Visa policy in the European Union

All European Union member states, with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom, have a unified visa system as part of the Schengen Area. Four non-member states—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland—are also part of the Schengen area and also implement the unified system. Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not yet part of the Schengen area, but maintain the same immigration policies as required by Schengen. Ireland and the United Kingdom maintain independent immigration policies.

The United Kingdom and Ireland operate a passport-free zone called the Common Travel Area, with limited passport controls between them. While the land border is open with no fixed checkpoints, Ireland does, however, perform routine passport controls at airports, selective controls at ferry ports and spot checks on cross-border road and rail transport. An Irish visa will not allow a traveller entry to the UK. As of July 2011, Ireland has established a limited visa waiver programme in which visitors in the UK from certain countries who hold UK tourist visas and who have cleared UK immigration will not need an Irish visa to enter the Republic. For other nationalities and for different kinds of UK visas, an Irish visa is still required.

Nationals of European Union member states, and of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries, following the requirement of the EU's freedom of movement provisions, the European Economic Area Agreement and bilateral accords with Switzerland.

These lists cover only the visa requirements for regular passport holders. Most often, countries allow some holders of official (service or diplomatic) passport holders visa-free access while they require visas from regular passport holders. In rare cases, however, a country may also allow visa-free access for regular passport holders but require visas from official passport holders. These rules have not been unified even within those EU countries that have fully implemented the Schengen acquis.

Contents 1 Visa requirements for the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania 1.1 Transit visas 1.1.1 Countries for which an airport transit visa is required in some countries 1.2 Local border traffic at external borders 1.3 Non-ordinary passports 1.4 Obtaining a Schengen visa 1.5 Recent Changes (2009-2011) 1.6 Future changes 1.7 Reciprocity 1.8 Stays exceeding three months 2 United Kingdom visa requirements 2.1 Transit visas 3 Ireland visa requirements 3.1 Visa Waiver Programme 3.2 Transit visas 4 Visa policy of candidate and applicant states 5 Summary of visa-free travel to the European Union 6 Summary of visa-free stays involving paid activity in the Schengen Area 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links

Visa requirements for the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania

As of 2001 the European Union issues two lists regarding visas: a white list of countries whose nationals do not require visas^[1] and a black list of countries whose nationals do require visas.^[2]

Individuals from the following countries can enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria,^[3] Cyprus,^[4] and Romania^[5] without a visa:

As of right, using a passport or a national identity card

• Citizens of European Union member states and their special territories
• Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), their special territories and Switzerland

Visa-exempt countries and territories ('Annex II' countries and territories)

• Holders of British National (Overseas) passports (those with connection to former British Hong Kong)^{[Note 1]}
• Citizens of the following countries and territories holding ordinary passports:^[6]

Albania [Note 2]  Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda [7]  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas [7]  Barbados [7]  Bosnia and Herzegovina [Note 2]  Brazil [7]  Brunei  Canada

Chile  Costa Rica  Croatia  El Salvador  Guatemala  Honduras  Hong Kong [Note 3]  Israel  Japan  Macau [Note 4]  Macedonia [Note 2]

Malaysia  Mauritius [7]  Mexico  Monaco  Montenegro [Note 2]  New Zealand [Note 5]  Nicaragua  Panama  Paraguay  Saint Kitts and Nevis [7]  San Marino

Serbia [Note 6]  Seychelles [7]  Singapore  South Korea  Taiwan[Note 7][Note 8] [8]  United States  Uruguay  Vatican City  Venezuela

These Annex II nationals (except for New Zealand citizens) can enter the Schengen area as a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. New Zealand citizens can spend up to 90 days in each of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland without reference to time spent in other Schengen signatory states,^{[9][10][11][12][13]} but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.

Although all Annex II nationals can enter Schengen countries and Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania visa-free for pleasure or for business, individual Schengen countries can decide to impose a visa requirement on those who wish to enter to work (i.e. to carry out a 'paid activity'). The table at the end of the article indicates which Schengen countries permit Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay.

