“Major changes” are coming for South Africans who need a Schengen visa for travel to Europe.
“Starting 2 February 2020, new revisions will come into effect that were given the green light by the European Commission in June last year”, reports Traveller24.
Currently, travellers from 104 countries and entities need to obtain a visa to enter the EU for stays up to three-months within the Schengen Zone.
These changes, the travel website says, will make the visa process simpler for countries and people in good standing with the European Union (EU), while also ensuring a better balance between migration and security concerns and economic considerations.
First, travellers who frequently travel to the Schengen states with a good history of returning to their country of residency will be granted longer stays and will be eligible to receive 5-year multiple-entry visas. The changes will be especially welcomed by business travellers who travel frequently to Europe.
Keep in mind, the traveller must still have good economic status in their country of residence and show proof of a genuine intention to leave when their trip is over (or visa expires).
Visa fees will be higher when the changes come — applicants who used to pay €60 per application will now pay €80, while those who paid €35 will now need to pay €40. This includes children and other categories that were granted with the benefit of paying lower fees. Children aged 0 to 6 remain exempt from the visa fees. Fees will be reassessed every three years.
Secondly, prospective travellers will now be able to apply up to six months ahead of their trip to Europe; seafarers will be able to apply up to nine months prior. The minimum number of days to apply before your trip will remain at 15 calendar days.
EU member states will now also be obligated to have a representative for their country in every country that requires a visa — this means citizens from smaller countries will no longer have to travel to a neighbouring country to apply for their Schengen visa.
In a bid to facilitate visa application procedures, the updated visa code now instructs Member States to allow application forms to be completed, signed and submitted electronically, whenever possible.
Despite the new changes, travel Insurance remains one of the crucial requirements for Schengen Visa applicants, despite attempts to make it optional.
For those applying for a multiple-entry visa, they will have to prove they are in possession in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit, and sign a new declaration at the end of the application form that states: “I am aware of the need to have an adequate travel medical insurance for my first stay and any subsequent visits to the territory of Member States.”
The Schengen zone includes the following 26 countries (23 of which are part of the EU):
*Note: not all countries in the EU are included in the Schengen Zone, and vice versa.
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