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European Commission Unveils First-Ever EU Visa Policy Strategy

Release Date
2026-02-05
Media
Boundless Immigration
Summary
The European Commission has released its first EU Visa Policy Strategy, outlining a multi-year plan to modernize and better coordinate visa rules across the Schengen Area. While it does not immediately change visa regulations, it sets the direction for legislative reforms expected from 2026 onward, alongside broader asylum, migration, and talent-attraction strategies.

The strategy focuses on four main areas: visa-free travel rules, revisions to the EU Visa Code, digitization of border systems, and stronger travel document security. Its goals are to improve security, support economic competitiveness, enhance the EU’s global influence, and create a more efficient, unified visa system.

Under the plan, visa-free travel will be more strictly monitored using criteria such as visa refusal rates, overstays, asylum trends, and cooperation on returns. Countries that fail to meet these benchmarks could face tighter controls or suspension of visa-free access.

A revision of the EU Visa Code is scheduled for 2026, allowing more flexible and country-specific visa processing rules. The strategy also emphasizes digital systems, including the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in late 2026, which will require advance authorization even for visa-exempt travelers, with full implementation expected around 2027.

Additional measures aim to facilitate business travel and attract skilled workers, while strengthening document security and biometric checks. Overall, the EU is moving toward a more centralized, data-driven visa system where entry will increasingly depend on advance screening, compliance, and digital procedures.
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Europe

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