Visa-Faq.com

what is a schengen visa

by Dr. Evert Collins I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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It allows you to:

  • an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen Area of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180 days period (“short-stay visa”)
  • transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”)
  • transit through the territory of all Schengen states

Full Answer

What countries can you enter using a Schengen visa?

List: Schengen Visa which countries?

  • Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. These three European micro-states are not members of the Schengen Area, but operate an open border, effectively operating as part of the Zone.
  • The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. ...
  • Andorra. ...
  • Cyprus. ...
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina. ...
  • Montenegro. ...
  • North Macedonia. ...
  • Serbia. ...
  • Albania. ...
  • Kosovo. ...

More items...

Which countries Schengen visa is for?

  • Albania
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Northern Cyprus
  • Georgia
  • Gibraltar

More items...

How much balance is needed for a Schengen visa?

some countries may require it to be signed and stamped by the bank. The embassy should show a balance of 3–5L in INR or euro 4000 to 6000 ( higher is better but not necessary) to ensure that you have enough money for travel expenses. A final note on the bank statement for the Schengen visa application.

What is the validity period of Schengen visa?

  • 1 year multiple-entry Schengen Visa (most common for non-regular travellers)
  • 3 year multiple-entry Schengen Visa
  • 5 year multiple-entry Schengen Visa

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How does a Schengen visa work?

The Schengen visa is a short stay visa and takes the form of a sticker affixed to the travel document. The definition of “short stay” is a stay of "90 days in any 180 days period". This means that the total duration of stay is of maximum 90 days, in any period of 180 days.

Who is eligible for Schengen visa?

Eligibility Criteria You must be citizens of any Non-European country. The purpose of travelling and the time frame should be justified. You must have a passport valid for up to at least 3 months after the visa application date. You must have medical insurance of minimum €30,000.

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.

What is the difference between EU visa and Schengen visa?

In short, they are two different entities, although many countries are included in both. The EU is a political and economic union, whereas the Schengen Area allows for the free movement of people between the participating countries.

Is it difficult to get Schengen visa?

In the past, it wasn't easy to get a Schengen visa in a short time. But things have changed - you can now mail in your visa application as long as you have the documents ready. I've seen numerous visas being rejected because applicants waited until the last minute to apply and missed an essential document in a hurry.

How long does a Schengen visa take?

It takes 15 days to process a Schengen visa. However, Schengen visa processing time may vary in some specific situations. In individual cases, the visa processing time may be extended to 30 days after the interview, or in some very specific situations to 60 days.

Which country gives Schengen visa easily?

Lithuania is the easiest country to get a Schengen visa from, with only 1.3% of the short-term applications rejected in 2018. In total, 98.7% of the applicants for a Schengen Visa to Lithuania received a positive answer on their application.

How much is Schengen visa fee?

Schengen Visa FeesSchengen Visa CategoryFee in EURFee in USD*Adult80€96$Children between 6-12 years of age40€48$Children younger than 6 years of ageFreeFreeHolders of diplomatic, official or service passports travelling for official purposesFreeFree4 more rows

How much money do I need to show in my bank account for Schengen visa?

Bank statement – this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months. If you do not have this amount in your bank, you could show a family member's/guardian's statement instead, with an accompanying letter stating that they are sponsoring your travel and stay.

What does Schengen mean in English?

Meaning of Schengen in English Schengen. /ˈʃeŋən/ uk. /ˈʃeŋən/ (also the Schengen Agreement, us/ˈʃeŋən əˌɡriːmənt/ uk/ˈʃeŋən əˌɡriːmənt/) an agreement between many countries of the European Union that allows people and goods to pass freely across the borders of each country without passport or other controls.

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?

5-year MEV is granted to people that have obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for at least two years within the previous three years. This visa permits you to enter 26 countries in Europe as many times as you wish, within five years, as soon as you do not violate the 90/180 days rule.

How much bank balance is required for Schengen visa?

Bank statement – this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months. If you do not have this amount in your bank, you could show a family member's/guardian's statement instead, with an accompanying letter stating that they are sponsoring your travel and stay.

Which is the easiest country to get Schengen visa?

LithuaniaIn general, Lithuania is the easiest country to obtain a Schengen Visa from, with officials granting 98.7% of applications. The nation also receives fewer applications than countries such as Germany or France, as they are extremely popular with tourists and business travellers.

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.

