The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and to other EU member states except Ireland.[1] The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schengen area.
The Schengen Area consists of 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries that are members of EFTA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus, while an EU member state, is not yet part of the Schengen Area but, nonetheless, has a visa policy that is partially based on the Schengen acquis.[2]
Nationals of EU single market countries are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries.[4] However, their right to freedom of movement in each other's countries can be limited in a reserved number of situations, as prescribed by EU treaties.
Visa policy map
Schengen Area
Other EU members and territories of Schengen countries outside the Schengen Area with freedom of movement in the Schengen Area
Visa not required for short stays in the Schengen Area, usually 90 days within any 180-day period (EU 2018/1806 Annex II)
Visa required to enter the Schengen Area, and, in some cases, to transit through certain Schengen countries (EU 2018/1806 Annex I)
Visa required to enter or transit through any Schengen country (EC 810/2009 Annex IV)
Schengen Area entry stamp issued at Oslo international airportSchengen Area exit stamp issued at the Polish–Ukrainian border
Nationals of all EU single market states holding a valid passport, passport card, or national identity card can enter, reside and work in each other's territory without a visa. If they are unable to present a valid passport or national identity card at the border, they must nonetheless be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or corroborate or prove by other means that they are covered by the right of free movement.[9][10]
However, EU single market states can refuse entry to any EU single market national on public policy, public security or public health grounds where the person presents a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society".[11] If the person has obtained permanent residence in the country where entry is sought (a status which is normally attained after 5 years of residence), the member state can only expel the person on serious grounds of public policy or public security. Where the person has resided for 10 years or is a minor, the member state can only expel the person on imperative grounds of public security (and, in the case of minors, if expulsion is necessary in the best interests of the child, as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child).[12] Expulsion on public health grounds must relate to diseases with 'epidemic potential' which have occurred less than 3 months from the person's date of arrival in the member state where entry is sought.[13]
Nationals of 'Annex II' countries and territories (visa waiver countries)
Since 2001, the European Union has issued a list of countries whose nationals need visas (Annex I) and a list of those who do not (Annex II).[14] The two lists are also adopted by Cyprus, despite not being part of the Schengen Area yet.[15]
Nationals of the following countries and territories holding ordinary passports may enter the Schengen Area and Cyprus without a visa, for short stays (usually 90 days within any 180-day period):[16]
Nationalities exempt from visas in all EU member states, for holders of ordinary passports for short stays not including study or work (additional nationalities were exempt for only some EU member states):
Before 1 July 1996: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom;[f] Andorra, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City[17]
1 July 1996 to 15 April 1997: Brazil, Mexico, Singapore; removed Vatican City[18]
5 February 1998 to 1 May 1999: Australia, Paraguay; removed Slovakia[19][20]
1 May 1999 to 1 August 2000: Costa Rica, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania; removed Australia[21]
Nationalities exempt from visas in all EU member states, except Ireland and the United Kingdom, and in non-EU states part of the Schengen Area (exemptions were harmonised):
1 August 2000 to 10 April 2001: Australia (resumed), Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Panama, Slovakia (resumed), Vatican City (resumed), Venezuela[22]
To be able to enter the Schengen Area or Cyprus, the above Annex II nationals are required to:
have a travel document which is valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure and which has been issued in the previous 10 years;
have sufficient funds for their stay and onward/return journey;
justify the purpose and conditions of their stay;
not be listed in the Schengen Information System as someone to be refused entry and not be considered as a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any Schengen country.[47][48]
The above Annex II nationals can enter the Schengen Areaas a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period (which entails considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay).[49] For nationals of Brazil, the maximum visa-free stay is defined as 3 months during a 6-month period from the date of first entry, due to a visa waiver agreement between the EU and Brazil using such definition.[50][51] Any time spent by an Annex II national in the Schengen Area on a long-stay visa or a residence permit does not count towards the visa exemption period limit of 90 days.[49]
All Annex II nationals can also enter Cyprus without a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period. The visa-free time restriction for entering and staying in Cyprus is calculated separately from the one for the Schengen Area.
