This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
The Netherlands has announced that from December 1, 2019, only the new East African Community biometric e-Passport will be accepted for Schengen visa applications.
According to a statement issued by the Netherlands on November 29, 2019, the new e-Passport is a requirement for all Schengen visa applications, effective from December 1, 2019.
The Schengen Area, comprising 26 European countries, has a common visa policy and functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes.
The 26 Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Kenyan passports, except the new East African Community biometric e-Passport, will be rendered invalid from March 1, 2020, according to an official notification from the Kenyan government.
