Short-term Schengen visas to become more expensive
From January 1, 2007, the cost of short-term Schengen visas will increase from the current €35 to €60. A representative of the Austrian authorities, which holds the EU presidency, announced such a decision. The increase in the cost of visas to the Schengen zone will be approved by the interior ministers of the 25 EU member states in the near future.
The increase will affect only short-term visas for up to three months. Under current rules, the cost of long-term visas is determined separately by each member state of the Schengen Agreement.
As previously reported, the increase in fees for processing entry documents for non-EU residents is intended to compensate for the costs of introducing visas with biometric data carriers. It is planned that from 2007, visas to Schengen Agreement countries will contain an electronic carrier with the biometric parameters of the entrant, so the production cost of such visas will increase.
At the same time, it is not excluded that EU countries will agree on a lower price for visas for certain categories of entrants, in particular for students and scientists, Interfax reports.
Visas to EU countries may become paid for Ukrainians
As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk reported, the European Union is raising the issue of abolishing the asymmetric visa regime that exists between Ukraine and seven EU countries.
"Unfortunately, the EU delegation raises the question of abolishing this regime for Ukrainian citizens with these seven countries, which does not arouse our admiration," Tarasyuk said. He noted that the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian citizens visit precisely these countries.
According to the minister, serious negotiations must be held, and he hopes that the EU delegation "will receive a new mandate that will provide for recognition of this reality." Tarasyuk recalled that the asymmetric visa regime stipulates that Ukrainian citizens travel to the specified countries with free visas, while citizens of these countries visit Ukraine without visas.
Let us recall that the asymmetric visa regime is in force between Ukraine and Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, as well as Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Polish consulates introduce new photo requirements for visa applications
Polish consulates in Ukraine will introduce new requirements for photos for visa applications from May 1. As Lvivska Gazeta reports, a very important new rule is being introduced - photos cannot be attached to the application with a stapler; they should be glued.
From May 1 of this year, Polish consulates will no longer accept visa applications with black-and-white photos, but only color ones, printed on quality paper, bright and contrasting. Stains on photos are not allowed. In addition, the photo height must be 4.5 cm and width - 3.5 cm. The face should occupy 70-80% of the photo area.
The person whose face is depicted must look straight ahead and sit with their mouth closed. The eyes must be clearly visible in the photo, nothing should cover the head, and a hairstyle or just hair should not cover the face. If the person applying for a visa wears glasses, the frames must not obscure the eyes in any case. Reflections and dark lenses are also not allowed in the photo.
As reported, in 2004, after the country joined the European Union, Polish visas received a new design identical to that used for Schengen visas. Most consulates of Schengen zone states have already switched to issuing visas with a photo printed on a printer. This requirement also applies to those new member countries that want to join it as soon as possible, including Poland.
Crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border will become easier
The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministries, Sergei Lavrov and Boris Tarasyuk, last week signed an agreement on simplified crossing of the state border by residents of border areas. "This agreement will in practice help people maintain their friendly and family ties at a convenient time for them," Lavrov said.
According to him, citizens of the two countries will cross the state borders at special checkpoints, of which there will be no shortage. The Ukrainian and Russian sides have almost completed coordination of the readmission agreement, Lavrov said. In addition, the sides are working on an agreement on simplified acquisition and renunciation of citizenship.
In turn, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk emphasized that the agreement on simplified border crossing signed in Moscow affects hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian citizens.