According to a table compiled by the European Commission, some Schengen countries permit certain nationals to work during their visa-free stay:[52]
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden: all visa-free nationals
France: all visa-free nationals, except of Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, United States and Venezuela
Greece: all visa-free nationals not working as intellectual creators
Spain: nationals of Andorra not working in an independent profession
Switzerland: nationals of Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, United Kingdom and Vatican City
Residents and holders of visas of Schengen states
Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state or Monaco may also travel to other Schengen states, without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.[53][54][55] Short-stay visas issued by a Schengen state are also valid for all other Schengen states unless marked otherwise.[53]
Holders of a double or multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state or Monaco may also travel to Cyprus without an additional visa, for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, except nationals of Turkey and Azerbaijan, who still need a Cypriot visa.[15] However, visas and residence permits issued by Cyprus are not valid for travel to the Schengen Area.[56]
Family members of EU single market nationals
Individuals of any nationality who are family members of EU single market nationals and are in possession of a residence card indicating their status are exempt from the requirement to hold a visa when entering the EU single market when they are accompanying their EU single market family member or are seeking to join them.[57]
Rules for family members of EU single market nationals
An individual can enter and stay in each Schengen member state for up to 3 months without a visa if he/she:[58][59]
holds a valid travel document, and
possesses a residence card indicating that the person is a family member of an EU single market national.
Holders of a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen issued by a Schengen member state can travel to another Schengen member state without a visa, regardless of whether they are travelling independently, or accompanying or joining their EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member. However, holders of a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen issued by Cyprus and Ireland can travel to the Schengen Area without a visa only if they are accompanying or joining their EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member.[60]
A family member of an EU single market national satisfying the above conditions can also enter Cyprus for a stay of up to 90 days.[61]
In theory, a family member of an EU single market national who does not fulfil the above conditions does not have to apply for a visa in advance, and can instead obtain a visa on arrival at the border checkpoint of a Schengen country or Cyprus by presenting evidence of the familial relationship.[58]
School pupils resident in the EU single market or Annex II countries and territories
Rules for school pupils resident in the EU single market
A school pupil who is not an EU single market national, but who legally resides in the EU single market, can enter the Schengen Area and Cyprus without a visa for a short stay or transit if:[62]
he or she is travelling as a member of a group of school pupils from a general education school, and
the group is accompanied by a teacher from the school, and
the teacher can present a 'List of Travellers' form identifying the pupils on the trip, the purpose and circumstances of the intended stay/transit.
Even though a school pupil fulfilling all of the above conditions is exempt from having to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area and Cyprus, he or she is nonetheless required to have a valid travel document. However, he or she is exempt from having to carry a valid travel document if:
a photograph of him or her is included in the 'List of Travellers' form, and
the responsible authority in the member state where he/she resides endorses the 'List of Travellers' form to confirm his or her residence status and his or her right to re-entry.
