Visa policy of the Schengen Area

The visa policy of the Schengen Area is set by the European Union and applies to the Schengen Area and to other EU member states without opt-outs.^[1] If someone other than a European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss citizen wishes to enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania they must have a visa or be a citizen of a visa-exempt country.

The Schengen Area consists of 22 European Union member states and four non-members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are not yet part of the Schengen Area, but nonetheless have a visa policy that is based on the Schengen acquis.^[2]

Ireland and the United Kingdom opt out of the EU's visa policy and instead operate their own separate visa policies, as do certain overseas territories of EEA member states.

European Union citizens, European Economic Area nationals and Swiss citizens are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries. Their right to freedom of movement in each other's countries can, however, be limited in a small number of situations.

Freedom of movement

Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 recognises the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States^[3][4][5] defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the European Union (EU) and the three European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Switzerland, which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate bilateral agreement on the free movement with the EU.

Citizens of all EEA member states and Switzerland holding a valid passport or national identity card enjoy freedom of movement rights in each other's territory and can enter and reside in the each other's territory without a visa.

If EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are unable to present a valid passport or national identity card at the border, they must nonetheless be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or corroborate or prove by other means that he/she is covered by the right of free movement.^[6][7]

However, EU, EEA member states and Switzerland can refuse entry to an EU/EEA/Swiss national on public policy, public security or public health grounds where the person presents a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society".^[8] If the person has obtained permanent residence in the country where he/she seeks entry (a status which is normally attained after 5 years of residence), the member state can only expel him/her on serious grounds of public policy or public security. Where the person has resided for 10 years or is a minor, the member state can only expel him/her on imperative grounds of public security (and, in the case of minors, if expulsion is necessary in the best interests of the child, as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child).^[9] Expulsion on public health grounds must relate to diseases with 'epidemic potential' which have occurred less than 3 months from the person's the date of arrival in the Member State where he/she seeks entry.^[10]

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family members

A family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who is in possession of a residence permit indicating their status is exempt from the requirement to hold a visa when entering the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland when they are accompanying their EU/EEA/Swiss family member or are seeking to join them.^[11] However the UK requires family members to obtain a special permit in order to enter the United Kingdom.^[12] Non-EU family members will need a Schengen visa before they travel to Switzerland even if they possess a UK residence permit that clearly mentions that they are the family member of an EEA citizen.

Visa exemptions

Starting from 2001, the European Union issues two lists regarding visas for the Schengen Area: a white list of countries whose nationals do not require visas (Annex II)^[13] and a black list of countries whose nationals do require visas (Annex I).^[14] The two lists are also adopted by Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, even though the four countries are not yet part of the Schengen Area.

Individuals in the following categories can enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria,^[15] Croatia, Cyprus,^[16] and Romania^[17] without a visa:

As of right

• European Union citizens
• citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic Area, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and
• citizens of Switzerland

If EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are unable to present a valid passport or national identity card at the border, they must nonetheless be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or corroborate or prove by other means that he/she is covered by the right of free movement.^[6][7]

Family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

An individual can enter the Schengen Area as a whole for up to 90 days without a visa if he/she:^[18]

• holds a valid travel document, and
• possesses a residence permit indicating either "family member of an EU citizen" or "family member of an EEA or CH citizen", and
• is travelling together with or joining an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member.

A family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen satisfying the above conditions can also enter Bulgaria,^[19] Croatia, Cyprus^[20] and Romania^[21] and stay for up to 90 days in each country.

In theory, a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who does not fulfil the above conditions does not have to apply for a visa in advance, and can instead obtain a visa on arrival at the border checkpoint of a Schengen country, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania by presenting evidence of the familial relationship.^[18]

Citizens of 'Annex II' countries and territories

• Citizens of the following 42 countries and territories holding ordinary passports:^[22]

Europe  Albania[Note 1]  Andorra  Bosnia and Herzegovina[Note 1]  Macedonia[Note 1]  Moldova[Note 1]  Monaco  Montenegro[Note 1]  San Marino  Serbia[Note 2]   Vatican City British nationals who are not nationals of the United Kingdom for the purposes of European Union law[23][24]

North America  Antigua and Barbuda[25]  Bahamas[25]  Barbados[25]  Canada  Costa Rica  El Salvador  Guatemala  Honduras  Mexico  Nicaragua  Panama  Saint Kitts and Nevis[25]  United States

South America  Argentina  Brazil[25]  Chile  Paraguay  Uruguay  Venezuela Oceania  Australia  New Zealand[Note 3]

Asia  Brunei  Hong Kong[Note 4]  Israel  Japan  Macau[Note 5]  Malaysia  Singapore  South Korea  Taiwan[Note 6][Note 7][28] Africa  Mauritius[25]  Seychelles[25]

The above Annex II nationals 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 any 180 day period (which entails considering the 180 day period preceding each day of stay).^[29] This does not apply to the citizens of those countries that have concluded visa waiver agreements with the EU – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, and Seychelles, with respect to which the old definition of 3 months during a 6 months period following the date of first entry continues to apply.^[30] Any time spent by an Annex II national in the Schengen Area on a long-stay visa or a residence permit does not count towards the visa exemption period limit of 90 days.^[29] New Zealand citizens, however, 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 (as well as Hungary if visiting it as the final Schengen destination) without reference to time spent in other Schengen signatory states,^{[31][32][33][34][35]} but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in any 180 day period time limit applies. In addition, above the framework of the Schengen visa exemption of 90 days in any 180 day period, Argentine, Chilean, Costa Rican, Israeli, Malaysian, Mexican, South Korean and Uruguayan citizens are permitted to spend an extra 3 months per 6-month period visa-free in the Czech Republic,^[36] regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries.^[37] Similarly, above the framework of the Schengen visa exemption of 90 days in any 180 day period, Australian, Brazilian, Canadian, Chilean, Israeli, Japanese, Malaysian, Singaporean, South Korean and United States citizens are permitted to spend an extra period of 90 days visa-free in Denmark.^[38][39] Again, above the framework of the Schengen visa exemption of 90 days in any 180 day period, Israeli, South Korean and United States citizens are permitted to spend an extra period of 90 days visa-free in Poland.^[40]

The above Annex II nationals can also enter Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania without a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period in each of these countries. The visa-free time restrictions for each of these countries is calculated separately (as well as being separate to the Schengen Area visa-free time restriction).