How much bank statement is required for Schengen visa?

Proof of financial means. Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months. Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen.

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What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa, issued by any of the Schengen member states, authorizes its holders to travel freely and cross the internal borders of any European Union Schengen country. A Schengen visa also grants the right to enter all the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Schengen countries. On the other hand, the European Union member countries that are not part of the Schengen Area also grant a visa-free entry to third-country nationals, as long as they fulfill two basic requirements: they hold a valid Schengen visa; their country has a visa waiver agreement with the given non-Schengen European country that wants to be visited.

What is a single entry visa?

Single-entry visa: This Uniform Schengen Visa allows its holder to enter a Schengen country once for a limited period of time. After the foreign visitor exits the country, the visa expires automatically.

What happens if you overstay your Schengen visa?

Overstaying a Schengen visa can have serious consequences as it means breaking the terms of your travel permit as well as the European immigration and visa policies. You should respect the validity of your visa and leave the Schengen territory before it expires. “If you do not, you may have issues obtaining a Schengen visa in the future, need to pay fines, and face even more serious consequences.

How long can a Schengen visa last?

UNIFORM SCHENGEN VISA (USV) The Uniform Schengen Visa, issued by one of the Schengen Area member countries, permits residence in the desired Schengen country for a maximum of 90 days, during a period of 180 days from the initial entry date.

What is a national visa?

Under normal circumstances, the National Visa is a single-entry visa for a limited period, which would cover the exact purpose of the applicant’s visa request, be it employment or education related.

How many countries are in the Schengen Area?

A total of 26 countries form the Schengen Area by entering into a mutual agreement to allow the free movement of all Schengen nationals, remove internal borders and strengthen the external ones. Twenty-two of those countries are European Union members, while the other 4 are part of the EFTA (European Free Trade Association).

How many pages are needed for a Schengen visa?

The passenger’s passport along with photocopies of all previous Schengen visas. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for a minimum of 3 months, prior to departure. Round trip reservations such as hotel/room/flight bookings, together with their identifying reservation numbers.

Who needs a Schengen Visa?

If you are traveling to one of the Schengen countries, you should check the official list from the EU from which countries citizens need a Schengen Visa to enter the Schengen Area. An always up to date list of countries is covered in this section.

How many times can you enter the Schengen area?

On your visa sticker the section “number of entries” indicates how many times you could enter the Schengen area: “1”, “2” or “MULT”. The holder of a multiple entry visa (“MULT”) may enter the Schengen Area an unlimited number of times during the validity of the Schengen Visa”

How many types of Schengen visas are there?

There are different types of Schengen visas granted by the embassies of the Schengen countries. They fall under three major categories and each one implements a unique set of restrictions regarding its holder’s freedom to travel in and out of Schengen countries.

How long can you stay in the Schengen area?

It allows you to: an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen Area of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180 days period (“short-stay visa”) transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”) transit through the territory of all Schengen states.

Which countries do not require a visa to enter the Schengen zone?

there is no national visa required for the following countries: Albania, Antigua Barbuda, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Columbia (some restrictions), Croatia, Cyprus, ...

How many times can you enter the Schengen area?

A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter the Schengen Area only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the Schengen territory, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend there the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa obtained by any of the Schengen Area member countries allows free movement to its holder within the whole Schengen Zone regarding the European Union Schengen members as well as the EFTA Schengen members, up to its validity and period limitations.

What is a C visa?

“C” category stands for a Short-term visa which allows its holder to reside in a Schengen Area for a certain period of time depending on the visa validity. This particular category, according to the holder’s purpose of the travel can be obtained in a form of:#N#Single-entry visa,#N#Double-entry visa and#N#Multiple-entry visa. 1 Single-entry visa, 2 Double-entry visa and 3 Multiple-entry visa.

How long can a Schengen visa last?

The Uniform Schengen Visa stands for a permit of one of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired territory for a certain period of time up to the maximum of 90 days every six month period starting from the date of entry.

How long can you stay in the Schengen zone?

The 1-year MEV visa gives you the right to enter in the Schengen Zone as many times as you want, as long as you do not remain more than 90 days within this period.

How long can a person stay in the EU with a Schengen visa?

However, even in this case the visa holder is limited to remaining in the EU no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period.

What is the difference between a single entry and a double entry visa?

The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to the Schengen territory once you have left it.

What reasons for visits to Europe require a short-stay Schengen Visa ?