Rules for school pupils resident in Annex II countries and territories
School pupils travelling in the context of a school excursion as members of a group of school pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question who reside in an Annex II country/territory, but hold the nationality of an Annex I country/territory, are granted visa-free entry to Cyprus (a national collective visa is required), Germany, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. In addition, those who reside in the United Kingdom are also granted visa-free entry to Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.[52]
School pupils (of any nationality and resident in any country) who require a visa for the Schengen Area or Cyprus and who are visiting for the purpose of study and/or educational training are waived the visa application fee (but are still required to submit the relevant supporting documents).[63]
Refugees and stateless people resident in Ireland or Annex II countries and territories
Rules for refugees and stateless people
According to a table compiled by the European Commission, some Schengen countries grant visa-free entry to refugees or stateless people who reside in Ireland or in an Annex II country/territory:[52]
Croatia: Andorra, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City
Czech Republic, Malta, Poland: refugees in Ireland
Denmark, France, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden: Ireland
Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland: Ireland, United Kingdom
Hungary: all Annex II; refugees in Ireland
Luxembourg, Netherlands: United Kingdom; refugees in Ireland, United States
Slovakia: refugees in Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela
Slovenia: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Peru, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela
Spain: refugees in Ireland; stateless people in the United Arab Emirates
Holders of local border traffic permits
Currently the local border traffic regulation agreements exist with Belarus (with Latvia since 2011), Moldova (with Romania since 2010), Russia (with Norway since 2012,[64] with Latvia since 2013 and Poland 2012-20161) and Ukraine (with Hungary and Slovakia since 2008, Poland since 2009 and Romania since 2015). Agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is pending ratification but is applied on provisional basis.[65]
^ Poland has suspended the border traffic agreements with Russia indefinitely from 4 July 2016.[66][67]
Rules for the holders of local border traffic permits
Schengen countries are authorised by virtue of the EU regulation no 1931/2006 to conclude bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries to introduce a local border traffic permit scheme.[68] Such permits are a type of multiple-entry visa in the form of a passport sticker or a card containing the holder's name and photo, as well as a statement that its holder is not authorised to move outside the border area and that any abuse shall be subject to penalties. The border area may include any administrative district within 30 kilometres from the external border (and, if any district extends beyond that limit, the whole district up to 50 kilometres from the border). The applicant for the permit has to show legitimate reasons to frequently cross an external land border under the local border traffic regime. The validity of the permit can be up to five years.
Holders of local border traffic permits are able to spend up to 3 months every time they enter the border area of the Schengen country which has issued the permit (this time limit is far more generous than the '90 days in a 180-day period' normally granted to third-country nationals visiting the Schengen Area).[69]
A local border traffic permit scheme has been implemented in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia for Ukrainian nationals, is being implemented or negotiated in Poland and Lithuania regarding Belarus and Russia (Kaliningrad area), and has also been implemented in a 30 km border zone between Norway and Russia in 2012. See Schengen Area#Local border traffic at external borders.
There is also a tendency to allow more and more one-year multiple-entry visas to Russians – especially by Finland. There are plans in the EU to allow up to 5 years validity on multiple-entry visas for Russians, partly to relieve the work load at embassies.[citation needed]
Visa waivers maintained exclusively for diplomatic and official passports
Holders of diplomatic and official passports of Annex II countries (listed above) do not need a visa for a short stay of 90 days, except for:[52][70][71]
Bulgaria: Australia, United States
Cyprus, France, Greece, Romania, Spain: United States
In addition, holders of diplomatic and official passports of the following countries do not need a visa for:[52]
Austria: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belarus (biometric only), Belize, China, India, Order of Malta
Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Chad, China, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Senegal
Bulgaria: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belarus (biometric only), Kuwait, Qatar
Croatia:[72] Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam; and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, Belarus (biometric only), Fiji, Kuwait
Cyprus:[15] Armenia, Bahrain, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam; and only diplomatic passports of Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Qatar
Czech Republic: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, Ecuador, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Order of Malta, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Denmark: Bolivia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, China, Kazakhstan, Tunisia
Estonia: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Belize, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia (biometric only), Suriname, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Finland: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Tunisia
France: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus (biometric only), Belize, China, Congo (secured only), India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Qatar, Senegal, Vietnam
Germany: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chad, Ecuador, Ghana, Oman (biometric only), Philippines, Qatar (biometric only), Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, Gabon (biometric only), India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kuwait (biometric only), Malawi, Mongolia (biometric only), Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, Tunisia
Greece:[70] Algeria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Zimbabwe; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Hungary:[73] Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus (biometric only), Belize, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam; and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, Egypt, Eswatini, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Uzbekistan
Iceland: India, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of China
Italy: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Gambia, Guyana, Indonesia, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Order of Malta, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Bahrain, Belarus (biometric only), China, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Mozambique, Senegal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Latvia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, Kuwait, Mongolia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Belarus (biometric only), China, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Lithuania: Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Oman, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belarus (biometric only), Egypt, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Vietnam
