EU Commission proposes overhaul of Schengen short‑stay visa rules and fees

The Local reports that the European Commission has launched a consultation on revising the Schengen short‑stay visa regime. Commissioners highlighted the need for a "more coherent, secure and effective" visa policy while also facilitating legitimate travel. The proposed changes could cover the fee structure, eligibility criteria and the validity period of visas, as well as steps to improve digital processing at external EU borders. The Commission indicated that the review will be based on feedback from Member States, visa‑issuing authorities and civil‑society groups. The Schengen area, which enables passport‑free movement for around 450 million people, relies on a common visa framework for third‑country nationals. Any amendment to visa rules therefore touches on EU internal‑market principles, border‑security cooperation and the Union’s external action policy. In recent years, the bloc has faced divergent pressures – from heightened migration flows to the need for smoother tourist and business travel – prompting calls for a more balanced approach that respects security concerns while avoiding unnecessary barriers to the single market. If adopted, the revised rules could lower travel costs for legitimate visitors and speed up application processing, benefitting tourism‑dependent economies and SMEs that rely on short‑term staff mobility. Conversely, adjustments to fees or eligibility might affect certain categories of applicants, such as seasonal workers or students from non‑EU countries. The Commission plans to present a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and the Council by early 2027, with final adoption likely in the second half of that year, after a mandatory parliamentary scrutiny period.

Source: The Local. Read the original report ↗