Although all Annex II nationals can enter Schengen countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania visa-free for pleasure or for business, individual 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 individual countries permit Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay.

To be able to enter the Schengen Area/Bulgaria/Croatia/Cyprus/Romania without a visa, the above Annex II nationals are required to have a travel document which is valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure and which has been issued in the previous 10 years,^[29] have sufficient funds for their stay and onward/return journey, justify the purpose and conditions of their stay, not be listed in the Schengen Information System as someone to be refused entry and not be considered as a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any Schengen country.^[41]

School pupils resident in the EU, EEA and Switzerland

A school pupil who is not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, but who legally resides in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, can enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and/or Romania without a visa for a short stay or transit if:^[42]

• he/she is travelling as a member of a group of school pupils from a general education school, and
• the group is accompanied by a teacher from the school, and
• the teacher can present a 'List of Travellers' form identifying the pupils on the trip, the purpose and circumstances of the intended stay/transit.

Even though a school pupil fulfilling all of the above conditions is exempt from having to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and/or Romania, he/she is nonetheless required to have a valid travel document. However, he/she is exempt from having to carry a valid travel document if:

• a photograph of him/her is included in the 'List of Travellers' form, and
• the responsible authority in the member state where he/she resides endorses the 'List of Travellers' form to confirm his/her residence status and his/her right to re-entry.

School pupils resident in Annex II countries and territories

School pupils travelling in the context of a school excursion as members of a group of school pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question who reside in an Annex II country/territory, but hold the nationality of an Annex I country/territory, are granted visa-free entry to Cyprus (a national collective visa is required), Germany, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden (under 18), but not other Schengen countries.^[43][44]

Note that school pupils (of any nationality and resident in any country) who require a visa for the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and/or Romania and who are visiting for the purpose of study and/or educational training are waived the visa application fee (but are still required to submit the relevant supporting documents).^[45]

Holders of local border traffic permits

Schengen countries are authorised by virtue of the EU regulation no 1931/2006 to conclude bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries to introduce a local border traffic permit scheme.^[46] Such permits are a type of multiple-entry visa in the form of a passport sticker or a card containing the holder's name and photo, 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. The validity of the permit can be up to five years.

Holders of local border traffic permits are able to spend up to 3 months every time they enter the border area of the Schengen country which has issued the permit (this time limit is far more generous than the '90 days in a 180-day period' normally granted to third-country nationals visiting the Schengen Area).^[47]

A local border traffic permit scheme has been implemented in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia for Ukrainian citizens, is being implemented or negotiated in Poland and Lithuania regarding Belarus and the Kaliningrad area, and has also been implemented in a 30 km border zone between Norway and Russia in 2012. See Schengen Area#Local border traffic at external borders.

The is also a tendency of especially Finland to allow more and more one-year multiple-entry visas to Russians. There are plans in EU to allow up to 5 year validity on multiple-entry visas for Russians,^[48] partly to relieve work load at embassies.

Obtaining a visa

If a traveller cannot benefit from one of the visa exemptions listed above, he or she must take the following steps to obtain a Schengen visa:

• 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, high commission or the consulate where the traveller will have to lodge the application.^[49] If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should file the visa application at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the Schengen country of first entry.^[49][50] If the Schengen State of the main destination or first entry does not have a diplomatic mission or consular post in his country (or consular district), the traveller must contact the embassy or the consulate of another Schengen country, normally located in the traveller's country (or consular district), which represents, for the purpose of issuing Schengen visas, the country of the main destination or first entry.
• Some Schengen member state embassies, high commissions and consulates require visa applicants to obtain an appointment in advance.^[51]
• In certain countries, the embassy, high commission or the consulate where the traveller has to lodge his or her visa application may have appointed an external service provider (e.g. VFS Global) to collect and return visa applications. Often, the external service provider will collect an additional service charge on top of the Schengen visa application fee. However, if an embassy, high commission or consulate of a Schengen member state decides to appoint an external service provider, it is obliged to retain the option for visa applicants to continue to lodge applications directly at the embassy/high commission/consulate rather than through the external service provider.^[52] According to instructions from the European Commission, visa applicants must have a 'genuine choice' between using an external service provider and applying directly at the relevant Schengen member state embassy/high commission/consulate.^[53] Specifically, this means that the waiting time to obtain an appointment directly at the embassy/high commission/consulate must not be so long in comparison with the waiting time to obtain an appointment through the external service provider so as to render direct access to the embassy/high commission/consulate 'impossible in practice'.^[53] In addition, visa applicants must be clearly told by both the embassy/high commission/consulate and the external service provider that they have the choice either to apply directly at the embassy/high commission/consulate or to use the external service provider, as well as the fact (if applicable) that the external service provider charges an additional service fee.^[53]
• The traveller must then present the Schengen visa application to the responsible embassy, high commission or consulate (or its appointed external service provider). The application cannot be submitted more than three months before the date he or she intends to enter the Schengen Area.^[51] An application form is to be submitted (all Schengen countries issue Schengen visa application forms in a harmonised, uniform format in a variety of languages), together with a valid passport/travel document 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.
• Some embassies, high commissions and consulates may require applicants to provide biometric identifiers (typically fingerprints and a digital photograph) as part of the visa application process to be stored on the Visa Information System (VIS). Biometric identifiers are not collected from children under the age of 12.^[54]
• 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.
• If the visa application is 'admissible' (i.e. it has been submitted to the embassy/high commission/consulate of the correct Schengen member state), a decision must be given within 15 calendar days of the date on which the application was lodged. Where further scrutiny of the application is required or where the embassy/high commission/consulate receiving the application is representing another Member State, the decision must be given within 30 calendar days of the date on which the application was lodged. Exceptionally, where additional documentation is required, the decision must be given within 60 calendar days of the date on which the application was lodged.^[55]

