to Apply for a Digital Schengen Visa?
3. 1.2. What Are the Situations Where It Is Necessary to Go to Consulates for Visa Applications?
4. 1.3. When Will the Digital Schengen Visa Come into Effect?
5. 1.4. For Which Countries Will the Digital Schengen Visa Application Be Valid?
6. 1.5. Is the Digital Schengen Visa Secure?
7. 1.6. How Much Will the Application Fee for the Digital Schengen Visa Be?

How to Apply for a Digital Schengen Visa?

With the enactment of the law, the EU Commission plans to create a visa application platform, which is expected to be developed through ETIAS. You can learn all the details you may wonder about the ETIAS system in our blog post titled, “What is ETIAS? When Will It Start to Be Implemented?” with the difference of kolayseyahat.net.

To elaborate a bit more on the subject; it can be said that it is foreseen that all Schengen visa applications, except for some essential situations, will be made through a single website via these platforms. Therefore, negative situations such as collecting documents days in advance, tracking documents, time constraints, or experiencing stress are expected to become a thing of the past.

On the other hand, this system to be created will be responsible for transmitting all applications to the national visa system of the relevant member state. Thus, applications for a Schengen visa for any EU member country can only be made through this platform created by the commission.

Those applying for a visa through the platform will be able to upload all electronic copies of their travel plans and supporting documents. Additionally, all data required for the visa will also be entered into this platform, and applicants will be able to easily make their visa payments through this platform as well. Finally, the results of the applications will also be viewable through this platform.

What Are the Situations Where It Is Necessary to Go to Consulates for Visa Applications?

As mentioned above, while it is likely that all applications will be digitized, there may still be situations where it is necessary to go to consulates for visa applications. You can follow these situations in the list below.

• First-time visa applicants
• Those whose biometric data is no longer valid
• Those with a new travel document (passport)

Additionally, if the visa applicant wishes to visit multiple Schengen countries, the platform will automatically determine which of these countries is responsible for reviewing the application based on the person's length of stay.

When Will the Digital Schengen Visa Come into Effect?

The European Union (EU) Travel Information and Travel Authorization System (ETIAS) will start the development of the digital application platform in 2024. However, it is anticipated that applications will be accepted starting in 2026, and after a 5-year transition period, all member countries are planned to start operating with this digital application system in 2031.

Ultimately, this system aims to digitize the visa application processes of travelers, expand travel freedom, and make the application process more accessible.

For Which Countries Will the Digital Schengen Visa Application Be Valid?

The digital Schengen visa application will be valid in all countries that fully comply with the Schengen agreement after the proposal becomes law. However, there may be some additions or omissions until the proposal is legalized. Nevertheless, the currently anticipated and listed Schengen countries are as follows:

Germany	Estonia	Sweden	Luxembourg	Slovenia	Liechtenstein
Austria	Finland	Italy	Malta	Greece
Belgium	France	Hungary	Poland	Switzerland
Czech Republic	Netherlands	Latvia	Portugal	Iceland
Denmark	Spain	Lithuania	Slovakia	Norway

In addition to these countries, there is curiosity about whether the digital Schengen visa application will be valid for Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. However, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus, along with Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, do not fully implement the Schengen agreement. Therefore, despite being listed in the table, it is possible that these countries may not be included in the digital transformation program.

Is the Digital Schengen Visa Secure?

With the digital Schengen visa, security questions have also frequently come to the forefront. Many people question the validity of this system where they will upload documents, but the situation appears to be the opposite. According to the European Commission, the reason for this is that the visas printed on paper processed in passports are more susceptible to fraud and theft. Therefore, this system, which will function as a type of electronic file, is reported to be more qualitative and secure compared to the traditional method.

How Much Will the Application Fee for the Digital Schengen Visa Be?

While there is no specific fee announced by legal sources, it is currently not anticipated that the digital application fees will increase. However, since there is still a certain period until the system comes into effect, there may be an increase in Schengen visa fees by that time. Currently, the established Schengen visa fees are as follows:

• 80 euros for those over 12 years old
• 40 euros for those between 6 and 12 years old
• Free for applicants under 6 years old

As a result; the changes brought by these new digital visa application systems are making the travel world more accessible, faster, and user-friendly, and the evolution in the procedures faced by travelers from the Schengen Visa to ETIAS is expected to facilitate crossing borders, enhancing intercultural interaction and travel freedom.