Embassies will be obliged to issue a visa within 10 days after submission of the visa application, and in case of refusal, to provide a written explanation of why the visa will not be issued. Currently, embassies set processing times individually, and most do not bother to comment on the reasons for refusal. However, there is a small caveat: the review of the application may take up to 30 days. But it is assumed that this will happen only in exceptional cases.
Another positive aspect of the agreement is that the price of a Schengen visa will be fixed at €35 for all embassies. Previously, a number of Western European embassies demanded a price of at least €65. The agreement also specifies categories of Ukrainian citizens who can receive a Schengen visa for free – these are citizens whose close relatives live in the EU, students, disabled people, journalists, and pensioners. Those with a diplomatic passport will not need visas at all.
However, one will have to wait at least several months for the visa facilitation with the EU. All EU member states need to ratify this agreement. It is expected that all procedures for ratification, briefing of embassies, etc., will last until mid-2007.