The European Commission (the “Commission”) has unveiled its first-ever European Union visa policy strategy,1 aiming to modernize and harmonize how visas are managed across the EU. This strategy is designed to make Europe more connected, secure, and globally competitive by updating visa rules, digitalizing procedures, and strengthening both border security and economic opportunities. At the same time, the strategy can be seen as a push to boost compliance and post-arrival monitoring for companies.
WHY THIS MATTERS
For businesses and globally mobile professionals, the new EU visa strategy could be a game-changer. Efficient, digital visa processes would reduce administrative burdens, speed up travel, and make it easier to access talent and respond to market needs.
By facilitating legitimate travel for tourists, businesspeople, and skilled workers, the EU aims to remain a top destination for innovation and investment. At the same time, robust security measures and harmonized rules will protect the integrity of the Schengen area and help ensure legal certainty for cross-border assignments.
Some reforms are expected to take effect in 2026, while others are tied to broader, multi-year projects and may take longer to materialize. Employers and stakeholders should stay alert to developments and prepare for a more harmonized, digital, and compliance-focused EU migration landscape
Essential Details
The European Union has adopted its first-ever “EU Visa Strategy,” issued a new “Recommendation on Attracting Talent for Innovation,” and announced a “European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy.” Together, these initiatives set out a long-term, strategic framework to balance talent attraction, regulatory control, and enforcement across the bloc.
The EU Visa Strategy is the EU’s first comprehensive framework dedicated to visa policy, aiming for a more strategic, coherent, and long-term approach to mobility, security, and external relations. Policy recommendations—such as the one on Attracting Talent for Innovation— are part of the Commission’s broader agenda, reflecting evolving labor market needs, geopolitical realities, and regulatory priorities. These initiatives mark a continued shift toward EU-level harmonization, but practical implementation will depend on legislative action, pilot programs, and member state engagement.
EU Visa Strategy
Key elements include:
- Security: The visa system is the EU’s first line of defense, screening for irregular migration, organized crime, and terrorism. New technologies and interoperable databases will make border management smarter and more resilient.
- Longer Validity Multiple-Entry Visas: The EU is considering multiple-entry visas with validity periods exceeding the current five-year maximum for trusted business travelers, those with a strong travel history, and links to recognized employers.
- Flexibility for Mobile Professionals: The Commission is exploring exemptions from the 90 days in a 180-day period Schengen rule for categories such as touring artists, athletes, and cross-border project experts.
- New Visa-Free Assessment Framework: A new framework for granting visa-free status to third countries will use indicators like visa refusal rates, unfounded asylum claims, cooperation on returns, and security benchmarks. Criteria are expected to be agreed in 2026.
- Restrictive Visa Measures: The revised visa code will introduce targeted measures to suspend, refuse, or restrict visas in response to hostile actions by third countries that threaten EU security.
- European Legal Gateway Offices: A pilot “Legal Gateway Office” is launching in India (focused on the information and communication sector) to support non-EU nationals and employers with immigration processes. Expansion to other sectors and countries may follow.
EU Recommendation on Attracting Talent for Innovation
Key recommendations include:
- Talent Retention: The EU aims to promote family reunification, post-study job-search periods, intra-EU mobility, and access to long-term residence to attract and retain top talent.
- Recognized Entities: Approved employers, universities, and research organizations will benefit from reduced documentation requirements but will be subject to increased scrutiny and ongoing compliance monitoring.
- Startups and Innovation: Member states are encouraged to implement fully digital, simplified, and fast-track procedures for researchers, STEM professionals, startup founders, and innovative entrepreneurs, with a 30-day processing target for many long-stay applications.
European Asylum and Migration Strategy
Key elements include:
- Employer Sanctions Directive: The Commission will review and potentially strengthen the Employers Sanctions Directive, with increased inspections and enforcement at the national level.
- Digitalization: There is a strong push to digitalize immigration processes—including visas, residence permits, and case management—to speed up decisions.
- Legal Talent Pathways: Initiatives such as the EU Talent Pool, Talent Partnerships, and Legal Gateway Offices will channel workers into formal, compliant migration routes.
KPMG INSIGHTS
The EU has already rolled out the Entry/Exit System (EES),2 which electronically records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals traveling to and from the Schengen Area. The system tracks biometric and travel data to enhance border security, streamline border checks, and monitor overstays.
Additionally, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to launch at the end of this year.3 ETIAS will require non-EU travelers who do not need a visa to obtain travel authorization before entering the Schengen Area. This system aims to improve security by pre-screening travelers and identifying potential risks before arrival.
What the EU Visa Strategy Means for the UK
The EU’s new visa strategy marks a shift toward a more unified, digital, and talent-focused approach to migration across 27 countries. However, the success of the initiatives in the strategy depends on the acceptance and implementation at the local level.
While the UK and EU share similar goals—attracting global talent while maintaining control—their methods are diverging. The EU is pairing streamlined access for trusted employers and skilled migrants with enhanced security and compliance, leveraging its structural advantage of free movement and a vast single market.
For the UK, this means increased competition for global talent. The EU’s facilitation of intra-bloc mobility, digital visa processes, and clear pathways for innovators and researchers could make it a more attractive destination for mobile professionals. The UK’s strengths—world-leading institutions, English language, and global networks—remain compelling, but policy choices around speed, clarity, and settlement will be crucial.
As the EU moves to modernize and harmonize its migration framework, the UK faces a strategic choice: whether to match the EU’s pace and clarity in talent attraction, or risk losing its competitive edge. The UK’s ability to act quickly and decisively could be its advantage, but execution will be key.
Companies with a mobile workforce, as well as individual employees, might choose to closely monitor developments in the EU and UK in this area. For further guidance, please reach out to your KPMG contact.
ENDNOTES:
1. European Commission: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on EU visa policy strategy, 29 January 2026.
2. KPMG: Gradual implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), 8 October 2025.
3. Ibid.
Contacts
Disclaimer
The above information is not intended to be “written advice concerning one or more federal tax matters” subject to the requirements of section 10.37(a)(2) of Treasury Department Circular 230 as the content of this document is issued for general informational purposes only.
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