European Commission advises member states to restart visa application procedures abroad

(TAN): The European Union (EU) nations have been advised by the European Commission to restart visa procedures abroad so that travellers from outside of the bloc can begin their visa application process for visiting the Schengen Area.

Most of the EU member states had suspended visa operations after travel restrictions were imposed because of COVID-19.

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“Travellers will need to be able to access visa services again, and the Member States should synchronise the resumption of visa operations with the lifting of travel restrictions. This is why today the Commission presents guidance for a phased and coordinated return of visa operations to normal,” the Commission said.

The Commission advised travellers to get themselves checked during or prior to travel if health checks are required in their destination country.

“If a Member State requires health checks, these should take place at the time of travel or shortly before, rather than when applying for a visa; and should apply to all travellers from a given location irrespective of their nationality or visa status,” the Commission advised.

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The Commission presented a recommendation associated with the entry ban of third-country nationals that urges the member states to abolish travel restrictions for countries that have fulfilled the criteria laid down by the member countries. The body also said the citizens of the six Western Balkan nations – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia should be given priority while entering the bloc when borders reopen on July 1, if their epidemiological state is at least similar to that of the EU.

Earlier this week, the Commission suggested the member states to start reopening the external borders gradually and partially for allowing visitors from non-European Union and non-Schengen countries to enter the territory from July 1.

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