It is possible, exceptionally, to obtain a single-entry Schengen visa valid for up to 15 days on arrival at the border if the individual can prove that he/she was unable to apply for a visa in advance due to time constraints arising out of 'unforeseeable' and 'imperative' reasons as long as he/she fulfils the regular criteria for the issuing of a Schengen visa.^[56] However, if the individual requesting a Schengen visa at the border falls within a category of people for which it is necessary to consult one or more of the central authorities of other Schengen States, he/she may only be issued a visa at the border in exceptional cases on humanitarian grounds, on grounds of national interest or on account of international obligations (such as the death or sudden serious illness of a close relative or of another close person).^[57] In 2011, over 106,000 Schengen visas were issued to travellers on arrival at the border.^[58]

The fee for a Schengen visa application is set at €60. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 (inclusive) pay a visa fee of €35, as do Georgian, Russian and Ukrainian passport holders. Children under the age of 6, students and teachers undertaking a stay for the purpose of study or educational training, certain scientific researchers and representatives aged 25 or under of non-profit organisations attending events organised by non-profit organisations have their visa fee completely waived.^[59] If the visa fee is being charged in the local currency (rather than in Euros), the Schengen member state embassy/high commission/consulate should review the exchange rate used at least every two weeks.^[60]

Consular staff, external service providers' staff and border guards are not permitted to discriminate against visa applicants on the basis of their race, sex, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.^[61][62]

A Schengen visa is only valid for the Schengen Area. For individuals who require a visa for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and/or Romania, a separate Bulgarian/Croatian/Cypriot/Romanian visa has to be obtained. Note that holders of a Schengen visa can enter Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania for up to 90 days in a 180-day period during the validity of their Schengen visa without having to apply for Bulgarian, Croatian and/or Romanian visas.^[19][21][63] However, holders of Bulgarian, Croatian, Cypriot or Romanian visas need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen Area. Bulgaria additionally recognizes short stay and transit visas issued by Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.^[64]

A different procedure applies to long-stay visas issued by Schengen countries, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania for stays of more than 3 months (see below).

Unrecognised travel documents

As the following travel documents are not recognised by any Schengen country, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, visas are not endorsed inside the travel documents.^[65]

• Northern Cypriot passport^[65]
• Sahrawi passport^[65]
•  Camouflage and fantasy passports^{[Note 8]}

In addition, the following entities are not recognised as sovereign states by any Schengen country, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania. Therefore, passports issued by them are not recognised as valid travel documents by any Schengen country, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania, and visas will not be attached to such passports.

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

Statistics

In 2013 16,139,701 Schengen visas were issued and 17,204,391 visa applications were filed.^[66]

Most visas were applied for from the following countries

Application from	Number of applications	Refusal rate	Share of multiple entry visas
Russia	6,995,141	1%	54.7%
Ukraine	1,556,677	1.9%	39.8%
China	1,497,178	3.9%	12.7%
Turkey	779,464	4.7%	54.2%
Belarus	777,813	0.8%	45.7%
India	522,106	6.2%	43.5%
Algeria	445,517	27.6%	37.2%
Morocco	401,092	12.5%	44.1%
Saudi Arabia	276,984	2.8%	79.7%
Thailand	231,344	4.3%	22.3%
United Kingdom[67]	225,390	5%	35.4%
United Arab Emirates	210,270	6.3%	54.8%
South Africa	180,038	1.3%	58.3%
Kazakhstan	159,396	2.2%	19.3%
Tunisia	150,624	12.8%	37.9%
Indonesia	149,824	1.5%	33.4%
Egypt	147,531	12.5%	31.1%
Kuwait	142,248	3.2%	79.4%
Iran	131,648	24.4%	28.1%
Colombia	128,443	4.8%	40.9%

Broken down by issuing state

Issuing state	Number of visas issued	Number of visa applications
Austria	300,955	313,579
Belgium	190,329	233,273
Czech Republic	629,894	649,470
Denmark	95,124	105,119
Estonia	196,101	201,056
Finland	1,552,470	1,569,961
France	2,301,547	2,551,196
Germany	1,851,577	2,062,979
Greece	1,463,881	1,485,201
Hungary	349,074	356,869
Iceland	2,787	2,821
Italy	1,926,780	2,036,829
Latvia	202,982	205,230
Lithuania	464,928	471,838
Luxembourg	11,138	11,222
Malta	71,236	79,559
Netherlands	422,809	458,824
Norway	184,073	197,826
Poland	1,095,167	1,126,150
Portugal	147,679	159,421
Slovakia	123,963	131,194
Slovenia	33,784	38,885
Spain	1,896,320	2,080,175
Sweden	166,747	200,543
Switzerland	458,356	475,171

