LOC14:28
11:28 GMT
(With photos)
ABU DHABI, May 31 (KUNA) -- GCC immigration chiefs are expected to approve
a single visa application system at a meeting here Sunday, Kuwait's
immigration chief said.
A la the European Schengen visa, the planned European visa will enable Gulf
visitors to tour all the six GCC member countries, Kuwaiti General
Administration for Immigration Director-General Brig. Kamel al-Awadhi told
KUNA on the sidelines of the 24th meeting of GCC immigration chiefs.
The single Gulf visa application system was suggested and given the thumbs
up during a recent meeting of undersecretaries of GCC interior ministries in
Riyadh, he said.
During their gathering here, the Gulf conferees will also adopt an overture
to give foreign residents in GCC countries a "double residency permit" in
order to allow them to study and open offices in any GCC country, he added.
Furthermore, he unfolded that all Kuwaiti citizens would be given smart
Gulf ID cards by August 2009, which would make it easy for them to move from
one Gulf country to another.
The ongoing GCC meeting in Abu Dhabi will thrash out a spectrum of issues
pertinent to security coordination and cooperation among the GCC member
countries over the facilitation of movement of Gulf citizens and foreign
residents.
Kuwait's delegation participating in the meeting is led by al-Awadhi and
includes several other security officials. (end)
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