Malta: Algeria, Cape Verde, China, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Order of Malta, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Belize, Cambodia, Cuba, Ecuador, Eswatini, Gambia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Maldives, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia
Norway:[74] Bolivia, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Tunisia
Poland: Algeria, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Order of Malta, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Egypt, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Portugal: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belarus (biometric only), China, Congo, India, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Senegal
Romania: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Zambia; and only diplomatic passports of India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Slovakia: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam
Slovenia: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Order of Malta, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belarus (biometric only), Ecuador, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Maldives
Spain: Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Morocco, Order of Malta, Philippines, Tunisia, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, Dominican Republic, Guyana, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam
Sweden: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric only), China, India, Morocco, Tunisia
Switzerland, Liechtenstein: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan (biometric only), Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Cameroon, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey; and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Vietnam
In general, a passenger who transits through one single airport in the Schengen Area and Cyprus while remaining airside in the international transit area less than one day will not require a visa (transit privilege). This only applies if the transfer is possible without leaving the international transit area, which depends on the connecting flight and airport layout.[75]
However, on 5 April 2010, common visa requirements for airport transit were introduced by the European Union.[76] Nationals of the following 12 countries are required to hold an airport transit visa (ATV) when transiting through any airport in the Schengen Area or Cyprus, even if they remain airside:[77]
However, nationals of the above countries are exempt from airport transit visas if they hold a visa or residence permit issued by an EU single market country, Andorra, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino or the United States, are family members of an EU single market national, hold a diplomatic passport, or are flight crew members.[78]
Additionally, individual Schengen countries can impose airport transit visa requirements for nationals of other countries in urgent cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants.[79] For example, nationals of Syria need ATVs for many but not all Schengen countries.
Additional nationalities (with ordinary passports) required to have an ATV in some Schengen countries[80]
France: Angola, Bolivia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Philippines, Russia (only if arriving from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey or Ukraine), Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan
Germany: Cuba, India, Jordan (except if travelling to or from Australia, Israel or New Zealand, with a valid visa for that country), Lebanon, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey
Greece: Cameroon, Congo, Sudan, Syria
Italy: Senegal, Syria
Netherlands: Cuba, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Yemen
Norway: Syria, Turkey
Poland: Armenia, Cuba, Egypt
Portugal: Guinea, Senegal, Uzbekistan
Romania: Egypt, India, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen
Spain: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti (only with passports issued from 1 September 2021), India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Switzerland: Cuba, Syria, Turkey
Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden: no additional nationalities beyond common ATV list
Liechtenstein: no airports
Visas
Schengen visa issued by Germany
Schengen visas can be issued by any member state of the Schengen Area. Travellers must apply to the embassy or consulate of the country which they intend to visit. In cases of travellers visiting multiple countries in the Schengen Area, travellers must apply to their main destination's embassy or consulate.[81] If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should apply for the visa at the embassy of the Schengen member state of first entry.[81] Often, external service providers are contracted by certain diplomatic missions to process, collect and return visa applications.
Schengen visa applications may not be submitted more than six months prior to the proposed date of entry into the Schengen Area.[82] All countries' embassies may require applicants to provide biometric identifiers (ten fingerprints and a digital photograph) as part of the visa application process to be stored on the Visa Information System (VIS). Biometric identifiers are not collected from children under the age of 12.[83] Travellers applying for a Schengen visa for the first time must apply in person and are subject to an interview by the consular officers. If biometric identifiers have been provided within the past 59 months, the applicant may not be required to provide biometric identifiers again. Providing that the visa application is admissible and there are no issues with the application, a decision must be given within 15 calendar days of the date on which the application was lodged.[84]
The standard application fee for a Schengen visa is EUR 90. There is a reduced fee of EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, and no fee for children under age 6, for applicants intending to undertake study, educational training or scientific research, and for applicants under age 25 representing non-profit organisations. In some cases the visa fee may be waived for children under age 18, for holders of diplomatic and service passports, and for applicants under age 25 participating in events by non-profit organisations, and may be waived or reduced in order to 'promote cultural or sporting interests, interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy and other areas of vital public interest, or for humanitarian reasons or because of international obligations'. If the applicant's country of nationality is considered not to be cooperating on the readmission of irregular migrants, the visa fee may be increased up to EUR 180, except for children under age 12. If a visa application is submitted to an external service provider, an additional service fee up to EUR 120 may be required.[85][86]
Schengen visas are valid for any country in the Schengen Area unless marked otherwise.[53] Cyprus also accepts double and multiple-entry Schengen visas, for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period, except for nationals of Turkey and Azerbaijan.[15] However, visas issued by Cyprus are not valid for travel to the Schengen Area.[56]
The Schengen Convention and Schengen Borders Code permit member states to require third-country nationals to report their presence to a police station within 3 working days of crossing an internal border.[87] This requirement varies by country and can usually be performed by hotels instead.
