Modernising the EU's policy on short-stay Schengen visas

Modernising the EU's policy on short-stay Schengen visas Fields marked with * are mandatory. Introduction Have you obtained a short-stay Schengen visa over the past 5 years, or would you like to make your voice heard on how these visas are issued? The European Commission (hereinafter the 'Commission') is reviewing the procedures for issuing 'Schengen' visas and would like to hear your views on them. The idea is to modernise the current visa policy and your input via this public consultation will help us to make the right changes. The situation regarding migration and security in Europe has fundamentally changed during the past few years. The visa process is a key tool to prevent risks of irregular migration and security risks to the European Union (EU). At the same time, visa policy fosters economic growth and cultural exchange by facilitating the process for travellers to the EU who comply with the legal entry criteria, such as business people, tourists, students and young people. We are considering whether the EU's policy on visas still strikes the right balance between these objectives and how it can be changed to address current challenges in terms of migration and mobility, including how visa policy could be used in the EU's relationship with third countries. That is why the Commission wants to hear from the main users of the common visa policy: individuals, interest groups, advocacy groups, think tanks and professional organisations. We want to hear from as broad a range of users as possible, as it is important to get views and input from all stakeholders. Individuals: Tell us about your experience and views by replying to our questionnaire. You do not need to answer all of the questions. However, for your response to be taken into account, all questions under the 'About you' section need to be answered. If you have any concerns regarding data protection matters, please consult the Privacy Statement. Organisations: Send written contributions on any issue linked to the implementation of the Visa Code through the online questionnaire. Organisations are also invited to encourage individual members to reply to the questionnaire. Important note: The EU's common visa policy covers only short stay visas ( Schengen visas for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period) and is currently applied by 22 EU Member States (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, 1

Slovakia, Finland and Sweden) and four associated states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, rway and Switzerland). This consultation only concerns issues related to Schengen short stay visas. It does not apply to issues concerning long stay visas or residence permits. If you have any questions about this consultation, please feel free to e-mail us at: Home-B2- Secretariat@ec.europa.eu. Disclaimer: Please note that this consultation is intended to gather information and suggestions, and does not prejudge the final form of any decision the European Commission may take. About you * 1 You are welcome to answer the questionnaire in any of the 24 official languages of the EU. Please let us know in which language you are replying. * 2 You are replying as an individual on behalf of an organisation * 3 Name * 4 Email address If you do not have an email address, please write "t available". * 5 Nationality * 6 Country of residence Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan 2

Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte D'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia 3

Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives 4

Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria rth Korea rway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal 5

Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Other 6

* 7 If "other", please specify: * 8 Occupation * 9 I have in the past five years applied for a Schengen visa * 10 Was the visa issued or refused? Issued Refused 11 On which grounds was the visa refused? 500 character(s) maximum * 12 I am a family member of a mobile EU citizen travelling with or joining the EU citizen (i.e. I am covered by Directive 2004/38/EC) 13 The special rules that apply to your visa applications are not covered by the main part of this questionnaire. If you wish to comment further on any issue linked to the EU's common visa policy, please feel free to do so here. We are particularly interested in your views on how the visa policy could be used in the EU's relationship with third countries. 1000 character(s) maximum * 14 I travel frequently to the Schengen area (more than twice a year) 7

* 15 In the past five years I have invited a relative/friend who has/had to apply for a visa * 16 Your contribution, te that, whatever option chosen, your answers may be subject to a request for public access to documents under Regulation (EC) N 1049/2001 Please also read the specific privacy statement for this survey here. can be published with your personal information (I consent the publication of all information in my contribution in whole or in part including my name or my organisation's name, and I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent publication) can be published provided that you remain anonymous (I consent to the publication of any information in my contribution in whole or in part (which may include quotes or opinions I express) provided that it is done anonymously. I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent the publication. * 17 Respondent's name * 18 Respondent's professional email address * 19 Respondent's occupation * 20 Name of the organisation * 21 Postal address of the organisation * 22 Type of organisation Please select the answer option that fits best. Private enterprise Professional consultancy, law firm, self-employed consultant Trade, business or professional association n-governmental organisation, platform or network Research and academia Churches and religious communities 8

