Yes, according to the Schengen Agreement rules, the Schengen visa
Visa policy of the Schengen Area
The visa policy of the Schengen Area is set by the European Union and applies to the Schengen Area and to other EU member states without opt-outs obtained by Ireland and the United Kingdom. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land, or sea with…
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European states that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement.
Can I enter the Schengen Area with a French visa?
Since your visa was issued by France, you should enter the Schengen area via this country. From France you can go to Italy (or any other member state). It is not illegal to enter via Italy. However, you may have some trouble at the border. They may ask you: “Why do you enter Schengen here in Italy, when your visa was issued by France?”
Can I enter Italy with a Schengen visa?
World travellers wishing to enter Italy for short-stays can do so by obtaining a Schengen Visa to Italy. San Marino and the Vatican City – two European microstates located within Italy – are considered part of the Schengen Area although they did not officially sign the particular documents of the agreement.
Do I need a visa to enter Italy?
You will need a short-stay visa to enter Italy and any other member country of the Schengen zone if you belong to one of the following categories: You are the national of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Italy or any other Schengen country.
Is the Schengen visa valid for all countries?
Yes. According to the Schengen rules, the Schengen visa is generally valid for all the countries in the Schengen area. Please note, however, that you always have to apply at the consulate of the country which is your primary destination (see FAQ no 5). Should my first trip be to the country issued by Schengen visa?
Is Schengen visa valid for France?
A Schengen visa (issued by a Schengen State embassy or consulate) is valid for all 26 States in the Schengen area unless indicated otherwise on the visa stamp. If your visa is still valid, you do not need to apply for another visa to visit France.
Can I enter Switzerland with Italian Schengen visa?
Switzerland belongs to the Schengen Area*. If you have a visa issued by a Schengen member state, you generally do not require an additional tourist visa to enter Switzerland or any other Schengen country. Your stay must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
Can I enter France with Spain Schengen visa?
As a general rule, you may cross any Schengen border with visa issued by any Schengen country. However, you should try and stick to your itinerary as filed when applying for your Schengen Visa.
Can I apply for Schengen visa in one country and travel to another?
IF MY VISA IS ISSUED FOR INSTANCE BY THE GERMAN CONSULATE, CAN I USE THIS VISA AND TRAVEL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OF SCHENGEN AGREEMENT? Yes, according to the Schengen Agreement rules, the Schengen visa is generally valid for all Schengen area countries.
Which Schengen visa is longest?
Short stay (type C) Schengen visas are valid for 90 days, but long stay (type D) visas range from 6 months to 5 years.
What are the 4 types of Schengen visas?
What type of Schengen visa do I need?Type A Schengen visa or Airport Transit Visa. ... Type B Schengen visa. ... Type C Schengen visa. ... Type D Schengen visa or national long-stay visa.
Can I go to Spain with Italian visa?
If your nationality is one of those that need a Schengen Visa to enter the Schengen Area, then yes, you can enter Spain with this visa without any problem.
Can I change first port of entry after having Schengen visa?
Schengen Visa Rules for first port of entry More often than not, you will have to apply to the country which is your port of entry.
Which country is best for Schengen visa?
The easiest Schengen countries to apply for a Schengen visa from, are as follows:Estonia. ... Finland. ... Iceland. ... Latvia. ... Poland. ... Slovakia. ... Czech Republic. ... Greece. While in 2014 Greece had a rejection rate of only 2%, things have changed a bit.More items...•
How many countries can I visit with Schengen visa?
26 countriesA Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area. The Schengen area covers 26 countries ("Schengen States") without border controls between them.
How do I get a 5 year Schengen visa?
You must have a clean visa history. You must have never overstayed your Schengen Visa or worked unlawfully in the Schengen Area. You must have a clean criminal record in your home country. You must have purchased adequate Travel Insurance for the first year of your multiple-entry visa that you have applied for.
Can I change my hotel after getting Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa means the visa is for the Schengen area; otherwise it will be called a country-specific visa. There is no requirement to enter first to the country who issued you visa and hence no hotel change issue.
Does Schengen visa cover Switzerland?
Schengen Area covers most of the EU countries, except Ireland and the countries that are soon to be part of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus. Although not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone.
Do I need a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland?
To travel to Switzerland for a short trip lasting fewer than 90 days, you will need a Switzerland Schengen Visa, as it is part of the Schengen Area of European countries that have abolished border controls.
How can I travel from Italy to Switzerland?
Day trains between Italy and SwitzerlandMilan-Zurich takes 3h15 (direct train).Genoa-Zurich takes about 5h15 (direct train).Bologna-Zurich takes about 6h00 (direct train) or 4h50 (with a change in Milano).Venice-Zurich is about 6h15 (with a few changes).Rome-Zurich takes about 7h10 (with a change in Milano).
Is there a border crossing between Italy and Switzerland?
Being an exclave of Italy, it is not possible to reach the territory without crossing either Swiss territory or waters. On 1 January 2020, Campione and the Italian waters of Lake Lugano became part of the European Customs Union and a customs border crossing and check points were established.
