Foreign Ministry highlights most important changes due to European Visa Code [01 Apr 2010]

On 31 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar - press conference for companies in tourism and insurance sectors, and for the media, to inform them about the new requirements in receiving Schengen visas when the new Community Code on Visas is applied. The participants were also briefed about the upcoming amendments to the Migration law. Taking part in the event were the staff of the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry, and of the Citizenship and Migration Authority of the Ministry of the Interior.

As from 5 April, all member states of the Schengen Agreement will start applying the Visa Code, the principal piece of legislation regulating procedures for issuing short-stay visas (the length of stay 90 days within a period of 180 days). Thus harmonised visa procedures are introduced in all Schengen states, and equal requirements ensured for visa applicants. It should be noted in particular that the Visa Code introduces a new Schengen visa application form, streamlines the system of visa types by abolishing transit visas, as well as provides for easements of visa fees for certain categories of persons. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to emphasise that the application of the European Visa Code will not complicate visa procedures for foreign nationals, including those travelling for tourism purposes, and estimates that the new regulation will not leave a significant impact on the numbers of visas issued by representations of Latvia abroad.

Photographs are available on the Foreign Ministry photostream at flickr.com : http://www.flickr.com/photos/latvianmfa/4478353083/

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