EU Commission proposes new rules to speed business travel and tighten visa fees

The European Commission has launched a consultation on revising the Schengen short-stay visa framework, which currently covers non-EU nationals from 61 countries and territories. The initiative targets business travelers, proposing a shared list of verified companies so employees can benefit from fast-track processing, priority slots and reduced paperwork. It also calls for a uniform additional fee at the EU level, with revenues earmarked for further development of the common visa policy.

The draft includes provisions to impose tighter visa restrictions on third countries that do not cooperate on illegal migration, smuggling or security threats. The Commission seeks feedback from a wide range of stakeholders by 6 October and aims to present a final proposal in the first quarter of 2027. In 2024, Schengen states processed over 11.7 million short-stay visa applications and issued nearly 10.3 million visas.