Can 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic be a reason for refusal for my Schengen visa application?

Upvote:0

No, from visa perspective, it won’t affect your case. However, there maybe some travel restrictions in-place.

Upvote:0

Whatever happens, if you apply right now, your chances of getting a visa will be best. If your application is rejected because of Coronavirus fears, that wouldn't be held against you in the future.

Obviously having a visa will not guarantee that you can enter the Netherlands. There might be no flights.

Upvote:2

As far as I can see, both in the Schengen Border Code and Visa Code Handbook, the term threat to public health is only applied against an applicant as reason not to grant a visa or entry (i.e. the applicant is the cause of the threat) .

In the scenario that the Schengen Area itsself poses a threat to public health (to which a visitor would count as someone being threatened), would be a valid reason not to let visitors enter or refuse to accept a visa application. But I could find no statement that explicitly states this.
The travel history of a visitor should not be disadvantaged by such a refusal.

Article 2 Definitions
...
21. ‘threat to public health’ means any disease with epidemic potential as defined by the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization and other infectious diseases or contagious parasitic diseases if they are the subject of protection provisions applying to nationals of the Member States.
...

What do the travel restrictions within the EU as well as to the Netherlands mean for me as a traveler?
The Dutch government has adopted the decision of the EU to tighten the entry conditions of persons wishing to travel to the Netherlands from third countries, until 15 May 2020.

You should assume that this ban will be extended by a further 30 days.

Can I still apply for a visa?
No, at the moment it is not possible to lodge a visa application.

As a visa holder I have obtained a valid visa before the entry ban. Can I travel to the Netherlands?
No, you cannot enter unless you fall under the category of exceptions of the travel ban.

Sources:

Upvote:4

There are restrictions in place, but AFAIK no current restrictions for Indian citizens/residents applying for Dutch visa. On the other hand, the Czech Republic closed their visa processing centers in China and Hong Kong several weeks ago, effectively preventing residents of China from applying for a Czech visa. It is at the moment difficult to predict what happens tomorrow or in the next days, but it is of course not impossible, that more Schengen countries will follow and impose restrictions on visa issuance.

Independent of the visa, it may also by mid-April be impossible to travel to the Netherlands. Several Schengen countries have today or in the past few days established very strict travel regulations or bans, effectively preventing many or most tourists and visitors from entering.

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