Passport holders who need a visa to enter the Schengen area

• States listed in Annex I of the Council Regulation 539/2001^{[Note 9][17]}
• Palestinian Authority passport^[17]
• Serbian Coordination Directorate passport for Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija citizens^[17]
• Kosovan passport for Republic of Kosovo citizens^[17]
• British Overseas Territories citizens other than Gibraltarians^{[Note 10]} without the right of abode in the UK (those related solely to Akrotiri and Dhekelia)^{[Note 11][17]}
• British Overseas citizens^{[Note 1][17]}
• British subjects without the right of abode in the UK^{[Note 11][Note 1][17]}
• British protected persons^{[Note 1][17]}

Passport types not accepted at all

Passport types to which a visa may not be attached:^[18]

• Northern Cypriot passport^[18]
• Sahrawi passport^[18]
•  Camouflage and fantasy passports^{[Note 12]}

In addition, the following entities are not recognised as sovereign states by any EU member state. As such passports issued by them are not recognised as valid travel documents by any EU member state, visas will not be attached to such passports and holders will not gain entry into the Schengen Area.^[19]

• Abkhazian passport
• Nagorno-Karabakh passport
• Somaliland passport
• South Ossetian passport
• Transnistrian passport

Transit visas

As of 5 April 2010, common visa requirements for the airport transit were introduced by the European Union.^[20] From that date, citizens of certain countries need transit visas unless they:

• hold a Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by an EU member state,
• hold certain residence permits issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States guaranteeing the holder's unconditional readmission to that country,
• hold a valid visa for an EU member state or for a member of the European Economic Area Agreement, Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or when they return from those countries after having used the visa,
• are family members of an EU citizen,
• hold a diplomatic passport, or
• are flight crew members whose state of nationality is a party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The list of countries which nationals require Airport Transit visa consists of 12 countries:

Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eritrea  Ethiopia  Ghana

Iran  Iraq  Nigeria

Pakistan  Somalia  Sri Lanka

Additionally, countries can impose airport transit visa requirements for nationals of other countries in urgent cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants.^[20] Ten countries (Denmark,^[21] Finland,^[22] Iceland, Latvia,^[23] Norway, Poland,^[24] Malta, Romania,^[5] Slovenia,^[25] and Sweden)^[26] currently do not use this provision and have no additional requirements.^[27] As Liechtenstein has indicated not to accept flights originating outside the Schengen Area,^[28] airport transit visa requirements are not relevant there. The other Schengen countries require airport transit visas for nationals from up to 23 (in the case of France) additional countries (See Table below).^[27] The third countries for which most countries require airport transit visa are India (8), Sudan (8), Sierra Leone (7) and Syria (7).

Countries for which an airport transit visa is required in some countries

Country	Additional nationals required to have an ATV	Reference
Austria	Liberia	[27][29]
Belgium  Netherlands  Luxembourg	Angola, Colombia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria	[27]
Czech Republic	Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Palestinian National Authority, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen	[27]
Estonia	Angola, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria and Togo	[30] None of these countries has been registered with the EU.[27]
France	Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Peru, Russia,[31] Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Togo	,[27][32]
Germany	Burma, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and Turkey	[27][33]
Greece	Angola, India, Sudan, Syria, Turkey	[27]
Hungary	Cameroon, Guinea, Lebanon, Liberia, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Syria	[34] None of these countries has been registered with the EU.[27]
Italy	Colombia and Senegal	[27]
Lithuania	North Korea, Sudan	[27][36]
Portugal	Liberia, Senegal	[27]
Slovakia	India	[27]
Spain	Angola, Cuba, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo	[27]
Switzerland	Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, India, Lebanon,[27] Sierra Leone,[27] Togo[27] Turkey	[27][37]

Local border traffic at external borders

Schengen States are authorised by virtue of the EU regulation no 1931/2006 to have bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries regarding local border traffic permit.^[38] This is a kind of multiple-entry visa in the form of a passport sticker or a card containing the name and a picture of the holder, as well as a statement that its holder is not authorised to move outside the border area and that any abuse shall be subject to penalties. The border area may include any administrative district within 30 kilometres from the external border (and, if any district extends beyond that limit, the whole district up to 50 kilometres from the border). The applicant for the permit has to show legitimate reasons to frequently cross an external land border under the local border traffic regime. This routine is implemented in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia for Ukrainian citizens, and is being implemented or negotiated in Poland and Lithuania regarding Belarus and the Kaliningrad area, and also negotiated between Norway and Russia. See Schengen Area#Local border traffic at external borders.

