France becomes first European country to issue digital Schengen visas

France will become the first European country to issue digital Schengen visas to visitors for the upcoming Paris Olympics. France has announced plans to shift entirely to online procedures for 70,0000 French Schengen Visas, in a move that aligns with the EU's digitalization plans.

France began operations of the "Olympic Consulate" system from January 1, 2024 - dedicated to processing visa applications for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The "Olympic Consulate" is expected to handle applications from 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists, and delegations from foreign countries participating in the upcoming sporting events. The initiative aims to streamline the visa application process, avoiding any mix-up with the surge of files currently undergoing processing at French visa centers worldwide.


Athletes and officials holding a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa won't need to apply for a separate French Schengen visa. Instead, they can use their existing visa, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining accreditation for the games.

Last year, the European Union announced plans to turn the Schengen visa digital. In November, European Union foreign ministers adopted a change to shift the process of applying for visas to visit the Schengen area to an online platform. Once enforced, this will eliminate the need for visa applicants to obtain a sticker in their passport, streamlining the application process and doing away with consulate or service provider appointments.

The Schengen area includes 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with associated neighbors Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain's Interior Minister and the current holder of the EU presidency, said that the online visa system "will streamline the application process for travelers." Once operational, visa applicants for the Schengen area can submit required documents, data, and electronic copies of their travel documents, including biometric information, and make payments through the online platform.

Upon approval following cross-verification with databases, applicants will be provided with a cryptographically signed barcode for either printing or storing on a device. However, individuals applying for the first time or those with new passports or modified biometric data may still necessitate an in-person appointment.

Every individual entering the European Union, regardless of possessing visas or visa waivers, will go through processing via the automated EU Entry/Exit System (EES), expected to be in operation by the conclusion of 2024. The EES will record individuals' particulars, biometric data, entry and exit dates, facilitating the monitoring of overstays and instances of refused entries.