The Council of the European Union (EU) will start negotiations with the European Parliament to agree on the final wording of the legislative proposal to digitalise visa procedures.1
A digitalised Schengen visa procedure would involve an online application for a visa, and the current visa sticker will be replaced with visas in digital format, including a 2-D barcode equipped with a cryptographical signature.
A creation of a single website for applications for Schengen visas is aimed at improving the efficiency of the application process. Uploading all relevant data along with relevant documents, as well as the payment of fees, will be possible through the single website.
Online applications will reduce the number of trips to the consulate for travellers, as in-person meetings will be required only of first-time applicants.
It is expected that online applications and digital visas will prevent falsification and theft of the current visa stickers and thereby improve security in the Schengen area.
The EU has been facing migration and security challenges for years. Pressure on the external EU borders and a considerable slowing down of visa operations during the COVID-19 pandemic created the idea of putting in place more digital procedures for the EU’s visa system.
Currently, applying for a Schengen visa is an administratively burdensome procedure that is paper-based. Applicants are required to travel to the nearest consulates to submit their applications and collect their visas afterwards.
The European Commission submitted a legislative proposal for digitalising visa procedures already in April 2022.2 The proposal contains the following:
The date(s) for negotiations about finalising new legislation for the digitalisation of the visa process between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament has not been set. It is therefore not possible to say when approval of the legislation and the implementation of the digital visa process may take place. Some countries are forging ahead: for example, Spain just approved a change to its law providing for the possibility of electronic applications for visas.3
The EU has launched Europe’s Digital Decade 2020-2030,4 a project aimed at realising the digital transformation of the EU that includes digitalisation of public services.
In the field of immigration, the EU has introduced a digital system for pre-approval of passengers travelling to the EU from visa exempted non-EU countries called “ETIAS.” ETIAS will apply from 2024. (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2023-119, 24 January 2023.) The EU has also introduced e-gates that will automatically record border crossing into and out of the EU called the “EES system.” EES is expected to be operational later in 2023. (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2023-119, 24 January 2023.) Therefore, it seems it is a natural progression to digitalise the application process for visas.
Even though it cannot be foreseen when the application system for visas will be digitalised, employers should be aware of and keep an eye on the progress of digital transformation in the EU. Digitalisation of different procedures is expected to diminish administrative burdens, but also it could inevitably increase requirements for accuracy and timeliness of information and documents submitted to the authorities. Digitalisation is expected to allow the relevant authorities to perform checks and assessments more efficiently than is the case today with paper-based processes.
1 Council of the European Union: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council as regards the digitalisation of the visa procedure – Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament, 7905/23, Brussels, 29 March 2023.
2 European Commission: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the digitalisation of the visa procedure, COM(2022) 658 final, Brussels, 27 April 2022.
3 See "Ley Orgánica 2/2023, de 22 de marzo, del Sistema Universitario" published in Boletín Oficial del Estado núm. 70, de 23/03/2023.
4 European Commission: Europe’s Digital Decade, last update 15 February 2023.
GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
© 2024 KPMG, an Irish partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organisation of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.
For more detail about the structure of the KPMG global organisation please visit https://kpmg.com/governance.