Non-ordinary passports

Unlike the common Schengen rules for ordinary passports there are no common black,^{[Note 13]} white^{[Note 14]} and transit^{[Note 15]} lists for holders of diplomatic, service and other official passports and each state has different policy on these.^[18][39]

Obtaining a Schengen visa

To obtain a Schengen visa, a traveller must take the following steps:

• He or she must first identify which Schengen country is the main destination. This determines the State responsible for deciding on the Schengen visa application and therefore the embassy or the consulate where the traveller will have to lodge the application.^[40] If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should file the visa application at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country of first entry.^[40][41] If the Schengen State of the main destination or first entry does not have a diplomatic mission or consular post in his country, the traveller must contact the embassy or the consulate of another Schengen country, normally located in the traveller's country, which represents, for the purpose of issuing Schengen visas, the country of the principal destination or first entry.
• The traveller must then present the Schengen visa application to the responsible embassy or consulate. A harmonised form is to be submitted, together with a valid passport and, if necessary, the documents supporting the purpose and conditions of the stay in the Schengen Area (aim of the visit, duration of the stay, lodging). The traveller will also have to prove his or her means of subsistence, i.e., the funds available to cover, on the one hand, the expenses of the stay, taking into account its duration and the destination, and, on the other hand, the cost of the return to the home country. Certain embassies or consulates sometimes call the applicant to appear in person in order to explain verbally the reasons for the visa application.
• Finally, the traveller must have travel insurance that covers, for a minimum of €30,000, any expenses incurred as a result of emergency medical treatment or repatriation for health reasons. The proof of the travel insurance must in principle be provided at the end of the procedure, i.e. when the decision to grant the Schengen visa has already been made.

Recent Changes (2009-2011)

Changes to the entries on annex I (visa required) and annex II (visa-free) are regularly considered by the Council of the European Union based on advice from the individual member states. The Council then proposes draft legislation which has to be approved by the European Parliament.

The Balkan countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia joined annex II of countries with visa-free entrance on 19 December 2009 when traveling with biometric passports.^[42]

On November 8, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to introduce visa-free travel for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina holding biometric passports. The decision entered into force on 15 December 2010.^[43]

On November 25, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to approve visa-free travel for holders of Taiwan passports that contain an identity card number (indicating the right of abode in Taiwan).^{[Note 7][Note 8][44]} Visa requirements were dropped on 11 January 2011.^[8] The same legislation removed the entry of the Northern Mariana Islands from the visa list as there is no Northern Mariana Islands citizenship and those with a citizenship connection to the island have United States citizenship.

Future changes

On November 22, 2010 the European Council and Ukraine announced "an action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel".^[45] On January 24, 2011 Moldova officially received a similar "action plan" from the EU's Internal Affairs Commissioner.^[46] On 15 December, 2011 in a statement^[47] given after an EU-Russia summit, the President of the European Commission confirmed the launch of the “Common Steps towards visa-free travel” with Russia.

According to the Soysal decision^[48] from 19 February 2009, the European Court of Justice decided that Turkish citizens may enter to render services within the European Union without a visa. In its judgement, the Court ruled that Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol signed between Turkey and the EU on 23th November, 1970 obliges EU member states to refrain from introducing further restrictions on the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services. On the other hand, the Court emphasized that since the Schengen visa requires additional charges and costs, it constitutes a new restriction. The EU Commissioner of Interior Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom has indicated^[49] on 29 September 2011 that visa requirement for Turkish citizens will eventually be discontinued. Visa liberalization will be ushered in several phases. Initial changes are expected in the fall on 2011 which will include the reduction of visa paperwork, more multi-entry visas, and extended stay periods.

