Switzerland Adapts Laws for Digitalisation of Schengen Visa Application

The Swiss Federal Council has decided to initiate consultations on the digitalisation of Schengen visas.

The move aligns Switzerland with the recent decision of the European Union to digitise the application process for short-stay visas within the Schengen Area, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

In a meeting held on December 8, 2023, the Federal Council presented a legislative proposal to adapt to the EU’s regulation that was adopted on November 12, 2023.

This regulation mandates the submission of Schengen visa applications through an EU electronic platform that is yet to be developed. The new system will replace the traditional paper stickers with digital visas, omitting the need to go to a consulate or embassy.

In the future, Schengen visa applications will be digitalised and must be submitted on a European platform. As a Schengen State, Switzerland is joining in this modernisation and amending its national law.

According to the Swiss government, to implement these changes, the country needs to amend its national law, specifically the Law on Foreigners and Integration.

As revealed, key modifications involve provisions related to the upcoming platform, the content of the national visa system, and the delegation of responsibilities to third parties for tasks like verifying applicants’ travel documents.

The public consultation on this legislative project will run until March 22, 2024. The European platform is expected to be operational in January 2026, with Switzerland aiming to integrate into it by 2028 at the earliest.

In addition to the shift in the visa application process, the Federal Council has also approved changes to the format of visas.

In a dual-format approach, visas will now be available both as traditional paper stickers and in a digital format featuring a barcode.

This modification that is outlined in the Ordinance on Entry and Granting of Visas applies not only to short-stay Schengen visas but also to national visas.

The EU said just recently that it plans to make the procedures for applying for a short-term visa completely online by 2028.

Once the system enters into force, all those who need to hold a valid visa to enter the Schengen Area will be able to complete all application procedures online in one single platform.

In the platform, applicants will be able to submit all their documents. They will also be able to pay for the visa fee online through the same platform.

The EU also revealed that the transition to digital Schengen visa application will take up to seven years. All the Member States will have the option to refuse to use the EU Visa Application Platform if they want to.