Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The Council of the European Union decided today, Friday, to temporarily restrict the issuance of visas to citizens of Guinea. This decision follows an assessment conducted by the European Commission in Brussels, based on the views of member states, which concluded that Guinea's cooperation in the readmission of its citizens residing irregularly in the EU is insufficient. As a result of this decision, member states will no longer be able to:
Issue multiple-entry visas to Guinean citizens
Waive the evidence requirements for visa applicants from Guinea
Exempt holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa fees.

The processing time for visa applications will also be extended to 45 calendar days instead of 15.

A statement from the Brussels Commission clarified that the suspension is temporary and has no set end date. Its aim is to encourage Guinea to improve its cooperation in the area of ​​readmission. The Commission will continue to assess any progress made. It is worth noting that under EU visa rules, the Commission, based on input from Member States, periodically assesses the cooperation of non-EU countries regarding readmission. These assessments may lead to the conclusion that a non-EU country is not cooperating sufficiently. In such cases, the EU may decide to suspend the application of certain provisions of the short-stay visa rules.

The Commission proposed to the Council a temporary restriction on the issuance of visas to Guinean nationals in July 2025. The Council closely monitored any potential progress on Guinea's readmission while considering this proposal.