Visa facilitation agreements

The EU has concluded visa facilitation agreements (that allow facilitated procedures for issuing visas for both the EU citizens and citizens of the other country) with the following countries:^[68]

Country	Entry into force
Albania	2008
Armenia	2014
Azerbaijan	2014
Bosnia and Herzegovina	2008
Cape Verde	2014
Macedonia	2008
Georgia	2011
Moldova	2013
Montenegro	2008
Serbia	2008
Russia	2007
Ukraine	2013

These agreements are linked to readmission agreements that allow the return of people irregularly residing in the EU.^[69]

Visas with limited territorial validity

In exceptional cases, member states may issue visas with limited territorial validity (LTV) instead of a Schengen visa. A LTV visa may either specifically name member state(s) for which it is valid or, inversely, specifically name member state(s) for which it is not valid. Holders of LTV visas are only permitted to transit via, travel to, and circulate within the territories of, member states for which it is valid.

Schengen visa code that member states may issue LTV visas:^[70]

• when a consulate deems it justifiable to overcome the three-month limitation in six months;
• or when a member state considers it necessary due to pressing circumstances to derogate from entry conditions as set by Schengen Border code, or to overcome objections of other member states, or in cases of urgency.

Despite the fact that LTV visas may be issued in exceptional cases only, some member state abuse the facility. For instance, the Spanish Embassy in Russia occasionally issues LTV visas to tourists.

Airport transit

In general, a passenger who transits through an airport in the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania while remaining airside will not require a visa.

However, on 5 April 2010, common visa requirements for airport transit were introduced by the European Union.^[71] At present, citizens of the following 12 countries are required to hold an airport transit visa (ATV) when transiting through any airport in the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania, even if they remain airside:

Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eritrea  Ethiopia  Ghana

Iran  Iraq  Nigeria

Pakistan  Somalia  Sri Lanka

However, citizens of the above 12 countries are exempt from airport transit visas if 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.

Additionally, individual Schengen countries can impose airport transit visa requirements for nationals of other countries in urgent cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants.^[71] Eleven countries (Austria, Denmark,^[72] Finland,^[73] Iceland, Latvia,^[74] Poland,^[75] Malta, Romania,^[17] Slovenia,^[76] and Sweden)^[77] currently do not use this provision and have no additional requirements.^[78] As Liechtenstein has indicated not to accept flights originating outside the Schengen Area,^[79] airport transit visa requirements are not relevant there. Airport transit visa requirements are not relevant in Norway because no airport in the country has international airside transit facility. The other Schengen countries require airport transit visas for nationals from up to 23 (in the case of France) additional countries (See the table below).^[78]

Additional nationalities that are subject to the airport transit visa requirement in some Schengen countries

Country	Additional nationals required to have an ATV	Reference
Austria	Syria	[78]
Belgium  Netherlands  Luxembourg	Angola, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria (also Sierra Leone for The Netherlands only)	[78]
Czech Republic	Chad, Egypt, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palestinian National Authority, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Yemen	[78]
Cyprus	Turkey	[44]
Denmark	Syria	[80]
Estonia	Angola, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria and Togo	[81] None of these countries has been registered with the EU.[78]
France	Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Republic), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Mali, Russia,[Note 9] Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Togo, as well as holders of Palestinian refugee travel documents	,[78][82]
Germany	Burma, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Turkey	[78][83]
Greece	South Sudan, Sudan and Syria	[78]
Hungary	Cameroon, Guinea, Lebanon, Liberia, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Syria	[84] None of these countries has been registered with the EU.[78]
Italy	Senegal and Syria	[78][85] |[78]
Lithuania	North Korea and Sudan	[86] None of these countries has been registered with the EU.[78]
Portugal	Guinea and Senegal	[78]
Spain	Cuba, Djibouti, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Syria and Togo	[78]
Switzerland	Cameroon, Syria and Turkey	[78][87]

Non-ordinary passports

Unlike the common Schengen rules for ordinary passports there are no common black,^{[Note 10]} white^{[Note 11]} and transit^{[Note 12]} lists for holders of diplomatic, service and other official passports and each state has different policy on these.^[65][89]

Visa-waiver exclusively for diplomatic, official and service passports by member state:

• Austria: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Belize, Colombia, Georgia, Russia, Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Ukraine.^[90]
• Belgium: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chad, Georgia, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal and Ukraine.^[91]
• Czech Republic: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Laos, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, Russia, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Vietnam and Yemen.^[92]
• Denmark: Bolivia, Egypt, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and only diplomatic passports of Kazakhstan, Peru, Russia, Tunisia and Ukraine.^[93]
• Estonia: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.^[94]
• Finland: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia and Ukraine.^[95]
• France: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Qatar, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States (provided not traveling on duty) and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Benin (biometric only), Republic of the Congo (biometric only), Georgia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam.^[96]
• Germany: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia (biometric only), Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tunisia, Ukraine and Vietnam.^[97]
• Greece: Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia and Ukraine.^[98][99]
• Hungary: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Vietnam and only diplomatic passports of Egypt, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Yemen.^[100]
• Italy: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Gambia, Guyana, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Mozambique, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine and Vietnam.^[101]
• Latvia: Armenia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Mongolia, Peru, Turkey, Ukraine and only diplomatic passports of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Uzbekistan.^[102]
• Lithuania: Cape Verde, China, Oman, Turkey, Ukraine and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Russia.^[103]
• Luxembourg: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chad, Georgia, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal and Ukraine.^[104]
• Malta: Algeria, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya (accredited in Malta), South Africa, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey and only diplomatic passports of Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Cambodia, Cuba, Ecuador, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen and Zambia.^[105]
• Netherlands: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chad, Georgia, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine.^[106]
• Poland: Benin, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Colombia, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.^[107]
• Portugal: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman, Peru, Qatar, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.^[108]
• Slovakia: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen and only diplomatic passports of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam.^[109]
• Slovenia: Bolivia, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Russia, Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Ukraine.^[110]
• Spain: Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam.^[111]
• Sweden: Bolivia, Cape Verde, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia and Ukraine.^[112]

