According to new EU rules, Chinese visitors must submit fingerprints when applying for Schengen visas starting from October 12, 2015.
EU makes more hassle for big spending Chinese tourists
“Previously, applicants would choose a visa service agency and give their documents and passport 30 days in advance of their journey to receive a Schengen visa. The visa is generally processed in seven to 15 working days after submission,” an online travel site spokesperson said. However, the implementation of the “fingerprint” policy means visa processing will take longer, so travelers must now apply for visas 45 days in advance. He also reminded UK + Schengen visa applicants to apply 60 days in advance as UK tourism authorities must also process fingerprints.
He also said that the cost of visa application will rise as applicants must now travel from regional cities to the destination country’s consulate, most of them located in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, to submit fingerprints in person instead of applying via tour operators or agents as in the past.
Some Chinese have moved their European trip plans forward to avoid the inevitable queues at consulates to submit fingerprints after the policy is implemented in October. Industry observers say there will be changes to the volume of tourists heading to Europe as a direct result of the new policy.(Translation by David)
