Four priorities for reforming Schengen visas for business travellers

Insight · 23 October 2026

Fragomen authors argue that short-term business travel into the Schengen area is unpredictable: appointment availability varies, the same activity may be allowed in one Member State but need work authorisation in another, and applicants cannot see the status of their application.

The article says Fragomen Consulting Europe submitted a position paper to the Commission's call for evidence on the EU Visa Code review, which closed on 6 October 2026. Its first priority is a Schengen-wide trusted employer framework, where verified company information is reusable across trips and eligible staff could get priority appointments, faster processing and longer multiple-entry visas, with individual trips still assessed.

The second and third priorities are a common minimum definition of permissible business activities, based on the EU Blue Card Directive, and more reliable appointment access, including enforceable timeframes and accountability for external visa-application providers.

The fourth priority is refusals that are understandable and correctable, with meaningful reasons, a quick way to fix factual errors and appeals decided in time for travel. The authors also call for flexibility for frequent travellers close to the 90/180-day limit. This is a law firm's view, not a Commission proposal.

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