Regional or local authority (public or mixed) International or national public authority Other * 23 If "other", please specify: * 24 Please specify the type of organisation. Regional public authority Local public authority Public-private sub-national organisation Network of public sub-national authorities Other * 25 If "other", please specify: * 26 Please specify the type of organisation. Intergovernmental organisation EU institution, body or agency National parliament National government National public authority or agency * 27 Is your organisation included in the Transparency Register? If your organisation is not registered, we invite you to register here, although it is not compulsory to be registered to reply to this consultation. Why a transparency register? t applicable * 28 If so, please indicate your Register ID number. * 29 Country of organisation's headquarters Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark 9

Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Other * 30 If "other", please specify: * 31 Your contribution, te that, whatever option chosen, your answers may be subject to a request for public access to documents under Regulation (EC) N 1049/2001 Please also read the specific privacy statement for this survey here. can be published with your organisation's information (I consent the publication of all information in my contribution in whole or in part including the name of my organisation, and I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent publication) can be published provided that your organisation remains anonymous (I consent to the publication of any information in my contribution in whole or in part (which may include quotes or opinions I express) provided that it is done anonymously. I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent the publication. Modernising the EU's policy on short-stay Schengen visas If you have not applied for a Schengen visa before, please leave the questions blank that are not relevant for your situation. You are welcome to give your views on any issue linked to the EU's common visa policy in the comments field at the end of the survey. 10

32 What is your most frequent purpose of travel to the EU? Tourism Business/professional Political, scientific, cultural, sports, religious event Short-term internship/exchange programme Family visit Other 33 Please specify 34 Did you ever find that you could not submit your visa application because the Schengen State to which you wanted to travel did not have a consulate in the country in which you are a legal resident, and was not represented by another Schengen State? 35 Please provide more details on whether/how you overcame this obstacle 500 character(s) maximum 36 For your most recent visa application, how far did you have to travel to get to the consulate of the Schengen State where you wanted to submit your application? (Please provide travel distance in kilometres.) 37 How long did it take you to get there? (Please provide travel time in hours.) 38 Short-stay visa applications cannot be submitted earlier than three months before the start of a planned visit. In your opinion: This timing is acceptable More flexibility would enable better planning for the visit More flexibility would enable applicants to avoid peak periods and long waiting times at consulates 39 Many consulates cooperate with external service providers who receive applications at 'visa application centres' on behalf of the consulate. However, consulates have to keep open the possibility of receiving visa applications directly. Did you know this? If so, have you had any experience with this option? I am aware of this possibility, and have made a direct application at a consulate I am aware of this possibility, but decided to apply at the visa application centre I am aware of this possibility, but when I needed to apply urgently for a visa, I could not get in contact with the consulate, so I needed to apply at a visa application centre 11

I am aware of this possibility, but when I wanted to apply directly at a Schengen State consulate, I was told that it was not possible and that I had to apply at the visa application centre I am not aware of this possibility 40 Some consulates require applicants to make an appointment to lodge their visa application. As a rule, the appointment is supposed to take place within two weeks of the date on which it was requested. If you applied for a visa at a consulate which requires an appointment, did you get an appointment within two weeks? t relevant, because I did not need to make an appointment to lodge my visa application 41 How long did you have to wait for an appointment? (Please provide duration in days.) 42 In your opinion: A two-week timeframe for appointments is acceptable A two-week timeframe for appointments is acceptable, considering that in urgent cases, the requirement to make an appointment is waived A two-week timeframe for appointments is acceptable, but consulates take longer than two weeks to give appointments The timeframe is not acceptable, as consulates do not allow urgent applications to be made directly without an appointment 43 If you are a frequent traveller and have previously had several visas, have you been offered any benefits because of this? t applicable, because I am not a frequent traveller 44 I have been offered benefits regarding: t having to apply in person t having to present certain document(s) concerning the purpose of the journey t having to present document(s) concerning accommodation t having to present document(s) concerning my financial means t having to present document(s) concerning my situation in my home country Receiving a multiple-entry visa valid for a longer time than I applied for Other 45 Please give more details for each relevant item. 500 character(s) maximum Please estimate the overall cost of your latest application for a visa. Include all costs incurred until you received your passport, in EUR or USD: 12

