A Schengen visa is an entry permit for 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.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romenia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Schengen visas come in 3 forms:
The short-stay visa calculator can help you calculate the remaining period you are allowed to stay in a Schengen country.
The user’s guide provides step by step instructions and practical examples to help you use the calculator.
Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area.
Consult the EU list of countries whose citizens are required to hold a visa when crossing its external borders. There are exceptions to the visa requirements for certain types of traveller to certain countries (e.g. diplomats, armed forces, refugees, pupils on school excursions).
You must lodge your application for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country you intend to visit. Most countries of the Schengen area have however outsourced biometric collection and documents submission to a third party e.g. VSF Global. Please note VSF Global charges a fee for collecting biometric and submission of documents.
As a general rule, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate with territorial responsibility for the country where you are legally resident.
More information for each Schengen country can be found on these websites
You must submit your application to the consulate at least 15 days before your intended journey and no earlier than 6 months beforehand.
You may have to book an appointment before lodging the application.
Additional documents may also be requested by the consulates.
Please note Schengen visa fees have increased as of 2024
An additional fee may apply if you go through visa service centres, which collect applications on behalf of consulates in some cases.
The visa fee can be waived for specific categories of applicants.
The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days.
This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required.
Under certain conditions, family members of EU or EEA citizens falling under the Free Movement Directive are eligible for a free and accelerated visa procedure.
If your application is rejected, you will be told:
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