Maldivians will soon receive the opportunity to submit e-visa applications to travel to the Schengen Area. The process will allow Maldivians to apply for visas without having to travel to another country.
On the X platform, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid thanked the European Council for its decision to adopt new visa rules that will lead the way for the creation of an online visa application platform for the Schengen Area. He thanked the European Council for the opportunity provided for e-visa application by Maldivians for Schengen Visa once the process begins.
Moreover, the foreign ministry recently expanded the services offered by the VFS Global Schengen Visa application centre in the Maldives, following successful discussions with foreign ministries in the Schengen Area. The foreign ministry stated that individuals can now apply for Schengen visas to Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Luxembourg, and Slovenia through VFS. The centre will also provide Schengen Visas for France, Spain, and Portugal.
The ministry announced the launch of VFS in the Maldives on March 1, 2020, as part of its ongoing commitment to facilitate the application of Schengen visas for Maldivians travelling to European countries. The ministry also stated that the opportunity for the Maldives to apply for a Schengen visa to multiple European countries through the centre has effectively addressed the challenges previously encountered in obtaining a Schengen Visa.
The government has made successful efforts in the past five years to facilitate the application of Schengen visas for Maldivians. Currently, individuals can apply for visas to travel to 18 of the 27 countries in the Schengen Area in the Maldives. Previously, Maldivians were required to obtain Schengen visas by traveling to Sri Lanka or India.