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what schengen visa means

by Ms. Dannie Friesen Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A 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.

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. ...

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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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What does a Schengen visa allow you to do?

What is a Schengen Visa? A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe.

Which country is Schengen visa?

The 26 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Why is it called Schengen Area?

The name “Schengen” comes from the small winemaking town and commune of Schengen in far southeastern Luxembourg, where France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Schengen Agreement.

What are the 4 types of Schengen visas?

Types of Schengen VisaUNIFORM SCHENGEN VISA (USV) The Uniform Schengen Visa, issued by Schengen Area member countries, permits a maximum stay of 90 days in a 180 day period. ... Limited Territorial Validity Visa (LTV) Holders of the LTV may only enter the Schengen member country that has issued the visa. ... NATIONAL VISA.

How long is Schengen visa valid for?

For double or multiple entry (circulation visa) Schengen visas, the validity of the visa ranges from 6 months to 5 years. The holder may travel one or several times for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. The validity of the Schengen visa is indicated on the visa attached to the traveller's passport.

How long Schengen visa takes?

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.

Can I enter another country with Schengen visa?

Yes. According to the Schengen rules, the Schengen visa is generally valid for all the countries in the Schengen area.

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.

Why is Schengen visa rejected?

In such cases, the refusal might occur because the applicant is considered a threat to the public policy, internal security or public wealth of the Schengen Area (i.e. terrorism, drug abuse, child abuse, addiction, other serious crimes).

What is the cost of Schengen visa?

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 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.

Is Schengen visa single entry?

Schengen visas may allow for a single-entry or multiple entries. With a single-entry visa you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker by "01". With a visa allowing for two or multiple entries you may enter twice or several times during the validity of the visa.

Which countries are not Schengen?

Schengen underpins this freedom by enabling citizens to move around the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks. Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU countries, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania.

Can I travel to Canada with a Schengen visa?

Because of reciprocal agreements between Canada and the European Union and Schengen Area countries, European citizens do not need a visa to travel to Canada for short stays under 180 days.

Is UK part of Schengen Area?

Some countries are part of the EU, but not part of the Schengen Area, and vice versa. This was the case of the United Kingdom, which was part of the European Union before Brexit, but not a member of the Schengen Agreement.

Can I enter another country with Schengen visa?

Yes. According to the Schengen rules, the Schengen visa is generally valid for all the countries in the Schengen area.

What is Schengen?

Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most of the European countries. It’s the largest free travel area in the world.

What is Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa?

Your Travel Medical Insurance should be valid for your whole stay in the Schengen Area, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR for medical emergencies.

How Much Does a European Visa Cost?

The cost of a Schengen visa fee is €80 per adults . Still, depending on the age of the applicant, nationality and some other factors, there are categories that will have to pay a lower fee or no fee at all.

Who Needs a Visa to Enter Europe?

All nationals of third countries , which have yet not reached a visa-liberalization agreement with the Schengen member states, need to obtain a visa prior of their arrival in Europe.

What is a Proof of Accommodation for Visa application?

You are required to submit a confirmed document that shows where you will be accommodated for your whole trip in the Schengen Area.

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa Around the World?

For more information about visa requirements and application process for US, UK, Canadian and Australian residents, please read the following articles:

How long is a single entry visa valid?

The validity of your single-entry visa depends on the number of days you stated you are going to be in the Schengen zone on your visa application form and the actual decision of the consulate that issues you the Schengen 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 are the two categories of Schengen visas?

According to the purpose of traveling the Uniform Schengen Visa applies to all of the two categories, “A” and “C”.

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 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 national and a Schengen visa?

Schengen Visas: There are two main differences between a Schengen visa and a National visa: 1) A Schengen visa allows you access to the Schengen area, and can be valid for all the countries within the Schengen area. In contrast, a national visa allows you exclusive access to a single state.

How long is a Schengen visa valid?

a) All Schengen Visas are valid for 90 days within a 180-day period: This means you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days on a Schengen visa. It does NOT mean you can stay in the Schengen area for 180 days. Once you enter the Schengen area on your Schengen visa, you must leave after 90 days.

How long is a double entry visa valid for?

Schengen Visa double entry is allowing you to enter the Schengen area twice for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Unlike the single entry, the Double Entry Schengen Visa allows you to leave the Schengen area and re-enter it. It is therefore valid for two entries into the Schengen area.

How many types of Schengen visas are there?

There are more than 10 different types of Schengen Visa Purposes to describe your reason for travel.

How many countries are there in the Schengen area?

Uniform Schengen visa is a type of visa that is valid for entry to the entire Schengen area; all 26 member states.

What is a national visa?

