Community Code on Visas (Visa Code)

The Commission presented this staff working document which accompanies the Commission’s evaluation of the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and Council establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

This working document follows extensive discussions with various stakeholders on issues such as practical issues arising from the implementation of the Code’s legal provisions.

This document is also based on the Commission’s regular monitoring of the correct implementation of EU legislation, petitions addressed to the European Parliament, questions raised by Members of the European Parliament, complaints and questions from private persons, and Schengen evaluations.

Views been exchanged on the implementation of the Visa Code particularly in the framework of the Joint Committees set up under the various Visa Facilitation Agreements between the EU and a number of third countries.

This document also addresses the implementation of the five articles related to consular cooperation, as significant problems with their implementation have been identified, not related to the progressive rollout of the Visa Information System.

The document comprises a detailed assessment of the implementation of the provisions of the Visa Code grouped under thematic headings along with specific recommendations.

The headings include, inter alia:

• the visa application procedure,
• lodging the visa application,
• documentary requirements when lodging an application,
• fees to be paid,
• examination of the application,
• issuing and refusal of a visa,
• visas applied for and issued at the external borders,
• consular cooperation and consular coverage,
• lack of visa or other authorisation allowing travellers to stay more than 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.