According to the EU Delegation to China, starting from October 27, applying for a Schengen visa in China will become simpler. Specific categories of Chinese travelers will no longer need to provide proof of hotel bookings and flight tickets when submitting their applications. This convenience will apply to applicants traveling to Schengen countries for business visits, short-term professional training, cultural or sports activities, and visiting friends and family. It will not temporarily apply to applicants traveling for tourism purposes.
It is reported that China is the first country to introduce such simplified procedures. Due to its deviation from the norm, this decision will be implemented as a "pilot project" with a trial period of six months. After the period ends, its implementation will be evaluated, including assessments of abuse and refusals of entry. Based on this, the EU will consider whether to extend the exemption from flight and hotel bookings, which may also apply to other countries outside of China.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström stated: "I am pleased that Chinese travelers will be among the first to enjoy a more simplified process when applying for European visas. The EU and the Chinese government are committed to promoting cultural exchanges, which will also have significant and beneficial economic impacts." Other simplified terms will apply to all categories of travelers: in the future, only a copy (not the original) of the household registration (hukou) will be required, along with proof of financial capability for the past three months.
The European Commission released a proposal for new EU visa regulations on April 1, 2015, mentioning the simplification of visa application procedures for citizens of China and other countries. If the proposal is successfully passed, the approval of visa applications should not exceed 10 calendar days; minors under the age of 18 will no longer be charged visa fees; multiple-entry visas valid for several years will be issued to frequent travelers to Europe; and a "tourist visa" with a validity of 1 year will be established.
The European Commission has stated that by simplifying visa procedures, the EU could increase international arrivals by 460,000 by 2015, which would bring an income of 600 million euros to the European economy and create 50,000 new jobs. "Europe has just emerged from the most severe economic crisis since World War II, so we must take full advantage of such opportunities."
Since 2011, more than 100,000 Chinese people have applied for visas to Europe for vacation or business travel each year. From 2009 to 2013, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Europe nearly doubled.
