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EU updates Schengen rules for GCC citizens

EU updates Schengen rules for GCC citizens

Travellers can now visit EU countries multiple times over five years with the same visa

The European Union (EU) will now grant a five-year multiple-entry visa to citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

The announcements was made on 22 April 2024 by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the opening session of the first high-level EU-GCC Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Luxembourg.

The landmark decision allows GCC citizens to visit the EU multiple times over a period of five years with the same visa. 

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During the visa validity period, holders of the visa enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals. As per the updated visa code, visa regulations are standardised for all GCC countries whose citizens require visas to access the Schengen Area.

The implementation of the five-year visa rule marks a significant step forward in strengthening relations between the EU and the GCC. 

EU countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.


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