Commission proposes visa-free travel to the EU for citizens of Qatar and Kuwait
The European Commission proposed yesterday to remove the visa requirement for travel to the Schengen area by nationals of Qatar and Kuwait.
Under this proposal, nationals of Qatar and Kuwait who hold biometric passports will no longer need a visa when traveling to the EU. This concerns a short stay of up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for travel for business, tourist or family purposes. This proposal comes after the Commission assessed a number of criteria, including illegal migration, public order and security, economic benefits and the Union's relations with the two countries. It will help to strengthen relations with the Gulf countries.
Biometric passports
After an assessment of the criteria set out in the EU rules on visa requirements, the Commission concluded that Qatar and Kuwait have a low risk of irregular migration and are stepping up cooperation with the EU on security issues. They issue biometric passports, a prerequisite for visa-free travel to the EU. Qatar and Kuwait are also important economic partners for the Union, particularly in the field of energy.
Next steps
It is now up to the European Parliament and the Council to examine the proposal and decide whether citizens of Qatar and Kuwait can travel to the EU visa-free. If adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, the EU will negotiate a visa waiver agreement with Qatar and Kuwait, respectively, to ensure full visa reciprocity for EU citizens.
Visa-free travel to the EU for Qatari and Kuwait nationals will become applicable once the visa waiver agreement enters into force.
More Gulf countries will follow
The Commission is closely monitoring the situation and may in the future propose new visa waivers based on an assessment against the criteria set out in the EU rules on visa requirements, where necessary. In particular, the EU will continue to work with the remaining Gulf Cooperation Council countries that are visa-free and interested in visa-free travel to the EU. The Commission will shortly start technical discussions with these partners on compliance with the visa waiver criteria under the Visa Regulation. The ultimate goal is to achieve visa-free travel for all Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Background
The EU currently has visa-free arrangements with more than 60 countries. Under the visa-free regime, eligible non-EU nationals can enter the Schengen area without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period. Visa-free travelers visiting the Schengen area will be subject to the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) from the second half of 2022 and to the EU from May 2023 European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
Visa exemptions play a key role in facilitating people-to-people contacts and strengthening political, economic, research, educational, cultural and social exchanges. The visa waiver proposal for citizens of Qatar and Kuwait is a step towards greater regional cohesion in the Gulf region, following the visa waiver granted to the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
Under the visa waiver, travelers can visit all EU member states except Ireland, as well as the four with Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The visa waiver is independent of any work permit requirements in EU member states. It does not provide the right to work in the EU, although member states have the option to allow travelers to carry out a paid activity during their stay.
Source: European Commission
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