What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area includes 27 European countries where you can travel freely without border checks once you're inside. This includes popular destinations like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Croatia, and more.
Do you need a visa?
Visa-free entry:
Eligible countries: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and many others
- Stay: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- No visa required for tourism
- Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date
- You must have at least 2 blank pages in your passport
Need a Schengen visa?
If your country is not on the visa-free list, you'll need to apply for a Schengen tourist visa (short-stay visa) before traveling.
How to apply for a Schengen visa
1. Determine which country to apply to:
- If visiting one country: Apply at that country's embassy/consulate
- If visiting multiple countries: Apply at the embassy of your main destination (where you'll spend the most time)
- If equal time in multiple countries: Apply at the embassy of your first entry point
2. Gather required documents:
- Valid passport (at least 3 months validity beyond your trip, with 2 blank pages)
- Completed Schengen visa application form
- Two recent passport-sized photos
- Travel itinerary (flights, accommodation bookings)
- Proof of accommodation (hotel confirmations for entire stay)
- Travel insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage for medical emergencies)
- Proof of financial means (bank statements, usually last 3 months)
- Cover letter explaining your trip purpose
- Proof of employment or student status
3. Book an appointment:
- Schedule an appointment at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center
- Book well in advance (at least 3–4 weeks before your trip)
4. Submit your application:
- Attend your appointment with all documents
- Pay the visa fee (approximately €80 for adults, €40 for children 6–12)
- Provide biometric data (fingerprints and photo)
5. Wait for approval:
- Processing time: 15 calendar days (can extend to 30–60 days in some cases)
- Apply at least 15 days before travel, but no more than 6 months in advance
6. Collect your visa:
- Pick up your passport with the visa sticker from the application center
Important rules
- 90/180 rule: You can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Your Schengen visa allows travel across all 27 Schengen countries
- You must enter through the country that issued your visa (or your main destination)
- Keep all travel documents with you at all times
Non-Schengen European countries
Some European countries are not part of the Schengen Area and have separate visa requirements:
- UK and Ireland (separate visa systems)
- Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia (often visa-free for many nationalities)
- Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey (check specific requirements)
Official info
Check the latest visa requirements:
- schengenvisainfo.com – Comprehensive Schengen Visa Guide
- ec.europa.eu – Official EU Visa Policy
- Contact the embassy of your main destination country
UK visa (separate from Schengen)
The UK is not part of the Schengen Area and has its own visa system:
- Visa-free: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and many others (up to 6 months)
- Need a visa? Apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa
- Check requirements: gov.uk/check-uk-visa
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