46 Cost of making an appointment (phone call), if applicable 47 Visa fee 48 Service fee to the service provider (if applicable) 49 Travel medical insurance 50 Obtaining all supporting documents required 51 Translation of supporting documents (if applicable) 52 Travel costs (getting to/from the consulate/service provider, attending additional interview (if applicable), collecting passport) 53 Costs or cancellation fee due to booking accommodation or flights that were not used 54 Other costs (please specify) 55 How long did it take last time you applied for a Schengen visa, from your first contact with the consulate or service provider until you could collect your passport? Less than 3 days 3 to 10 days 10 to 30 days More than 1 month 56 Have you applied for a so-called multiple entry visa? 13

, I have never heard about that type of visa, because I do not travel to the Schengen area very often, because I was told it was best to apply for multiple entries to obtain at least a single-entry visa, I always apply for multiple entry visas because I need to be able to travel regularly to different Schengen States at short notice 57 If your last visa was for multiple entries, what was the period of validity? Less than 6 months Between 6 months and 1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years t applicable, because my last visa was not a multiple-entry visa 58 If your last visa was for multiple-entries, how many spontaneous trips to the EU have you taken (or will you still take) during the validity of this visa, which were not already planned at the time you applied for the visa? 59 What did you find most difficult about the visa procedure? Please give scores for the options below (as many options as applicable): 1-5 (1=most difficult, 5=least difficult) 1 (most difficult) 2 3 4 5 (least difficult) Cost of the visa fee Overall cost of the procedure (fees, travelling costs, costs of providing supplementary documents, travel medical insurance, etc.) Behaviour of the officials/persons involved in the processing Obtaining all the necessary supporting documents Travel medical insurance Having to apply in person Getting access to information Length of the procedure Involvement of external service providers in the procedure 60 Other - Please specify and score on a scale from 1 (most difficult) to 5 (least difficult) 14

61 Would your experience with the Schengen visa process deter you from travelling to the Schengen area again? 62 Please explain why 500 character(s) maximum 63 If you are a frequent traveller and have applied for several Schengen visas in the past few years, have you noticed any changes in the Schengen visa procedure, whether positive or negative? The situation has improved over time: the procedure has become more client friendly/faster/easier I have not experienced any changes The situation has got worse: the procedure has become more cumbersome/takes longer/costs more t applicable, because I have not applied for several Schengen visas 64 Please explain further 500 character(s) maximum 65 Have you already applied for Schengen visas at the consulates of different countries? 66 Were the experiences the same?, there was no difference in the requirements and procedures between the different consulates, the experience was different 67 Please explain further the differences you experienced between the consulates 500 character(s) maximum 68 Have you already applied for a visitor's visa to the UK, Ireland, Canada, the US, Japan, Australia or New Zealand? 69 How would you compare the experience to your most recent application for a Schengen visa? The application for a Schengen visa was easier and more straightforward The application for the other visitors' visa was easier and more straightforward 70 Please specify the other country and explain further the differences you experienced. 500 character(s) maximum 15

71 If you wish to comment further on any issue linked to the EU's common visa policy, please feel free to do so here. We are particularly interested in your views on how the visa policy could be used in the EU's relationship with third countries. 1000 character(s) maximum 72 You can upload here a concise written contribution (such as a position paper) on any issue linked to the implementation of the Visa Code. The maximal file size is 1MB. Please note that your responses to the questionnaire as well as the uploaded document will be published. 73 If you wish to add further information on other issues linked to the implementation of the Visa Code, please feel free to do so here. We are particularly interested in your views on how the visa policy could be used in the EU's relationship with third countries. 1000 character(s) maximum 16