Belarus-EU visa facilitation, readmission agreements take effect Jul 1, 2020
<p> MINSK, Jul 1 - PrimePress. Belarus-EU visa facilitation and readmission agreements entered into force on July 1, 2020. They simplify the procedure for obtaining Schengen visas, reduce their cost for Belarusian nationals from €0 to €35 euros, and regulate the rights of migrants from other countries. </p> <p> </p> <p> The parties signed the visa facilitation and readmission agreements in January 2020 in Brussels, exchanged ratification notifications in May. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the visa facilitation agreement, the cost of the Schengen visa for Belarusians is reduced to €35; many visa procedures are simplified; visas will be issued or denied within 10 days after an application is filed. The consideration period may be extended to 30 days in some cases or reduced to two days. Many categories of individuals may obtain visas for free, depending on the purpose of the trip. Multiple visas with a longer validity period may be issued in a simplified manner. </p> <p> </p> <p> The cost of a Belarusian visa for EU citizens is also reduced to €35. The list of grounds for issuing free visas for non-commercial purposes has been expanded. The duration of stay of foreigners in Belarus has doubled from 90 to 180 days in one year. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the readmission agreement, Belarus and the European Union undertake to return to their territory their citizens, third-country nationals and stateless persons who do not meet the criteria for legal stay established by the parties. </p> <p> </p> <p> Currently, the implementation of the visa agreement in full is complicated due to the anti-pandemic restrictions imposed by third-country nationals on the entry into the EU. Since July 1, citizens of only 14 states are allowed to enter the EU. Belarus is not among them. End </p>
2020-07-02
Primepress
Belarus-EU visa facilitation, readmission agreements take effect Jul 1, 2020
MINSK, Jul 1 - PrimePress. Belarus-EU visa facilitation and readmission agreements entered into force on July 1, 2020. They simplify the procedure for obtaining Schengen visas, reduce their cost for Belarusian nationals from €0 to €35 euros, and regulate the rights of migrants from other countries.
The parties signed the visa facilitation and readmission agreements in January 2020 in Brussels, exchanged ratification notifications in May.
According to the visa facilitation agreement, the cost of the Schengen visa for Belarusians is reduced to €35; many visa procedures are simplified; visas will be issued or denied within 10 days after an application is filed. The consideration period may be extended to 30 days in some cases or reduced to two days. Many categories of individuals may obtain visas for free, depending on the purpose of the trip. Multiple visas with a longer validity period may be issued in a simplified manner.
The cost of a Belarusian visa for EU citizens is also reduced to €35. The list of grounds for issuing free visas for non-commercial purposes has been expanded. The duration of stay of foreigners in Belarus has doubled from 90 to 180 days in one year.
According to the readmission agreement, Belarus and the European Union undertake to return to their territory their citizens, third-country nationals and stateless persons who do not meet the criteria for legal stay established by the parties.
Currently, the implementation of the visa agreement in full is complicated due to the anti-pandemic restrictions imposed by third-country nationals on the entry into the EU. Since July 1, citizens of only 14 states are allowed to enter the EU. Belarus is not among them. End