Reciprocity

It is a political goal of the European Union to achieve freedom from visa requirements for citizens of the European Union at least in such countries the citizens of which may enter the Schengen Area without visa. To this end, the European Commission negotiates with third-countries, the citizens of which do not require visas to enter the Schengen Area for short-term stays, about the abolishment of visa requirements which exist for at least some EU member states. The European Commission involves the member state concerned into the negotiations, and has to frequently report on the mutuality situation to the European Parliament and the Council.^[50] The Commission may recommend the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of the third country in question.

The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. With regard to Mexico, Costa Rica and New Zealand, it already has achieved complete mutuality. With respect to Canada, the Commission has achieved visa-free status for all members except Bulgaria, Romania and more recently the Czech Republic due to the influx of Czech nationals seeking refugee status in Canada.^[51] With respect to the U.S., it is optimistic about new legislation modifying the Visa Waiver Program but "reserves the right to propose retaliatory measures if expected progress towards full visa reciprocity fails to materialise in good time."^[52]

Reciprocity is sought for all countries of the visa-free list. That means that the EU expects that these countries offer visa-free access for 90 days to all EU citizens and to the citizens of Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. When this is not the case, the affected Schengen member state is expected to notify the European Commission, so that the EC takes an appropriate action - negotiate with the annex II state or remove it from the annex II list. All of the states that implement the Schengen visa rules (including Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus) with the exception of Switzerland have notified the European Commission about non-compliant third states. Switzerland has so far made no notifications, possibly because there are no reciprocity issues for Swiss citizens.

Since adoption of this policy full reciprocity has been achieved with the following countries (listed in order of achieving reciprocity):^[53] Nicaragua,^[54] Venezuela,^[54] Uruguay,^[55] Costa Rica,^[55][56] Mexico,^[56] New Zealand,^[56] Israel,^{[Note 16][57]} Malaysia,^[57] Paraguay,^[57] Panama,^[54][58] Singapore,^[58] and Taiwan.^[59][60][61]

According to the sixth report on visa reciprocity issued on 5 November 2010^[62] the following countries are still not implementing it fully:

• Australia (the European Commission has yet to evaluate for compliance the eVisitor system of Australia which covers all member states, but for which certain application provisions will be assessed);
• Brunei (which restricts the visa waiver to 30 days (which is extendable twice) in contrast to the 90 days granted by the EU);
• Brazil currently still requires visas of Cypriots, Maltese, Estonians and Latvians. A bilateral treaty abolishing visa requirements has been adopted by the EU on 24 February 2011 and is pending ratification by Brazil;^[63]
• Canada (which requires visas of Bulgarians and Romanians as well as of Czechs. This was an important setback to the visa reciprocity policy because Canada reintroduced a visa requirement for Czechs on 13 July 2009);^[64]
• Japan currently allows visa-free access to all citizens of the European Union. For Romanian citizens a first temporary waiver was enacted in 2011^[62] and an extension of the waiver is in effect until December 31, 2012;^[65]
• United States (which maintains visa requirements for Bulgarians, Cypriots, Poles and Romanians; furthermore certain provisions of the US ESTA system — such as the application fee — will be assessed).

Stays exceeding three months

For stays in the Schengen Area as a whole which exceed three months, a third-country national will need to hold either a long-stay visa for a period of no longer than a year or a residence permit for longer periods. A long-stay visa is a national visa but is issued in accordance with a uniform format. It entitles the holder to enter the Schengen Area and remain in the issuing state for a period longer than three months but no more than one year. If a Schengen state wishes to allow the holder of a long-stay visa remain there for longer than a year, the state must issue him or her with a residence permit.

The holder of a long-stay visa or a residence permit is entitled to move freely within the other state which comprise the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in any half year.^[66] Third-country nationals who are long-term residents in a Schengen state may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another Schengen state without losing their legal status and social benefits.^[67]

However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. Article 20(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows for this 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements concluded by individual signatory states with other countries before the Convention entered into force to remain applicable. As a result, for example, New Zealand citizens are permitted to stay for up to 90 days in each of the Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) which had already concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with the New Zealand Government prior to the Convention entering into force without the need to apply for long-stay visas,^[68][69] but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.

