Travel Group Urges EU to Speed Up Digital Visas and Border Checks

Traveling across Europe could soon become much smoother for local residents and visiting family members.

The World Travel & Tourism Council urged European governments to speed up digital Schengen visas on October 9, 2026.

The group presented its report at its global summit in Valletta, Malta.

It called for central online visa applications and more multiple-entry visas for international visitors.

In 2025, Schengen countries issued 5.3 million multiple-entry visas.

This figure represents a 40 percent drop compared with 2019 levels.

The European Commission expects the unified digital visa platform to launch around 2030.

The industry group also addressed recent border check systems like the Entry/Exit System.

That system became fully operational on April 10, 2026 across 29 participating nations.

It registers non-EU passport data and biometrics electronically instead of stamping passports.

However, the system caused long queues and missed travel connections at several European borders.

Meanwhile, the upcoming ETIAS authorization system is expected in early 2027 with a 20 euro fee.

Travel from China to Europe remains 43.2 percent below pre-pandemic levels from 2019.

The travel council suggested a trusted traveler program to speed up airport border crossings.

European authorities have not yet formally adopted these industry proposals.