EUROPE: Poland is launching a new digital system to stop agents from taking over visa appointment slots and selling them at high prices. It makes sure only genuine applicants can book appointments directly, without needing intermediaries.
As per a report from Poland, India will be one of the first countries where this system is introduced, along with the Philippines and Uzbekistan. Many Indian students, workers, and professionals tried to book Polish visa appointments as agents take up slots and re-sell them at high rates. With this new system, applicants can only be able to book appointments, cutting out these unauthorized agents completely.
Biometric Verification for Visa Booking: The system will include identity checks using biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition. This will help prevent agents from booking multiple slots and selling them for profit. Indian applicants may soon have to complete biometric verification while booking their visa appointments online.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not announced an exact launch date, but the system is likely to roll out this year. It will first be tested in high-migration countries like India before expanding further. It will also be connected to Poland’s existing eKonsulat platform and a new consular e-services system.
Why Poland Is making this Change: Many Indian visa applicants, including IT professionals and skilled workers, have found it nearly impossible to book appointments through official channels. Polish employers in the technology and manufacturing sectors have also raised concerns. They say, they can not get appointment slots for their workers without going through middlemen.
Reports suggest that while the official system often shows no available appointments, agents somehow manage to get them immediately and charge high fees. This suggests mis-use of the system, which Poland now trys to fix by blocking intermediaries.
Addressing Fraud in the Visa System: Recent investigations into Poland’s visa process have shown many cases of fraud and bribery. By introducing this biometric screening system, the Poland government hopes to make the process more transparent and ensure fair access to visa appointments for all applicants.