Country / Territory
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
By: Nikhil Bande
The European Union (EU) has laid out new regulations for short-term travelers effective 2 February 2020. This move has been in discussion with the European Parliament since June 2019 and it essentially encourages more travelers to visit the region, which will help to support the EU economy.
In this blog, I will examine the new visa rules, their scope and impact on the mobility of short-term travelers in the EU.
The changes apply to travelers who need visas to travel to the EU from their home countries. No visa policy changes will be applied to travelers from countries benefitting from visa-free travel to the EU, as the new rules do not apply to citizens of those countries.
The new rules cover short-stay visas for the 22 EU countries that are part of the region—Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden—as well as for four associated countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. A uniform short-stay visa issued by one of these countries covers travel throughout the 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Under the new rules, travelers can now enjoy a simpler and more user-friendly visa application process, where:
- Visa applications can be submitted up to six months prior to the intended date of travel (nine months for seafarers), instead of three months previously, enabling travelers to better plan their trips
- Multiple-entry visas with a long validity from one to five years are now easier to obtain, saving money and efforts of those who travel frequently
- Frequent travelers with an uneventful visa history (without incidences of overstays, fines, etc.) can be granted multiple-entry visas with a gradually increasing validity period from one year to a maximum of five years
- Applicants may only need to appear in person when fingerprints are to be collected (i.e., once every 59 months)
Country / Territory
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
Related contacts
Senior Manager - Consular Practice
Related offices
Explore more at Fragomen
Blog post
This blog considers how employer sponsorship of long-term residence permits in Europe could be a means for retaining their talent.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of Switzerland's family reunion process for EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals.
Awards
Four Fragomen professionals are recognised in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia in the field of immigration law.
Media mentions
O Diretor de Imigração, Diogo Kloper, compartilha quais indústrias estão recrutando talentos estrangeiros no Brasil.
Blog post
Partner Rahul Soni and Senior Associate Xiaodan (Susan) Song help international commercial enterprise investors make informed decisions by explaining the differences between EB-5 rural projects and high unemployment projects.
Video
Immigration Consultant Azela Hadia discusses how those planning to attend the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games in Paris can prepare for their trip from an immigration perspective.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of immigration programs and relief options by USCIS for Venezuelan nationals amidst the political and economic crisis in Venezuela.
Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés shares why Ireland needs a standardised visa system that’s faster and more consistent.
Blog post
This blog discusses Australia's Resident Return visa and its associated "compelling reasons" criteria.
Blog post
Senior Associate Sarah Melnick discusses the available immigration options for individuals not selected in this year's H-1B Cap Lottery.
Media mentions
O Diretor de Imigração, Diogo Kloper, compartilha dados recentes sobre o aumento de vistos de trabalho para profissionais da produção de proteína halal.
Fragomen news
Silicon Valley Managing Partner Kristi Nevarez is recognized as an honoree in the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2024 Latinx Business Leadership Awards.
Blog post
This blog considers how employer sponsorship of long-term residence permits in Europe could be a means for retaining their talent.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of Switzerland's family reunion process for EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals.
Awards
Four Fragomen professionals are recognised in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia in the field of immigration law.
Media mentions
O Diretor de Imigração, Diogo Kloper, compartilha quais indústrias estão recrutando talentos estrangeiros no Brasil.
Blog post
Partner Rahul Soni and Senior Associate Xiaodan (Susan) Song help international commercial enterprise investors make informed decisions by explaining the differences between EB-5 rural projects and high unemployment projects.
Video
Immigration Consultant Azela Hadia discusses how those planning to attend the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games in Paris can prepare for their trip from an immigration perspective.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of immigration programs and relief options by USCIS for Venezuelan nationals amidst the political and economic crisis in Venezuela.
Media mentions
Partner Ángel Bello Cortés shares why Ireland needs a standardised visa system that’s faster and more consistent.
Blog post
This blog discusses Australia's Resident Return visa and its associated "compelling reasons" criteria.
Blog post
Senior Associate Sarah Melnick discusses the available immigration options for individuals not selected in this year's H-1B Cap Lottery.
Media mentions
O Diretor de Imigração, Diogo Kloper, compartilha dados recentes sobre o aumento de vistos de trabalho para profissionais da produção de proteína halal.
Fragomen news
Silicon Valley Managing Partner Kristi Nevarez is recognized as an honoree in the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2024 Latinx Business Leadership Awards.