Starting 1 May 2023, a new Visa Centre was opened at the General Consulate of the Czech Republic in Dresden, Germany, consolidating all visa-related and residence permit-related matters (hereinafter, “visa matters”) for the Schengen area.1 The Visa Centre Dresden has assumed responsibility for all visa matters previously handled by the individual embassies of the Czech Republic in the Schengen area (until now Berlin, Bratislava, Brussels, Warsaw, Vienna, and Zagreb).
Relocating visa matters to the Visa Centre Dresden has been happening throughout early May, with the Visa Centre ready to accept applications from 15 May 2023 onwards.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Previously, applicants were able to submit their visa applications at various Czech Republic embassies in Europe, depending on the country of their temporary residence. Now, matters related to applications for long-term visas and residence permits for the Schengen area will happen in one place.
Under the new system, with the consolidation of services pertaining to visa matters, there will be streamlining of processes and a reduction in the sort of inconsistencies in requirements, appointment processes, and approaches that existed across the different embassies that were previously responsible for such visa matters.
Foreign nationals can expect a more standardised and efficient process, reducing the potential for discrepancies and delays.
KPMG INSIGHTS
The consolidation to this one Visa Centre in Dresden is expected to lead to cost savings and improved resource allocation for the Czech government. Moreover, given the efforts and time-consumption around the coordination and communication heretofore among the different embassies, the Visa Centre in Dresden will change all that drastically and, it is expected, thereby lead to better management of visa applications and a more efficacious process overall.
On the other side of the coin, for some foreign nationals, traveling to Dresden, Germany may pose additional logistical challenges and greater expense.
Having said that, questions concerning the receipt and processing of visa matters applications should be answered by telephone every working day.2
Nevertheless, the Visa Centre will not provide information on the progress and status of the proceedings within the statutory time limit for processing the application and will not communicate via social media.3
We recommend therefore that affected applicants plan their visa applications accordingly and consider the potential impact of this change on their travel arrangements. Given the change in procedure described above, mobile employees and/or their employers who require clarification and guidance should contact their qualified immigration counsel or a member of the KPMG Immigration team with KPMG in the Cech Republic (see the Contact Us section).
FOOTNOTES
1 For further information, see the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, "Dresden Visa Centre: Visa Services in Schengen" (3 May 2023) at: https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/information_for_aliens/where_to_submit_application/visa_consulates_in_schengen.html.
2 For further information, see the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, “Dresden Visa Centre” at: https://www.mzv.cz/dresden/cz/viza_visas/dresden_visa_centre/index.html.
3 Ibid.
Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in the Czech Republic.
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