EU Visa Policy Strategy
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Summary
EU Visa Policy Strategy sets out changes to make visa tools more responsive to readmission, security and border-management cooperation. In 2026, the Commission plans a new framework for visa-exemption assessments, a Visa Code revision and the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The measures cover restrictive visa options, digitalised procedures, travel-document security, longer-validity multiple-entry visas, support for innovation talent, border-management IT and a proposed EU Visa Support Office within a revised Frontex mandate.
Action items
Develop in 2026 a new assessment framework for proposing visa exemptions.
Propose a revision of the Visa Code in 2026, including to:
make the Article 25a mechanism more strategic and agile to respond more effectively to insufficient cooperation on readmission; by focusing on the suspension of fast-track visa processing and of multiple-entry visas, as well as allowing for the suspension of visa issuance for certain (e.g. diplomatic or service) or all categories of passports.
develop ad hoc measures under the Visa Code in response to insufficient cooperation by third countries in the fields of security and border management, including the fight against illegal migration and human smuggling;
introduce targeted restrictive visa measures in cases of a severe deterioration of the political or security situation in a third country;
introduce new criteria for local adaptations of visa rules.
Full and coordinated use of the revised visa suspension mechanism.
Ensure synergies with the GSP regulation and the Global Europe proposed under the new Multiannual Financial Framework to leverage third countries’ cooperation on readmission.
Consider strengthening travel document security, including by:
establishing a uniform list of accepted third-country travel documents;
setting up an EU-level central point of contact for verification of fingerprints stored in EU travel documents;
putting in place a more coherent approach to sanctions for the use of fraudulent documents.
Roll out swiftly the digitalisation of the visa procedures.
Launch the European Travel Information and Authorisation System in 2026.
Identify options for multiple-entry visas with longer validity.
Implement the Commission Recommendation on attracting talent for innovation.
Explore options to adapt the EU’s long-stay visa framework to innovation and research ecosystems.
Explore new rules for extended short stays for selected categories of third-country professionals, such as touring artists, competing athletes, or truck drivers.
Ensure the roll out of smart IT systems for border management and the interoperability framework.
Propose to establish an EU Visa Support Office as part of the proposal for the revision of the mandate of Frontex in 2026.
Launch a comprehensive study on the use of external service providers in the visa process.