• Bulgaria: Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mongolia, North Korea, Peru, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and only diplomatic passports of Armenia and Georgia.^[113]
• Croatia: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.^[114]
• Cyprus: Armenia, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and only diplomatic passports of Azerbaijan and Qatar.^[115]
• Romania: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia and only diplomatic passports of Algeria, India, Jordan, Palestine and Uzbekistan.^[116]

Despite the fact that visas are not required for ordinary passport holders visa is required for Australian diplomatic and service/official passport holders by Bulgaria and Cyprus, for Israeli diplomatic and service/official passport holders by Cyprus, for Mexican diplomatic and service/official passport holders by Cyprus and Iceland and for the United States diplomatic and service/official passport holders by Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France and Cyprus.

Changes in 2009–2014

Changes to the entries on Annex I (list of visa nationals) and Annex II (list of visa-exempt nationals) 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 of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia were added to Annex II on 19 December 2009, from which point on their citizens can enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania without a visa when travelling with biometric passports.^[117]

On 8 November 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.^[118]

On 25 November 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 6][Note 7][119]} Visa requirements were dropped on 11 January 2011.^[28] 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.

On 24 January 2011, Moldova officially received an action plan on visa liberalization from the EU's Internal Affairs Commissioner.^[120] In October 2013, the Commission proposed that visa requirements for short term visits be abolished for Moldovan citizens holding biometric passports.^[121][122] On 27 February 2014, the European Parliament approved visa-free travel for Moldovan citizens.^[123] The Council gave their consent on 3 April, allowing visa-free travel from 28 April 2014.^[124]

Future changes

On 22 November 2010, the European Council and Ukraine announced "an action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel".^[125] On 15 December 2011, in a statement^[126] given after an EU-Russia summit, the President of the European Commission confirmed the launch of "Common Steps towards visa-free travel" with Russia. On 14 June 2012, Kosovo received a roadmap for visa liberalisation with the EU.^[127] An action plan on visa liberalisation with Georgia was launched on 25 February 2013.^[128] In December 2013, after signing a readmission agreement, the EU started a visa dialogue with Turkey including a "Roadmap towards the visa-free regime".^[129] There is a plan to reach a visa-free agreement with Turkey within 2–3 years.^[130]

On 7 November 2012, the European Commission announced a proposal to introduce visa-free travel for citizens from 16 island nations — 5 from the Caribbean (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago), 10 from the Pacific (Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) and Timor-Leste. The European Parliament also amended the list to include three other countries: Colombia, Peru, United Arab Emirates in February 2014.^{[131][132][133]} Each of the 19 countries will be then required to conclude a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement with the European Union.^[134] The Commission will further assess the situation in Colombia and Peru with regard to the criteria set out in the new article before the opening of negotiations on bilateral agreements on visa waiver.^[135]

Some countries, including Sweden and Germany, suggested in late 2012 that visas should be reintroduced for Serbian and Macedonian citizens due to the significant increase in the number of applications for asylum from these countries, predominantly by Romani.^[136]

Currently the European Union intends to introduce a mutual visa-free regime with the following countries, in 2015:^{[137][138][139][140][141][142][143]}

North America  Dominica  Grenada  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Trinidad and Tobago South America  Colombia  Peru Asia  Timor-Leste  United Arab Emirates

Oceania  Kiribati  Marshall Islands  F.S. Micronesia  Nauru  Palau  Samoa  Solomon Islands  Tonga  Tuvalu  Vanuatu

Border crossing

The EU plans to establish a Registered Traveller Programme that would allow pre-screened travellers easier access.^[144] In 2013 the EU also adopted a proposal for establishment of an Entry/Exit System that would make it possible to identify overstayers.^[145]

Reciprocity

As per Regulation No 1289/2013^[146] reciprocity is required from all Annex II countries and territories. That means that these countries must offer visa-free access for 90 days to all EU citizens and to the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. When this is not the case, the affected EU or Schengen member state is expected to notify the European Commission. Starting six months after the notification, the Commission may adopt an implementing act to suspend the visa-free regime for certain categories of nationals of the third country concerned, for a period of up to six months, with a possible prolongation by further periods of up to six months. If the Commission decides not to adopt such an act, it has to present a report explaining the reasons why it did not propose the measure. If after two years from the notification the third country is still requiring visas from citizens of one or more Member States, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act to re-impose the visa obligation on all citizens of the third country, for a period of 12 months. Either the European Parliament or the Council could oppose the entry into force of the delegated acts.^[147] All of the states that implement the common visa rules – including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Switzerland – may notify the European Commission about non-compliant third states.^[148]

When the European Commission carried out its first visa reciprocity assessment on 1 May 2004 following the accession of 10 new Member States, only the following Annex II countries and territories were found to offer fully reciprocal visa-free treatment to all EU citizens: Andorra, Argentina, Chile, Holy See, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Monaco and South Korea.^[149]

