Changes and rules for issuing Schengen visas are proposed to improve the screening of applicants and help identify those who may pose a security threat or fail to comply with migration rules. The new rules must still be approved by the European Parliament. They are planned to take effect in 2023.
To obtain a Schengen visa under the new rules, it will be necessary to:
provide fingerprints — this rule will apply to children from the age of 6; visa holders over 75 years old will be exempt from fingerprinting;
a photo must be taken when submitting the application, this also applies to children under six years old; if necessary, countries may also require a pre-printed photo;
VIS will include data not only on short-term visas but also on long-term visas and residence permits (currently there is no such EU-wide database).
Before issuing a visa, an extended check of the applicant’s biographical data will be conducted using relevant security and migration databases. It is important to note that biometric data of visa holders will be stored in databases for 5 years — this rule already applies.
Biometric data of children under 12 years old will be deleted upon exiting the Schengen Area or when the visa expires. Data of those applying for visas or residence permits will also be checked against local databases — migration and law enforcement. The document notes that in the future, VIS will be connected with Europol databases (e.g., Europol will be able to access VIS data on visas and residence permits, and vice versa), as well as with Interpol databases (e.g., consulates will have access to databases of individuals previously convicted of terrorism and serious crimes), and other EU databases.
List of Schengen Area countries
The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that have jointly decided to abolish passport and immigration controls at their shared borders. These include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein.
