EU unveils new visa strategy: focus on security, digitisation and talent mobility
The European Commission has published the first comprehensive EU Visa Policy Strategy, outlining the long-term direction for the development of EU visa policy. The strategy brings together security considerations, economic competitiveness and foreign policy objectives, while responding to increased global mobility, emerging security challenges and the EU’s growing need to attract and retain skilled talent.
The strategy aims to strengthen the role of visa policy as a tool for protecting the Schengen area while supporting economic growth by facilitating entry for foreigners who bring investment, innovation and specialist know-how. Security considerations are an inherent part of this approach and have practical implications for the ongoing and planned modernisation of EU security systems. This includes both the newly introduced Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) whose launch—after several postponements—is currently planned for later this year.
Digitisation and promoting talent mobility
The Commission confirms that visa processes will be fully digitised – from the submission of an application to the issuance of a digital visa. Simplification and digitisation are intended to enhance the security of the system, reduce the administrative burden and make procedures clearer for both applicants and consulates. The current system simply does not meet the requirements placed on it by either visa applicants or administrative authorities.
Alongside this, there are also plans to simplify and speed up procedures for skilled workers, students and researchers. The EU aims to become an attractive destination for international talent and views the removal of administrative barriers as one of its greatest challenges.
Revision of the long-term visa system
The Commission also plans to review the current rules on the granting of long-term visas and residence permits, particularly for those in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the STEM category), start-ups and highly skilled workers. Speeding up visa processes for selected categories of applicants could bring greater flexibility in terms of mobility and thus increase the attractiveness of EU countries in the eyes of potential investors.
A special category comprises professions where foreign nationals often need to travel between member states – e.g. artists, athletes or drivers. The EU wants to seek solutions that would allow legal residence beyond the 90/180 rule without the need to apply for a long-term residence permit in the relevant member state. In practice, this secondary mobility is often an intractable problem for which neither current European nor local legislation is prepared.
Visa service providers and new tools
As part of the new strategy, the Commission intends to establish an EU Visa Support Office to provide methodological and technical assistance to consulates processing visa applications. The objective is to enhance service quality and improve the identification of potential risks. At the same time, the Commission plans to strengthen oversight of external visa service providers who, in certain countries, handle visa applications on behalf of consulates. To this end, the Commission will launch a study examining the practical implications of outsourcing visa services, including their funding arrangements.
The new visa strategy represents an ambitious plan for a comprehensive modernisation of visa policy, reflecting current geopolitical, economic and security needs. The document offers a rather impressive vision, but the real challenge will lie in its implementation across member states.