Biometric Passports Help to Lift EU Travel Restrictions for Qatar and Kuwait Citizens

The European Union is getting rid of its special visa requirements for Qatari and Kuwaiti citizens. The decision will allow people from the two countries to travel to the EU for short stays without needing to apply for a Schengen Visa.

In plain terms, that means Qatar and Kuwait will enjoy the same free travel arrangements that other countries have with the EU. The European Commission is trying to cultivate more open relationships with countries throughout the Gulf region, and believes that Kuwait and Qatar have already met the Union’s criteria for preferential treatment. Most notably, both Kuwait and Qatar have started issuing biometric passports, and both countries are now cooperating with the EU on matters related to immigration and international security.

In that regard, the Commission determined that travelers from Qatar and Kuwait present a low risk for irregular immigration. The Commission also took economic factors into account when making its decision, noting that Kuwait and Qatar are important energy partners for the area.

The visa exemption will not go into effect immediately, and still needs final approval from the European Council. However, the measure is expected to go through, and the various parties are now in final negotiations and are working to clear the final procedural hurdles. Once the decision becomes official, those with Kuwaiti and Qatari passports will be able to stay in the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day frame without filing any special paperwork. The new rules will apply to those traveling for business, those visiting family, and to those going on vacation.

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

The EU started requiring biometric passports for non-Europeans traveling with Schengen Visas back in 2015. SITA has also advocated for the use of biometric kiosks to reduce processing times for the entire Schengen border area.

Source: Gulf Times

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April 27, 2022 – by Eric Weiss