The European Union is steadily moving towards a fully digital visa system, and 2025 marks a turning point with the rollout of the Digital Schengen Visa. For African travelers—especially Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Kenyans—this change carries significant implications.
Previously, Schengen visa applications required multiple visits to embassies, paper-based submissions, and in-person biometrics. With the new system, applicants can complete most of the process online, drastically reducing waiting times. However, biometric data like fingerprints will still need to be submitted at an official center once.
The benefits include:
-
Faster approval timelines compared to the traditional manual process.
-
Reduced paperwork since everything is digitized.
-
Easier reapplication if rejected, as records are stored electronically.
For African applicants, the biggest advantage is that travel to embassies may no longer be necessary for repeat travelers who already have biometrics on file. This means someone applying from Lagos for a second time could potentially skip embassy queues altogether.
Still, the transition won’t be without challenges. Connectivity issues in some African countries, lack of digital literacy for older applicants, and potential cybersecurity concerns are being discussed. But overall, the shift is expected to boost travel between Africa and Europe, particularly for students, business travelers, and tourists.
✈️ Bottom line: Travelers should start preparing by familiarizing themselves with online applications and keeping their travel documents updated.
