Planning a trip to Europe? Learn who needs a Schengen visa, the application process, costs, required documents and key travel rules.
If you're planning to visit Europe, you may need a Schengen visa depending on your nationality and destination. Here in our latest blog, we give you an overview on who needs to apply and the application process.
What is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows eligible travellers to visit one or more countries in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It is commonly used for tourism, business trips, visiting family or friends, and other short-term travel. Instead of applying for separate visas for each country, a Schengen visa lets you travel freely between participating countries during your stay.
The following 29 countries are in the Schengen Area:
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.
Who needs to apply for a Schengen visa?
Whether you need a Schengen visa depends on your nationality. Citizens of many countries can visit the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa, while others must apply before travelling.
If you are from a country that requires a visa, you'll need to apply before your trip and meet the relevant entry requirements.
Nationals from the following countries must apply for a Schengen visa:
Continent | Countries |
|---|---|
Africa | Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Asia | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen |
Europe | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Turkey |
North America and Caribbean | Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica |
South America | Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname |
Oceana | Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu |
The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area, however, citizens of the UK along with Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico Taiwan, the United States and roughly 50 more, are exempt from applying for a 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 — allows 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?
To apply for a Schengen visa, you'll need to submit an application to the embassy, consulate, or visa application centre of the Schengen country you're visiting. If travelling to multiple Schengen countries, you should apply through the country where you'll spend the most time (or the first country you’ll visit for stays of equal length).
Your visa application should be submitted no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days prior to your departure date. Decisions are usually made within 15 working days though it may take up to 45 days in some cases if additional documents or information is required.
Expedited processing can cost an additional fee depending on the country and further costs can be incurred due to service fees, insurance, biometrics and courier fees.
Schengen visa fee
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
Documents needed
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 3 months after the date of your departure from the Schengen area. For multiple-entry visas, the expiry date should be at least 3 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?
Our immigration experts are here to help with every stage of your Schengen visa application. Contact our immigration solicitors today for tailored advice and expert support to get your application started.
