Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join Europe's open-borders Schengen area by air and sea from March 2024, with talks set to continue next year about land borders, the Romanian interior ministry said late on Wednesday. Austria proposed the zone entry through air in stages.

Romania & Bulgaria set to join Europe's open-borders Schengen Zone

A recent report by the Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 showed France as the most popular destination for Indian travellers among Schengen states. On the contrary, the report also mentioned that France also had the largest visa rejections in 2022.&nbsp;

France was among the five most popular Schengen destinations for Indians, which saw 1.38 lakh visa applications the previous year. France was followed by Switzerland at 1.06 lakh applications, Spain at 80,098 applications, Germany at 76,352 applications and the Netherlands at 52,616 applications.&nbsp;

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But France has a visa rejection rate of 20.12 per cent, which means that it saw the largest number of visas rejected at 27,691 applications. Spain was at the second spot in this category with 18.5 per cent, which are 14,852 visa applications.&nbsp;

 
Though Switzerland’s rate of rejection was as low as 13.2 per cent because the volume of applications received was high, it amounted to a total of 13,984 visas being denied.&nbsp;

<h2>What is a Schengen visa?</h2>

Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most European countries. It is the largest free travel area in the world. A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any country of the Schengen area. A person with a Schengen visa can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes in the Schengen area.

It is one of the most common visas for travelling in Europe. It allows its holder to enter, freely travel and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.&nbsp;

<h2>Schengen Visa Statistics 2022&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>

As per the report, Germany saw the lowest rate of visa rejection in 2022 which is 11.33 per cent with 8,615 visas being rejected.&nbsp;

The report further shows that other countries saw the lowest visa rejection rate because the applications for the visa were also low. Iceland saw 1,861 applications wherein 5.5 per cent of visas were rejected, Hungary with 9,046 applications saw 12.1 per cent rejections, Belgium saw 4,824 visa applications with 12.2 rejections while Norway saw 18,016 applications but the rejection rate was 14.5 per cent.&nbsp;

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There are currently 27 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states of the European Union, which include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Croatia.&nbsp;

<h2>Schengen Visa appointment in India</h2>

Schengen embassies/consulates in India typically require you to schedule an appointment for your visa application 4-6 weeks in advance. So it is advised to start the application process ahead of your upcoming trip, considering it will take another two weeks for the embassy to reach a decision.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, recently, the ambassadors of European Union member states gave a green signal to negotiate a proposal around digitalising the visa application process. In case the negotiations come through, the travellers will be able to apply for the Schengen visa online and the current 'Schengen' sticker will also get replaced with a digital bar code.

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A recent report by the Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 showed France as the most popular destination for Indian travellers among Schengen states. On the contrary, the report also mentioned that France also had the largest visa rejections in 2022.

A recent report by the Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 showed France as the most popular destination for Indian travellers among Schengen states. On the contrary, the report also mentioned that France also had the largest visa rejections in 2022. France was among the five most popular Schengen destinations for Indians, which saw 1.38 lakh visa applications the previous year. France was followed by Switzerland at 1.06 lakh applications, Spain at 80,098 applications, Germany at 76,352 applications and the Netherlands at 52,616 applications. Also Read | G7 leaders to target Russian energy, trade in new sanctions steps But France has a visa rejection rate of 20.12 per cent, which means that it saw the largest number of visas rejected at 27,691 applications. Spain was at the second spot in this category with 18.5 per cent, which are 14,852 visa applications. Though Switzerland’s rate of rejection was as low as 13.2 per cent because the volume of applications received was high, it amounted to a total of 13,984 visas being denied. What is a Schengen visa? Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most European countries. It is the largest free travel area in the world. A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any country of the Schengen area. A person with a Schengen visa can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes in the Schengen area. It is one of the most common visas for travelling in Europe. It allows its holder to enter, freely travel and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone. Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 As per the report, Germany saw the lowest rate of visa rejection in 2022 which is 11.33 per cent with 8,615 visas being rejected. The report further shows that other countries saw the lowest visa rejection rate because the applications for the visa were also low. Iceland saw 1,861 applications wherein 5.5 per cent of visas were rejected, Hungary with 9,046 applications saw 12.1 per cent rejections, Belgium saw 4,824 visa applications with 12.2 rejections while Norway saw 18,016 applications but the rejection rate was 14.5 per cent. Also Read | Cyclone Mocha: At least six killed, hundreds injured after powerful storm batters Myanmar There are currently 27 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states of the European Union, which include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Croatia. Schengen Visa appointment in India Schengen embassies/consulates in India typically require you to schedule an appointment for your visa application 4-6 weeks in advance. So it is advised to start the application process ahead of your upcoming trip, considering it will take another two weeks for the embassy to reach a decision. Meanwhile, recently, the ambassadors of European Union member states gave a green signal to negotiate a proposal around digitalising the visa application process. In case the negotiations come through, the travellers will be able to apply for the Schengen visa online and the current 'Schengen' sticker will also get replaced with a digital bar code. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

France most popular destination in Schengen area for Indians, but also has highest visa rejections

Croatia will become the latest European country to enter the continent’s check-free travel zone known as the Schengen area. The European Union agreed on Thursday to let Croatia join the bloc but the wait continued for Bulgaria and Romania as their requests will be considered in the next official meeting.&nbsp;

“The&nbsp;Schengen area&nbsp;is growing for the first time in more than a decade,” the Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency at the moment, tweeted from their official government handle.&nbsp;

“Ministers approved&nbsp;Croatia’s&nbsp;membership as of 1 January 2023!” the tweet further stated.&nbsp;

