Schengen Area
A new law consolidates the Schengen Borders Code, which regulates the entry conditions and border controls of the Schengen area. The law will be implemented within the next 20 days.
The law consolidates at least the following points of the Schengen border rules:
· Thorough verification of visa nationals’ entry rights, including passport and Schengen visa checks;
· Examination of entry/exit stamps to verify that the traveler has not exceeded the maximum duration of authorized stay (90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area); and
· Proof of sufficient funds for the duration and purpose of stay.
Third-country nationals who are found to be noncompliant with the above rules may face entry issues.
What This Means for Foreign Nationals
Although the new law does not change the existing Schengen border rules, EU institutions are working on a proposal that would restrict border controls and implement systematic travel document and biometric information checks against relevant EU databases. Fragomen will monitor the changes and will provide updates as they become available.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to brusselsinfo@fragomen.com.
