Who Needs a Schengen Visa

The Schengen Area covers most of the European countries. The exceptions are the UK and the future signatories of the Schengen Agreement: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Ireland. Norway, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Iceland are also within the Schengen Area, although they are not the EU members.

Citizens of the Schengen countries do not need a visa to travel to other countries within the Schengen Area. They are, however, required to get a residence permit if they intend to move their residence to another country of the Schengen Area.

The citizens of the following countries require a Schengen visa if they wish to visit the territory of a country which is party to the Schengen Agreement:

Family members of a citizen of an EU/EFTA country may undergo a simplified and quicker procedure for getting a Schengen visa. However, this concession is only allowed to the closest family members and the visit to the family member must be proved.

In case you are getting married to a citizen of a Schengen country and you yourself are not a citizen of a Schengen country, you will have to apply for a special Schengen visa for such purpose. The description of the procedure and the list of documents required for marrying in a Schengen country are posted on the website of the embassy of the country in which you plan to get married.

The citizens of the following countries must have an airport transit visa (the so-called Type A Schengen visa) during their transit at some of the airports within the Schengen Area.

The citizens of the above countries are not required to get an airport transit visa if they:

• have a residence permit issued by any of the Schengen countries or have a Schengen visa for a short or longer visit,
• have residence permit in Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the USA,
• have a valid Schengen visa or a visa allowing the entry in any of the EFTA countries, Canada, Japan or the USA,
• are members of the closest family of a citizen of an EU country,
• hold a diplomatic passport.

There are exceptions, however. Citizens of some countries outside the Schengen area are not required to apply for a Schengen visa if they wish to visit a Schengen country.

Citizens of the following countries don’t need a visa for a short stay up to 90 days or to transit the Schengen Area:

Hong Kong, Macao: the visa exemption applies to holder of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport”. Also, British overseas nationals are exempted from the Schengen Visa.