Schengen visa

With a Schengen visa, you can travel to all 26 Schengen countries for tourism or specific purposes like studying and working in the EU. Learn about the different types of Schengen visas and how to apply.

Schengen visas are issued to non-EU and non-Schengen citizens by one of the Schengen Member States for different purposes. The most common version of the Schengen visa is the 90-day stay permit for all 26 Schengen member states for tourism, business trips, or transit.

However, not all non-EU and non-Schengen citizens must apply for a visa to enter the Schengen Area: nationals of around 60 states, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea can travel to the EU and Schengen Area visa-free.

Although the term Schengen visa is most often thought of as the 90-day tourist visa (Type C Schengen visa), different types of visas entitle Schengen Area travelers to different lengths of stay and activities such as tourism, business, visiting family or friends, cultural activities, sports, medical treatment, studying, or transit.

The type A Schengen visa allows you to change flights within the Schengen Area. It is meant for those traveling from non-Schengen countries to other non-Schengen countries, crossing the airport of a Schengen country. Holders of type A Schengen visas are not allowed to leave the airport.

Type B Schengen visas used to be for short trips up to five days within the Schengen Area. Type B has now been replaced by the Type C transit category.

Type C Schengen visas are for short stays within the Schengen Area and allow travelers to stay or travel for less than 90 days over a 180-day period. Depending on the purpose of your trip, the short-stay category C Schengen visa can have one of the following sub-categories:

The Schengen visa sticker in your passport will say “1” if you have a single-entry Schengen visa. This means you can enter the Schengen Area only once with this visa.

The Schengen visa sticker in your passport will say “2” if you have a double-entry Schengen visa. It allows you to enter the Schengen Area twice during the validity period of your visa.

The Schengen visa sticker in your passport will say “MULT” if you have a multiple-entry Schengen visa. It allows you to enter and leave the Schengen Area as often as you like - but you may not stay longer than 90 days in a row over a 180-day period.

Type D Schengen visas allow long-term stays in one of the Schengen member states. You can also travel to the Schengen states outside the respective country but only for 90 days in a row over a 180-day period.

Category D Schengen visas come in different sub-categories for specific purposes such as:

• Tourism or private visits
• Working and business activities
• Studying
• Taking part in a training program or completing an internship
• Certain family reasons

Type D Schengen visas can be granted as:

• 1-year single entry long-stay Schengen visa
• 1-year multiple-entry long-stay Schengen visa
• 3-year multiple-entry long-stay Schengen visa
• 5-year multiple-entry long-stay Schengen visa
• Limited Territorial Visa (only issued in peculiar or emergency cases)

Travelers from visa-waiver countries do not need a Schengen visa for touristic or business trips up to 90 days. Instead, they are allowed to enter with only their passports.

However, from 2025 on, they must apply for ETIAS travel authorization before coming to the EU and Schengen Area. All differences between Schengen visa and ETIAS at a glance:

The Schengen Area includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus. In addition, the non-EU states of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also Schengen members. All Schengen states at a glance:

Currently, the states of Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia are in the application process to become Schengen members but will keep their border controls until further notice.

If you are neither an EU citizen nor have a passport from one of the visa-waiver countries, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area. This applies to the citizens of the following countries:

Africa

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic of Congo), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Asia

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (PR)¹, Hong Kong¹, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Democratic People's Republic, North Korea), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam & Yemen

Australia & Oceania

Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea & Vanuatu²

Europe/Asia

Belarus, Kosovo, Russian Federation & Turkey

North America

Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti & Jamaica

South America

Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana & Suriname

¹Holders of SAR passports (Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Region passports) are exempt from the visa requirement.

²Applies to holders of ordinary passports issued as of 25.05.2015. The listed states may change without prior notice from the European Union.

If you want to apply for a Schengen visa, you must meet the following Schengen visa requirements:

• You have a valid passport or passport substitute.
• Your reason for applying is plausible and comprehensive.
• You can support yourself financially for your stay and exit.
• You are willing to leave the Schengen Area before your visa expires.
• You can present travel health insurance valid for the entire Schengen Area and the entire duration of your stay (minimum coverage: € 30,000).
• You do not pose a risk to the Schengen Area’s security or public order.

Upon application for your Schengen visa, you will need to present some documents, such as:

• Your invitation to the visa appointment at the embassy or consulate
• A valid passport or passport substitute
• Proof of a secure livelihood or sufficient funds
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of health insurance coverage
• Proof of purpose of stay and circumstances of intended stay

Depending on your case, the foreign embassy or consulate might request additional documents.

You can complete the Schengen visa application form online if you like. To do so, visit the website of your destination’s foreign embassy, consulate, or foreign office. However, you must submit your application on-site during your visa appointment in the embassy or consulate.

When completing your Schengen visa application form, you will need to submit the following information:

• Name(s)
• Gender
• Civil status
• Phone number
• Email address
• Home address
• Current nationality, nationality at birth (if different), other nationalities
• National identity number (if applicable)
• Passport details
• Details on the family member who is an EU, EEA or CH citizen (if applicable)
• Purpose of the journey
• Member State of the main destination (and other Member States of destination)
• Residence history
• Current occupation, employer’s address, and telephone number (for students, name and address of the educational institution)
• Member State of first entry
• Number of entries requested
• Intended date of arrival in the Schengen Area
• Intended date of departure from the Schengen Area
• Name and email address of the inviting person or first accommodation
• Name and address of inviting company/organization
• Means of support

If you haven't given biometrics (fingerprints and photos) yet, you will be given a biometrics appointment.

All types of Schengen visas cost € 80 for adults and € 40 for minors (6-12). They are free for children under 6 years of age. However, due to various visa facilitation agreements, there are exceptions to the fee schedule for certain nationalities or purposes of visit. Visa fees are not refunded in case of a visa refusal.

Should your Schengen visa be denied, you will get a note on the reasons for the rejection and instructions on how to appeal. Your appeal has to be made in writing with the embassy or consulate within one month. Your remonstration letter should state the reasons for your appeal and have documents and evidence attached.