Since adoption of this policy full reciprocity has been achieved with the following countries (listed in order of achieving reciprocity):^[150] Nicaragua,^[151] Venezuela,^[151] Uruguay,^[152] Costa Rica,^[152][153] Mexico,^[153] New Zealand,^[153] Israel,^{[Note 13][154]} Malaysia,^[154] Paraguay,^[154] Panama,^[151][155] Singapore,^[155] Taiwan^[156][157] and Brazil.^[158][159]

According to a report from April 2015,^[160] the Commission dismissed Bulgaria and Romania notifications of a general visa requirement by Australia.^[161] It concluded that the Australian electronic visa 'manual processing' treatment should not be considered as equivalent to the Schengen visa application procedures and thus will not be covered by the reciprocity mechanism.^[160] The Commission also found that the following countries are not implementing visa reciprocity fully:

• Australia: Australia continues to impose a transit visa requirement for citizens of Croatia and Romania.
• Barbados: Does not provide an equal treatment in terms of the length of the authorized short stay for Croatian nationals.
• Brunei: Maintains a visa requirement for Croatian nationals.
• Canada: Bulgarian and Romanian citizens are still required to apply for visas to enter Canada.^[162]
• Japan: For Romanian citizens a temporary waiver is in effect until 31 December 2015.^[163] Additionally, Romanian citizens in possession of temporary passports are not able to enter Japan without a visa.
• United States: Bulgarian, Croatian, Cypriot, Polish and Romanian citizens are still required to apply for a visa to enter the US.

In its previous report,^[159] the Commission also committed to assessing certain provisions of the US electronic visa system — such as the application fee — and the Australian electronic visa system.

In October 2014, it was reported that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada might not be ratified by Bulgaria and Romania unless visa requirements were lifted for their citizens.^{[164][165][166]} In November 2014 Bulgarian Government also announced that it will not ratify the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership unless the United States lifted visas for its citizens.^[167]

Stays exceeding 90 days

For stays in the Schengen Area as a whole which exceed 90 days, as a general rule, a third country national (i.e. a non-EU, EEA or Swiss 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. Similarly, a third-country national who wishes to stay for more than 90 days in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania will be required to hold a long-stay visa or a residence permit.

Although long-stay visas issued by Schengen countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania have the same uniform design, as a national visa, in general, the procedures and conditions for issue are determined by each individual country. Therefore, for example, whilst some Schengen countries (such as France) require applications for long-stay visas to be made in the applicant's home country, other Schengen countries permit applicants to lodge their applications after arrival. Some countries, such as Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland offer a hybrid regime, whereby third-country nationals are required to apply for long-stay visas in their home country, with the exception of a few nationalities who are permitted to apply for a residence permit directly upon arrival without having first to obtain a long-stay visa. For example, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland allow New Zealand citizens to apply for a residence permit upon arrival without having to apply for a long-stay visa in advance, but not South African citizens.^{[168][169][170][171]}

However, in some situations, the procedures and conditions for the issue of long-stay visas have been harmonised among all Schengen member states, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania. For example, Council Directive 2004/114 has harmonised the conditions of admission of third country nationals wishing to study in a Schengen member state, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania.^[172] Consequently, following the deadline for the implementation of the Directive (i.e. 12 January 2007), all Schengen member states (as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus or Romania) are obliged to apply the same criteria in dealing with applications from third country nationals who wish to be admitted to their territory in order to study (namely that the applicant must have a valid travel document covering the duration of the stay, parental authorisation (if a minor), sickness insurance, not be regarded as a threat to public policy, security or health, and payment of the relevant fee).^[173]

Long-stay visas issued by a Schengen country entitle the holder to enter the Schengen Area and remain in the territory of the issuing state for a period longer than 90 days, 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 issued by a Schengen country is entitled to move freely within the other states which comprise the Schengen Area for a period of up to 90 days in any 180 days.^[174] 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.^[175]

However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. For example, France does not require citizens of Andorra, the Holy See, Monaco and San Marino to apply for a long-stay visa.^[176] In addition, 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,^[32][177] but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in any 180 day period time limit applies.

Means of subsistence

In addition to general requirements, EU member states set entry conditions to foreign (outside EEA) nationals called the "reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border fixed by national authorities" regarding means of subsistence during their stay.^[178][179]

Authorities of Austria, Cyprus and Luxembourg decide on case by case basis.

Country	Reference amount
Belgium	EUR 38 per day – aliens staying with a private individual; EUR 50 per day – aliens staying at a hotel.
Bulgaria	EUR 50 per day; minimum EUR 500 – per stay[180]
Croatia	EUR 100 per day; EUR 50 – alien possessing a certified guarantee letter, a proof of paid travel arrangement etc.
Czech Republic	EUR 40 per day up to 30 days[181]
Germany	EUR 45 per day in form of cash, credit cards and checks but also a letter of guarantee from the host.[182]
Denmark	DKK 350 per day
Estonia	EUR 64 per day or the invitation letter
Greece	EUR 50 per day; minimum total amount of EUR 300 for a stay of up to 5 days reduced by 50% for minors[183]
Finland	EUR 30 per day[184]
France	EUR 65 per day; EUR 32.50 per day – aliens staying at a hotel.[185]
Hungary	HUF 1000 per entry or letter of invitation, confirmation of accommodation or any other credible proof.[186]
Iceland	ISK 4000 per day + ISK 20000 per each entry
Italy	EUR 269,60 (EUR 212,81 per person for groups of two and more) fixed sum for stays up to 5 days; 6–10 days EUR 44,93 (26,33) per day; 11–20 days 51,64 (25,82) + 36.67 (22,21) per day; 20+ days EUR 206,58 (118,79) + 27,89 (17,04) per day.
Latvia	EUR 15 per day or certified invitation letter
Liechtenstein	CHF 100 per day; CHF 30 for students
Lithuania	EUR 40 per day
Malta	EUR 48 per day
Netherlands	EUR 34 per day
Norway	NOK 500 per day (indicative for those not staying with friends or relatives)
Poland	PLN 300 for stay not exceeding 3 days; PLN 100 per day by stay exceeding 3 days; PLN 20 per day if cost of the stay were paid.[187]
Portugal	EUR 40 – per day + EUR 75 – per entry
Romania	EUR 50 per day; minimum EUR 500 – per stay
Slovakia	EUR 56 per day (30 for accommodation, 4 for breakfast, 7.5 for lunch, 7.5 for dinner, 7 for spending) or a certified invitation letter[188]
Slovenia	EUR 70; EUR 35 for minors accompanied by parents[189]
Spain	EUR 64.53 per day; EUR 580.77 – minimum amount at the disposal[190]
Sweden	SEK 450 per day
Switzerland	CHF 100 per day; CHF 30 for students

