France is working to ease visa application procedures for Guyanese travellers seeking entry to France and other Schengen-area countries, French Ambassador to Guyana Olivier Plançon said on Friday.
Speaking at the Private Sector Commission’s annual general meeting, Plançon acknowledged longstanding concerns over visa processing delays and requirements, saying efforts were under way to streamline the system.
“We are fully aware of the difficulties associated with visas. Believe me, we are working to ease applications in Guyana,” he said.
The ambassador noted that visa policy within the Schengen Area, which comprises 27 European countries, remains a coordinated and sensitive process influenced by security concerns, including transnational crime and trafficking.
However, he stressed that France recognises Guyana’s rapid economic growth and its role as a net contributor of opportunities rather than crime.
“We also know and respect the fact that Guyana is growing fast and is not a crime exporter. It’s an exporter of opportunities,” he said.
Plançon said any changes to visa policy must be agreed collectively among Schengen member states, making reform complex, but added that France remains committed to improving efficiency in the application process.
“Please be mindful of the fact that the Schengen visa is a gateway to no less than 27 countries, and our visa policy has to be coordinated with all of them,” he said, adding “That being said, we are constantly striving to streamline the visa issuance process.”
The ambassador’s remarks came as he outlined France’s broader efforts to deepen economic and trade relations with Guyana following the opening of its embassy in Georgetown in October 2025.
He said improved mobility and stronger people-to-people ties would be central to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, security and sustainable development.
