Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER IV U.K. Issuing of the visa

Article 24 U.K. Issuing of a uniform visa

1. The period of validity of a visa and the length of the authorised stay shall be based on the examination conducted in accordance with Article 21.

A visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries. The period of validity shall not exceed five years.

[ F1 . . . . .]

[F2 Without prejudice to point (a) of Article 12, the period of validity of a visa for one entry shall include a ‘ period of grace ’ of 15 calendar days.]

Member States may decide not to grant such a period of grace for reasons of public policy or because of the international relations of any of the Member States.

[F2 2. Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions set out in point (a) and points (c) to (e) of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:

(a) for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;

(b) for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;

(c) for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.

Airport transit visas and visas with limited territorial validity issued in accordance with Article 25(1) shall not be taken into account for the issuing of multiple-entry visas.]

[F3 2a. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the validity period of the visa issued may be shortened in individual cases where there is reasonable doubt that the entry conditions will be met for the entire period.

2b. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, consulates shall, within local Schengen cooperation, assess whether the rules on the issuing of the multiple-entry visas set out in paragraph 2 need to be adapted to take account of local circumstances, and of migratory and security risks, in view of the adoption of more favourable or more restrictive rules in accordance with paragraph 2d.

2c. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years may be issued to applicants who prove the need or justify their intention to travel frequently or regularly, provided that they prove their integrity and reliability, in particular the lawful use of previous visas, their economic situation in the country of origin and their genuine intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa for which they have applied.

2d. Where necessary, on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 2b of this Article, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the rules regarding the conditions for the issuing of multiple-entry visas laid down in paragraph 2 of this Article, to be applied in each jurisdiction in order to take account of local circumstances, of the migratory and security risks, and of the Union's overall relations with the third country in question. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 52(2).]

3. The data set out in Article 10(1) of the VIS Regulation shall be entered into the VIS when a decision on issuing such a visa has been taken.

Textual Amendments

F1 Deleted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F3 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Article 25 U.K. Issuing of a visa with limited territorial validity

1. A visa with limited territorial validity shall be issued exceptionally, in the following cases:

(a) when the Member State concerned considers it necessary on humanitarian grounds, for reasons of national interest or because of international obligations,

(i)

to derogate from the principle that the entry conditions laid down in Article 5(1)(a), (c), (d) and (e) of the Schengen Borders Code must be fulfilled;

(ii)

to issue a visa despite an objection by the Member State consulted in accordance with Article 22 to the issuing of a uniform visa; or

(iii)

to issue a visa for reasons of urgency, although the prior consultation in accordance with Article 22 has not been carried out;

or

[F4 (b) when for reasons deemed justified by the consulate, a new visa is issued for a stay during the same 180-day period to an applicant who, over this 180-day period, has already used a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity allowing for a stay of 90 days.]

2. A visa with limited territorial validity shall be valid for the territory of the issuing Member State. It may exceptionally be valid for the territory of more than one Member State, subject to the consent of each such Member State.

3. If the applicant holds a travel document that is not recognised by one or more, but not all Member States, a visa valid for the territory of the Member States recognising the travel document shall be issued. If the issuing Member State does not recognise the applicant’s travel document, the visa issued shall only be valid for that Member State.

4. When a visa with limited territorial validity has been issued in the cases described in paragraph 1(a), the central authorities of the issuing Member State shall circulate the relevant information to the central authorities of the other Member States without delay, by means of the procedure referred to in Article 16(3) of the VIS Regulation.

5. The data set out in Article 10(1) of the VIS Regulation shall be entered into the VIS when a decision on issuing such a visa has been taken.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, Council Regulations (EC) No 1683/95 and (EC) No 539/2001 and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

[F3 Article 25a U.K. Cooperation on readmission

1. Depending on the level of cooperation of a third country with Member States on the readmission of irregular migrants, assessed on the basis of relevant and objective data, Article 14(6), Article 16(1), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), and Article 24(2) and (2c) shall not apply to applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of a third country that is considered not to be cooperating sufficiently, in accordance with this Article.

