Even as European borders are dealing with the chaotic rollout of the electronic Entry/Exit System, it’s looking ahead to another step—a digital version of the Schengen Visa that is required of travelers from countries not eligible for visa waivers.
The new process, which is slated to be fully in place by 2028, will eliminate paper applications, with documents uploaded on line, although it will still require an in-person interview for an applicant’s first time. The visa is issued either for single-entry, or for multiple visits over as long as five years, although limited like all visits to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The existing passport sticker format will change also; the visas will come in the form of an encrypted digital barcode that can be scanned at borders.
A test of the system by France, which issued 70,000 digital Schengen visas during the 2024 Olympics, was successful; hopefully the wider rollout will be smoother than the EES introduction.
