EU to Extend Schengen Stays for 6 Key Professional Groups

The European Commission has unveiled a new visa strategy aimed at boosting the EU economy and attracting global talent, including plans to extend maximum Schengen Area stays for six strategically important professional categories.

Under the current rules, third-country nationalsو whether visa-exempt or requiring a visaو may stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Longer stays require a long-term visa or residence permit. The new strategy seeks to relax these limits for professionals without requiring permanent residency in EU member states.

The six groups expected to benefit from extended stays include touring artists, athletes participating in competitions, experts on cross-border projects, industrial and service sector support workers, and truck drivers in European logistics services.

The European Commission’s document also proposes establishing a new EU-wide legal framework called “Extended Short-Term Stay,” which would introduce standardised rules across all member states. Existing bilateral residence agreements will be gradually reviewed and replaced with a unified EU system to streamline procedures and better coordinate policies.

The move is part of a broader EU effort to address labour shortages and facilitate the mobility of highly skilled professionals across the bloc.