CHANGES to Schengen
visa rules, effective
February, will mean
SA passport holders will
pay more for a visa but will
benefit from extended validity
and application periods.
Pax lodging an application
file from February 2 will be
subject to the new Schengen
Visa Code, which was
adopted by the EU Council
in June. A representative
from Capago, the official
application centre for
French visas, confirmed
this to TNW.
Applicants will now pay
€80 (R1 283) instead of
€60 (R962). Children will
pay €40 (R642) instead of
€35 (R561). Children under
six remain exempt from the
visa fees.
However, while visa fees
have increased, there are
several benefits that have
been introduced, says
SchengenVisaInfo.com, an
independent website that
specialises in Schengen
visa policy information.
These include an extended
submission period (from
three to six months in
advance of a trip) and longer
validity. “Travellers frequently
visiting the Schengen area,
who also have a positive
visa history, will be granted
with the benefit of getting
a multiple-entry visa valid
for up to five years,” the
website says. Other benefits
include electronic application
in most countries, including
South Africa.
The trade has welcomed
the changes. “The benefits
outweigh the costs,”
says Mary Reynolds of
Reynolds Travel. “Schengen
visas have always been a
headache. More time to
submit applications means
less stress for customers,
particularly business
travellers who need to plan.
Things can only improve.”
André Schulz, gm of
Lufthansa Group for
Southern Africa, agrees:
“To date, the visa process
has proven to be time
consuming, often restricting
travellers to a fairly tight
travelling timeline. The new
versions, especially as they
apply to the local market,
will make travel that much
easier.”
Samantha Phillips, visa
consultant at Visas &
Passports Unlimited, says
some travellers already
had access to a three-year
multiple-entry Schengen
visa and that they shouldn’t
be swept away by the
excitement around a fiveyear validity period.
“It is unlikely that the fiveyear visa will be issued to
first-time travellers.
“It may take one or two
trips to establish a positive
visa history for a Schengen
visa of that duration,” she
says.
Samantha is looking
forward to the extended
submission period.
“Often, people who apply
for a Schengen visa plan to
visit more than one country.
The extended submission
period would give us more
time to get a UK transit
visa where necessary,” she
says
