Peruvian and U.S. governments hold intensive talks on a visa waiver for Peruvian citizens traveling to the North American country, Foreign Affairs Ministry's Consular Policy Director Alberto Gonzales Mejia affirmed.
According to the diplomat, the visa waiver process between the two countries is underway.
"We have been holding dialogues with the U.S. for years to reach this waiver. However, the process includes a huge list [of requirements], quite similar to the process with the European Union," Gonzales Mejia told Andina news agency.
The Consular Policy Director recalled Schengen visa waiver requirements included, for instance, issuing biometric passports.
"Once our country reached that objective, we were able to move towards the Schengen visa waiver," he stressed.
In the case of the U.S. "we are also in the process of fulfilling a number of requirements."
"Visas are a migration and security matter, so countries are not willing to open their doors indiscriminately. Therefore, we stay in contact with U.S. authorities in order to make progress in meeting visa waiver requirements," he underlined.
Peru's Foreign Affairs Ministry also plans to undertake similar negotiations with other European, American and Oceanian nations.
In this sense, the Foreign Affairs officer highlighted Peru's readiness to carry out similar negotiations with the UK, which "did not belong to the Schengen area before Brexit."
"We also want to do this with other countries, such as Australia and Canada, so doors will be open worldwide for citizens holding a Peruvian passport," he said.
Schengen visa waiver
As is known, 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 said requirement, so that they are allowed to travel visa-free in 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 allowed to visit without a visa requirement are Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
(END) PBQ/FHG/DHT/MVB