According to the approved document, amendments are made to the agreement regarding the simplification of issuing and processing visas for a certain list of categories of Ukrainian citizens, the number of which increases by nine. Accordingly, no fee is charged for processing visa applications from them.
Thus, the requirements for processing documents are simplified for representatives of civil organizations, technical personnel accompanying journalists, drivers transporting international cargo, close relatives of citizens living in EU member states and who are citizens of one of the EU countries.
In addition, representatives of religious communities, participants in official cross-border cooperation with the EU, participants in official educational exchange programs and participation in seminars, courses, conferences, as well as representatives of various professions who take part in international exhibitions, conferences and seminars.
It is also established that EU member states may charge 70 euros for processing a visa if the applicant requests that his application be considered within three days on the grounds that he lives far from a diplomatic mission. In the case of cooperation between a diplomatic institution and intermediaries in processing visas, intermediaries may charge no more than 30 euros for their services.
According to 'Ukrainian News', clear validity periods for multiple-entry visas of 1 year and 5 years have also been defined, instead of the previously existing rule of up to 1 year and up to 5 years. The possibility of urgent visa processing (within 3 days) has appeared for persons living at a significant distance from the place of application (subject to payment of a double visa fee). The document also provides that Ukrainians holding valid biometric service passports may visit EU member states without visas.
In addition, Ukrainians will now have to obtain visas for travel to Kosovo, reports 'Interfax-Ukraine'. In particular, the director of the information policy department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Yevgeny Perebiynis, stated: 'From July 1, 2013, a visa regime for entry into Kosovo is established for citizens of a number of countries, including Ukraine. Citizens of Ukraine will be able to obtain a visa at diplomatic missions of Kosovo, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia.'
According to him, citizens of Ukraine who have a multiple-entry Schengen visa will be able to enter Kosovo without prior obtaining a separate Kosovo visa for a period not exceeding 15 days.
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