Immigration News: France to issue digital Schengen visa for Paris Olympics; Greece introduces Climate Tax for Tourists; Bulgaria & Romania to start issuing short-tern Schengen visas from April 1

Paris Summer Olympics 2024 will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. (Photo via Olympics.com)

France to issue digital Schengen visa for Paris Olympics: France will issue around 70,000 visas completely online to athletes, journalists, and delegations for the Olympic and Paralympic games. The host country has started operating a new Olympic Consulate that will process applications of 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists and delegations of foreign countries participating in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

According to VFS Global, if you wish to participate in or attend events at the Olympic or Para-Olympic Games (OGP) in 2024, a different procedure applies to apply for a visa:

• Members of the Olympic and Para-Olympic Committees, athletes, accompanying persons, media, official guests, etc.: They can come to any VFS Global centre, regardless of where they live and regardless of their nationality. They do not have to book an appointment — a time slot between 11 am and 3 pm is reserved for them. They must present a ‘Certificate’ issued by the OCOG.
• Or you are a guest of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOG): The ordinary visa application procedure applies with a few peculiarities. They must complete a visa application with France-Visas by selecting — short-stay visa application > "work" project > "sporting event" reason. They must present a Letter of Invitation from the OCOG.
• Or, you are going as a spectator: The normal visa application procedure applies in full.

It is important to note that the Climate Tax will not be included in the tariff quoted by travel platforms and tour operators, the tax has to be paid locally in the local currency.

The Greek government expects that the new levy will generate an additional revenue of up to €300 million in 2024.

Bulgaria & Romania to start issuing short-tern Schengen visas from April 1, 2024: With the decision of the European Union (EU) to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen-fold in March 2024, the two countries will start issuing short-term Schengen visas from April 1. The short-term Schengen visa allows visitors to enter, stay & move freely within the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period.

“The EU will welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area, the largest area of free movement in the world. In March 2024, there will be no longer controls at air and sea borders,” the EU Commission said in a statement.

Finland hikes processing fee: Effective January 1, 2024, Finland has hiked the processing fee for applications of a few visa categories, including:

Permanent Residence Permits: The fee for an online application for a permanent residence permit will be €220. The processing fee for a paper application will be €270. Before the changes, the fee was €160 for both paper and online applications.

Citizenship Application: Application submitted online will be €490. Previously, the fee was €460.

First Residence Permit for an Employed Person: Application submitted online will be €540. Previously, the fee was €490.

Extended Permit: Application submitted online will be €170. Previously, the fee was €160.

Renewing a Residence Permit Card: The fee will be different depending on whether you submit the application online in advance or apply for a new card at a service point without having filled in an application form beforehand. The processing fee for an online application will be €60. Without an online application, the processing fee will be €75. Previously, the fee was €54 in both cases.

Immigration Finland has also advised applicants that whenever possible, “to submit an online application in the online service Enter Finland”. Online applications are almost always more affordable than paper applications. An additional benefit of Enter Finland is that it is the fastest way to apply. If you apply in Enter Finland, you can use your Enter Finland account to follow the progress of your application. Submitting any additional documents is swift and easy.