Kuwaitis And Qataris May Enter The Eu Without A Visa

The European Union (EU) Commission suggested last week that Kuwaiti and Qatari nationals be exempt from visa restrictions. If approved by the European Parliament, Kuwaiti and Qatari individuals possessing biometric passports would be able to travel to the EU without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period for business, tourist, or family reasons.

The proposal was made after the EU Commission considered a variety of factors, including irregular migration, public policy and security, economic advantages, and the Union's connections with the two nations, as well as its role in boosting Gulf relations.

"Our proposal to eliminate visa requirements for Qatari and Kuwaiti nationals is a first step toward making it simpler for individuals from the entire area to come to the European Union," Josep Borrell, EU High Representative/Vice-President, stated. The ultimate goal is to promote regional cohesion and, eventually, visa-free travel for all Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This proposal, when combined with our future Joint Communication on the Gulf, would deepen the overall collaboration and cooperation between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council."

The European Parliament and the Council must now consider the idea and determine whether or not to offer visa-free travel to Kuwaiti and Qatari nationals. If the plan is approved, the EU will negotiate a visa-waiver agreement with the two nations to ensure that EU nationals have complete visa reciprocity. When the visa waiver agreement takes effect, Qatari and Kuwaiti nationals will be able to travel to the EU without a visa.

Visa exemptions are crucial for promoting people-to-people connections and boosting political, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, and societal exchanges. Following the visa exemption given to the United Arab Emirates in 2014, the proposal for visa exemption for Kuwait and Qatar nationals is a move toward better regional coherence in the Gulf region.

Travellers can visit all EU member states, save Ireland, as well as the four Schengen linked nations, without needing a visa (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The visa exemption does not include the freedom to work in the EU, however, Member States may enable tourists to engage in a paid activity while in the EU.

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