2. The Commission shall regularly assess, at least once a year, third countries' cooperation with regard to readmission, taking account, in particular, of the following indicators:

(a) the number of return decisions issued to persons from the third country in question, illegally staying on the territory of the Member States;

(b) the number of actual forced returns of persons issued with return decisions as a percentage of the number of return decisions issued to nationals of the third country in question including, where appropriate, on the basis of Union or bilateral readmission agreements, the number of third country nationals who have transited through the territory of the third country in question;

(c) the number of readmission requests per Member State accepted by the third country as a percentage of the number of such requests submitted to it;

(d) the level of practical cooperation with regard to return in the different stages of the return procedure, such as:

(i)

assistance provided in the identification of persons illegally staying on the territory of the Member States and in the timely issuance of travel documents;

(ii)

acceptance of the European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals or laissez-passer;

(iii)

acceptance of the readmission of persons who are to be legally returned to their country;

(iv)

acceptance of return flights and operations.

Such an assessment shall be based on the use of reliable data provided by Member States, as well as by Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The Commission shall regularly, at least once a year, report its assessment to the Council.

3. A Member State may also notify the Commission if it is confronted with substantial and persisting practical problems in the cooperation with a third country in the readmission of irregular migrants on the basis of the same indicators as those listed in paragraph 2. The Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council of the notification.

4. The Commission shall examine any notification made pursuant to paragraph 3 within a period of one month. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the results of its examination.

5. Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4, and taking into account the steps taken by the Commission to improve the level of cooperation of the third country concerned in the field of readmission and the Union's overall relations with that third country, including in the field of migration, the Commission considers that a country is not cooperating sufficiently and that action is therefore needed, or where, within 12 months, a simple majority of Member States have notified the Commission in accordance with paragraph 3, the Commission, while continuing its efforts to improve the cooperation with the third country concerned, shall submit a proposal to the Council to adopt:

(a) an implementing decision temporarily suspending the application of any one or more of Article 14(6), point (b) of Article 16(5), Article 23(1), or Article 24(2) and (2c), to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof;

(b) where, following an assessment by the Commission, the measures applied in accordance with the implementing decision referred to in point (a) of this paragraph are considered ineffective, an implementing decision applying, on a gradual basis, one of the visa fees set out in Article 16(2a) to all nationals of the third country concerned or to certain categories thereof.

6. The Commission shall continuously assess and report on the basis of the indicators set out in paragraph 2 whether substantial and sustained improvement in the cooperation with the third country concerned on readmission of irregular migrants can be established and, taking also account of the Union's overall relations with that third country, may submit a proposal to the Council to repeal or amend the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5.

7. At the latest six months after the entry into force of the implementing decisions referred to in paragraph 5, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on progress achieved in that third country's cooperation on readmission.

8. Where, on the basis of the analysis referred to in paragraph 2 and taking account of the Union's overall relations with the third country concerned, especially in cooperation in the field of readmission, the Commission considers that the third country concerned is cooperating sufficiently, it may submit a proposal to the Council to adopt an implementing decision concerning applicants or categories of applicants who are nationals of that third country and who apply for a visa on the territory of that third country, providing for one or more of the following:

(a) reduction of the visa fee referred to in Article 16(1) to EUR 60;

(b) reduction of the time within which decisions on an application referred to in Article 23(1) are to be made to 10 days;

(c) increase in the period of validity of multiple-entry visas under Article 24(2).

That implementing decision shall apply for a maximum of one year. It may be renewed.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Article 26 U.K. Issuing of an airport transit visa

1. An airport transit visa shall be valid for transiting through the international transit areas of the airports situated on the territory of Member States.

2. Without prejudice to Article 12(a), the period of validity of the visa shall include an additional ‘period of grace’ of 15 days.

Member States may decide not to grant such a period of grace for reasons of public policy or because of the international relations of any of the Member States.

3. Without prejudice to Article 12(a), multiple airport transit visas may be issued with a period of validity of a maximum six months.

4. The following criteria in particular are relevant for taking the decision to issue multiple airport transit visas:

(a) the applicant’s need to transit frequently and/or regularly; and

(b) the integrity and reliability of the applicant, in particular the lawful use of previous uniform visas, visas with limited territorial validity or airport transit visas, his economic situation in his country of origin and his genuine intention to pursue his onward journey.

5. If the applicant is required to hold an airport transit visa in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(2), the airport transit visa shall be valid only for transiting through the international transit areas of the airports situated on the territory of the Member State(s) concerned.

6. The data set out in Article 10(1) of the VIS Regulation shall be entered into the VIS when a decision on issuing such a visa has been taken.

