The New EU Visa Strategy: Key Changes for Global Mobility

The European Commission has introduced a new EU Visa Strategy 2026. This framework aims to standardize how Schengen visas are issued and how the region’s borders are managed. For companies moving employees into or across Europe, this will change several administrative processes over the coming years.

Focus on Frequent Travellers

The strategy introduces a “Trusted Traveler” scheme. This is intended to simplify the process for people who travel often for business. The main goals are:

• Standardizing the issuance of multiple-entry visas (C-visas) for business travelers.
• Prioritizing visa applications for employees of companies that meet specific “pre-cleared” criteria.
• Moving toward visas with longer validity periods for those with a consistent travel history.

Digital Borders and the 90/180-Day Rule

The EU is accelerating the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS. By 2028, these digital systems will replace manual passport stamping across the Schengen Area.

For HR departments, this means tracking travel days becomes more critical. Since every entry and exit will be logged in a central database, authorities will have immediate visibility of any overstays. The 90-day-in-180-day rule will be enforced automatically by the system.

Short-Term Work and Professional Mobility

The Commission is looking into how the 90/180-day rule affects specific professional groups. There are plans to explore exemptions or more flexible rules for experts, researchers, and technical staff on short-term assignments. This could eventually reduce the visa burden for project-based work that does not fit into standard residency permits.

Increased Monitoring of Visa-Free Travel

The EU will more closely monitor countries that currently have visa-free access (such as the UK, US, and Canada). An updated Visa Suspension Mechanism allows the EU to temporarily reintroduce visa requirements if security or migration benchmarks are not met by a partner country.

Next Steps for Employers

As these systems go live, the margin for error regarding business travel compliance will disappear. Companies should ensure they have a clear internal process for tracking how many days employees spend in the Schengen Area to avoid automated entry bans.