United Kingdom visa requirements

In July 2008, the UK announced the results of its first global review of those needing a visa to come to the UK^[70] against a set of strict criteria to determine the level of risk they pose to the UK in terms of illegal immigration, crime and security. The review would determine whether the nationals of 11 countries would require visas by the end of 2008, unless the countries in question take measures to reduce the perceived risk they pose to the UK. The new visa rules announced on 9 January 2009 require that the nationals of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Bolivia obtain a visa; only Venezuelan nationals travelling on biometric passports with an electronic chip issued since 2007 may enter the UK without a visa;^[71] and the existing visa-free status for the nationals of Botswana, Brazil, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago is maintained.^[72]

The following individuals can enter the United Kingdom without a visa:

As of right

• Citizens of Commonwealth countries who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971
• Citizens of European Union member states
• Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland
• British Nationals (whether they have the right of abode in the United Kingdom or not) of the following categories:
  • British citizens
  • British Overseas Territories citizens
  • British National (Overseas)
  • British Overseas citizens
  • British protected persons
  • British subjects

Non-visa nationals

Citizens of the following countries and territories are visa-exempt for stays in the UK of up to 6 months (or 3 months if they enter from the Republic of Ireland) as long as they fulfil all of the following criteria:^[73][74]

• they do not work during their stay in the UK
• they must not register a marriage or register a civil partnership during their stay in the UK
• they can present evidence of sufficient money to fund their stay in the UK (if requested by the border inspection officer)
• they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit and can meet the cost of the return/onward journey
• they have completed a landing card and submitted it at passport control unless in direct transit to a destination outside the Common Travel Area
• if under the age of 18, they can demonstrate evidence of suitable care arrangements and parental (or guardian's) consent for their stay in the UK^[75]

Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Botswana  Brazil  Brunei  Canada  Chile  Costa Rica  Croatia  Dominica[76]

Timor-Leste  El Salvador  Grenada  Guatemala  Honduras  Hong Kong [Note 3][77]  Israel  Japan  Kiribati  Macau [Note 4][78]  Malaysia  Maldives  Marshall Islands  Mauritius  Mexico

Micronesia, Federated States of  Monaco  Namibia  Nauru  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Palau  Panama  Papua New Guinea  Paraguay  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia[79]  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  San Marino

Samoa  Seychelles  Singapore  Solomon Islands  South Korea  Taiwan [Note 7][Note 8][Note 7]  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Tuvalu  United States  Uruguay  Vanuatu  Venezuela[Note 2]  Vatican City[Note 17]

Transit visas

Citizens of the following countries need transit visas:^[74]

Afghanistan  Albania  Algeria  Angola  Bangladesh  Belarus  Bolivia  Burma  Burundi  Cameroon  China  Colombia  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Congo  Northern Cyprus

Ecuador  Eritrea  Ethiopia  Gambia  Ghana  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  India  Iran  Iraq  Côte d'Ivoire  Jamaica  Kenya  Kosovo

Lebanon  Lesotho  Liberia  Macedonia  Malawi  Moldova  Mongolia  Montenegro  Nepal  Nigeria  Palestine  Pakistan  Rwanda  Senegal

Serbia  Sierra Leone  Somalia  South Africa  Sri Lanka  Sudan  Swaziland  Tanzania  Turkey  Uganda  Venezuela[Note 18]  Vietnam  Yemen  Zimbabwe

Ireland visa requirements

Citizens of the following countries can enter Ireland without a visa:^[80]

As of right

• Citizens of European Union member states
• Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland

Visa-exempt

• Holders of a Residence Card of a family member of a Union citizen.
• British Overseas Territories citizens
• British National (Overseas)
• British Overseas citizens
• The following countries and territories:
  

Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bolivia  Botswana  Brazil  Brunei  Canada  Chile  Costa Rica  Croatia

Dominica  El Salvador  Fiji  Grenada  Guatemala  Guyana  Honduras  Hong Kong [Note 3]  Israel  Japan  Kiribati  Lesotho  Macau [Note 4]  Malawi  Malaysia

