Ambassador Christophe Farnaud announced in Riyadh that successful applicants will receive a multiple-entry visa valid for five years, allowing them to visit 29 European countries.

This change aims to increase people-to-people contacts and facilitate exchanges between the EU and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) citizens.

The visa application process remains the same, but the length of the visa has been significantly extended.

A spokesperson named Farnaud emphasized the significance of viewing the recent visa change against the context of Europe's strategic relationship with the region.

The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 EU states (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden) and non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Once member states receive notifications, they can implement the decision to issue visas, with the notification having been made on Wednesday.

Therefore, member states can now issue these visas unless there is a technical reason for a delay.

The text is about Farnaud, a French envoy, expressing his happiness over the successful implementation of a visa waiver program for Saudi Arabian citizens traveling to Europe.

He received positive feedback from Saudi citizens.

Europe is also working on e-visas but the process will take some time due to decisions by member states on technical aspects.