Netherlands exempts visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, United States and Vatican City from holding proof of sufficient funds and return tickets.^[191] Romania requires visitors from the Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine to hold a medical insurance covering the period of stay. Romania also exempts visitors from Australia, Canada, South Korea and the United States from holding proof of sufficient funds and return tickets.^[192]

Visa policy of candidate states

Countries applying to join the European Union are obliged to adopt the EU's visa policy no later than three months before they formally join the Union.^[193] Schengen countries grant visa-free access for all European Union candidate and applicant states except Turkey.^[194] Macedonia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, with some additions, while Montenegro and Serbia still require visas from some Annex II nationalities while having visa-free agreements with some additional countries. In addition to requiring visas from some Annex II countries, Turkey still requires visas from some Schengen states,^[195] although these can often be obtained on arrival.^[196] Albania allows citizens of all countries who do not require a Schengen visa to enter Albania due to their visa liberalization with Schengen area.^[197]

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 enter the country on a 90-day visa-free period of stay with the intention of working in the country during that period.^{[43][198][199][200]} Nonetheless, some Schengen countries which permit certain Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay may still require them to obtain a work permit (either in advance or on arrival).

The table below includes Romania (which applies implements the Schengen Area's visa list), but excludes states which do not allow any Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay, namely: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Portugal.

Nationality
Albania[Note 1]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Andorra	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Antigua and Barbuda	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Argentina	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Australia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bahamas	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Barbados	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brazil	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brunei	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canada	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chile	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Costa Rica	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
El Salvador	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guatemala	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Honduras	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hong Kong[Note 4]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Israel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Japan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Macau[Note 5]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Macedonia[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Malaysia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mauritius	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Mexico	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Monaco	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Montenegro[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
New Zealand	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nicaragua	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Panama	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Paraguay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
San Marino	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Serbia[Note 1][Note 2]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Seychelles	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Singapore	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
South Korea	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Taiwan[Note 6][28][119][Note 7]	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
United States[Note 14]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Uruguay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vatican City	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Venezuela	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nationality

Validity for other countries

Schengen visas that are valid for further travel are accepted as substitute visas for national visas in following countries:

•  Albania — 90 days; must hold a multiple entry C visa or D visa used to enter the Schengen Area at least once.
•  Antigua and Barbuda — 30 days; USD 100 visa waiver fee applies.
•  Bulgaria — 90 days; must hold a double or multiple entry C visa valid for the period of stay.
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina — 7 days; must hold a multiple entry visa.
•  Colombia — 90 days;
•  Costa Rica — 30 days or less if the visa is about to expire; must hold a multiple entry visa.
•  Croatia — 90 days; must hold a double or multiple entry C visa valid for the period of stay.
•  Cyprus — 90 days; must hold a double or multiple entry C visa valid for the period of stay.
•  Dominican Republic — 90 days;
•  El Salvador — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Guatemala — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Honduras — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Jamaica — 30 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Macedonia — 15 days; must hold a C visa valid for at least 5 days beyond the period of stay and must be valid for reentry to any of the Schengen Area member states.
•  Montenegro — 30 days;
•  Nicaragua — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Panama — 30/180 days; must hold a visa valid for at least 2 more entries.
•  Philippines — 7 days; for nationals of China and India only.
•  Romania — 90 days; must hold a double or multiple entry C visa valid for the period of stay.
•  Serbia — 90 days;
•  Turkey — certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Turkish visa if holding a valid Schengen visa.

See also

• Visa requirements for European Union citizens
• Visa policy of the United Kingdom
• Visa policy of Ireland
• Visa policy of the British Overseas Territories
• Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories
• Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean
• Common Travel Area
• Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement
• Central America-4 Border Control Agreement
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• Visa Information System
• Visa Waiver Program
• Working holiday visa (a type of visa issued by many EU member states to young people from foreign countries to undertake employment (and sometimes study) for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds)
• Visa policy of Northern Cyprus

Notes

References

External links

• Council regulation 539/2001 in its consolidated version (as of 19 January 2007) with bibliography
• List of annexes
• 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

Visa policies and requirements in the European Union Schengen Area Common Travel Area Special territories     1 Policy / Requirements Policy / Requirements Policy / Requirements Overseas Visa policy of the British Overseas Territories • Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories • Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Candidates Albania • Macedonia • Montenegro • Serbia • Turkey 1 - Includes EFTA states.

