Digitalisation of visa procedures: Commission launches public consultation

The Commission is launching today a public consultation on making visa procedures digital. Visa applicants, the travel industry, other interested stakeholders and the general public are invited to contribute. The changes under consideration include introducing a digital visa to replace the paper visa sticker currently in use and enabling those planning to travel to the EU to submit their visa application fully online. A paperless and contactless visa procedure will save time and money to travellers and to consulates, while also ensuring the highest level of security at the external borders of the Union. This initiative is fully aligned with the Commission’s objective to modernise and digitise public services in the Union. The consultation will run until 3 June and its results will feed into the preparation of a Commission proposal to be presented by the end of 2021. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum sets the objective of making the visa procedure fully digitalised by 2025.