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Five countries support visa-free travel from Guyana to European states
Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali on Thursday revealed that at least five European Union (EU) countries are in support of Guyana’s Schengen visa-free travel.
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.
President Irfaan Ali
The Schengen Agreement, first signed on 14 June 1985, is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area. All countries in the European Union (EU), except the U.K. and Ireland have since joined. Countries in Europe but outside the EU have also joined, including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.
The agreement has abolished border checks at the signatories’ common borders within the area, allowing individuals to travel freely within it. It gives residents in border areas the freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and has harmonized visa policies, meaning that for short stays of under 90 days, you can get a Schengen Visa.
Under the Schengen Agreement, traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area is done without border controls. In fact, the Schengen Visa makes it possible to visit all the countries in the Schengen Area and to cross internal borders without further formalities.
A total of 27 countries have inked the agreement including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
President Ali upon his return from the European Union-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit 2023 explained that for the visa requirement to be removed, Guyana must have countries to sponsor its bid.
He said, “In terms of the removal of the visa, you have to have sponsoring countries, and I’m very pleased to tell you that we have at least five countries that have agreed to sponsor us to begin the process within the EU itself. But there’s a bigger issue that we have to address, and this is our passports and what is required for future travelling.”
The Head-of-State was at the time speaking with reporters during a site visit to the Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway that is currently under construction, on Thursday afternoon.
Ali noted that for Guyana to be fully equipped to gain Schengen visa-free travel status, the country’s passport must be improved and upgraded.
“You know biometrics and e-passport are very critical for global travellers. So, we have to now work expeditiously on having our system transformed so that we can have ease of movement and ease of travel,” he said.
Additionally, President Ali also indicated that Guyana is working on having the Schengen visas processed more efficiently in Guyana. This, he explained, is an immediate need, and Guyana has received strong commitments from at least three countries that are willing to work with the country on this.
Meanwhile, the Head-of-State shared that his attendance at this year’s EU-CELAC Summit, held between July 17 and 18 was “fantastic”.
He explained that Guyana was also able to provide strong leadership in critical areas, especially in the areas of forest and climate change.
“We’re working hard to position the forests on the agenda at COP28 and to take global leadership on this. Guyana would be hosting a side event at COP28 with the UAE, and we’re hoping that the EU will be a partner with that also,” Ali noted.
The President said that Guyana has already received commitment from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) to be part of the programme in which Guyana will present its leadership on the forest and a formula and strategy through which forests take a leading role on the climate change agenda.
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