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Colombian gov't announces Dec. 3 as Schengen visa waiver day

Xinhua, October 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The visa waiver for Colombians planning to travel up to 90 days to the Schengen countries will start on Dec. 3, Colombian authorities announced Tuesday.

"The first week of December, just one day after the agreement is signed (by President Juan Manuel Santos, scheduled for Dec. 2), Colombian citizens can enter 26 countries of the 28 member states of the European Union with no visa requirement," a statement by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The statement noted that as the visa will not be required within the Schengen space, each country will act autonomously to admit people entering its territory.

"The European immigration authorities will take into consideration upon arrival that the traveler has a return ticket, booked accommodation, sufficient resources to cover expenses and does not present a threat to the safety or security of the EU," the statement added.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry started issuing new electronic passports with the Schengen smart card in September to waive the tourist visa for Colombians traveling to the Schengen countries.

After the agreement is put into force, Colombians will not need a tourist visa for a total of 43 countries, including the 26 European nations in the Schengen area. Endi