Schengen visa

Schengen refers to the passport-free area of the EU which covers most European countries. It is the largest free zone in the world.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen area, per stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It allows its holder to enter, move freely inside and leave the Schengen area from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls in the Schengen area.

However, if you plan to study, work or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa from that European country and not a Schengen visa.

• Who needs and who does not need a Schengen visa to travel to the EU?
• Citizens of which countries need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe?

Schengen Area – The largest visa-free zone in the world The Schengen area means an area where 27 European countries have removed their internal borders, for the free movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting crime by strengthening the common judicial system and cooperation policewoman.

The Schengen area covers most EU countries, except Ireland, and the countries that will soon be part of the Schengen area:

Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Although they are not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen area.

The 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, 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.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen area, per stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It allows its holder to enter, move freely inside and leave the Schengen area from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls in the Schengen area.

However, if you plan to study, work or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa from that European country and not a Schengen visa.

• Who needs and who does not need a Schengen visa to travel to the EU?
• Citizens of which countries need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe?

Schengen Area – The largest visa-free zone in the world The Schengen area means an area where 27 European countries have removed their internal borders, for the free movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting crime by strengthening the common judicial system and cooperation policewoman.

The Schengen area covers most EU countries, except Ireland, and the countries that will soon be part of the Schengen area:

Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Although they are not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen area.

The 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, 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.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen area, per stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It allows its holder to enter, move freely inside and leave the Schengen area from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls in the Schengen area.

However, if you plan to study, work or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa from that European country and not a Schengen visa.

• Who needs and who does not need a Schengen visa to travel to the EU?
• Citizens of which countries need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe?

Schengen Area – The largest visa-free zone in the world The Schengen area means an area where 27 European countries have removed their internal borders, for the free movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting crime by strengthening the common judicial system and cooperation policewoman.

The Schengen area covers most EU countries, except Ireland, and the countries that will soon be part of the Schengen area:

Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Although they are not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen area.

The 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, 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 specific documents required, depending on the employment status of the visa applicant, are:
For employees:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement for the last 6 months
• Leave the authorization of the employer
• Income tax declaration form (ITR) or income tax certificate deducted at source from salary

For independents:

• A copy of your business license
• Bank statement of the company for the last 6 months
• Declaration of income (ITR)

For students :

• Proof of registration
• No objection letter from school or university

For retirees:
Pension statement for the last 6 months

If you are unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

• Letter of confirmation of employment, dated less than three months, from their spouse’s employer indicating the position held within the company as well as the start date
• Valid passport of the spouse
• An official marriage certificate

What are the documents required for the Schengen visa for minors?
Parents/legal guardians of minors applying for a Schengen visa must submit some additional documents for the minor applicant:

• The birth certificate of the minor
• Application form signed by both parents
• Family Court Order – in cases where only one parent has full custody of the child
• Certified copies of identity card/passport of both parents
• A notarized parental authorization signed by both parents/guardians if the minor is traveling alone
• Specific documents required depending on the type of Schengen visa
• In addition to all the above documents, depending on the type of Schengen visa you are applying for, several additional documents must also be submitted