By Sonny Fernandez
Two months ago, the French embassy in Manila opened its Visa Application Centre in Makati in response to the increasing volume of applications.
At the inauguration last December 7, France Ambassador to the Philippines Thiery Mathou observed a "rapid rise in the number of Schengen visa applications from the Philippines."
Mathou noted that in 2015, the French embassy in Manila "received almost 20,000 applications, an unprecedented number reflecting a 100% increase from 2010."
France Ambassador to the Philippines Thiery Mathou (Second from left), noted increasing number of Filipino Schengen Visa applicants at the launching of France Visa Application Centre in Makati, December 7, 2023. (File photo from France Embassy, Manila)
He added that "visa applications are forecasted to increase by 20% per year in the coming years."
Now the good news is, getting a French visa has been made much easier, convenient and more secure beginning 2024.
Since January 1, France has been issuing paperless visas ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games which will run from July 26 to August 11, and from August 28 to September 8, 2024, respectively.
This is in compliance with the European Union's mandate last November 13, 2023 to digitalize Schengen visas.
In its report, Etias.com said France's "Olympic Consulate" system has been processing visa applications for some 15,000 athletes, 9,000 journalists and other delegations.
In a statement, France's Diplomacy estimated that almost 1.5 million spectators from all over the world are expected to visit Paris for the 2024 Games.
The "Olympic Consulate" is a non-physical entity or an online portal designed to prevent applications from getting lost given the very high volume of applicants.
According to the Ministry of Interior, "it (the system) is indeed necessary to guarantee the issuance of visas within timeframes compatible with the successful organization of the (2024 Olympic) Games.
This means that the digital visa system ensures that the members of the "Olympic family" like athletes, coaches, national sports officials and media, can get their pass promptly.
The initial and dedicated target of the new digital visas are applications for the Paris 2024 Games.
This is how the system operates:
The visa applications are filed online, through a digital platform, the France-Visas.
Here, the applicants' biometric data will be submitted online.
Applicants will upload electronic copies of travel documents and pay the visa fee also, online.
Applicants will be notified of visa decisions, whether approved or not, through this platform.
Once approved, accreditation cards will contain integrated digital visas (with a barcode) instead of physical visa stamps or stickers.
A total of 70,000 visa applications are expected to be processed under the new system.
With the visa digitalization, physical appearance at the consulate has become largely unnecessary.
The technological upgrade from traditional visa stickers to barcode accordingly, "ensures a higher level of protection for visa documentation and lowers the possibility of forging visas."
The European Parliament approved the regulations for the digitalization of visa last November 13, 2023. France is the first country in EU to implement paperless Schengen Visa. (File photo from Website of EU Parliament)
For international tourists visiting the EU, Schengen visa digitalization simplifies travel planning, reduces costs and time consumption.
Filipino diplomat, Angelicum Oda, gladly welcomed the news.
"Freer travel is a good gesture and vision that could be more ideal if implemented even in the absence of a special event or hosting milestone," Oda said.
Oda is a senior diplomat for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
He participated in the 21st Conference of Parties or COP 21 held in France from November 30 to December 12, 2015 where the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change was adopted.
Oda fears though, that cybercrime syndicates may find ways to rake in money from this high tech processing of paperless visas by breaching digital security protocols.
He explained that "pwedeng ma-hack ang arrival hotel and transpo arrangements. All of which including the police being part of the whole cybercrime ring. Mahina police ng France. No guarantee on safety pa rin talaga."
In the main, Oda praises the faster processing or efficiency in the digital visa application because "everybody wants less bureaucratic red tape."
UN environment diplomat, Angelicum Oda, welcomed France's adoption of paperless visa
which began its implementation January 1, 2024 ahead of Olympic Games in July.
(Photo courtesy of Angelicum Oda)
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