Saudis, Bahrainis & Omanis Will Enjoy 5-Year Schengen Visas With No Extra Fees, EU Ambassador Confirms
The European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, Christophe Farnaud, has confirmed that Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis will enjoy five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas without any additional fees.
The EU decided just recently to start issuing five-year Schengen visas that permit multiple entries within a year to the bloc to Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis.
Following the visa facilitations for nationals of these three countries, Farnaud came out with an official statement clarifying that the visa fee will remain unchanged, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
The only thing that will change now is that nationals of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman will no longer have to worry about their Schengen visas being issued for a shorter period of time.
In line with the current rules, Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis need to pay a €80 visa fee when submitting their application.
On the other hand, a reduced fee of €40 applies to children between the ages of six and 12. As for children under six, they are exempt from the visa fee payment.
In addition to confirming that Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis will continue to be subject to the same fee as before, Farnaud welcomed the EU’s decision to start granting five-year multiple-entry visas to these three nationalities.
He suggested that this development would ease travel and foster stronger ties between the EU and these three countries.
5-Year Multiple-Entry Visas Will Be Granted to Everyone, Including First-Time Applicants
As per the EU’s decision, five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas will be granted to all passport holders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, including first-time applicants, provided that all the requirements are met.
On the basis of the five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas, Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis will be able to enter the Schengen Area multiple times throughout the year.
However, they must make sure to follow the 90/180-day rule in order not to be penalised. The 90/180-day rule means that visa holders or those who are permitted visa-free entry cannot stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months within any six-month period.
The decision of the EU to start issuing five-year multiple-entry visas to Saudis, Bahrainis, and Omanis comes in an effort to harmonise the visa rules for GCC countries.
In the meantime, discussions will continue between the EU and the GCC countries, excluding the UAE, to lift the visa requirements altogether and permit unrestricted entry instead.
