Pinoys traveling to Europe advised to get transit visas

Filipinos traveling to Europe have been advised to apply for visas from countries which have not acceded to the Schengen visa treaty to avoid delay in their travel across the borders of eastern European countries, which have tightened security due to threats of terrorism.

The advisory from the Philippine Embassy in Budapest, Hungary to travelers was issued after receiving reports that Filipinos were being held or delayed at the border-crossing for lack of transit visas.

Ambassador to Hungary Alejandro del Rosario said Filipino tourists who hold Schengen visas may not pass through EU members-countries such as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are not signatories of the Schengen visa treaty even only in transit.

The Schengen-visa holder, del Rosario said, must still obtain a visa from each of those countries to be able to pass through them.

The Philippine Embassy has received reports that Filipinos who are in possession of Schengen visas traveling from Germany or Austria to Hungary via Poland or the Slovak Republic cannot pass through, even in transit, without a Polish or Slovak visa.

In his report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), del Rosario said this problem is often encountered by Filipinos traveling to Europe on package tours whose travel operators are not well versed on tourist visa rules in the enlarged European Union (EU).

Del Rosario added that the delays in border crossing are particularly true for Filipino tourists who have to pass through the borders of a third country when joining tours by bus and for those traveling on their own by train or rented cars.

Eastern Europe has become a popular tourist destination, particularly for Filipinos joining pilgrimage tours to the original image of the Sto. Niño in Prague and the Black Madonna in Jasna Gora, Poland.

The Philippine Embassy had received a number of requests from Filipino travelers who have been delayed or refused passage by border guards of countries used as transit points for Hungary.

Del Rosario assured that they are ready to extend appropriate consular assistance to Filipinos traveling to Eastern Europe who will encounter the same problem.