COUNCIL OF Brussels, 30 July 2009 THE EUROPEAN UNION 10660/09 VISA 195 COMIX 477 NOTE from : General Secretariat to : Visa Working Party No prev. doc. : 12357/05 VISA 230 COMIX 586 + REV 1 (de, es, en) Subject : Common Consular Instructions on visas for the diplomatic missions and consular posts COMMON CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS ON VISAS FOR THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS 10660/09 PR/lm 1 DG H 1 A EN Contents I. General provisions .............................................................................................................. 10 1. Scope............................................................................................................................ 10 2. Definition and types of visa........................................................................................... 11 2.1. Uniform visas ................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1. Airport transit visas.............................................................................. 11 2.1.2. Transit visas......................................................................................... 12 2.1.3. Short-term or travel visas multiple entry visas ..................................... 12 2.1.4. Group visas .......................................................................................... 13 2.2. Long-term visas ................................................................................................. 13 2.3. Visas with limited territorial validity ................................................................. 14 2.4. Visas issued at the border .................................................................................. 14 2.5. Documents having the same value as a visa, authorising the crossing of external borders: FTD/FRTD ..................................................... 14 II. Diplomatic mission or consular post responsible ................................................................. 15 1. Determining the State responsible ................................................................................ 15 1.1. State responsible for deciding on an application ................................................ 15 1.2. State representing the State responsible ............................................................. 16 2. Visa applications requiring consultation with the national central authority or the authority of one or more other Contracting Parties in accordance with Article 17(2) of the Convention..................................................................................... 21 2.1. Consultation with the national central authority ................................................. 21 2.2. Consultation with the central authority of one or more Contracting Parties................................................................................................................ 21 2.3. Consultation procedure in the framework of representation ............................... 21 10660/09 PR/lm 2 DG H 1 A EN 3. Visa applications lodged by non-residents .................................................................... 22 4. Authorisation to issue uniform visas ............................................................................. 22 III. Receipt of the application .................................................................................................... 23 1. Visa applications........................................................................................................... 23 1.1. Visa application forms - number of application forms ....................................... 23 1.2. Biometric identifiers .......................................................................................... 23 2. Documents to be enclosed ............................................................................................ 26 3. Guarantees regarding return and means of subsistence ................................................. 26 4. Personal interview with the applicant ........................................................................... 27 5. Conduct of staff ............................................................................................................ 27 IV. Legal basis .......................................................................................................................... 28 V. Examination of applications and decisions taken ................................................................. 31 Basic criteria for examining applications ............................................................................. 31 1. Examination of visa applications .................................................................................. 32 1.1. Verification of the visa application .................................................................... 32 1.2. Verification of the applicant's identity ............................................................... 32 1.3. Verification of the travel document ................................................................... 32 10660/09 PR/lm 3 DG H 1 A EN 1.4. Verification of other documents depending on the application ........................... 33 - Supporting documents regarding the purpose of the journey .................... 33 - Supporting documents regarding means of transport and return ................ 33 - Supporting documents regarding means of subsistence ............................ 34 - Supporting documents regarding accommodation .................................... 35 - Other documents which may be required ................................................. 37 1.5. Assessment of the applicant's good faith ........................................................... 37 2. Decision-making procedure for visa applications .......................................................... 38 2.1. Choice of type of visa and number of entries ..................................................... 38 2.2. Administrative responsibility of the intervening authority.................................. 39 2.3. Procedure to be followed in cases of prior consultation with the central authorities of the other Contracting Parties................................ 39 (a) Procedure ................................................................................................. 40 (b) Transmission of applications to the national central authority .................. 40 (c) Information transmitted to the central authority ........................................ 41 (d) Transmission of applications between central authorities ......................... 43 (e) Deadline for replies: Extension ................................................................ 43 (f) Decision based on the outcome of the consultation ................................... 44 (g) Transmission of specific documents.......................................................... 44 2.4. Refusal to examine an application, to issue a visa ............................................. 45 3. Visas with limited territorial validity ............................................................................ 46 10660/09 PR/lm 4 DG H 1 A EN VI. How to fill in visa stickers ................................................................................................... 48 1. Common entries section (SECTION 8) ........................................................................ 48 1.1. "VALID FOR" heading ..................................................................................... 48 1.2. "FROM ... TO" heading ..................................................................................... 49 1.3. "NUMBER OF ENTRIES" heading................................................................... 50 1.4. "DURATION OF VISIT ... DAYS" heading ..................................................... 50 1.5. "ISSUED IN ... ON ... " heading ....................................................................... 51 1.6. "PASSPORT NUMBER" heading ..................................................................... 51 1.7. "TYPE OF VISA" heading ............................................................................... 52 1.8. "SURNAME AND FIRST NAME" heading ...................................................... 52 2. National entries section (comments) (SECTION 9) ...................................................... 53 3. Section for the photograph ........................................................................................... 53 4. Section to be electronically scanned (SECTION 5)........................................................ 54 5. Other aspects relating to the issue of visas .................................................................... 54 5.1. Signing visas ..................................................................................................... 54 5.2. Invalidating completed visa stickers .................................................................. 54 5.3. Affixing visa stickers to passports ..................................................................... 55 5.4. Passports and travel documents to which uniform visas may be affixed ............ 55 5.5. Stamp of the issuing diplomatic mission or consular post................................... 56 10660/09 PR/lm 5 DG H 1 A EN VII. Administrative management and organisation ..................................................................... 57 1. Organisation of visa sections ......................................................................................... 57 1.1. Organisation