Maldives  Mexico  Monaco  Nauru  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Panama  Paraguay  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Samoa  San Marino  Seychelles  Singapore

Solomon Islands  South Africa  South Korea  Swaziland  Taiwan  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Tuvalu  United States  Uruguay  Vanuatu  Vatican City  Venezuela

• The Holder of a refugee travel document issued by one of the following countries:

Belgium  Czech Republic  Denmark  Finland  Germany

Iceland  Italy  Liechtenstein  Luxembourg  Malta

Netherlands  Norway  Poland  Portugal  Romania

Slovakia  Spain  Sweden  Switzerland

Visa Waiver Programme

Under a Visa Waiver Programme introduced in July 2011, citizens of the following countries who hold a valid UK visa (limited to the following kinds: general visitor, child visitor, business visitor, sports visitor or academic visitor) and who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom. The programme is being run on a pilot basis and is due to expire on 31 October 2012.

Bahrain  Belarus  China  India

Kuwait  Montenegro  Qatar  Russia

Saudi Arabia  Serbia  Turkey  Ukraine

United Arab Emirates  Uzbekistan

Transit visas

Citizens of the following countries need transit visas:

Afghanistan  Albania  Cuba  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Eritrea

Ethiopia  Ghana  Iran  Iraq

Lebanon  Moldova  Montenegro  Nigeria

Serbia  Somalia  Sri Lanka  Zimbabwe

Visa policy of candidate and applicant states

Although the visa lists drawn up by the European Union only apply legally to Schengen signatories, in practice the visa policies of other European countries which aspire to join the European Union largely mirror those of Schengen countries, with the exception of Iceland, an EU candidate country which has fully implemented the Schengen acquis.

Croatia grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis.

Macedonia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities (except Taiwan), as well as others, such as Botswana, Kazakhstan and Peru.

Montenegro grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis and 30 day visa-free entry to a few other nationalities (such as Cuba, Russia and Ukraine, which are Schengen Annex I countries).

Serbia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brunei, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.^[81] As of November 03, 2011 Serbia has granted visa-free access to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders for stays of up to two weeks, with immediate effect. Hong Kong SAR^[82]. For Macao SAR passport holders (who have their application fee waived) visa is still required ^[83] and Taiwan passport holders (which is not recognized by Serbia and instead of which a 'certificate for entry' is issued to facilitate entry).

Turkey, however, has more complicated arrangements, granting visa-free entry only to some Annex II nationalities (such as Brazil, Hong Kong SAR and New Zealand) whilst requiring other Annex II nationalities to obtain a visa on arrival at a fee (such as Australia, Canada and the United States).

Schengen countries grant visa-free access to their territory by citizens of all European Union candidate and applicant states (with the exception of Turkey).

Summary of visa-free travel to the European Union

Note that the visa requirements for the French Overseas departments are different, even though they are part of the EU.^[84]

