Visa Facilitation
The EU has visa facilitation agreements in place with certain non-EU countries. Under the simplified visa regime, non-EU citizens enjoy facilitated procedures (such as lower visa fees) to obtain a visa for the Schengen area.
syncReadmission Agreements
Visa facilitation agreements are linked to readmission agreements. Readmission agreements establish procedures for returning irregular migrants to the EU or non-EU country they came from.
transfer_within_a_stationLocal Border Traffic
EU countries may also individually negotiate agreements on local border traffic with neighbouring non-EU countries, enabling border residents of specific areas to cross without a visa.
Agreements Overview
Current Facilitation Agreements
| Country | Visa facilitation agreement | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2008 |
| Armenia | Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2014 |
| Azerbaijan | Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/09/2014 |
| Belarus | Agreement between the European Community and Belarus on the facilitation of the issuance of visas. Council Decision on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement. | 01/07/2020 & 12/11/2021 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Agreement between the European Community and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2008 |
| Cape Verde | Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde on facilitating the issue of short-stay visas to citizens of the Republic of Cape Verde and of the European Union. | 01/12/2014 & 07/10/2021 |
| Georgia | Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/03/2011 |
| Moldova | Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova | 01/07/2013 |
| Montenegro | Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2008 |
| North Macedonia | Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of North Macedonia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2008 |
| Russian Federation | Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas. Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500 on the suspension in whole of the application. | 01/06/2007 & 09/09/2022 |
| Serbia | Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Serbia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas | 01/01/2008 |
| Ukraine | Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine | 01/07/2013 |
Suspended Agreements
General rules apply when suspended
However, visa facilitation agreements can be suspended if a country no longer satisfies the conditions of the agreement. What then applies are the general rules of the EU visa code. Suspensions can be triggered by an EU country or by the European Commission.
Currently, 2 agreements are suspended:
- Russia (full suspension of facilitation agreement)
- Belarus (partial suspension of facilitation agreement)
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