Visa free travel to Schengen area for citizens of Qatar and Kuwait

On 27 April 2022, the European Union High Commission published a proposal for visa liberalisation adressing nationals of Kuwait and Qatar.

Under this proposal, Qatar and Kuwait nationals holding biometric passports would no longer need a visa when travelling to the EU’s Shenghen Area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period for business, leisure, family visit or medical therapy purposes. Such proposal came after the Commission assessed a wide number of criteria including irregular migration incidence from the two Nations, public policy and security, economic benefits, and the Union’s relations with the two countries. 

On this matter, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: “The proposal for visa exemption for Qatar and Kuwait nationals facilitates business travels, tourism and family visits to the EU. It is also a step towards stronger regional coherence in the Gulf region when it comes to visa regimes. The EU will continue engaging with the remaining visa-required Gulf countries that are interested in visa-free travel to the EU.”

The Commission’s pre-assessment concluded that Qatar and Kuwait present low irregular migration risks and are increasing cooperation on security issues with the EU. Moreover, both countries issue biometric passports, which is a pre-condition for visa-free travel to the EU. Additionally, Qatar and Kuwait both are major economic partners for the Union, expecially in the energy sector.

 

OFFICIAL REACTIONS FROM QATAR AND KUWAIT INSTITUTIONS

Kuwait’s Ambassador to the EU, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, has applauded the European Commission’s proposal to lift visa requirements for Kuwaiti citizens.

According to Kuwaiti local media, Ambassador Al-Budaiwi called the EU’s decision a ‘momentous day for Kuwait’, as its citizens could soon become eligible for visa-free travelling.

“The people of Kuwait have increasingly looked to Europe and all the EU member states for tourism, education, health, investment, business, and much, much more. This breakthrough will positively facilitate this trend and ensure that Kuwait and Schengen States remain important partners,” the Ambassador officially declared.

Qatar also welcomed the news, through the words of its Foreign Affairs Ministry stating that facilitating procedures for citizens traveling abroad is a top priority.

“The State of Qatar welcomes the announcement of the European Commission to include Qatar on the list of countries whose citizens are exempted from the Schengen Visa and the announcement of beginning the final negotiations between Qatar and the European Union for exempting Qatari citizens from Schengen Visa,” the head of Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry declared on a published written statement.

The Minister also pointed out that this decision will take time to become effective due to the remaining required procedures.

NEXT STEPS TOWARD VISA LIBERALIZATION TO KUWAIT AND QATAR

It is now up to the European Parliament and the EU’s Council to examine the proposal and make a decision on whether to grant visa-free rghts to citizens of Qatar and Kuwait. If the proposal will be endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council, the EU will than begin a negotiation on a visa waiver agreement with Qatar and Kuwait, respectively, to ensure full visa reciprocity for EU citizens.

Once the new visa free travel regime will be officially approved and formally adopted, it will move the two countries from Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 (countries whose nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area) to Annex II to the same Regulation (visa-free countries).

The Commission is monitoring the situation and may propose new visa exemptions in the future. In particular, the EU will continue engaging with the remaining visa-required Gulf Cooperation Council countries that are interested in visa-free travel to the EU. The final objective, according to many, is to achieve visa free travel for all Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

ON EU’S VISA FREE TRAVEL REGIME FOR INCOMING VISITORS

Up to this day the European Union has in place visa-free agreements with more than 60 countries and territories. Under the visa-free regime, eligible non-EU nationals can enter the Schengen Area for a combined stay of maximum 90 days, within any 180-day period, without a visa. Visa-exempt travellers visiting the Schengen area will be subject to the obligation to hold a valid Visa Waiver ETIAS as of early 2025.

Exemptions from the visa requirement play a key role in facilitating people-to-people contacts and strengthening political, economic, research, educational, cultural and societal exchanges. The proposal for visa exemption for Qatar and Kuwait nationals is a step towards stronger regional coherence in the Gulf region, following the visa exemption granted to the United Arab Emirates in 2014.

Under the visa exemption, travellers can visit all EU Member States except for Ireland, as well as the four Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and four more countries that, while not being part of either EU or Schengen, are considered de facto members of the latter (Vatican City State, Andorra, Principalty of Monaco and San Marino).

The visa waiver scheme does not exonerate from work permit requirements in EU Member States. ETIAS and visa free travel regime does not grant indeed for the right to work in the EU, like it does not include long-term study curricula or family reunion.

WHEN WILL QATAR AND KUWAIT JOIN THE VISA WAIVER TRAVEL PROGRAM?

Since the proposal is currently still under evalutation, it is up to the European Parliament and Council to decide whether to grant nationals of Qatar and Kuwait visa-free travel rights to Europe.

Once the visa-free agreement will be finalized, holders of a passport issued by Qatar or Kuwait will be able to get through the European borders without a visa.

A date for such final resolution has not been set but it appears likely that concrete steps forward could be taken before the end of 2023 when the ETIAS Visa Waiver system is expected to come into force.

Kuwait and Qatar could than become the sixtyfirst and sixtysecond countries to be granted eligibility for ETIAS.