Since the global loosening of COVID-19 lockdown rules and the rebound in travel demand, Schengen nation embassies have come under immense criticism for long visa processing times and unavailability of visa appointments.[88][89] The general lack of competition for visa outsourcing contracts, which are dominated by companies such as VFS Global, BLS International and TLScontact, has also been blamed for the poor service.[90]
This has partly spurred the EU to further digitalise the process. It is planning to introduce a unified online visa application platform at the EU and Schengen level, replacing the separated national platforms. The platform will be built by eu-LISA and is scheduled to be introduced in 2026. A transition period for all member states to migrate to the single platform is scheduled to last until 2031.[91] The European Parliament voted on 18 October 2023 to introduce the digital application system and for cryptographically signed visas. In almost all cases, applications for Schengen visas will be made through a single website.[92]
Visa privileges for certain nations
In April 2024, the EU made a decision to grant multiple entry Schengen visas with 5-year validity to the nationals of Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. It was announced that this decision took immediate effect and nationals of these countries those apply for visas for the first time are also eligible for this privilege.[93][94]
This decision however does not cover other visa required nationals, including nationals of the EU membership candidates, and applications filed by nationals from these countries continue to be processed with existing constraints.
Visa facilitation agreements
The EU has concluded visa facilitation agreements with several countries, which allow facilitated procedures for issuing visas for both EU citizens and nationals of partner countries. The facilitated procedures include faster visa processing times, reduced or no fees, and reduced list of supporting documents.[95] These agreements are also linked to readmission agreements that allow the return of people irregularly residing in the EU.[96]
Many EU/Schengen countries have signed bilateral Working Holiday Visas for non-EU/Schengen countries which allows the nationals of those countries to work and travel up to one year in the country they applied for.
Those agreements are usually reciprocal with other countries allowing some EU/Schengen countries to work and travel outside the EU/Schengen countries.
Those visas are bilateral and not multilateral for the whole EU/Schengen countries.
All EU/Schengen countries have some Working Holiday Visa programs except Lichtenstein and Bulgaria.
In exceptional cases, single-entry Schengen visas valid for up to 15 days may be issued on arrival at the border. These visas are reserved for individuals who can prove that they were unable to apply for a visa in advance due to time constraints arising out of 'unforeseeable' and 'imperative' reasons as long as they fulfil the regular criteria for the issuing of a Schengen visa.[145] However, if the individual requesting a Schengen visa at the border falls within a category of people for which it is necessary to consult one or more of the central authorities of other Schengen states, they may only be issued a visa at the border in exceptional cases on humanitarian grounds, on grounds of national interest or on account of international obligations (such as the death or sudden serious illness of a close relative or of another close person).[146] People trying this way to travel to the Schengen Area can be denied boarding by the airline because of the carrier's responsibility, which penalises airlines if they carry passengers who do not have the correct documentation.
Visas with limited territorial validity
In exceptional cases, Schengen states may issue visas with limited territorial validity (LTV), either specifically naming the state(s) for which it is valid or, inversely, the state(s) for which it is not valid. According to the Schengen Visa Code, member states may issue LTV visas when a consulate deems it justifiable to overcome the three-month limitation in six months, when a member state considers it necessary due to pressing circumstances to derogate from entry conditions as set by Schengen Borders Code, to overcome objections of other member states, or in cases of urgency.[147]
Most Schengen visas, including visas with limited territorial validity, were issued at consulates of Schengen states located in the countries listed below.[153] Visas issued in a country were not necessarily for nationals of that country.
