Wondering since it’s a developing country and many countries that are more developed and well-off still need visas to visit Europe. Even some African countries are higher in HDI (Human Development Index) than Timor.
What did Timorese people/government do to get this deal?
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Most East Timorese are entitled to a Portuguese passport, that’s why.
I struggle finding the exact reason online, but based on East Timor’s Wikipedia page, I’d assume it’s likely related to its close ties with Portugal, small population, and stable democratic government. So, there’s little risk in allowing visa-free travel.
Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about East Timor. This is just what I think the reason might be based on the wiki.
Loads of East Timorese people in a town near me, they make up like 11% of the population of the town, but they all basically have Portuguese passports.
Vast majority work in the big chicken factory on the outskirts of the town.
According to Regulation 509/2014, from the recitals
> (4) The imposition of the visa requirement on the nationals of [Timor-Leste (among others)] is no longer justified. Those countries do not present any risk of illegal immigration or a threat to public policy and security for the Union […]. Consequently, nationals of those countries should be exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period […]
>
> (6) Exemption from the visa requirement for nationals of [Timor-Leste (among others)] should not come into force until bilateral agreements on visa waiver between the Union and the countries concerned have been concluded in order to ensure full reciprocity.
Such an agreement was apparently finalised in 2015
Because technically Portugal and Indonesia were at war over the Indonesian occupation and genocide in East Timor until 1999, when Indonesian troops finally left East Timor. Then in 2002 Portugal finally granted independence to East Timor de jure. Due to that, there are a lot of Timorese citizens that are eligible for a Portuguese passport.
Also, it’s a stable albeit poor country that due to the long Portuguese rule and occupation over the Island, has a culture quite similar to the European and they are easy to integrate. That’s probably why I think that the EU sees no risk in granting Visa Free travel.