The European Parliament has agreed to reduce the Schengen visa fee charges and facilitate the list of documents required for application for Cape Verde at a plenary session held on Thursday, September 16.
The proposal has been approved with 533 votes in favour, 107 against, and 47 abstentions, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Among other things, the Parliament also authorised establishing a mechanism that will determine visa validity duration and the number of times one can enter the Schengen Area With one single visa. However, the absence of cooperation in human rights and democracy can suspend the agreement or parts of it, as the Parliament has decided.
Previously, the EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs said it supported the agreement, which among others, reduces the fees for Schengen Visa applications.
“The new visa facilitation agreement updates a previous one from 2014, signed alongside an agreement on the return of persons residing without authorisation. The new pact affects short-stay visas (for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period),” a press release of the Committee reads.
According to the new agreement, fees for applying for a Schengen visa will be lowered to 75 per cent or less compared to the current fee. In addition, the same fees will be reduced even more for children from 12 to 18 years of age.
Relatives of EU citizens or Cabo Verdean citizens who are legal residents of the EU countries now can apply for a Schengen visa, free of charge. Students, researchers, athletes, cultural or educational individuals under 25 years of age, and members of official delegations, are also discharged from the requirement.
The agreement also allows for the Cape Verdeans to be asked to submit fewer visa application documents. They will also be permitted to enter visa-free if they are holders of EU laissez-passer, issued by the block to servants of the EU Institutions.
According to the data provided by Schengen Visa Statistics, in 2020, the Cape Verdean Consulate Cidade Da Praia has received 5,020 visa applications for Portugal and 1,282 for Spain, out of which 722 were approved. On the other hand, 3,363 visas were issued for Portugal, whereas 1,657 were denied, marking a total of 2,186 visa applications denied. In total, 4,085 visas for Portugal and Spain were issued to Cape Verdeans.