Timor-Leste signs visa exemption agreement with the European Union
Timor-Leste and the European Union signed, on May 26th, a short-stay visa exemption agreement, within the Schengen area, with immediate provisional application.
This new regime allows Timorese citizens who travel to the European Union and EU citizens who travel to Timor-Leste, to stay for periods not exceeding 90 days, every six months.
The signing ceremony, held in Brussels, was attended by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, and the current President of the European Council and Permanent Representative of Latvia, Ilze Juhansone.
According to the Vice Minister, Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, “This agreement expresses, once more, the trust that the European countries have on our political and diplomatic maturity, as well as on Timor-Leste’s economic progress and on the Immigration Services of Timor-Leste. Our country will take this opportunity to strengthen its cooperation with the European Union, not only at the government level but also between people.”
Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares thanked and recognised the work from all of the entities that contributed to the signature of this agreement, highlighting the Ministries of Justice, Finance, Public Works, Transport and Communication, of the Interior, the sovereign bodies, and also the diplomatic services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The Minister also mentioned the Timorese embassies, especially “the Embassy in Brussels which, through its effort and extraordinary contribution, allowed for the signature of this document.”
Due to the fact that they are not included in the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are not included in this agreement; both countries will continue to apply the demands predicted in their respective national legislation, regarding visa matters.
Although they are not part of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland signed the Schengen agreement. Timor-Leste, together with these three countries and also Liechtenstein, will sign soon a joint bilateral declaration regarding visa exemption for short stays, in line with the agreement now signed with the European Union.
The Schengen Agreement is a convention on the policy on open borders and free movement of persons, signed between 30 European countries (including a few that are not currently part of the European Union).
