Ultimate Guide on Schengen Visa Entry Types

Europe, featuring diversified culture, rich history and developed economy, has long been a popular travel destination for tour, work, study, etc. Different countries establish different institutions or united zones, aiming to add convenience to cross-border communication. Schengen Area is one of the examples. It is also called Schengen Zone, known as the biggest passport-free travel area around the world. Travelers planning to visit the Schengen area from visa-required countries usually need to apply for a Schengen visa only, instead of separate visas for each country. Then, here comes a series of questions:

Do you need a Schengen visa?

Which type of visa should you get?

How to apply for Schengen visa?

Take it easy. Next, we are going to address all these questions in this passage.

Schengen Visa Countries

There are 27 countries included in the Schengen area. They are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Citizens of each member country can travel freely within this zone, without passports and internal border restrictions. The Schengen visa could be issued by any member state above, allowing outsiders to take border control only once at the first arriving country and then freely travel to others. Visitors can stay within Schengen area for 90 days at most during 180 days.

Besides the Schengen visa countries, you can also visit other non-Schengen countries with it. They are Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cyprus, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Turkey.

Countries Exempt from Schengen Visa

When it comes to whether you have to apply for a Schengen visa, it depends on your nationality. If you are a citizen of a country that does not reach visa-liberalization agreements with the Schengen Area countries, you should apply for a pre-arranged visa before arrival. If you hold a passport issued by the following countries in the last 10 years, you can enter the Schengen Area without a visa.

Schengen Visa Types

There are mainly different visa types. Depending on how many countries you can visit, it can be classified into Uniform Schengen visas or Limited Territorial Validity visas. There are more specific categories under each type according to duration of stay and number of entries.

Additionally, the purpose of traveling also determines which types you should apply for and what documents you should prepare.

Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)

This is the most common and widely applicable type, including four categories: A, B, C, and D. The former three categories are designed for airport transit or short-term stay while the last one for long-term stay.

• Category A

If you have to transit flights in a Schengen country while traveling from one non-Schengen nation to another one, you should apply for a type A visa. It is only used to transit through or wait for a connecting flight at the airport. The holders are not allowed to leave the airport and visit Schengen countries.

• Category B

This visa type concerning a 5-day journey or shorter is replaced by type C, the short-stay visa, with the condition “transit”.

• Category C

It allows applicants to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. Type C visas can be divided into a single-entry visa, double-entry visa or multiple-entry visa. The visa stamp is featured with “1”, “2” and “MULT” for each of them.

1. The single-entry visa means that you can only enter the Schengen zone once. After leaving the area, it becomes invalid despite the validity period, and you can no longer re-enter a Schengen country unless you apply for it again.
2. A double-entry visa indicates that you can re-enter the Schengen zone once after exit as long as it is within the validity period. It becomes invalid the second time you leave the area even before the expiration date.
3. A multiple-entry visa (MEV) allows applicants to enter and exit the Schengen area unlimited times as long as within the validity period.

Supposing that you have used 3 visas at most in the last 2 years, you can apply for a one-year multiple-entry visa. Proof of previous visas and trips to the Schengen Area is required, such as air tickets, accommodation, etc.

Moreover, travelers who have previously used a one-year multiple-entry Schengen visa in the last two years can apply for a three-year multiple-entry visa, and a five-year multiple-entry visa for those who have used a three-year multiple-entry visa.

Please note that all MEVs must follow the 90/180 rule which means a duration of up to 90 days during a 180-day period. To avoid overstay, it is necessary to learn about how this rule works.

Staying for 90 days means the accumulation of days in each Schengen country. For example, on the condition that you spend 30 days in Austria, 30 days in Belgium, and 30 days in Croatia, you have run out of the duration of stay. Provided that you stay in Austria for 30 days, go back to your country, and then go to Belgium for another 30 days, you have 30 days left the next time you travel to the Schengen area.

The 180-day period starts from the date you first enter the Schengen area instead of the date of visa issuance. It is a rolling timeframe. You can Google a Schengen visa calculator to plan your trip or determine how many days are left for your trip.

• Category D

This visa type allows applicants to stay for over 90 days and up to one year for touring, sightseeing, family/friend visit, study, training, internship, or other similar activities. It is issued by consulates and the application conditions might vary from country to country.

Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)

LTV allows applicants to stay in chosen countries only. It is prohibited to transit between unlisted countries with an LTV. For example, if you choose Austria as the destination, you would get a visa issued by the Austrian authority and unrecognized by other Schengen countries. This visa type is less commonly seen, usually issued in the event of international obligation for humanitarian reasons or urgent travel without valid travel documents.

Purpose of the travel

The entry type should be chosen depending on the purpose of travel, which restricts your activity in the Schengen area. For example, you can neither work with a tourist visa nor study with a visitor visa. Your purpose of travel should be explained in the application form, and there might be minor differences in required documents for different visa types. Here are some common traveling purposes.

• Tourist Visa

This is the most popular type which is issued to travelers who want to go sightseeing, explore different cultures, and so on.

