Questo sito utilizza cookie tecnici, analytics e di terze parti.
Proseguendo nella navigazione accetti l'utilizzo dei cookie.

Preferenze cookies

NOTICE COVID-19 – Extraordinary measures regarding the emission of Schengen Visas – UPDATE

In view of the evolution of the health context, which sees the rapid spread of COVID-19 with the European Union considered to be at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, please be informed that temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU have been applied in order to protect the public health of our populations and to prevent the virus from further spreading from the EU to other countries, as has been observed in recent weeks.

The temporary travel restriction should apply for 30 days. Any possible prolongation of this period should be assessed depending on further developments.

The temporary travel restriction should apply to all non-essential travel from third countries to the EU+ area.

For such a temporary travel restriction to have the desired effect in terms of restricting the spread of the virus, exceptions need to be limited to travel for essential purposes2

The temporary travel restriction must exempt nationals of all EU Member States and Schengen Associated States, 3 for the purposes of returning to their homes. This exemption must apply to:

§ all EU citizens4 and citizens of the Schengen Associated States, and their family members;

§ third-country nationals who are long-term residents under the Long-term Residence Directive5 and persons deriving their right to reside from other EU Directive5 or national law or who hold national long-term visas.

§ It should also not apply to other travellers with an essential function or need, including:

§ Healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals;

§ Frontier workers;

§ Transport personnel engaged in haulage of goods and other transport staff to the extent necessary;

§ Diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions;

§ Passengers in transit6;

§ Passengers travelling for imperative family reasons; – Persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons.

Coordinated and reinforced health checks should be carried out for the individuals allowed to enter the EU+ area7.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2 The special transit scheme to Kaliningrad should continue to apply, but the trains under this scheme should not stop in the territory of Schengen.

3 Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.

4 UK nationals are still to be treated in the same way as EU citizens until end 2020.

5 Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, OJ L 16, 23.1.2004, p. 44.

6 Including those having been repatriated through consular assistance.

7 Guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services, 16.3.2020, C(2020) 1753 final.

We recommend to monitor this General Consulate website regularly due to constant updates regarding the current circumstances.

Thank you for your comprehension.