Armenia – In 2023, EU and Armenian officials discussed plans for visa liberalisation following their Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.[154] The European Commission officially launched a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia in July 2024.[155]
Belize – In 2024, EU and Belizean officials continued meeting to discuss a Schengen visa waiver.[157]
Ecuador – In 2022, the EU Parliament proposed a visa exemption for nationals of Ecuador.[158]
Fiji – In 2023, EU and Fijian officials met to discuss potential visa-free travel for nationals of Fiji to the Schengen Area.[159]
Guyana – In July 2023, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali stated that at least five EU countries had agreed to sponsor a proposal for a visa exemption for nationals of Guyana.[160]
Indonesia – In 2020, Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly met with ambassadors from 20 EU member states to discuss a reciprocal visa-free scheme.[161]
Maldives – In December 2022, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid discussed with EU diplomats the possibility of securing a visa waiver for Maldivian nationals wishing to enter the Schengen Area.[162]
Nauru – In 2014, the EU approved a visa waiver for nationals of several countries, including Nauru, contingent on a reciprocal agreement to be signed with each country.[163] All of these countries, except Nauru, concluded such agreements by 2016.[164]
Russia – In 2014, the EU suspended talks for visa-free travel with Russia as a result of the War in Donbas.[165] In 2019, German officials suggested a visa-free regime for young Russians.[166] In 2022, the EU fully suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[167]
Turkey – In 2023, EU and Turkish officials met to discuss progress in the conditions for visa liberalisation.[169]
Vanuatu – The EU suspended its visa exemption for nationals of Vanuatu from 4 May 2022 until at least 3 February 2025.[44] In May 2024, the EU Commission proposed permanently reintroducing the visa requirement for nationals of Vanuatu.[170]
In 2017, the EU adopted a regulation to establish an Entry/Exit System (EES) to record electronically the entry and exit of third-country nationals to and from the Schengen Area in a central database, replacing the manual stamping of passports. The goals are to increase automation of border control and to identify overstayers.[171][172] As of November 2024, EES was expected to become operational in May 2025.[173]
The EU also plans to establish a Registered Traveller Programme that would allow pre-screened travellers easier access.[174]
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a planned electronic authorisation system for visa-exempt visitors to travel to the Schengen Area and to other EU member states,[175] except Ireland, which remains in the Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom and other British Islands.[176]
The implementation of ETIAS has been postponed several times.[175] As of 2024, it was expected to become operational six months after EES,[177] with a 6-month grace period to allow travellers and staff to become familiar with the new system.[178] Prospective visitors will need to complete an online application and a €7 fee must be paid by those aged 18 to 70.[179] ETIAS is expected to process the vast majority of applications automatically by searching in electronic databases and then provide an immediate response but, in some limited cases, it may take up to 30 days.
Single online visa application platform
The European Commission is planning to introduce a single online visa application platform at the EU level, replacing the separate national platforms. The platform will be built by eu-LISA, based on a system that was successfully piloted in some embassies in 2020-2022.[180] It is scheduled to be introduced by January 2026, with wide adoption by 2028.[181][182] A transition period for all member states to migrate to the single platform is scheduled to be up to 7 years after the platform starts.[91]
The EU requires that all Annex II countries and territories provide visa-free access for 90 days or longer to nationals of all Schengen states and other EU countries implementing the common visa rules (Cyprus, but not Ireland). If an Annex II country is found to not provide full reciprocity, the EU may decide to suspend the visa exemption for certain categories or later all nationals of that country.[14]
Since the adoption of this policy, full reciprocity has been achieved with all Annex II countries except the United States, which, as of 2023[update], requires visas from nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.[187] In November 2014, the Bulgarian government announced that it would not ratify the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership unless the United States lifted visa requirements for its nationals.[188] Since the United States failed to lift the requirements, on 3 March 2017 the European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution calling on the European Commission to revoke the visa-free travel for US nationals to the Schengen Area.[189]
Some Annex II countries and territories also impose minor restrictions on nationals of certain or all EU/Schengen states that are not considered a breach of reciprocity by the EU. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States require an electronic authorisation before travel, similar to the EU's own planned ETIAS. Canada also requires a visa from nationals of Romania with non-electronic passports.[190]El Salvador requires citizens of Bulgaria and Croatia to buy tourist cards on arrival.[191][192]Israel requires a visa from nationals of Germany born before 1928, which is issued free of charge if they were not involved with the Nazi Party.[193][194][195]Montserrat requires an electronic visa from nationals of Croatia.[196] The United States limits the validity of its electronic authorisation for nationals of Hungary to one year and a single use,[197] and requires a visa for those born outside Hungary.[198][199]
Stays exceeding 90 days
In general, third-country nationals staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area as a whole or in Cyprus require either a long-stay visa for less than a year or a residence permit for longer periods.
