Albert Ramdin, Suriname’s Foreign Minister, reported that as of May 1, 2023, the South American nation will again require entry visas for citizens of 21 countries, including Venezuelans. The measure comes less than a year after annulling this requirement to promote tourism
The Foreign Minister of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, announced this Friday, April 21, that he will again require entry visas for citizens of 21 countries, including Venezuelans; as of May 1.
The measure comes less than a year after annulling this requirement to promote tourism.
“The visa waiver is not being used for its intended purpose,” Ramdin stated, explaining that the visa requirement will apply to countries whose citizens have been caught abusing their visa when entering Suriname.
In this sense, he pointed out that this measure will be implemented for the citizens of Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Somalia, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Syria, among others.
With this, the number of destinations that request visas from Venezuelans rises to 98, of which 13 are in the Americas and eight in the Caribbean; according to reports from Global passport ranking.
Suriname as a stopover
Minister Ramdin explained that when the government introduced the visa waiver on May 1 last year, the goal was to get as many tourists as possible to Suriname and make the country more accessible to foreign investors.
However, he said, an assessment was made and it was discovered, among other things, that travelers were using Suriname as a stopover.
“A small group abuses this and it is something that we cannot allow,” emphasized the Foreign Minister.
“We don’t want problems with other countries because we have become a conduit. We don’t want to be seen as a country that facilitates people smuggling and the illegal movement of people,” he added.
Who do not require a visa
Although the number of arrivals from China, Morocco, Romania and Colombia has also increased; Suriname will not establish the visa requirement for the citizens of these countries.
Ramdin also indicated that the Orientals were taking advantage of the local decision that allows foreigners to visit the South American country without a visa, even if they have a valid passport.
According to the minister, more than 2,500 East Asian citizens have legally arrived in Suriname in the past few months, although he did not specify the exact number.
A group of 150 foreigners, including Pakistanis and Africans, were detained at Paramaribo’s Zanderij international airport last week after being prevented from entering the country.
Ramdin explained that some of them have already been returned to their country and that they would all be repatriated.
With information from EFE
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