Peru's participation in the Schengen visa waiver program has been implemented very successfully over the past six months, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Peru Irene Horejs said on Friday.
“There seem to be very few problems. At first, some people wanted to travel using their ID cards, but they couldn’t, because travelers are asked for a passport, hotel reservations, and proof of financial means. A small number of problems have been reported,” she told RPP radio and TV station.
When asked if the visa exemption scheme increased the inflow of Peruvian nationals into Europe, she replied results will be available by the end of the year.
The Government of Peru and the European Union signed the Schengen visa waiver agreement in Brussels (Belgium) on March 14th, 2016.
The deal exempts Peruvian citizens from the visa requirement, so that they are able to travel visa-free in the Europe's Schengen region for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
The waiver program facilitates visa-free travel to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark (except Greenland and Faroe Islands), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Latvia.
Other countries Peruvians are now able to visit without a visa requirement are Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
So far, only 10 Peruvians have failed to travel visa-free, according to Foreign Affairs Ministry official Alberto Gonzales.
(END) VVS/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/23/2016