Although long-stay visas issued by these countries have a uniform design, the procedures and conditions for issuing them are usually determined by each individual country. For example, some Schengen countries require applications for long-stay visas to be made in the applicant's home country, while other Schengen countries permit them after arrival. Some procedures may vary depending on the applicant's country as well.[200][201][202][203] In some situations, such as for study, the procedures and conditions for long-stay visas have been harmonised among all issuing states.[204][205] Each country is also free to establish its own conditions for residence permits.
Third-country nationals who are long-term residents of an EU or Schengen state (except Ireland and Denmark) may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another of these states without losing their legal status and social benefits.[206] The Van Der Elst visa rule allows third-country nationals employed in the EU single market to work temporarily in another EU single market country for the same employer under certain conditions.
Bilateral visa waivers
Some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. For example, France does not require nationals of the European microstates to apply for a long-stay visa.[207]
Nationals of some 'Annex II' countries (such as Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States) that had entered into visa waiver agreements with individual Schengen states before they implemented the Schengen agreement are permitted to stay for an additional period of time, above and beyond the typical maximum stay limit of 90 days within 180 days imposed on visa-free 'Annex II' nationals. In such instances, the period of additional stay depends on the specific visa waiver agreement, and only applies if the 'Annex II' national has used up their maximum stay limit as provided for under the Schengen Area.[208]
Legacy visa waiver agreements for Annex II nationals
Other passport holders mentioned below also enjoy extended visa-free stays in certain countries, above the framework of the Schengen visa exemption of 90 days in any 180-day period:
Argentine, Chilean, Costa Rican, Israeli, Malaysian, South Korean and Uruguayan nationals are permitted to spend an extra 3 months per 6-month period visa-free in the Czech Republic, regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries. Separately, Singaporean nationals are permitted to spend an additional 30 days visa-free in Czechia. Further, the old method of calculating the length of the visa-free stay (i.e. 3 months within 6 months instead of 90 days in any 180-day period) still applies to nationals of Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Paraguay in the Czech Republic.[208]
In addition to general requirements, Schengen states also set entry conditions for foreign nationals of countries outside the EU single market called the "reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border fixed by national authorities" regarding means of subsistence during their stay.[224][225]
€269.60 fixed sum for stays up to 5 days (€212.81 per person for groups of two and more); 6–10 days: €44.93 per day (€26.33); 11–20 days: €51.64 fixed sum + €36.67 per day (€25.82 + €22.21); 20+ days €206.58 fixed sum + €27.89 per day (€118.79 + €17.04).
