Pres. Ali raises visa-free Schengen status with EU member

Jul 20, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday raised the issue of Schengen visa for Guyanese when he engaged in bilateral discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon on the sidelines of the European Union—Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU—CELAC) in Brussels, Belgium.

According to an Office of the President update, the talks centred on exploring potential trade collaboration between the two countries, especially in agriculture, clean and renewable energy. President Ali also discussed Guyana’s nomination letter for visa-free Schengen status and the possibility of an interim in-country processing of Schengen visa applications.

Guyanese passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa to enter any European country in the Schengen Zone. However, there are some categories of people residing in Guyana that are exempted from the visa requirement, as follows: Nationals of Schengen countries living in Guyana; Nationals of countries that have established visa-free regimes* with the EU; Guyanese citizens that hold dual citizenship: Guyanese citizenship and of one of the Schengen member states (These persons will have to travel with their European passport). Guyanese citizenship and one of the countries with a visa-free regime with the Schengen Zone (These people will have to travel with their Schengen-visa-exempt-country passport).

Back in 2022, then European Union (EU) Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Canto had told a gathering that consideration was being given to have the travel document provided in-country periodically by consular officials as to ease the hassle of Guyanese having to travel to Suriname for permission to access European nations. The Ambassador’s statement came shortly after President Ali had joined local stakeholders in registering the importance of the visa being delivered in-country, given the strong relationship the country has with its European partners.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali engaged in a bilateral discussion with Deputy, Tanja Fajon

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GGCI) had reiterated its long-standing call for the removal of the visa requirement that exists for Guyanese who wish to travel to the UK following the return of British Airways’ service to the country. President Ali had said back then that it is “nonsense” and “absolutely ridiculous” that in this modern world where Guyana is strategically positioned with sophisticated investors coming here, that local business people must spend days in neighbouring Suriname to access the visa to Europe.

The President said that “it’s not a luxury for the EU anymore to take their time and grant us that facility”, since the bloc must understand that it is in their strategic interest to have that facility here in Guyana as soon as the next three months. The President suggested that the parties have to find a way to get the visa issue resolved; that is which embassy is in a position to get it done in the next three months and what Guyana must do to get it done. “We can’t have our business people going to Suriname to spend three days and then get a travel document…it’s “nonsense” that it is absolutely ridiculous” he told the gathering. The President also suggested that within the next 48 hours, the government and the envoy can “double down” on the issue, and “make the appropriate noise and get it done”.

The EU Ambassador in a side interview had told media personnel that work has been ongoing in relation to the visa matter. He noted however, that the existing problem, “…is that this is not a responsibility of the EU, but of the EU members.” In other words, he continued, “the delegation of the EU doesn’t have the mandate to deliver any visas.” He said it is the competency of the member states and in this case, it is the Netherlands that delivers visas to Guyanese. Ponz Canto had said he understands the frustration associated with having to go to Suriname for the visas, “but we are working hard to find a solution”, and facilitate change of the system. “Who knows perhaps, of course without any commitment, but one possibility could be that some officials could come periodically and deliver the visas. We are exploring that possibility, we don’t know whether it will work,” the Ambassador related.

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member, President, President Dr Irfaan Ali departed Guyana for Brasilia, Schengen, Tanja

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