Visa policy of the Schengen Area

In a momentous announcement on December 30, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU confirmed Bulgaria and Romania's entrance into the Schengen area through air and sea routes, effective March 31, 2024. This landmark decision, made unanimously via written procedure, signals a significant step toward streamlined travel between these nations and Schengen member states.

Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join the European Schengen area of free movement by sea and air in March 2024, the Romanian government said Wednesday.

"After 13 years, Romania is finally going to join Schengen! We have a political agreement on this," Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.

Bulgaria has met the conditions to join Europe's passport-free Schengen area by strengthening its borders and efforts to combat illegal migration, the Netherlands said Friday, as Sofia took one step closer to joining.

"Countries not yet admitted to Schengen should not have to pay for their membership by accepting more refugees".

People applying for visas to visit Europe's Schengen area will soon do so via an online platform, under a change adopted by EU foreign ministers.

The shift towards digitalization of the visa process will also do away with the need for applicants to get a sticker in their passport, meaning no more appointments at consulates or service providers' offices.

BRUSSELS - Serbia's European Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic said on Wednesday Serbia was under an obligation to align its visa regime with the Schengen white list and black list.

Speaking to Tanjug after attending a European People's Party conference on EU integration of the Western Balkans, Miscevic said the obligation resulted from the integration process.

The European Union is ushering in a new era for Schengen visas, making the process fully digital. This move eliminates the need for physical stickers in passports, streamlining the application process, as reported by AFP.

Türkiye has given its priority to modernizing the customs union and providing visa liberalization to Turkish nationals, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the ambassadors of the European Union countries, voicing Ankara's expectation for a positive response from Brussels.

A 17-year-old musician who has won numerous awards in international competitions has encountered a visa issue that might prevent him from attending a prestigious music school in Germany for his future education.

It was reported that Güneş Tunçkıran, the promising pianist from the southern province of Antalya, has yet to even get an appointment to apply for a Schengen visa.

The EU Commission has emphasized that the Schengen visa issues faced by Turkish citizens are not related to an attitude towards Türkiye but rather attributed to staff shortages in consulates.