How long is a Schengen visa valid?
The validity of the Uniform Schengen Visa is 90 days at a stretch within a period of six months. Within this period you can enter and exit multiple Schengen countries as many times as you want to. However, if your stay is more than 90 days, you will be required to apply for a national visa of the particular Schengen country you wish to stay in.
What is a visa for travel?
This is a document, in the form of a sticker or stamp, attached to your passport. The visa is applicable for multiple purposes, including tourism, business, training and internship, medical treatment, temporary work and study, and so on. You will need to produce the visa at the port of entry into the Schengen zone and not for each and every country within the area that you visit thereafter.
What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area takes up a major part of Europe and includes a few of the most powerful and old countries of the continent. Traveling to these countries requires you to first obtain a Schengen Visa. The countries that fall under the Schengen Area include: Within these countries, any individual, regardless of their nationality, ...
What countries are in the Schengen area?
The Schengen Area takes up a major part of Europe and includes a few of the most powerful and old countries of the continent. Traveling to these countries requires you to first obtain a Schengen Visa. The countries that fall under the Schengen Area include: 1 Austria 2 Belgium 3 Czech Republic 4 Denmark 5 Estonia 6 Finland 7 France 8 Germany 9 Greece 10 Hungary 11 Iceland 12 Italy 13 Latvia 14 Liechtenstein 15 Lithuania 16 Luxembourg 17 Malta 18 Netherlands 19 Norway 20 Poland 21 Portugal 22 Slovakia 23 Slovenia 24 Spain 25 Sweden 26 Switzerland
How many tourists visit Spain in 2017?
Did you know that Spain attracts 20% of the total number of tourists travelling to Europe every year? Being one of the most important member states of the Schengen area, the country welcomed 306 million night spends by tourists in 2017, according to statistics published by Eurostat.
Which countries can you move freely without border checks?
Sweden. Switzerland. Within these countries, any individual, regardless of their nationality, can move freely without undergoing border check formalities at each nation. The only requirement is to fill the Schengen Uniform Visa Application Form to get started.
Is Europe safe to travel?
The Schengen Information System (SIS) has made Europe a safe place for tourists to travel all year round.
What happens when I enter Europe on a Schengen Visa?
If you are traveling to Europe on a Schengen Visa, when you enter a country in the Schengen Area covered by your visa, your documents will be checked to see if they are in order. This is your first port of entry.
What information do I need to provide about my first port of entry when applying for my Schengen Visa?
When applying for a Schengen Visa, you will need to provide a full itinerary of your trip - including where you plan to enter the Schengen Area (your first port of entry ), and flight bookings proving this.
How can AXA help?
AXA offers several Schengen Visa compliant insurance policies for travel in Europe, which will cover you for your trip, from a low-cost option, priced at as little as €0.99 per day of your trip. Your certificate will be available instantly online - ready for you to complete your application and begin your travels.
What is the first port of entry for Schengen?
Your first port of entry when making your application will be the place where you enter the Schengen Area for the first time. On each return trip, your first port of entry will be where you return to the Schengen Area.
How long does a single entry visa last?
These can last for a short period of 90 or 180 days, or one, three or five years.
Where to apply for Schengen visa?
Although you have to apply at the consulate or embassy of the country where you are traveling to, if you are planning to spend an equal amount of time in Schengen States, for example, on cruises or bus tours, you should apply at the embassy of the country which is your first port of entry.
Do you need a visa to enter the Schengen area?
Your first port of entry does not need to be the country which issued you with a Schengen Visa - as you must apply to the country where you are planning to spend the majority of your stay in the Schengen Area. When deciding which country to apply for a visa, this is determined by which country you're planning to spend the most time, according to your filed itinerary. Once the visa is issued, it does not matter what country is your point of entry.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Italy?
You will need a short-stay visa to enter Italy and any other member country of the Schengen zone if you belong to one of the following categories:
What Documents Are Required When Applying for an Italian Schengen Visa?
The following list of documents are required for any short-term Italian Schengen visa application:
How to Apply for an Italian Short-Stay Visa?
In order to complete the application process to obtain a short-stay visa to Italy, you must follow these steps:
How many tourists visit Italy each year?
It is estimated that over 50 million tourists visit Italy each year. Tourism is crucial to Italy’s economy, providing more than 60% of the country’s national income. World travellers wishing to enter Italy for short-stays can do so by obtaining a Schengen Visa to Italy.
How long do you have to take fingerprints to get a visa in Italy?
For every Italian visa application submitted within 59 months after your fingerprints were collected, you are not required to provide fingerprints. Once this period has passed your fingerprints will be collected again.
How long does it take to get a visa to study in Italy?
All those planning to attend study courses, training or internship in Italy, San Marino or even the Vatican City, that last no longer than 90 days , should apply for an Italy Study Visa.
What is a recent employee reference letter?
Recent employee or reference letter, which includes information about your employment start date, job title, your annual salary and the requested vacation period. Sometimes also known as a “No Objection Letter”.