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Schengen Visa Guide Part 1

Written by: Omar El Sherif

Which are the Schengen countries?

As on 2020 There are 25 European country and 4 non European country in the Schengen area that signed the Schengen agreement and formed the European Economic Area. The Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania

If you hold a valid Schengen visa from issued by any of the Schengen member countries you will be allowed transit, enter and visit several Schengen countries in the Schengen space. If you have Schengen multiple entry visa you can visit other European countries and other several countries.

The Schengen countries provide Schengen tourist visa and Schengen business visa as well as Schengen national visa. The visa should be issued by the relevantembassy or consulate visa section of the Schengen country.

How long does it take to get a Schengen visa?

The Schengen travel visa processing time at the Schengen embassy or consulate is set across all Schengen countries and across all the globe to be 15 business days. This means the visa applicant shouldn't count the weekends when calculating the processing time.

The Schengen visa processing time only starts the day after you have submitted your Schengen visit visa application form at the Schengen visa centre and paid the visa fee. During summer which is the high season for people to visit Europe it's difficult to find Schengen visa appointment thus VisaTitans experts advise to start booking your Schengen visa application appointment at least 4 weeks before your intended travel date.

Who needs Schengen visa?

Currently foreign citizen who hold an ordinary passport from one of the following 103 countries need to have a Schengen visa if they wish to visit the Schengen state countries. The countries are:

Afghanistan   Laos
Algeria   Lebanon
Angola   Lesotho
Armenia   Liberia
Azerbaijan   Libya
Bahrain   Madagascar
Bangladesh   Malawi
Belarus   Maldives
Belize   Mali
Benin   Mauritania
Bhutan   Mongolia
Bolivia   Morocco
Botswana   Mozambique
Burkina Faso   Namibia
Burma/Myanmar   Nauru
Burundi   Nepal
Cambodia   Niger
Cameroon   Nigeria
Cape Verde   North Korea
Central African Republic   Oman
Chad   Pakistan
China   Papua New Guinea
Comoros   Philippines
Congo   Qatar
Cote D'ivoire   Russia
Cuba   Rwanda
Democratic Republic Of Congo   Sao Tome And Principe
Djibouti   Saudi Arabia
Dominican Republic   Senegal
Ecuador   Sierra Leone
Egypt   Somalia
Equatorial Guinea   South Africa
Eritrea   South Sudan
Ethiopia   Sri Lanka
Fiji   Sudan
Gabon   Suriname
Gambia   Swaziland
Ghana   Syria
Guinea   Tajikistan
Guinea-Bissau   Tanzania
Guyana   Thailand
Haiti   Togo
India   Tunisia
Indonesia   Turkey
Iran   Turkmenistan
Iraq   Uganda
Jamaica   Uzbekistan
Jordan   Vietnam
Kazakhstan   Yemen
Kenya   Zambia
Kuwait   Zimbabwe
Kyrgyzstan

 

Foreign nationals of the above 103 countries are allowed to enter the Schengen zone and stay up to 90 days within 6 months if they hold a valid Schengen visas type C. Checkout our Schengen visa requirements detailed guides below.

How much is Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa cost for all 26 Schengen countries is standardized. The Schengen visa fee is paid by the visa applicant in the local currency of the country where you will submit your Schengen visa application centre and your Schengen visa requirement. The Schengen visa fee structure is as below:

Adults: 80 Euros

Children between 6 years and 12 years: 40 Euros

Children under the age of 6 years: Free of charge

Nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia: 35 Euros

Diplomatic and official passports: Free

Family members of a EU/EEA citizens: Free

Students and teachers traveling on school trips: Free

Researchers: Free

How to get multiple entry Schengen visa?

There is a common misconception that you must have a multiple entry Schengen visa in order to visit more than one Schengen country during the same trip. However, the single entry Schengen visa allows the foreign traveler to visit as many Schengen countries as they wishes as long as they don't leave the Schengen states area.

If you are planning to visit the Schengen space on multiple different occasions then you should apply for multiple entry Schengen visa. You will need to provide a good reason on why you are applying for a Schengen multiple entry visa as well as the hotel bookings and flight reservations for at least 3 proposes trips.

Schengen Visa Guide Part 1
Schengen Visa Guide Part 1
Schengen Visa Guide Part 1
Schengen Visa Guide Part 1

Schengen Visa Made Simple!

Which are the Schengen countries

Omar El Sherif

Visa-focused travel writer helping Arab travelers plan smarter, safer trips.

Omar is a seasoned travel writer who blends real-world travel experience with detailed visa research to help readers plan confidently. Over the past decade, he has traveled extensively across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe and A...

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