Saudis urged to be aware of Schengen visa rules

JEDDAH: The Interior Ministry is advising Saudi citizens who are travelling to Europe, especially Germany, to know about requirements and procedures of using a Schengen visa.
The visa allows you to travel around a number of European countries so long as you begin the journey in the country that originally issued the visa. Some Saudis try to enter Germany using a Schengen visa issued in another country and thus face difficulties obtaining entry.
The Director General of General Directorate of Relations and Information in the Ministry of Interior, Major General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Maraol, explained the Foreign Ministry has stated that it’s helping Saudis who are facing difficulties at Frankfurt airport because they misunderstood Schengen visa procedures.
Major General. Al-Maraol advised that visa offices and travel agents should get a Schengen visa from the country where the traveller wishes to begin their journey and provide translated documents explaining visa rules to travellers.
The Schengen area is comprised of 26 countries that have agreed to allow free movement of their citizens within this area as a single country. Of the 26 countries bound by the Schengen agreement, 22 are part of the European Union and four part of the European Free Trade Area.
Cost for the visa range from SR300 to SR1400 depending on the country of first entry.
The visa is named after a village in Luxembourg where an agreement to cut border checks was signed in 1985 between the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France.