The EU Council has welcomed plans to start visa waiver procedures with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. Citizens of these countries still need Schengen visas for now; any exemption would come only after formal assessments and approvals.
On October 19, the EU Council adopted conclusions supporting the European Commission's intention to begin visa waiver procedures with five Gulf states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. The Council will be fully involved at every stage of the process. Kuwait and Qatar have been part of earlier EU visa waiver proposals since 2022.
These conclusions do not grant visa-free travel. Citizens of these five countries must continue to apply for Schengen visas for short stays. No exemption has been formally approved, no criteria have been set out in the published documents, and no date has been announced for when a waiver might take effect.
Any eventual lifting of visa requirements depends on the countries meeting established EU criteria, which typically cover travel document security, border management, migration issues, and security cooperation. The assessment process must be completed, and appropriate legal decisions must be made at the EU level.
Citizens of these five countries would eventually be able to travel visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, as the UAE already can since 2015. However, they would generally need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization before departure, once that system becomes operational. ETIAS is not yet accepting applications.
Indian travellers should not assume any change is imminent. Keep following existing visa procedures if you plan to travel to the Schengen Area from these countries. Wait for official confirmation of any visa exemption before adjusting your travel plans.
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