Article 27 U.K. Filling in the visa sticker

[F2 1. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt the rules for filling in the visa sticker. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 52(2).

2. Member States may add national entries in the ‘ comments ’ section of the visa sticker. Those entries shall not duplicate the mandatory entries established in accordance with the procedure referred to in paragraph 1.]

3. All entries on the visa sticker shall be printed, and no manual changes shall be made to a printed visa sticker.

[F2 4. A visa sticker for a visa for one entry may be filled in manually only in the case of technical force majeure . No changes shall be made to a manually filled in visa sticker.]

5. When a visa sticker is filled in manually in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article, this information shall be entered into the VIS in accordance with Article 10(1)(k) of the VIS Regulation.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Article 28 U.K. Invalidation of a completed visa sticker

1. If an error is detected on a visa sticker which has not yet been affixed to the travel document, the visa sticker shall be invalidated.

2. If an error is detected after the visa sticker has been affixed to the travel document, the visa sticker shall be invalidated by drawing a cross with indelible ink on the visa sticker and a new visa sticker shall be affixed to a different page.

3. If an error is detected after the relevant data have been introduced into the VIS in accordance with Article 10(1) of the VIS Regulation, the error shall be corrected in accordance with Article 24(1) of that Regulation.

Article 29 U.K. Affixing a visa sticker

[F2 1. The visa sticker shall be affixed to the travel document.]

[F3 1a. The Commission shall by means of implementing acts adopt the detailed rules for affixing the visa sticker. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 52(2).]

2. Where the issuing Member State does not recognise the applicant’s travel document, the separate sheet for affixing a visa shall be used.

3. When a visa sticker has been affixed to the separate sheet for affixing a visa, this information shall be entered into the VIS in accordance with Article 10(1)(j) of the VIS Regulation.

4. Individual visas issued to persons who are included in the travel document of the applicant shall be affixed to that travel document.

5. Where the travel document in which such persons are included is not recognised by the issuing Member State, the individual stickers shall be affixed to the separate sheets for affixing a visa.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F3 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Article 30 U.K. Rights derived from an issued visa

Mere possession of a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity shall not confer an automatic right of entry.

Article 31 U.K. Information of central authorities of other Member States

[F2 1. A Member State may require that its central authorities be informed of visas issued by other Member States to nationals of specific third countries or to specific categories of such nationals, except in the case of airport transit visas.

2. Member States shall notify the Commission of the introduction or withdrawal of the requirement for such information at the latest 25 calendar days before it becomes applicable. That information shall also be given under local Schengen cooperation in the jurisdiction concerned.]

3. The Commission shall inform Member States of such notifications.

F1 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Deleted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Article 32 U.K. Refusal of a visa

1. Without prejudice to Article 25(1), a visa shall be refused:

(a) if the applicant:

(i)

presents a travel document which is false, counterfeit or forged;

(ii)

does not provide justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay;

(iia)

[F3 does not provide justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended airport transit;]

(iii)

does not provide proof of sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his country of origin or residence, or for the transit to a third country into which he is certain to be admitted, or is not in a position to acquire such means lawfully;

(iv)

[F4 has already stayed for 90 days during the current 180-day period on the territory of the Member States on the basis of a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity;]

(v)

is a person for whom an alert has been issued in the SIS for the purpose of refusing entry;

(vi)

is considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security or public health as defined in Article 2(19) of the Schengen Borders Code or to the international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where an alert has been issued in Member States’ national databases for the purpose of refusing entry on the same grounds; or

(vii)

does not provide proof of holding adequate and valid travel medical insurance, where applicable;

or

(b) if there are reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of the supporting documents submitted by the applicant or the veracity of their contents, the reliability of the statements made by the applicant or his intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for.

[F2 2. A decision on refusal and the reasons on which it is based shall be notified to the applicant by means of the standard form set out in Annex VI in the language of the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and another official language of the institutions of the Union.]

3. Applicants who have been refused a visa shall have the right to appeal. Appeals shall be conducted against the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State. Member States shall provide applicants with information regarding the procedure to be followed in the event of an appeal, as specified in Annex VI.

F1 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Information on a refused visa shall be entered into the VIS in accordance with Article 12 of the VIS Regulation.

Textual Amendments

F1 Deleted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F2 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F3 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

F4 Substituted by Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, Council Regulations (EC) No 1683/95 and (EC) No 539/2001 and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.