EU Clarifies Schengen Visa Application Procedure for Citizens of Kazakhstan, Following “Black List” Allegations
Just recently, news about Kazakhstan being placed on a black list and its citizens being subject to additional requirements started circulating.
However, immediately after, the Delegation to Kazakhstan came out with an official statement, saying that the competent EU authorities have not made any substantial changes in the Schengen visa application procedure for citizens of Kazakhstan.
The same stressed that Kazakhstan had not been placed on a black list by the EU, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
“There are no substantial changes in the procedure of application for Schengen visas for citizens of Kazakhstan after March 1, 2023, and Kazakhstan has not been put on a ‘black list’ by the European Union,” the statement of the Delegation to Kazakhstan reads.
The Delegation to Kazakhstan explained that the 15-processing rule would continue to apply to all applicants from Kazakhstan.
In general, a decision to issue Schengen visas by the respective Member State Consulate is taken within 15 days. Nonetheless, in exceptional cases, when a more detailed examination of the application is required, this period may be extended up to 45 days.
As for the recent introduction of a prior consultation procedure for Kazakhstan, which in some cases it may take up to seven days, the Delegation explains that it falls within the general rule of 15 days, emphasising that applicants will not experience significant delays.
The Delegation to Kazakhstan also clarified the prior consultation rule. Such a clarification was made after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan said that “Kazakhstan will indeed be on the list of countries that require additional consultations when issuing Schengen visas”.
The Delegation stressed that the prior consultation procedure is a standard procedure which is regulated in the Visa Code and applies to several countries. The same said that the introduction of this procedure for Kazakhstan within the Schengen visa system has absolutely nothing to do with the relations between the EU and Kazakhstan.
Since Kazakhstan has not reached an agreement with the EU that would allow its citizens to enter the bloc visa-free, all of its citizens are required to apply for the document.
