The Schengen visa allows foreign nationals to enter any country in the European Union with a single entry permit. However, in addition to the countries that signed the Schengen agreement, a Schengen visa allows holders to visit several other countries that aren’t in the European Union or the Schengen zone— provided they hold a valid multiple entry visa for tourist or business, purposes.
List of Non-Schengen Countries You Can Enter With a Schengen Visa
Here is a list of the countries that are not members of the Schengen Area, but you can enter while you have a valid Schengen visa:
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Colombia
- Cyprus
- Northern Cyprus
- Georgia
- Gibraltar
- Kosovo
- Mexico
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Serbia
- Turkey
Albania
Located in Southeastern Europe, Albania is still not a part of the Schengen Zone or the European Union, but if you have a valid Schengen visa you can enter Albania visa-free for 90 days. Albania began negotiations to join the EU in 2003, and now it’s on the list of candidates who applied for EU membership. So, to help this transition in the future, it has adopted a visa policy similar to the Schengen Area, therefore, allowing you to visit visa-free for a short period. Please note that for stays longer than 90 days, you must apply for a valid Albania visa.
Antigua and Barbuda
If you have a Schengen visa that is still valid, you can enter Antigua and Barbuda without applying for a national visa. However, after you arrive in the country, you must obtain a visa on arrival (VOA) available only to specific travellers, i.e., those who possess a valid Schengen visa. Remember that you can get a VOA only if you visit Antigua and Barbuda for tourism, and you can only stay for 30 days.
Belarus
If you are a national of the following countries, you can enter Belarus visa-free if you possess a Schengen visa:
- Egypt
- Gambia
- Haiti
- India
- Iran
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Namibia
- Pakistan
- Samoa
- South Africa
- Vietnam
However, you’re eligible to enter visa-free in Belarus only if you hold a flight ticket to your home country that allows you to depart from the airports in Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, and Mogilev. The visa-free stay in Belarus is valid for only 30 days and cannot be extended beyond this period.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognized as a potential candidate to join the EU, allowing foreign nationals to enter visa-free if they have a Schengen visa. But, the visa-free period is valid only for 30 days. Additionally, this privilege is not extended to holders of Kosovan passports— which means if you are a Kosovo citizen, you cannot enter Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free even if you possess a valid Schengen visa.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a member of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen Agreement. Despite this, you can visit Cyprus without a visa as long as you hold a valid Schengen visa.
Colombia
Visa-free stay for 90 days within a 180 day period is allowed in Colombia if you hold a valid Schengen visa, and you are from the following countries:
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Macau (180 days)
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Keep in mind that this is applicable only if your Schengen visa has not expired yet.
Northern Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)
Northern Cyprus is territory on the northeastern section of the island of Cyprus. It’s recognized as an independent country only by Turkey. Due to the political division, Northern Cyprus is not a part of the Schengen Area or the EU, but foreigners who have a valid visa from any Schengen country can stay visa-free for up to 90 days. However, you might not need a visa since most visitors can enter the territory visa-free regardless of their nationality.
Please note that Northern Cyprus is not to be confused with the Republic of Cyprus—a member of the EU.
Georgia
Foreign nationals who hold a Schengen visa can enter Georgia visa-free for 90 days within 180 days. However, if you are a national from Kosovo, Taiwan, and Palestine, you will be refused entry— you won’t even be allowed to transit unless you hold a residence visa from UAE.
Gibraltar
Nationals from China, India, Mongolia, Morocco, and Russia enter Gibraltar if they have a Schengen visa valid for a minimum period of 7 days after entering the country. In 2020, the EU agreed to make Gibraltar a part of the Schengen area allowing Spain to issue Schengen visas for Gibraltar. However, this agreement is yet to be finalized.
Kosovo
Anyone who holds a valid Schengen visa can enter Kosovo visa-free for 15 days— this includes holders of a valid biometric residence permit from a Schengen country. Currently, Kosovo is recognized as a potential candidate to join the EU, while it’s still not a part of the Schengen area.
Mexico
If you possess a Schengen visa that is not yet expired, then you do not need to apply for a Mexico visa as long as you are visiting the country for tourism, business, or transit purposes. Please note that you must present your visa along with your passport at the point of entry.
Montenegro
Montenegro is on the waiting list to join the EU soon, but at the moment, it has a similar visa policy as the Schengen area. So, it allows any foreign national who has a visa from a Schengen country to enter and stay for up to 30 days. However, residents of the United Arab Emirates are allowed to stay visa-free— for ten days— only if they hold a return ticket and evidence of accommodation.
North Macedonia
Citizens of any country who hold a valid Schengen visa can stay visa-free in North Macedonia for 15 days. This also applies to holders of a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state. Like Albania and Montenegro, North Macedonia is a candidate to join the EU.
Sao Tome and Principe
Even though Sao Tome and Principe is located in Africa, it offers visa-free entry to holders of a valid Schengen visa. But, in this case, the allowed period of stay is only for 15 days within six months. Make sure to follow the guidelines of your Schengen visa validity; otherwise, you risk not being able to enter Sao Tome and Principe.
Serbia
Serbia is another European country that is a potential candidate to join the EU but not yet a union member. Nevertheless, it has a visa policy similar to the Schengen area, and anyone who possesses a Schengen visa can enter Serbia and stay for 90 days within 180 days— provided that the visa has not expired.
Turkey
You can’t enter Turkey with a Schengen visa. Still, if you have a Schengen visa, you qualify for the one-month valid Turkish e-Visa provided you are from one of the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Ethiopia
- Niger
- Angola
- Gabon
- North Korea
- Bangladesh
- Gambia
- Pakistan
- Benin
- Ghana
- Philippines
- Botswana
- Guinea
- Republic of Congo
- Burkina Faso
- Guinea-Bissau
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- India
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Cameroon
- Iraq
- Senegal
- Cape Verde
- Kenya
- Sierra Leone
- Central African Republic
- Lesotho
- Somalia
- Chad
- Liberia
- Sudan
- Comoros
- Libya
- Eswatini
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Madagascar
- Tanzania
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Malawi
- Togo
- Djibouti
- Mali
- Uganda
- Egypt
- Mauritania
- Vietnam
- Equatorial Guinea
- Mozambique
- Yemen
- Eritrea
- Nepal
- Zimbabwe