Kuwait Advocates for Visa-Free Access to the EU

Kuwait Advocates for Visa-Free Access to the EU

Key Takeaways

1. Kuwait's Foreign Minister confirmed ongoing discussions regarding Schengen visa liberalization.
2. The Minister pledged to raise the issue at the upcoming summit in mid-October in Brussels.
3. Kuwaitis are among the nationalities with the highest approval rates for Schengen visas in 2023.

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah Al-Yahya, announced that talks are ongoing to finalize the Schengen visa liberalization agreement, a long-standing objective of the Kuwaiti government.

As reported by Kuwaiti media, the Foreign Minister highlighted that the upcoming Gulf-European summit in Brussels, scheduled for mid-October, will address the issue with European authorities.

The Minister also stated that efforts are underway to find efficient solutions and alternatives until the agreement is finalized.

Kuwaitis Submit Thousands of Schengen Visa Applications Annually

According to SchengenVisaInfo, Kuwaiti nationals submitted 179,444 Schengen visa applications in 2023. Out of these, 166,598 visas were approved, with 12,069 applications rejected. Kuwaitis have one of the highest Schengen visa approval rates, with 92.8% of applications granted.

France was the top destination for Kuwaiti applicants, receiving 40,712 visa requests, followed by Germany (35,611) and Italy (31,142).

In terms of approval rates, Italy led with 97.1%, followed by Germany at 95%, and France at 94.9%. On the lower end were Norway (72.2%), Belgium (84.4%), and Croatia (85.3%), issuing fewer visas than the Schengen average.

Schengen Countries Issue 5-Year Multiple-Entry Visas to Kuwaitis

Since September 8, 2023, Kuwaiti nationals benefit from simplified visa procedures, following the EU Commission's adoption of easier visa rules. Under these rules, Kuwaitis are eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for five years, even for first-time applicants, as long as their passports are valid.

Germany issued the highest number of multiple-entry visas to Kuwaitis in 2023, with 153,608 out of a total of 435,623 Schengen visas. Italy and France followed with 85,005 and 53,106 visas, respectively, while Estonia, Latvia, and Slovakia issued the fewest, with 251, 250, and 34 visas.

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