New Visa Code benefits applicants of all nationalities, in particular those from neighbouring countries such as Moldova. Info-Prim Neo Interview with Dirk Lorenz, Political Officer of the EU Delegation to Moldova

[- How does the new EU Visa Code, introduced on April 5, affect the Moldovans?] - The Visa Code applies globally. In parallel, the EC-Moldova visa facilitation agreement continues to apply. The visa facilitation agreement derogates from some of the Visa Code rules by offering more favourable conditions to Moldovan citizens (e.g. €35 visa fee instead of €60, visa fee waiver for broader categories, simplification of document requirements, 10-day processing time instead of 15 days). In fact, the Visa Code addresses a number of issues and problems that remained outside the scope of the visa facilitation agreement: better information provision, motivation of refusals and appeal procedure (the latter two only from 5 April 2011). This horizontal modernisation of the EU's visa policy will benefit visa applicants of all nationalities, but in particular those from neighbouring countries such as Moldova who wish to travel frequently to the EU. The Visa Code contains a new visa application form, which will be used worldwide from 5 April. However, the new form actually has fewer fields to fill in than the previous one. [ - Does the new Code accept standard passports or only biometric passports for trips within the Schengen zone?] - The Visa Code does not change the rules existing before its entry into force on 5 April 2010: visa applicants must present a valid travel document. A biometric passport is not required. However, the Code specifies that the passport presented must be valid 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen area and have at least 2 blank pages. [- There are many Moldovans who have more than one nationality and hold more than one passport. Can they use all their passports for visa applications or are there any restrictions in this regard? ] Moldovans are free to choose which passport they would like to use for their visa applications. However, only one passport can be used at a time. [- Can the Code spare the Moldovans of the €500 security they are required to pay for a Romanian visa? Is this €500 security, after all, a requirement of Romania or of the EU? ] - In accordance with EU rules, visa applicants must demonstrate that they have the necessary means of subsistence to cover the costs of their intended stay in the EU (and their subsequent return to Moldova). For the purpose of assessing the necessary means of subsistence, each Member State indicates a daily reference amount, which should reflect the cost of living in that Member State. These amounts are NOT set by the EU. The required means of subsistence should moreover be assessed on an individual basis (i.e. reflecting the duration, destination and purpose of the journey). Requiring all applicants to have a set amount of €500 is not an EU policy. Please note that for the time being Romania does not issue Schengen visa but visa allowing the holder to travel only to Romania. [Valeriu Vasilică, Info-Prim Neo]