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To visit the Schengen states, citizens of many countries need visas. The type of visa depends on the trip’s purpose: a visa can be uniform, national, or limited territorial validity. Visas are also divided into categories: A, B, C and D.
Learn more about Schengen visas and choose the one you need.
The Schengen visa is one of the most popular visas in the world: in 2021, the Schengen countries issued 4.32 million visas and residence permits.
Types of the Schengen visa
The countries participating in the Schengen agreement issue three types of visas to foreigners, depending on the purpose of their trip:
- Uniform Schengen visa, USV — permission to enter and visit the country that issued the permit, and any other state of the agreement. The duration of stay in the Schengen Area is limited: foreigners can spend no more than 90 days per 180 days starting from the region’s entry date.
- National D visa is granted to foreigners with a study or work permit and the right to reside permanently in one of the Schengen states. Another name for this visa is a residence permit.
- Limited Territorial Validity visa, LTV. It is issued for visiting one specific country or several states specified in the permit.
There are three types of uniform Schengen visas: A, B, and C. Category B visas were discontinued in 2010 after the implementation of the EU Visa Code.
Type A visa is a transit permit that gives foreigners the right to move through the international airport zone of the agreement states. You can’t enter the country with this visa: it is mandatory for those who travel to other countries through the airports of the Schengen states.
Type C visa is a short-stay visa issued for a certain duration to permit staying in a Schengen state. Depending on the validity period, the visa can be:
- single-entry;
- double-entry;
- multiple-entry, or multi-visa.
A single-entry visa allows you to enter and leave the Schengen Area only once, while a double-entry visa allows you to travel twice. With a multiple-entry visa, you can enter the Schengen states as often as you want during the visa’s validity period. However, the total number of days in the Schengen Area is limited.
Usually, the visa has the Remarks label, which indicates the purpose of the visit. The Schengen states issue a visa according to 10 criteria. A foreigner can obtain a permit for:
- business trips;
- visits to family or friends;
- treatment in a European clinic;
- transit through European airports;
- tourism;
- studies;
- participation in cultural events;
- sports competitions;
- official visit to government offices;
- for other purposes, such as religious gatherings.
How long is the Schengen visa valid?
Schengen visas have a limited validity period, which depends on the trip’s purpose and the visa category itself. The Schengen states issue short- and long-stay visas.
A short-stay visa is issued to a foreigner for the first trip to one of the countries of the agreement. A long-stay visa can be issued to those who have visited Schengen several times and have not violated visa requirements. But the decision is always made by the embassy of the country where the applicant applies.
If a Schengen visa is issued for up to 5 years, this does not indicate the possibility of staying in the Schengen states for all 5 years. The validity period of a visa and the length of stay in countries are different concepts.
The duration of stay in the Schengen Area also depends on the visa type ― up to a maximum of 90 days every 180 days. For example, if a visa is issued for five years, a foreigner can enter the region as many times as they want. The main thing is not to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days within 180 days.
To avoid confusion about validity terms and stay terms, we are presenting the Schengen visa types in the table below.
Comparison of different types of the Schengen visa
| Visa category | Area of validity | Duration of validity | Duration of stay | |
| Single-entry | A | Airport transit zone | 2 days | — |
| D | Country of issuance | Up to one year | Up to one year | |
| Multiple-entry | C1 | Schengen Area | Up to 30 days | Up to 30 days every 180 days |
| C2 | Schengen Area | Up to 90 days | 30 to 90 days every 180 days | |
| C3 | Schengen Area | Up to one year | 30 to 90 days every 180 days | |
| C4 | Schengen Area | Up to 5 years | 90 days every 180 days | |
| D | Schengen Area | One year with the possibility of an extension | Up to a year |
What is a visa sticker?
A Schengen visa is pasted into a foreign passport and is often called a visa sticker. The visa has a special hologram, which is forgery protection.
The sticker contains information about the owner and the country that issued the visa. The visa validity area, validity period, duration of stay, and purpose of the visit must be specified.
Who needs a Schengen visa?
A visa is required for all citizens of countries not part of the Schengen Area. There are exceptions: citizens of countries with which an agreement on visa-free entry to the Schengen Area was signed. For example, countries like Cyprus, Grenada, and Dominica.
Foreigners receive a visa at the embassies and consulates of the member states of the Schengen agreement. If the applicant plans to visit more than one country, it is recommended to submit documents to the representative office of the Schengen state where they will spend the most time.
With a Schengen visa, you can travel to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The visa also allows you to visit countries that are:
- candidates to join the European Union — Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.
- de facto belong to the Schengen Area due to the peculiarities of their location ― Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City and San Marino.
However, if a foreigner is travelling with a single-entry visa, they will not be able to use it to return to the territory of a Schengen Area state.
Countries of the European Union. They can be entered with a Schengen Visa
Frequently Asked Questions
Three types of the Schengen visa depending on the purpose of your trip:
- Uniform Schengen visa (USV);
- Limited territorial visa (LTV);
- National visa.
A visa type depends on the visit’s purpose and the stay’s duration. All types are indicated by the letters: A, C, and D.
Type A visa ― transit, Type C ― short-stay, allows you to stay in the Schengen states for up to 90 days within six months. Type D visa is a national visa issued for a longer stay in a Schengen country, for example, to study.
Validity periods of the visa are limited and depend on the purpose of the trip and the category. For example, a transit visa is issued for up to 2 days. The maximum validity period of a Schengen visa is 5 years. Specialists of the embassy and consulate decide on the deadline.
The duration of stay in the Schengen states is limited: foreigners can stay in the agreement countries for up to 90 days every 180 days. You will need to obtain a national Type D visa for a longer stay.
“A visa sticker” is a Schengen visa’s second name. The visa itself is pasted into the passport. Each sticker contains a unique hologram that confirms the authenticity of the visa.
The sticker must contain information about the owner and the country that issued the visa. The details are the country and city of issuance, visa validity area, validity period and duration of stay, as well as the purpose of the visit.
The visa is issued to citizens from countries outside the Schengen Area.
There are exceptions for the countries that have signed an agreement on visa-free entry with the Schengen Area. Citizens of these countries do not need to obtain a Schengen visa, for instance, Cypriots, Grenadians or Montenegrins.
Foreigners apply for a visa at the consulate of one of the Schengen states. Documents are submitted to the country’s consulate, where the longest stay is planned during the first trip.