SEK 450 per day. Needed proof is a copy of three months of bank statements, or of two years of income tax declaration, if there is no official sponsor with proof of that.[237]
Ireland has an independent visa policy. It grants visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Dominica, East Timor, Georgia, Honduras, Kosovo, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palau, Peru, Serbia and Venezuela. It also grants visa-free entry to several additional countries – Belize, Eswatini, Fiji, Guyana, Lesotho, Maldives and Nauru. Visas for Ireland and for the Schengen Area are not valid for each other. Ireland is part of the Common Travel Area and maintains freedom of movement with the United Kingdom in addition to with EU and Schengen countries.[240]
The Faroe Islands and Greenland have the same list of nationalities exempt from visas as the Schengen Area, and arrivals from the Schengen Area are not subject to border checks. However, Schengen visas are not valid there, so nationalities that are not exempt need separate visas for these territories. These regulations are due to a special agreement under the Nordic Passport Union.[244][245]
Svalbard is an entirely visa-free zone. Travellers to and from Svalbard must present a passport or national ID card.[246] Travellers who need a visa for the Schengen Area must have such visa if they travel to Svalbard via mainland Norway, and this must be a double-entry visa if they also return from Svalbard via mainland Norway.[247]
Recognised by the EU as a potential candidate which has applied for membership: Kosovo (status disputed).[249]
Countries applying to join the European Union are obliged to adopt the EU's visa policy no later than three months before they formally join the Union.[250] Schengen countries give visa-free access to nationals of all EU candidate and applicant states except Turkey.[251] Candidate states Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and applicant state Kosovo maintain similar visa policies as the Schengen Area, with some notable exceptions regarding countries that were added to the Schengen Annex II more recently and additional nationalities not listed in Annex II. Candidate states Georgia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine require visas from some nationalities that have always been in Annex II and also maintain visa exemptions for some additional nationalities not in Annex II. Turkey also requires electronic visas from nationals of EU member state Cyprus.[252]
Validity for other countries
Schengen visas that are valid for further travel are accepted as substitute visas for national visas in several other countries.
Validity of Schengen visas for other countries
Albania – 90 days; must hold a multiple entry C visa or D visa used to enter the Schengen Area at least once.
Andorra – should hold a multiple entry visa, relaxed checks.
Colombia – 90 days; for nationals of Cambodia, China, India, Macau (180 days), Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam only. Schengen visa must be valid for 180 days at the time of entry to Colombia.[254]
Cyprus – 90 days; must hold a double or multiple entry C visa valid for the period of stay. Not applicable to Azerbaijani and Turkish citizens.
Dutch Caribbean – Nationals of any country who are not otherwise visa exempted can enter the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days provided holding a valid visa or residence permit for a Schengen country.[255]
El Salvador – 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
Morocco – certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Moroccan visa if holding a valid Schengen visa.
Nicaragua – 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
North Macedonia – 15 days; must hold a C visa valid for at least 5 days beyond the period of stay and must be valid for re-entry to any of the Schengen Area member states.
Oman – certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Omani visa if holding a valid Schengen visa.
Philippines – 7 days for nationals of China; 14 days for nationals of India.
Qatar – Non-visa-free nationals can obtain an electronic travel authorization for 30 days if holding a valid Schengen visa.
Saudi Arabia – Nationals of most countries can obtain a visa on arrival or electronic Saudi visa provided holding a valid Schengen visa or residence permit for a Schengen country;
^The visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu was suspended from 4 May 2022 for holders of ordinary passports issued from 25 May 2015.[41] Although the visa waiver could still apply to passports issued before that date, such passports had a validity of five years so they had already expired.[42] The suspension was extended to all passports from 4 February 2023.[43][44]
^Judgement of the European Court of Justice of 21 March 2013, Case C‑254/11, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Megyei Rendőrkapitányság Záhony Határrendészeti Kirendeltsége v Oskar Shomodi, ECLI:EU:C:2013:182, see Press release
^"FAQ - I'm planning a trip by air and have to transit at a German airport. Do I need a visa?". German Federal Foreign Office. Retrieved 13 December 2019. The vast majority of foreign travellers benefit from the "transit privilege" - if during a stopover at a German airport, you do not leave the International Airport Area and if the destination is not in a Schengen country, you do not need a transit visa.
^Article 15(2) of the Residence Act of 30 July 2004
^Common Ministerial Decision No 3021/22/10- f of 24 December 2007
^Decree No 25/2001. (XI. 21.) of the Minister of Interior
^Article 4 of the Act No 48/2002 Coll. on Stay of Aliens and on amendment of certain acts as amended
^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 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 2/01)
^Order of the Ministry of the Presidency (PRE/1282/2007)
1British Overseas Territories.
2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.
3 Partially recognized.
4Unincorporated territory of the United States.
5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
6Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.
