At some time in your study if you are organizing a vacation to Europe, you surely would have come across the term “Schengen”. But have you wondered what exactly the Schengen Area is? If you want to travel to Europe then how and when do you apply for a Schengen visa? And what is the legal Schengen visa insurance exactly?
You need not to worry about this all anymore, because we have got you covered. From a summary of Schengen travel restrictions to the application or the visa, we have provided you with all the information you need to know while traveling through this complex European region.
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is often called a Europe visa. It enables individuals who are qualified to freely travel between the 26 nations that the Schengen Area comprises. This means that whenever there is someone traveling to Europe, they would not go through border checks at Schengen’s internal borders.
Tourists still have to go through border checks, though, when they pass external borders. Following are the borders between Schengen and non-Schengen states, for which people are qualified to travel freely inside the Schengen Area:
- Citizens of Schengen nations
- EU/EEA residence who have a permit issued by a Schengen nation
- Non-EU citizens from qualifying nations who don’t need a Schengen visa for trips of 90 days or less
- EU citizens who have a valid Schengen visa
Which are the Schengen states?
Following are the EU Schengen States as of now:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Prague Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece \sHungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania \sLuxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Countries that are not in the EU
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
Only six countries are not included in the Schengen Area: Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
Out of a 180-day period, a maximum of 90 days are allowed where the citizens can visit the Schengen Area without the visa.
Who requires a Schengen Visa?
The most crucial question to ask yourself when you want to travel freely inside the Schengen Area is whether or not you would require a Schengen visa? The main factors that contribute to Schengen visa requirements are citizenship and/or residency.
Countries requiring Schengen Visa
In order to cross external borders, citizens of the following countries must have the Schengen visa in their possession:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- In Burkina Faso
- Burma/Myanmar
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- South Africa
- Republic of Central Africa
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte D’ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic Of Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome And Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Schengen Visa Entry Requirements
Following entrance requirements should be met by the citizens of the aforementioned nations and only then they would be allowed to travel for up to 90-days in total out o 180 days inside the Schengen Area:
- They own a current passport.
- They have a current Schengen visa in their possession.
- They posses travel health insurance that reaches up to the standards for Schengen visa insurance.
- They possess a documentation that demonstrates the reason or which they planned the stay.
- They either have a return ticket or can show that they have the money.
When does the Schengen visa Application take place?
You must apply for a Schengen visa at least 15 days before the beginning of your journey according to the European Commission.
You should submit your application 30 to 60 days before the commencement of your journey because the consulate needs information to review your application.
Three months before the date of your vacation is the earliest you can submit your application.
Where to apply for a Schengen Visa?
You should apply for your Schengen visa in the nation where you have a permanent residence. At the consulate of your primary Schengen destination you make an appointment to submit your application. The territory of the consulate that includes your residence must be visited by you.
How much does a Schengen Visa cost?
A standard Schengen visa costs €80. (USD 80). Children from six to twelve are charged a discounted cost of €40, whereas children under six years are free of charge.
You must pay the cost when you are applying for a Schengen visa at an embassy, consulate, or visa application facility. Your application will be denied if you fail to pay the cost of your visa fee.
Who is not required to pay the fee?
Following are the groups including children under six years of age who do not require to pay the visa fee:
- Travelers who are in possession of a diplomatic, official, or service passport.
- A family member having an EU/EEA citizenship.
- During a field trip, pupils, students, and accompanying teachers.
- Traveling researchers conducting scientific research.
- For participants 25 years of age or under at seminars, conferences, sporting, cultural, or educational activities organized by non-profit organizations, the visa fees may also be waived.
Depending on how important the event is, a case-by-case decision will be made.
Secure Migration on every step of your way
If you are not aware of the laws and politics or immigration or traveling purposes then visa consultation can be tricky because it is case-sensitive. Agents at Expert Migrates will help you at every step of the way so that your visa processing remains ensuring and as smooth as possible.
Contact our consultant now and learn everything in detail with respect to your case.
