Schengen visa is going digital. Can Indian passport holders apply online?

The Council of the European Union has approved the digitalisation of the visa application process for those intending to travel to the Schengen Area.

This much-awaited new step now allows Schengen visa applicants to submit their requests online, eliminating the painstaking process of consulate or embassy visits and the lengthy waiting times.

What

The most important development in this digital shift is the establishment of an EU visa application platform. 

• Most Schengen visa applications will transition to this user-friendly online platform, where applicants can input necessary information, upload electronic copies of travel and supporting documents, and make visa fee payments. 
• Notifications on visa decisions will also be conveyed through this platform.
• The digitised system can automatically determine the country responsible for processing applications from individuals planning to visit multiple Schengen member states. Despite this automation, applicants will retain the option to specify a particular country for processing based on the purpose of their travel.

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What's good 

• This transition to a digitised process is designed for enhanced efficiency and convenience, markedly different from the traditional paperwork approach. 
• Physical visits to consulates will become largely unnecessary, except for specific cases such as first-time applicants, individuals with new travel documents, and those with expired biometric data.

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Sticker to barcode

• The new regulations also introduce a shift from the conventional visa sticker to a more secure and sophisticated cryptographically signed barcode. 
• This change aligns with modern technological advancements and aims to provide a higher level of security in visa documentation, reducing the risk of counterfeiting.

Automated entry/exit

Moreover, under the updated rules, an automated EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will be implemented, recording individuals' details, biometric data, and entry and exit dates. This system is intended to facilitate the monitoring of overstays and refused entries.

When

The implementation date for these new rules will be determined once the work on the visa platform and the digital visa is completed. 

Status for India

Currently requiring a Schengen visa for entry into the Schengen Zone, Indians will experience a shift toward a more accessible and streamlined application process. 

Schengen visas are relatively easy to get from India (even though the process itself is painstakingly long and complicated), with rejection rates in most Schengen area countries below 10 percent. The easiest country to apply for a Schengen Visa to is Switzerland, with rejection rates below six percent. 

The visa fees for India are: 

• Indian Adults: Rs 7,210.25
• Children between 6-12 years of age: Rs 3,605.13
• Children younger than six years of age: Free

Currently, Indian visa applicants apply for Schengen Visas through VFS Global - an outsourcing and technology services company for government and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is yet to receive an update on the status of implementation in the country.

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While the specific implications for Indian passport holders will become clearer upon the completion of the digital visa platform, these changes signal a positive development in visa application procedures for individuals travelling from India to the Schengen Area should they be implemented in the country.