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Georgian citizens may have to undergo 'pre-authorization' for entering EU

25 October 2017 [16:40] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Kamila Aliyeva

Visa-free regime with the European Union is considered to be the main achievement of Georgia on the path of European integration.

However, the recent decision of the European Union aimed at controlling the flow of immigrants questions the fact of the complete abolition of visas for Georgian residents.

The European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs supported the initiative, according to which Georgia’s citizens will have to undergo "pre-authorization" ahead of going to Europe without obtaining a visa, Business Georgia reported.

Tbilisi believes that the European Union, on the one hand, reacts to the flow of illegal immigrants from Georgia, which has intensified after the abolition of the visas this year, and on the other - does not want to openly deteriorate relations with the Georgian authorities.

Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vakhtang Maharoblishvili asked not to equalize the so-called pre-authorization with the ‘visa’.

According to the EU decision, a citizen is obliged to fill out a special electronic application on the page of the European authorization system of the traveler, attach certificates of place of work and incomes, pay 10 euro and wait for confirmation of the right to enter the Schengen area. The answer may well be negative.

Before visa cancellation, these certificates were submitted to consular departments of embassies.

However, the minister added that the new standards are ‘only approved in advance’.

Citizens of Georgia holding biometric passports have been allowed to travel to EU member countries without obtaining a visa for a short visit since March 28, 2017.

The visa-free regime implies free movement in the Schengen area, which includes 22 EU member states and four non-EU states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), as well as four candidate countries to Schengen (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Croatia).

Georgian citizens are allowed to stay in Schengen zone for not more than 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working and they can use approved days both continuously or with redistribution.

The purpose of the short-term visit may be tourism, business meetings, trainings, participation in cultural events or visits to family and relatives.

The immigration officer has the right to ask the citizen at the border of the Schengen area the following documents: proof of financial security - an extract from the bank with sufficient money or cash, a certificate from work and most importantly - confirmation of the purpose of the trip: return tickets, passenger insurance and hotel bookings, and in case tourists intend to see relatives, then it is necessary to have an invitation from them. The amount for financial security must be at least 50 Euros per day, in addition to the cost of living in a hotel.

Negotiations on visa liberalization for Georgia began back in 2008 as part of the Eastern Partnership Program. Georgia entered the practical phase of those talks in 2012 as it prepared for associate EU membership. Georgia abolished visa requirements for EU citizens back in 2006.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/166150.html

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