President Ollanta Humala announced on Thursday that Peruvian citizens will not need visas to visit Europe’s Schengen area starting on March 15.
Peruvians will be able to visit the 26 countries of the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days. Peru is currently preparing the emission of biometric passports for July, but Peruvians will be able to enter the EU without the new passports.
“Starting on Tuesday the 15th, the long lines in the early morning to apply for a visa are over,” Humala said. The president added that the European bloc’s acceptance of Peruvians illustrates Peru’s economic and social progress.
“The path has not been easy,” Humala said. “The European countries have valued our efforts and they do not consider it a risk to open their borders to Peruvians.”
Humala will travel to Belgium from March 13 to March 16 to attend a ceremony inaugurating Peru’s elimination of the Schengen visa requirement.
In addition to facilitating seamless tourism, medical treatment and visiting relatives in the EU, some experts say the elimination of the Schengen visa will result in more Peruvian businesses establishing a presence in Europe.
“The big companies have the resources to explore new markets. But the small and medium-sized business owners had to commit a big investment to get the visas which allow them to visit European countries,” tourism chamber president Jorge Jochamowitz told Andina. “That will lead to a greater flow of business between Peru and the European markets.”
Jochamowitz believes that tourism from Peru to the EU will increase 15% in 2016 due to the elimination of the visa requirement.
Countries which participate in the free-entry Schengen area include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen area.
Sources
Humala: Peruanos no necesitarán visa Schengen desde martes 15 (El Comercio)
Eliminación de visa Schengen abre las puertas Pymes a mercado europeo (Andina)
View Comments (2)
This is a WIN-WIN situation for both Peru & the Schengen area. Hopefully the UK & ireland will soon open up their borders also.
does this mean that a peruvian citizen who does not hold a biometric passport can enter italy without the use of a Visa even if they have a traditional passport that is only 1 year old?