The authorities of Belize are continuing to push for a visa-free travel agreement with the EU, with officials saying they hope to receive good news on the matter soon.
Seeking the support of the member states, the Belize government said that the country is doing everything it can to reach a visa-free travel agreement so that its citizens no longer have to go through the visa-obtaining procedures when planning to reach the Schengen Area.
Confident about the country’s progress, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize, Eamon Courtenay, said that they are hoping for Belize to be added to the list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area soon, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to Minister Courtenay, Belize has already met all the requirements, encouraging the Commission to consider the facilitation of rules.
We аrе ѕреаkіng tо thе Еurореаn Соmmіѕѕіоn іtѕеlf, wе аrе ѕреаkіng tо gоvеrnmеntѕ bіlаtеrаllу tо ѕау tо thеm thіѕ іѕ Веlіzе’ѕ саѕе, wе ѕаtіѕfу thе rеquіrеmеntѕ, еnсоurаgе thе соmmіѕѕіоn tо tаkе thе dесіѕіоn аnd hореfullу рlасе Веlіzе оn thе lіѕt.
In addition to the above-mentioned, Minister Courtenay said that it is taking more than expected for Belize citizens to be permitted visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. However, he noted that the citizens of the country need to be patient as it is just a matter of time before the EU takes a decision.
This is not the first time that Belize has pushed for facilitated rules when it comes to travelling to the Schengen Area.
Earlier in August, Minister Courtenay said that Belize has a “very strong case” and emphasised that the EU has already acknowledged it.
Bаѕеd оn аll оf оur рrераrаtіоn, bаѕеd оn аll thе dосumеntѕ thаt wе hаvе рrоvіdеd tо thе Еurореаn Unіоn, wе hаvе а vеrу ѕtrоng саѕе аnd thе Еurореаn Unіоn hаѕ ассерtеd thаt.
The call for Belize to be added to the list of countries whose citizens are permitted to enter the Schengen Area visa-free comes amid long waiting times Belize citizens are facing when applying for a Schengen visa and the complex visa application rules they have to follow.
When applying for a Schengen visa, citizens of Belize are required to meet several criteria and submit several documents.
Among many other documents, they need to submit the completed visa application form, a roundtrip flight itinerary, proof of having secured a place to stay, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance.
