Spain now requires visas for stopovers at airports

Spain has begun requiring entry visas from Kenyan travelers for stopovers at the country's airports. This rule, which was adopted due to the increase in the number of asylum applications in Madrid, could be extended to include citizens of other African countries.

The document for people from Kenya has been in demand since last week. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska said that applying the measure to Senegalese citizens is under study.

“Of course, within the framework of the European Union policy on international protection.”He said in a speech to reporters in Brussels. Information quoted from the news agency Losa.

According to a statement from CEAR (Spanish Refugee Assistance Committee) issued on January 22, since August 2023 the number of applications for international protection has increased “Exponentially” At Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport in Madrid, leading to “More than crowded” In some rooms that serve applicants.

According to the NGO's report, overcrowding causes the spread of insects, the accumulation of garbage, and the lack of towels for personal hygiene. Most of the applicants who were unable to formalize their asylum application were from African countries such as Senegal, Morocco and Somalia. There were also Venezuelans and Colombians.

Minister Grande Marlaska said that was the case “An exceptional and exceptional number of requests for international protection at Barajas Airport”. However, he claims that the government has strengthened its response to the problem.