Starting February 19, Senegalese passport holders traveling through a Spanish airport now require a transit visa, as announced by Spain’s interior ministry. The move aims to address the overcrowding of migrants, particularly Senegalese citizens seeking asylum, at Madrid’s Barajas airport. The measure follows chaos at the airport between December and January due to an influx of asylum seekers. Madrid had previously urged Rabat to restrict Senegalese passport holders without a Schengen visa from boarding Spain-bound flights.
The transit visa requirement is now extended to prevent individuals from exploiting layovers to apply for asylum in Spain. However, the decision has faced criticism from NGOs, including the Spanish Commission for Refugees, expressing concerns about limiting access to international protection for migrants.
Spain Transit Visas, Senegalese Travel, Airport Transit, Spain Immigration, Travel Visa Updates