National Visa is a type of visa allowing you access to a single, particular country. National Visas are not Schengen visas. National Visas are in the “long stay” (Type D) category of visas, in contrast to “short stay” Schengen visas (Type-C).

What is double entry visa?

In terms of flexibility, the double entry visa allows you greater flexibility than the single entry, but still limits the number of times you can leave and re-enter the Schengen area.

How much money do I need in bank for Schengen visa?

Although the Schengen Area has a ‘Visa Code’ designed to boost the uniformity between states, given the differing levels of prices in various countries, each applies their own rules on means of subsistence.

What is means of subsistence?

Means of subsistence includes the costs associated with travel within the Schengen Area and accommodation, but not your plane tickets to travel to the Schengen Area.

Do you have to worry about financial requirements for Schengen?

This will prove you have the means to support yourself during your stay and are able to cope with any costs associated with your visit. There’s no need to worry too much, as the financial requirements are not too onerous. However, they do vary from country to country - with different levels of means of subsistence applying in each Schengen state.

What documents do you need to apply for a Schengen visa?

The Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country where you plan travelling to, amongst other things when applying for the visa, will ask you to provide some supporting documents, one of which is “means of subsistence”. This is an accepted document to evidence that you as an applicant seeking to enter a Schengen Country have the needed financial ability to travel and reside abroad in the specific country of the Schengen Area, complying with the living standard of that Schengen hosting country.

How much does it cost to get a Belgian visa?

According to the Belgian Immigration Office, the amount that a foreign national applying for a Belgium Visa, at Belgian Embassy or Consulate, has to attest possessing in order to be able to enter and reside in the country, is 95€/day if staying in a hotel, and 45€ when planning to get accommodated by cheaper means.

How much does a foreigner need to spend to enter Slovenia?

Another time, as the European Commission notifies, according to the Article 7 of the Instructions on refusing entry to aliens, conditions for issuing visas at border crossings, conditions for issuing visas for humanitarian reasons and procedure for revoking visas, a foreigner seeking to enter the territory of Slovenia needs to attest owning the amount of 70€/day to spend during its stay in Slovenia. The foreigner must attest this amount to the Slovenian Embassy or Consulate while applying for a Slovenian Visa.

What does "Schengen states" mean?

If next to those words is written «ETATS SCHENGEN» or «SCHENGEN STATES», then it means that the visa is valid in all Schengen states, and the visa holder can visit each of them, once inside the territory.

What does "ETATS SCHENGEN" mean?

Whereas, if the visa contains the following label «ETATS SCHENGEN (-country acronym)» – then this means the visa is valid for all Schengen countries, expect for that country i.e. expect Sweden if the label is «ETATS SCHENGEN (-S)». You will be unable to enter depending on the country code after the minus sign.

What does "C" mean in visa?

Label «C» – stands for the visa type C – or short-stay visa, that does not permit the holder to stay more than 3 months in the Schengen Area. Label «D» – stands for the visa type D – or long-term visa, which permits the holder to stay more than 3 months.

What languages are on a Schengen visa?

The visa sticker information is provided in three languages: English, French and German.

What is a visa sticker?

A visa sticker always contains information on the countries that its holder is permitted to visit.

What does the number of entries mean in Schengen?

The label “NUMBER OF ENTRIES”, “NOMBRE D’ETNREES” and “ANZAHL DER EINREISEN” stands for the number of times a person is permitted to enter the Schengen Area.

What does the label "type de visa" mean?

The labels “TYPE OF VISA”, “TYPE DE VISA” and “VISA TYP” stand to tell the type of visa you have obtained which may be: Label «A» – stands for the visa type A- Airport visa, that does not permit the holder to pass the “international airport zone”. Label «C» – stands for the visa type C – or short-stay visa, that does not permit ...

Visa Information System (VIS)

The VIS is a database that allows for the exchange of relevant visa information between the Schengen states and the European Union visa countries.

Schengen visa fingerprint

Perhaps most importantly, the VIS functions as a storehouse for biometric information, particularly Schengen visa fingerprint submissions, which each visa applicant must provide as part of their application.

Objectives of VIS

Helps border guards and other relevant consular/visa authorities manage the entry of people on Schengen visas and correctly identify European Union visa holders and those lacking papers.

Can a Schengen C visa be issued for all member states?

A Schengen C visa can be issued for specific member states or for all member states. The latter is done by writing "Schengen States" in the national language of the issuing state. With a single-entry visa for "Schengenstaten" you can adjust your original itinerary, even to visit another Schengen state. For example, if you initially planned ...

Can you visit other countries on a Schengen visa?

Again minor adjustments are possible, but a completely different itinerary would appear like fraud. On subsequent visits you are free to visit other Schengen states.

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