The Schengen area allows any person to travel freely within the member countries. It comprises of 26 countries — 22 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. &nbsp;

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“When it comes to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, we are not united and that makes us very weak and that makes me also sad,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters.&nbsp;

“You deserve to be full members of Schengen, you deserve to have access to the free movement in the Schengen area,” Johansson said before adding that a number of ministers supported the two nations.&nbsp;

Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 while Croatia became a part in 2013. However, a lack of unity in the decision between the two nations has resulted in Croatia gaining access ahead of them.&nbsp;

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and other members of the cabinet took to social media to express their pleasure. "Croatia is in Schengen!" Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović tweeted.&nbsp;

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Croatia will become the latest European country to enter the continent’s check-free travel zone known as the Schengen area. The European Union agreed on Thursday to let Croatia join the bloc but the wait continued for Bulgaria and Romania as their requests will be considered in the next official meeting.

Croatia will become the latest European country to enter the continent’s check-free travel zone known as the Schengen area. The European Union agreed on Thursday to let Croatia join the bloc but the wait continued for Bulgaria and Romania as their requests will be considered in the next official meeting. “The Schengen area is growing for the first time in more than a decade,” the Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency at the moment, tweeted from their official government handle. “Ministers approved Croatia’s membership as of 1 January 2023!” the tweet further stated. The Schengen area allows any person to travel freely within the member countries. It comprises of 26 countries — 22 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Also read | US basketball star Brittney Griner released in prisoner swap for arms dealer “When it comes to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, we are not united and that makes us very weak and that makes me also sad,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters. “You deserve to be full members of Schengen, you deserve to have access to the free movement in the Schengen area,” Johansson said before adding that a number of ministers supported the two nations. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 while Croatia became a part in 2013. However, a lack of unity in the decision between the two nations has resulted in Croatia gaining access ahead of them. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and other members of the cabinet took to social media to express their pleasure. "Croatia is in Schengen!" Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović tweeted.

Croatia to join Schengen zone but Bulgaria, Romania bids rejected by EU

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Croatia is one of six European Union members not to be part of the passport-free Schengen zone, which area comprises 22 EU member states as well as four non-members — Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

“Our goal is to meet all the technical criteria by the end of this year. The European Commission must then assess if we’re ready to join which we hope it will do before the next elections for the European Parliament next May,” Terezija Gras, state secretary in the Interior Ministry, told Reuters in an interview.

Gras said Schengen zone membership would help to improve security in Croatia and the wider EU. The free movement of people would also benefit the economy, especially tourism which accounts for almost 20 per cent of Croatia’s gross domestic product, she said.

“Control over the EU’s external borders is the most demanding aspect of our preparations. We have already fully equipped our border with Serbia and now we’re doing it on the border with Bosnia,” Gras said.

Croatia is on the route taken by many migrants from the Middle East and central Asia who are trying to reach wealthier EU states. Some cross into Croatia from Bosnia undeclared.

By the end of September, the number of unauthorised migrants in Croatia had risen by more than 30 per cent from an estimated 4,800 people last year, police said this month. Most of them were from Afghanistan.

Once the European Commission gives its approval, member states must approve it politically. One potential stumbling block is Croatia’s border dispute with neighbouring Slovenia, which blocked Croatia’s EU bid in 2009 for the same reason.

“I believe a win-win solution is possible and we’re keen to work on that. We think as well that, for security reasons, it is also in Slovenia’s interest to have Croatia within the Schengen area,” Gras said.

Croatia’s conservative-led government also hopes that in 2020 it will also achieve entry to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-2), a waiting room for adopting the euro.

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Croatia expects to meet the technical criteria for the border-free European Union’s Schengen zone by year-end and hopes to join it by 2020, a senior Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday. Croatia is one of six European Union members not to be part of the passport-free Schengen zone, which area comprises 22 EU member states as well as four non-members — Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. “Our goal is to meet all the technical criteria by the end of this year. The European Commission must then assess if we’re ready to join which we hope it will do before the next elections for the European Parliament next May,” Terezija Gras, state secretary in the Interior Ministry, told Reuters in an interview. Gras said Schengen zone membership would help to improve security in Croatia and the wider EU. The free movement of people would also benefit the economy, especially tourism which accounts for almost 20 per cent of Croatia’s gross domestic product, she said. “Control over the EU’s external borders is the most demanding aspect of our preparations. We have already fully equipped our border with Serbia and now we’re doing it on the border with Bosnia,” Gras said. Croatia is on the route taken by many migrants from the Middle East and central Asia who are trying to reach wealthier EU states. Some cross into Croatia from Bosnia undeclared. By the end of September, the number of unauthorised migrants in Croatia had risen by more than 30 per cent from an estimated 4,800 people last year, police said this month. Most of them were from Afghanistan. Once the European Commission gives its approval, member states must approve it politically. One potential stumbling block is Croatia’s border dispute with neighbouring Slovenia, which blocked Croatia’s EU bid in 2009 for the same reason. “I believe a win-win solution is possible and we’re keen to work on that. We think as well that, for security reasons, it is also in Slovenia’s interest to have Croatia within the Schengen area,” Gras said. Croatia’s conservative-led government also hopes that in 2020 it will also achieve entry to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-2), a waiting room for adopting the euro.

Croatia on course for Schengen zone entry in 2020: Government official

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Romania & Bulgaria set to join Europe's open-borders Schengen Zone

France most popular destination in Schengen area for Indians, but also has highest visa rejections

Croatia to join Schengen zone but Bulgaria, Romania bids rejected by EU

Croatia on course for Schengen zone entry in 2020: Government official