Members of the European Parliament Accept Plan to Digitize Visa Procedures

Published on: 31 January 2023

Today, January 31st, 2023, members of the European Parliament voted to adopt the European Commission’s proposal on digitizing visa procedures.

The vote ended with 34 votes in favor, 5 against, and 20 abstaining. Therefore, if the decision is confirmed by the EU Commission and the EU Council, physical applications for Schengen visas will no longer be required, given that there will be a single online platform to process the applications.

The platform will also inform travelers which country will receive their visa application if they need to enter multiple countries in the Schengen area.

The European Parliament has also taken into consideration the needs of those who may have limited digital skills or disabilities. MEPs have requested amendments to the European Commission’s proposal in order to make the platform accessible for all kinds of users.

The platform will support multiple languages and repeated IP addresses in order to prevent unnecessary visa application rejections for applicants from regions with limited internet connectivity who share an IP.

The issuance of digital visas will reduce the security risks posed by physical stickers and avoid costs and efforts derived from physical applications.

After the vote, rapporteur Matjaž Nemec explained: “We want to deliver a modern, user-friendly digital solution for EU visa applications, along with simplified application procedures. Replacing the visa sticker with a digital visa would also reduce security risks posed by physical stickers, and a unified system would help people see the EU as a single geographical entity. In my report, I have sought to ensure the new system is even more applicant-friendly, by removing barriers stemming from language, disability status, lack of digital skills or poor internet connectivity, and to ensure that applicants’ data is more secure by introducing additional processing safeguards.”

The EU’s Visa Code has recently been updated to include electronic signatures in visa applications. In order to fully digitize the visa application process, there must be no objections in the European Parliament plenary session. Only then, legislation and further details can then be discussed and implemented.

Passport ranking

Rank: 1
Visa-free destinations: 195
Rank: 2
Visa-free destinations: 193
Rank: 3
Visa-free destinations: 192
Rank: 6
Visa-free destinations: 189
Rank: 7
Visa-free destinations: 188
Rank: 8
Visa-free destinations: 187
Rank: 9
Visa-free destinations: 186
Rank: 10
Visa-free destinations: 185
Rank: 11
Visa-free destinations: 184
Rank: 12
Visa-free destinations: 183
Rank: 13
Visa-free destinations: 182
Rank: 14
Visa-free destinations: 181
Rank: 15
Visa-free destinations: 180
Rank: 16
Visa-free destinations: 178
Rank: 17
Visa-free destinations: 176
Rank: 18
Visa-free destinations: 175
Rank: 19
Visa-free destinations: 174
Rank: 20
Visa-free destinations: 173
Rank: 21
Visa-free destinations: 172
Rank: 22
Visa-free destinations: 169
Rank: 23
Visa-free destinations: 168
Rank: 24
Visa-free destinations: 166
Rank: 25
Visa-free destinations: 161
Rank: 26
Visa-free destinations: 159
Rank: 27
Visa-free destinations: 157
Rank: 28
Visa-free destinations: 156
Rank: 29
Visa-free destinations: 153
Rank: 30
Visa-free destinations: 151
Rank: 31
Visa-free destinations: 150
Rank: 32
Visa-free destinations: 146
Rank: 33
Visa-free destinations: 145
Rank: 34
Visa-free destinations: 144
Rank: 35
Visa-free destinations: 143
Rank: 36
Visa-free destinations: 142
Rank: 37
Visa-free destinations: 138
Rank: 38
Visa-free destinations: 137
Rank: 39
Visa-free destinations: 136
Rank: 40
Visa-free destinations: 135
Rank: 41
Visa-free destinations: 133
Rank: 42
Visa-free destinations: 132
Rank: 43
Visa-free destinations: 131
Rank: 44
Visa-free destinations: 130
Rank: 45
Visa-free destinations: 129
Rank: 46
Visa-free destinations: 128
Rank: 47
Visa-free destinations: 127
Rank: 48
Visa-free destinations: 126
Rank: 49
Visa-free destinations: 125
Rank: 50
Visa-free destinations: 124
Rank: 51
Visa-free destinations: 122
Rank: 52
Visa-free destinations: 121
Rank: 53
Visa-free destinations: 116
Rank: 54
Visa-free destinations: 107
Rank: 55
Visa-free destinations: 103
Rank: 56
Visa-free destinations: 99
Rank: 57
Visa-free destinations: 94
Rank: 58
Visa-free destinations: 91
Rank: 59
Visa-free destinations: 90
Rank: 60
Visa-free destinations: 89
Rank: 61
Visa-free destinations: 88
Rank: 62
Visa-free destinations: 87
Rank: 63
Visa-free destinations: 85
Rank: 64
Visa-free destinations: 84
Rank: 65
Visa-free destinations: 83
Rank: 66
Visa-free destinations: 81
Rank: 67
Visa-free destinations: 80
Rank: 68
Visa-free destinations: 79
Rank: 69
Visa-free destinations: 78
Rank: 70
Visa-free destinations: 77
Rank: 71
Visa-free destinations: 75
Rank: 72
Visa-free destinations: 73
Rank: 73
Visa-free destinations: 72
Rank: 74
Visa-free destinations: 71
Rank: 75
Visa-free destinations: 70
Rank: 76
Visa-free destinations: 69
Rank: 77
Visa-free destinations: 68
Rank: 78
Visa-free destinations: 67
Rank: 79
Visa-free destinations: 65
Rank: 80
Visa-free destinations: 64
Rank: 81
Visa-free destinations: 63
Rank: 82
Visa-free destinations: 62
Rank: 83
Visa-free destinations: 61
Rank: 84
Visa-free destinations: 60
Rank: 85
Visa-free destinations: 59
Rank: 86
Visa-free destinations: 58
Rank: 87
Visa-free destinations: 57
Rank: 89
Visa-free destinations: 55
Rank: 90
Visa-free destinations: 54
Rank: 91
Visa-free destinations: 53
Rank: 92
Visa-free destinations: 52
Rank: 93
Visa-free destinations: 51
Rank: 94
Visa-free destinations: 50
Rank: 95
Visa-free destinations: 49
Rank: 96
Visa-free destinations: 48
Rank: 97
Visa-free destinations: 45
Rank: 98
Visa-free destinations: 44
Rank: 99
Visa-free destinations: 43
Rank: 100
Visa-free destinations: 41
Rank: 101
Visa-free destinations: 39
Rank: 102
Visa-free destinations: 38
Rank: 103
Visa-free destinations: 37
Rank: 104
Visa-free destinations: 36
Rank: 105
Visa-free destinations: 35
Rank: 106
Visa-free destinations: 34
Rank: 107
Visa-free destinations: 33
Rank: 108
Visa-free destinations: 31
Rank: 109
Visa-free destinations: 27
Rank: 110
Visa-free destinations: 26

Check if you need a visa for your next destination

I have a passport from
I want to travel to

Secure and protect your travels with Travel Medical Insurance. Get insured now