Country		Schengen area, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania [6]	Ireland[80]	United Kingdom[74]
Albania		Yes (biometric passports only)	No	No
Andorra		Yes	Yes	Yes
Antigua and Barbuda		Yes	Yes	Yes
Argentina		Yes	Yes	Yes
Australia		Yes	Yes	Yes
Bahamas		Yes	Yes	Yes
Barbados		Yes	Yes	Yes
Belize		No	Yes	Yes
Bolivia		No	Yes	No
Bosnia and Herzegovina		Yes (biometric passports only)	No	No
Botswana		No	Yes	Yes
Brazil		Yes	Yes	Yes
Brunei		Yes	Yes	Yes
Canada		Yes	Yes	Yes
Chile		Yes	Yes	Yes
Costa Rica		Yes	Yes	Yes
Croatia		Yes	Yes	Yes
Dominica		No	Yes	Yes
Timor-Leste		No	No	Yes
El Salvador		Yes	Yes	Yes
Fiji		No	Yes	No
Grenada		No	Yes	Yes
Guatemala		Yes	Yes	Yes
Guyana		No	Yes	No
Honduras		Yes	Yes	Yes
Hong Kong[Note 3]		Yes	Yes	Yes
Israel		Yes	Yes	Yes
Japan		Yes	Yes	Yes
Kiribati		No	Yes	Yes
Lesotho		No	Yes	No
Macau[Note 4]		Yes	Yes	Yes
Macedonia		Yes (biometric passports only)	No	No
Malawi		No	Yes	No
Malaysia		Yes	Yes	Yes
Maldives		No	Yes	Yes
Marshall Islands		No	No	Yes
Mauritius		Yes	No	Yes
Mexico		Yes	Yes	Yes
Federated States of Micronesia		No	No	Yes
Monaco		Yes	Yes	Yes
Montenegro		Yes (biometric passports only)	No (Visa Waiver available with UK visa)	No
Namibia		No	No	Yes
Nauru		No	Yes	Yes
New Zealand		Yes	Yes	Yes
Nicaragua		Yes	Yes	Yes
Palau		No	No	Yes
Panama		Yes	Yes	Yes
Papua New Guinea		No	No	Yes
Paraguay		Yes	Yes	Yes
Saint Kitts and Nevis		Yes	Yes	Yes
Saint Lucia		No	Yes	Yes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines		No	Yes	Yes
Samoa		No	Yes	Yes
San Marino		Yes	Yes	Yes
Serbia		Yes (biometric passports only, excludes Kosovo residents)	No (Visa Waiver available with UK visa)	No
Seychelles		Yes	Yes	Yes
Singapore		Yes	Yes	Yes
Solomon Islands		No	Yes	Yes
South Africa		No	Yes	No
South Korea		Yes	Yes	Yes
Swaziland		No	Yes	No
Taiwan[Note 7]		Yes[8][44][Note 8]	Yes	Yes[Note 8]
Tonga		No	Yes	Yes
Trinidad and Tobago		No	Yes	Yes
Tuvalu		No	Yes	Yes
United States		Yes [Note 19]	Yes	Yes
Uruguay		Yes	Yes	Yes
Vanuatu		No	Yes	Yes
Vatican City		Yes	Yes	Yes[Note 17]
Venezuela		Yes	Yes	Yes (biometric passports only)
British National (Overseas)		Yes	Yes	Yes
British Overseas Territories citizens (other than Gibraltarians[Note 10]) without the right of abode in the UK[Note 11]		No	Yes	Yes
British Overseas citizens		No	Yes	Yes
British subjects without the right of abode in the UK[Note 11]		No	No	Yes
British protected persons		No	No	Yes

Summary of visa-free stays involving paid activity in the Schengen Area

Below is a table of Schengen countries which permit nationals of Annex II countries and territories to work during their 90 day visa-free period of stay without authorization.^[85][86] It includes Romania which applies implements the Schengen Areas's visa list, but excludes states which do not allow any visa-free nationals to work during their stay, namely: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Portugal.

Nationality
Albania[Note 2]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Andorra	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Antigua and Barbuda	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Argentina	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Australia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bahamas	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Barbados	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina[Note 2]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Brazil	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brunei	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canada	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chile	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Costa Rica	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Croatia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
El Salvador	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guatemala	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Honduras	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hong Kong[Note 3]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Israel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Japan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Macau[Note 4]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Macedonia[Note 2]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Malaysia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mauritius	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Mexico	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Monaco	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Montenegro[Note 2]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
New Zealand	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nicaragua	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Panama	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Paraguay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
San Marino	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Serbia[Note 2][Note 6]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Seychelles	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Singapore	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
South Korea	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Taiwan[Note 7][8][44][Note 8]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
United States[Note 19]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Uruguay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vatican City	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Venezuela	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

See also

• Central America-4 Border Control Agreement
• Third country relationships with the European Union
• Visa Information System
• Visa Waiver Program

Notes

References

External links

• Council regulation 539/2001 in its consolidated version (as of 19 January 2007) with bibliography
• List of nationals who do need a visa to visit the UK
• List of countries whose passport holders do not require visas to enter Ireland
• List of visa requirements provided by KLM

