Schengen visa is 35 Euro for Ukrainians, 60 Euro for Belarusians

The European Parliament has given consent to entry into legal force of agreements with Ukraine on simplification of visa regime and readmission. These agreements are to be submitted for consideration of the EU Council for their final approval.

Today the corresponding draft projects of Barbara Kudricka have been supported at the session of the European parliament in Strasbourg. 539 deputies have voted in support of the draft project on approving streamlined visa regime agreement’s entry into legal force, 36 MPs voted against, while 12 abstained from vote.

According to rules of procedure, these agreements would be to be submitted for consideration of the EU Council for their final approval.

It is noted in the document that its main objective is simplified procurement of visas for Ukrainian citizens who plan to stay in the EU for less than 90 days within a period of 180 days.

The visa facilitation agreement provides for the cut of documents necessary for visas, a fixed visa price of 35 Euro, and free visas to some categories like students, journalists, businessmen, pensioners. Close relatives of Ukrainians legally residing in EU countries will be able to get free multiple visas for up to 5 years.

According to the new agreement, in case a citizen is denied a visa a consul is to explain why.

As we have informed, Schengen visa for Belarusian citizens costs 60 Euro. Since December 21 our closest neighbours, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, as well as Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Malta join the Schengen zone. So far the Belarusian authorities haven’t taken any steps to let Belarusians pay less.