Lifestyle Trend: Schengen Visa goes digital; Here’s what Indian travellers need to know You Should Know

Travelling to Europe is about to feel very different, at least when it comes to visa formalities. The days of getting a sticker in your passport are numbered. Instead, the European Union (EU) is moving towards a more streamlined, tech-friendly system that replaces the traditional Schengen visa sticker with a digital barcode. This shift brings with it a range of other changes that travellers, including Indians, will soon have to adapt to.

What exactly is changing in the Schengen visa process?

The biggest change is the introduction of a fully digital visa. From November 2024, applying for a Schengen visa will take place entirely through an online platform. Instead of a paper sticker pasted into your passport, successful applicants will receive a ‘secure 2D barcode’, which contains all necessary visa details.

This digital move was officially approved in June 2023, with the aim of speeding up the process and improving security. The barcode links directly to a central EU visa system, allowing immigration officials to verify visa details instantly at border points.

Was this system tested before?

Yes, the digital Schengen visa has already been trialled. Around 70,000 digital visas were issued to individuals attending the 2024 Paris Olympics. These visitors received a digital barcode instead of a visa sticker, marking the EU’s first step into a paperless visa system.

How will the new visa process work?

Travellers will now be able to do most of the visa process online. This includes uploading documents, paying fees, tracking application progress, and finally receiving the digital visa barcode via email or a secure platform.

First-time applicants will still need to visit a visa centre to submit biometrics, such as fingerprints and a photo. However, frequent travellers will benefit from quicker and easier processing once their biometrics are on file.

What are EES and ETIAS, and how do they affect travellers?

Alongside the digital visa, the EU is also rolling out two new digital border control systems:

The Entry/Exit System (EES): Set to launch in October 2025, this will replace manual passport stamping with biometric data collection, including fingerprints and facial recognition.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS): Expected to begin in 2026, ETIAS will require travellers from visa-free countries such as the US and UAE, to complete an online application before arriving in the Schengen Area.

When will the digital visa become the norm across Europe?

The EU aims to make the digital Schengen visa fully operational for all member countries by 2028. This marks one of the most significant updates to the Schengen visa system in decades.

What does this mean for Indian citizens travelling to Europe?

For Indian travellers, the new digital system comes with several advantages:

• The digital barcode visa will make border checks faster, especially with e-gate access for biometric screening.
• Less paperwork will be needed, matching the EU’s wider push for digital transformation.
• Frequent travellers will experience a more seamless process, needing to visit the visa centre only once for biometrics.

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