Spain Imposes Transit Visa Requirement on Central African Republic Citizens Amid Concerns Over Irregular Entry

Starting August 16, passport holders from the Central African Republic will need to obtain a transit visa if they plan to travel through Spain.

This new requirement, confirmed by sources from the Spanish Interior Ministry, comes in response to reports that Central African nationals have been using Spanish airports for irregular entry and subsequently applying for asylum.

Spain has previously taken similar actions, introducing transit visa requirements in June for travelers from Sudan, Chad, Kenya, and Senegal. The Transit Visa allows holders to pass through Spanish airports without entering the country’s territory. To obtain this Schengen visa, applicants must submit the necessary documentation to the Spanish consulate or embassy in the Central African Republic.

The measure has been met with criticism from Spanish organizations. The Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR) voiced its disapproval on social media, arguing that the decision further restricts access to international protection for individuals coming from conflict zones. CEAR stated, "Every time the number of asylum applications from a specific nationality increases, due to conflicts or emergencies in their countries, Spain responds with more restrictions." The organization emphasized that the population of the Central African Republic is enduring the consequences of "a persistent humanitarian crisis," and suggested that the measures are aimed more at controlling migration than upholding human rights.

Data from Frontex, the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, indicates that between January and June, 16 cases of irregular entry into EU territory were detected involving nationals from the Central African Republic. Most of these entries occurred via the Central Mediterranean route (nine cases), followed by the Western African route (five cases), and the Eastern Borders (two cases).

The list of African countries whose citizens are now required to obtain a transit visa for Spain is expanding. As of August 16, nationals from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia also need a transit visa to pass through any EU airport. This rule also applies to passport holders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

According to Infobae, the current list of African countries requiring a Spain transit visa includes Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo. Additionally, the list extends to nationals from Cuba, Haiti, India, Syria, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Palestine.

By fLEXI tEAM