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Visa policy by country Visa Passport Travel document Africa Central Angola Cameroon Central African Republic Chad DR Congo R Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon Sao Tome and Principe Eastern Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Rwanda Seychelles Somalia South Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Northern Algeria Egypt8 Libya Morocco Sudan Tunisia Southern Botswana Lesotho Namibia Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha1 South Africa Swaziland Western Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Cote d'Ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Americas Caribbean Dutch Caribbean Aruba Caribbean Netherlands Curaçao Sint Maarten Anguilla1 Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados British Virgin Islands1 Cayman Islands1 Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Haiti Jamaica Montserrat1 St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands1 Central Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama North Bermuda1 Canada Mexico United States South Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Falkland Islands1 Guyana Paraguay Peru South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands1 Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Asia Central & North Afghanistan Kazakhstan6 Kyrgyzstan Russia3 Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan East China Hong Kong Macau Japan North Korea South Korea Mongolia Taiwan10 South Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Southeast Brunei Cambodia East Timor Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Western Abkhazia510 Akrotiri and Dhekelia1 7 Armenia7 Azerbaijan5 Bahrain Cyprus7 Egypt8 Georgia5 Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Nagorno-Karabakh7 10 Northern Cyprus7 10 Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia South Ossetia5 Syria Turkey4 United Arab Emirates Yemen Europe European Union/EFTA Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Cyprus7 Denmark Estonia Finland France Overseas Germany Gibraltar1 Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Overseas Other Europe Abkhazia5 10 Akrotiri and Dhekelia1 7 Albania Andorra Armenia7 Azerbaijan5 Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia5 Kazakhstan6 Kosovo10 Macedonia Moldova Monaco 2 Montenegro Nagorno-Karabakh7 10 Northern Cyprus7 10 Russia3 San Marino 2 Serbia South Ossetia5 10 Transnistria10 Turkey4 Ukraine Vatican City 2 Oceania Australia Cook Islands9 Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru New Zealand Niue9 Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands1 Samoa Solomon Islands Tokelau9 Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu 1 British Overseas Territories. 2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. 5 Azerbaijan and Georgia (Abkhazia; South Ossetia) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. 6 Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. 7 Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Cyprus (Northern Cyprus; Akrotiri and Dhekelia) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai peninsula. 9 Part of the Realm of New Zealand. 10 Partially recognized.

Visa requirements Visa Passport Travel document Africa Central Angolan Cameroonian Central African Republic Chadian DR Congo R Congo Equatorial Guinean Gabonese Santomean Eastern Burundian Comorian Djibouti Eritrean Ethiopian Kenyan Malagasy Malawian Mauritian Mozambican Rwandan Seychellois Somali South Sudanese Tanzanian Ugandan Zambian Zimbabwean Northern Algerian Egyptian8 Libyan Moroccan Sudanese Tunisian Southern Botswana Lesotho Namibian Saint Helena1 South African Swazi Western Beninese Burkina Faso Cape Verdean Gambian Ghanaian Guinean Guinea-Bissauan Ivorian Liberian Malian Mauritanian Nigerian Nigerien Senegalese Sierra Leonean Togolese Americas Caribbean Anguillan1 Antigua and Barbuda Bahamian Barbadian British Virgin Islands1 Caymanian1 Cuban Dominica Dominican Republic Grenadian Haitian Jamaican Montserratian1 Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucian Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands1 Central Belizean Costa Rican El Salvador Guatemalan Honduran Nicaraguan Panamanian North Bermudian1 Canadian Mexican United States South Argentine Bolivian Brazilian Chilean Colombian Ecuadorian Guyanese Paraguayan Peruvian Surinamese Uruguayan Venezuelan Asia Central & North Afghan Kazakhstani6 Kyrgyzstani Russian3 Tajik Turkmen Uzbekistani East Chinese Hong Konger Macanese Japanese North Korean South Korean Mongolian Taiwanese9 South Bangladeshi Bhutanese Indian Maldivian Nepalese Pakistani Sri Lankan Southeast Bruneian Cambodian East Timorese Filipino Indonesian Laotian Malaysian Myanmar Singaporean Thai Vietnamese Western Abkhaz5 9 Armenian7 Azerbaijani5 Bahraini Cypriot7 Egyptian8 Georgian5 Emirati Iranian Iraqi Israeli Jordanian Kuwaiti Lebanese Nagorno-Karabakh7 9 Northern Cypriot7 9 Omani Palestinian5 Qatari Saudi South Ossetian5 9 Syrian Turkish4 Yemeni Europe European Union Austrian Belgian British (BOTC · BN(O) · BOC) Bulgarian Croatian Cypriot7 Czech Danish Dutch Estonian (Non-citizens) Finnish French German Greek Hungarian Irish Italian Latvian (Non-citizens) Lithuanian Luxembourg Maltese Polish Portuguese Romanian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Other Europe Abkhaz5 9 Albanian Andorran2 Armenian7 Azerbaijani5 Belarusian Bosnian and Herzegovinian Georgian5 Gibraltar1 Icelandic2 Kazakhstani6 Kosovan9 Liechtenstein2 Macedonia Moldovan Monégasque2 Montenegrin Nagorno-Karabakh7 9 Northern Cypriot7 9 Norwegian2 Russian3 San Marino2 Serbian South Ossetian5 9 Sovereign Military Order of Malta Swiss Transnistrian9 Turkish4 Ukrainian Vatican City2 Oceania Australian Fijian Kiribati Marshallese Micronesian Nauruan New Zealand Palauan Papua New Guinean Pitcairn Islands1 Samoan Solomon Islands Tongan Tuvaluan Vanuatuan 1 British Overseas Territories. 2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. 5 Azerbaijan and Georgia (Abkhazia; South Ossetia) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. 6 Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. 7 Armenia (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Cyprus (Northern Cyprus) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai peninsula. 9 Partially recognized. Immigration law

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