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Visa policy by country Africa Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Cape Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Cote d'Ivoire · D.R. Congo · Djibouti · Egypt3 · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rep. of the Congo · Rwanda · Sao Tome and Principe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Swaziland · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe Americas Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Aruba · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Bonaire · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Curaçao · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Netherlands (BES islands) · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Sint Maarten · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · United States (Visa Waiver Program)  · Uruguay · Venezuela Asia Afghanistan · Armenia4 · Azerbaijan3 · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Burma · Cambodia · China, People's Republic of（Hong Kong Macau） · Egypt3 · Georgia3  · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan3 · North Korea · South Korea · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Nepal · Oman · Pakistan · Philippines · Qatar · Russia3 · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Syria · Taiwan (Republic of China)5 · Tajikistan · Thailand · East Timor · Turkey3 · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen Europe Schengen Area Austria · Belgium · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland1  · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Monaco · Netherlands · Norway1  · Poland · Portugal · San Marino2  · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland1  · Vatican City2 Other Europe Albania · Andorra · Armenia4 · Azerbaijan3 · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus4 · Georgia3 · Ireland · Kazakhstan3 · Kosovo5 · Liechtenstein · Macedonia · Moldova · Montenegro · Northern Cyprus45 · Romania · Russia3 · Serbia · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom Oceania Australia · Fiji · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Nauru · New Zealand · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu Notes 1  Non-member of European Union. 2  Open border with Schengen Area. 3  Transcontinental country. 4  Entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 5  Partially recognized.

Visa requirements Visa Passport Travel document Africa Algerian Angolan Beninese Botswana Burkina Faso Burundian Cameroonian Cape Verdean Central African Republic Chadian Comorian DR Congo R Congo Djibouti Egyptian Equatorial Guinean Eritrean Ethiopian Gabonese Gambian Ghanaian Guinean Guinea-Bissauan Ivorian Kenyan Lesotho Liberian Libyan Malagasy Malawian Malian Mauritanian Mauritian Moroccan Mozambican Namibian Nigerian Nigerien Rwandan Santomean Senegalese Seychellois Sierra Leonean Somali South African South Sudanese Sudanese Swazi Tanzanian Togolese Tunisian Ugandan Zambian Zimbabwean Central Asia Afghan Kazakhstani Kyrgyzstani Tajik Turkmen Uzbekistani East Asia Chinese Hong Kong Japanese North Korean South Korean Macau Mongolian Taiwanese South Asia Bangladeshi Bhutanese Indian Maldivian Nepalese Sri Lankan Pakistani Southeast Asia Bruneian Cambodian East Timorese Filipino Indonesian Laotian Malaysian Myanmar Singaporean Thai Vietnamese Western Asia Armenian Azerbaijani Bahrani Cypriot Georgian Emirati Iranian Iraqi Israeli Jordanian Kuwaiti Lebanese Omani Palestinian Qatari Saudi Syrian Turkish Turkish Cypriot Yemeni Europe Albanian Andorran Austrian Belarusian Belgian Bosnia and Herzegovina British Bulgarian Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Finnish French German Greek Hungarian Icelandic Irish Italian Kosovar Latvian Liechtenstein Lithuanian Luxembourg Macedonia Maltese Moldovan Monégasque Montenegrin Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian San Marino Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Swiss Ukrainian Vatican North America Canadian United States Caribbean Antigua and Barbuda Bahamian Barbadian Cuban Dominica Dominican Republic Grenadian Haitian Jamaican Montserrat Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucian Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Central America Belizean Costa Rican El Salvador Guatemalan Honduran Mexican Nicaraguan Panamanian South America Argentine Bolivian Brazilian Chilean Colombian Ecuadorian Guyanese Paraguayan Peruvian Surinamese Uruguayan Venezuelan Oceania Australian Fijian Kiribati Marshallese Micronesian Nauruan New Zealand Palauan Papua New Guinean Samoan Solomon Islands Tongan Tuvaluan Vanuatuan Immigration law