If you’re planning a trip to the opulent French Riviera or the lush countryside of Luxembourg, you might need a Schengen visa.

Our latest blog provides an overview on who needs to apply for a Schengen visa and the application process.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa allows non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. You can travel to more than one country in the 180-day period.

The following 29 countries are part of the Schengen zone:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

If you are a citizen of a Schengen country, you can travel freely to or within the Schengen zone without a visa, on the condition that your stay does not exceed 90 days per any 180-day period.

Do you need to apply for a Schengen visa?

Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. The full list of countries whose nationals must apply for the short-stay visa can be found here.

While the United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area, citizens of the UK along with those from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico, Taiwan, the United States, and roughly 50 more countries, do not need to apply for a Schengen visa (for stays of up to 90-days per 180-day period).

What type of Schengen visa do I need?

There are three forms of Schengen visa:  

• Single-entry visa – allowing you to enter the Schengen area once;
• Multiple-entry visa – allowing several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid;
• Airport transit visa – allowing you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights. It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.
  
  

What is the process of applying for a Schengen visa?

You must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you are travelling to more than one country, you should apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time, or at the first country you will visit (for stays of equal length).

When you apply for a Schengen visa,  yourapplication should be submitted no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days prior to your departure date. You should receive a decision within 15 working days though it may take up to 45 days in some cases if additional documents or information is required.

A Schengen visa costs roughly:

• €90 for adults
• €45 for children aged 6-12
• €35 for applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus
• €67,50 for applicants from Cabo Verde

While consulates may request additional documents, the following documents will be requested as standard:

• A valid passport – the passport’s expiry date should be at least three months after the date of your departure from the Schengen area. For multiple-entry visas, the expiry date should be at least three months after your departure from the last country visited;
• A visa application form;
• A photo in compliance with ICAO standards;
• Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death);
• Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation during your stay, and evidence of your intention to return to your home country after your stay;
• Your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).
  
  

How can we help?

Whether you’re planning a trip to Spain, Germany or France – or all three – our team of immigration experts are here to assess whether you need to apply for a Schengen visa and to help you with the application process.

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