Relaxed visa rules for "Youth in Action" participants from Partner Countries

The Code has relaxed provisions for airport transit visas and short-stay visas, which means a stay of less than 90 days during any six-month period. Citizens from third countries, who need for such visas, should wait no longer than two weeks for a consular appointment for lodging the application and should receive a final decision only 15 days later. As from 5 April 2011, the refusal of a visa will be justified and the applicants will have the right to appeal against a negative decision.

The visa fees have been reduced from €60 to €35 for children aged 6 to 12 years, while inter alia the following groups of young people do not need to pay anything:

·         school pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers participating in a study or educational training abroad;

·         representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations.

However, Member States may decide to exempt from paying the visa additional categories of applicants.

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The EU Visa Code rules apply to nationals from third countries that require a visa to enter the Schengen-area – a zone comprising 22 EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus are out of the zone.

More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/111&type=HTML