Study in support of the evaluation of the amended Visa Code : final report

This study has been conducted by ICF in support of the European Commission's evaluation of the amended Visa Code (Regulation (2019/1155)) by assessing the implementation, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and European Union (EU) added value of the amendments introduced in 2019. The findings of the study are based on stakeholder feedback received and analysis conducted by the ICF study team of the evidence collected. The study concludes that the objectives of the amended Visa Code have been achieved only partially at this stage. This is primarily linked to the overall impact of COVID-19 on the evaluation period, as well as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which greatly distorted global travel and impacted visa statistics. Looking at the key objectives of the amendments, further harmonisation of EU visa policy has been partially achieved, through the introduction of a multiple-entry visa (MEV) cascade rule. The amended Visa Code introduced greater flexibility in visa procedures, including enabling digital visa applications, which is seen as a positive step in facilitating tourism to the Schengen area. However, limited progress has been noted in further digitalising the visa process by Member States and steps toward further harmonisation of the visa process are needed. Data limitations of the analysis and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic make it difficult to identify clear trends in costs and benefits, or to discern large differences between Member States and Schengen Associated Countries. The amended Visa Code was found to be relevant, to other EU policies and coherent and complementary with other policies at EU and international level. It also generated some EU added value by allowing the EU to better coordinate and harmonise implementation of the visa policy. A number of useful lessons emerged from the study.