Types of Schengen Visa and Requirements

Information about the Schengen Visa

The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa for non-EU citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Visitors only need to apply for a Schengen visa if they are not eligible to apply for an ETIAS authorisation.

With this visa, third-country nationals can travel to Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. It is issued for tourism, business, and transit.

Which European countries can I visit with a Schengen visa?

There are 29 countries in the Schengen Area:

• 25 are members of the EU
• 4 are part of the EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)

A Schengen visa is required to visit these European microstates:

• Andorra
• Vatican City
• Monaco
• San Marino

This is because access to these states is only possible via the Schengen Area.

Schengen visas are also valid to travel to Cyprus, which will join Schengen when it meets the necessary criteria.

Schengen Countries List:

Non-Schengen European Union Members

Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area. A Schengen visa is not valid to travel to Ireland.

There are several countries whose citizens can enter Ireland without a visa. These countries include:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Canada
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States

Cyprus

Cyprus accepts valid double or multiple-entry Schengen visas.

Cyprus does not require citizens from over 50 different countries to apply for a visa before their trip. However, visa-exempt visitors will soon need an ETIAS travel authorisation for Cyprus.

Andorra

The government of Andorra places no visa requirements on foreign visitors. However, as Andorra is only accessible via Spain or France, a Schengen visa or ETIAS is required.

Andorran nationals will not be required to obtain an ETIAS to enter the Schengen Area.

United Kingdom: Is the UK part of the Schengen area?

The UK has never been part of the Schengen Area, even before Brexit. This means that Schengen visas are not valid to travel to the United Kingdom. Travellers need a UK visa to visit the country.

UK citizens will need ETIAS to visit Schengen countries once the system goes live.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHENGEN VISA?

These are the different types of Schengen visas travellers can apply for.

1. UNIFORM 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. The USV can also be used as a transit visa.

There are 3 subcategories of the Uniform Schengen Visa:

1. Single-entry visa: enter a Schengen country once for a limited period of time. After the visitor exits the country, the visa expires automatically.

2. Double-entry visa: enter a Schengen member state twice. After the second exit (second crossing of an external Schengen border), the visa expires automatically.

3. Multiple-entry visa: enter and exit the Schengen Area any number of times during the validity period. The total stay must not exceed 90 days per 6 months, starting from the entry date. Multiple-entry Schengen visas may be granted for 1, 3, or 5 years depending on the number of visas previously issued.

2. Limited Territorial Validity Visa (LTV)

A Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa is only valid for the Schengen country that issued the visa. It cannot be used to enter other member states, unless this was authorised during the application process.

The LTV is usually only issued in exceptional cases, for example for humanitarian reasons.

3.NATIONAL VISA

National Visas are granted to study, work, or reside in a Schengen Area country.

There are certain circumstances that allow travellers to apply for a multi-entry National Visa. Applicants must meet at least 1 of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in an international educational program with a maximum length of 1 year, which must be demonstrated through an official document
• Applying for pedagogical work at a higher research or educational centre
• A professional who is travelling to Europe due to their proficiency in sports, arts or any other profession related to sharing expertise
• An emergency prevents the applicant from returning to their home country and they are required to remain in the Schengen Area for a specific period of time.

Schengen Tourist Visa Requirements

Below is a guide on the general requirements for a Schengen Visa. However, it is advisable to consult the local embassy/consulate for further information regarding each application.

• Completed and signed Schengen visa application form
• Recent passport-style photo that shows a full, clear, and front view of the applicant’s face with a white or off-white background
• Passport with photocopies of all previous Schengen visas. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for a minimum of 3 months
• Round trip reservations such as hotel/room/flight bookings, together with their identifying reservation numbers. The flight information must clearly indicate the traveller’s entry and exit dates from the Schengen Area
• Travel health insurance, covering the whole travel period within the Schengen member states
• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the trip

SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Schengen visa applications are currently made in person at an embassy or consulate of their destination country. There are plans to digitalise the process, more information below.

If the traveller is intending to visit more than 1 country in the Schengen Area, they should apply for their visa with the nation they will be spending the most time in.

If they plan to stay for the same amount of time in each country, they should apply with the first place they will be visiting.

Schengen visa appointment and documentation

Applicants must book an appointment before going to the government office. Most diplomatic missions have the option to book an appointment online. Schengen visa applicants need to take the following documents to the appointment:

• Completed application form (usually available online)
• Passport
• 2 passport-style photos
• Travel insurance policy
• Travel itinerary
• Accommodation booking
• Proof of financial means

During the interview, applicants will be asked some basic questions about their travel plans. They must then pay the visa fee before submitting their Schengen visa application.

Digitalisation of the Schengen visa process

The European Commission has confirmed plans to digitalise the Schengen visa. It will soon be possible to get visas for Europe online—visas will be issued as a cryptographically-signed 2D barcode.

Some of the reasons for the Schengen visa digital upgrade include:

• Replaces the heavily paper-based process currently in place
• Removes the need for a physical stamp in the applicant’s passport
• Reduces security risks posed by paper documents such as falsification, fraud and theft
• Unifies the online visa applications for different member states
• Reduces costs for both travellers and Member States
• Helps to avoid ‘visa shopping' by those who may attempt to apply through a member state that offers faster visa processing than their destination

An online visa for Schengen would also eliminate any need to apply in person in most cases. The only exception would be first-time applicants who need to submit biometric identifiers or those whose biometric data is no longer valid.