• Visitor Visa

This is similar to the tourist visa. The major difference is that the main purpose of your trip. Applicants need this visa to visit friends or family who legally reside in a Schengen country. An invitation letter from them must be attached to your application.

• Business Visa

Nowadays, cross-border business trips are getting more and more popular, especially for international corporations. There are lots of meetings, negotiations, etc. Compared with other Schengen visas, it is quicker to obtain a business visa, but the review process is also stricter.

• Official Visas

This is issued to attend meetings, negotiations, consultations or other events hosted by intergovernmental institutions.

• Study Visas

This acts as a permit of entry for students to study or accept training in colleges or other educational institutions. It is also applicable to exchange programs, examinations, etc.

How To Apply for Schengen Visa

Before filing the Schengen visa application, you should figure out whether you are eligible for it and what visa types you need. If yes, you have to make your itinerary clear, including why are you traveling, how many countries you are visiting, how long you will stay, and which country you are arriving and leaving. After that, you have to go through the following steps.

Complete Schengen Visa Application Form

All member states share the same form. It can be downloaded online and is used to gather basic information like name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, traveling purpose, destination countries, duration of stay, etc. Please make sure there are no mistakes or omissions and sign on it.

Make an Appointment

You have to hand in the application form and supporting documents in person, before which you should make an appointment at the embassy, consulate or visa application centers. Among 27 Schengen visa countries, which one issues the visa to you depends on your travel plan.

If you are visiting only one country, you should make an appointment at the website of the target country’s embassy or consulate.

If you are visiting more than one country, you should make an appointment at the website of the embassy or consulate of the country you are going to stay for the longest time (unequal duration of stay in each country) or the country that you are arriving first (equal duration of stay in each country).

Supposing that there is no embassy or consulate of your target country in your country, you can turn to that of another Schengen country, or see if there is any visa application center that represents the authority and deals with Schengen visa application. For example, VFS, and TLS are two common visa representatives.

Prepare for Schengen Visa Requirements

The documents you have to submit are subject to visa type, nationality, etc. You should learn about extra requirements while making an appointment with the consulate or visa center.

Here are the general required documents.

Your passport must meet the following criteria:

• Passport with at least 2 blank sheets and at least 3 months of validity upon the date of leaving the Schengen areas.
• head-and-shoulder visa photo taken within the last 6 months and attached to the application form.
• Proof of Schengen travel insurance covers at least €30,000 for medical expenses, emergency evacuation hospital treatment, or death. It can be purchased in your country of residence and is valid for all Schengen nations during your stay in Schengen area.
• Biometric data including the photograph and fingerprint. Kids below 12, people who physically fail to provide fingerprints and delegation on official visits are exempt from fingerprint requirement.
• Copies of previous visas to Schengen area.
• Flight itinerary of one way or round trip.
• Cover letter introducing yourself and your trip, including purpose of traveling, date of arrival and exit, accommodation, what you will do, the countries you will visit, employment status, etc. Make it brief and clear in less than 2 pages.
• Proof of financial capabilities to prove you can support your expenses during your trip. It could be a bank statement of the last three months, employment documents, or deposit certificates.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of paid Schengen visa fee.

Provide Biometrics & Verify Information

First-time visa applicants should provide fingerprints while attending the appointment. Your personal information will also be gathered and printed on a paper form. You are supposed to check and sign the form. The whole process takes 10-15 minutes.

FAQs:

Q: What is Schengen visa fee?

A: It costs €80 ($86) for adults, €40 ($43) for kids between 6-12 years old, €35 ($38) for nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo and Russia, and €120 ($130) for nationals from the Gambia.

Q: What if I stay more than 90 days?

A: Overstayed visitors might be deported, fined, or prohibited from entering the Schengen zone for several years.

Q: Can I extend my Schengen visa?

A: Yes, but only under very special circumstances, including force majeure, humanitarian reasons and serious personal reasons. You have to show strong proof that stops you from leaving the country on time. Generally speaking, it can be extended only if your stay in the Schengen area is less than 90 days. Therefore, please carefully plan your trip.

Q: What is the standard Schengen visa processing time?

A: It takes 15 days. Due to the applicant’s nationality, visa type, application time, workload, and accuracy of documents, it might be extended to 30-60 days.

Q: When should I apply for a Schengen visa?

A: The application must be filed at least 15 days before arrival and up to 6 months before departure.

Q: Are the EU and the Schengen area the same?

A: No. European Union is a political and economic union while Schengen Area is a passport-free travel zone. Not all EU nations are within the Schengen area and not all Schengen member states join in the EU. Thus, you can use EU visa as Schengen visa.

Summary

Generally speaking, Schengen visa is quite necessary if you are traveling to Europe. It seems complicated that it applies to so many countries. We hope that this passage will help you determine what visa type you need and how to prepare for it. Just choose according to your purpose of travel and the duration of stay. Where you submit Schengen visa application depends on where you go and where you are. It is recommended to apply from popular countries, such as France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Greece because their consulates and visa centers are usually widely spread around the world.