You need to apply for a Schengen Visa if you intend to visit one or more European countries in the area for any of the following reasons: Tourism and recreation, business purposes, visiting friends or family, cultural and sporting events, airport and seafaring transit visits, official visits, medical treatment, short-term study, and research purposes.

Where to apply for a Schengen visa ?

To apply for a Schengen visa you will need to contact the consular authorities of the Schengen country you wish to visit.

What are the documents required for Schengen visa ?

The Schengen Visa application process can be confusing and stressful if you do not know what you are doing, so we have prepared a handy guide to take you through each of the 37 steps you need to follow to apply for a Schengen Visa :

What is Schengen insurance ?

To obtain your Schengen Visa, your travel and medical insurance must meet several minimum requirements. It must cover you in the whole Schengen Area - even countries you have no plans to visit - and cover accidents, illnesses, and emergency treatments, as well as repatriation in case of death, for a minimum of €30,000 (≃$35,000).

Why choose AXA Schengen Insurance ?

AXA offers several Schengen Visa compliant insurance policies for travel in Europe; from a low-cost option, priced at as little as €0.99 ($1.11) per day of your trip, that will meet the minimum requirements, to multi-trip insurance that will cover you for ongoing visits.

Does AXA offer other types of Schengen Visa travel insurance ?

AXA also offers more comprehensive Europe Travel insurance from €1.50 per day of your trip, that covers you for medical expenses up to €100,000. If you’re planning more than one trip, you may want to buy the year-round coverage for €298 - this will cover you for all your visits to Schengen Area countries within the year.

How many countries can a Schengen visa travel to?

A holder of a Uniform Schengen visa can travel to all 26 member countries of the Schengen Area:

How many countries are members of the Schengen Agreement?

22 members fully implement the Schengen acquis, Four of them – members of the EFTA, implement Schengen acquis through specific agreements related to the Schengen agreement. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are associate members of the Schengen Area but are not members of the EU.

How long is the Schengen border?

The external borders of the Schengen Zone reach a distance of 50,000 km long, where 80% of it is comprised of water and 20% of the land. The area counts hundreds of airports and maritime ports, many land crossing points, an area of 4,312,099 km2, and a population of 419,392,429 citizens.

What countries are in the Schengen zone?

Slovenia. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland. The Essential Features of The Schengen Zone. The Criteria to Become a Member Country. Non-Schengen Countries in Europe. Schengen Area signifies a zone where 26 European countries, abolished their internal borders, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling ...

What is the population of Luxembourg?

Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a country of 2,586 km2 and has a population of 575,747 residents. It is one of the founding states of the Schengen agreement, which was signed on 14 June 1985 in the village of Schengen in Luxembourg. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is one of the three official capitals of the European Union.

What is Malta known for?

Despite its small area, the country received a number of 37,881 visa applications is 2017. In tourism terms, it is mostly known for its sun, sea and beaches.

Which countries are not in the visa free zone?

Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City have opened their borders with, but are not members of the visa-free zone. The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone even that they are located outside the European continent.

How long can a person stay in the Schengen zone?

The number of days permitted to stay in any of the Schengen zone countries doesn’t exceed 90 days/ three months every half a year needless ...

Which countries require a Schengen visa?

The countries whose citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter any member country of the Schengen Area are: Afghanistan. Gabon. Oman. Algeria. Gambia. Pakistan. Angola.

Do you need a visa for more than one nationality?

In the case of citizens with more than one nationality, the visa requirements depend on the passport he/she chooses to travel with. If you chose to travel with a passport of a nationality that requires a mandatory visa you will have to obtain one even if you are in possession of a passport of one of the Schengen member countries but you are not willing to use it for any reason.

Which countries require airport transit visas?

The list of the countries which are subject to the airport transit visa in the Schengen Area goes as following: Afghanistan. Bangladesh.

Can a national enter the Schengen area?

While there are categories and nationals of countries that are privileged with entering the Schengen visa-free zone, there are also other categories and nationals, which have to go through all the processes of meeting requirements and attending interviews, in order to obtain a visa that grants them with the permission to enter the Schengen Area.

Does Sri Lanka require a transit visa?

Sri Lanka. There are however exceptions regarding the Airport Transit Visa for certain individuals. In case of the following terms, the nationals of the above-mentioned countries are not obliged to obtain an airport transit visa:

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