Schengen Visa Types & Validity- Visa Fees --Travel Insurance-statistics

Schengen Agreement

What is the Schengen Agreement?

The Schengen Agreement signed on June 14, 1985, is a treaty that led most of the European countries towards abolishment of their national borders, to build a Europe without borders known as “Schengen Area”. Signed in Luxemburg, initially by only five EU countries, the agreement remains one of the world’s biggest areas that have ended border control between member countries.

History of the Schengen Agreement

The concept for free movement between the European countries is very old and it can be found through the middle ages. Whereas, in modern times this idea was discoursed ever since Europe suffered detriment resulted from the 2nd World War. However, concrete actions in this regard only took place during 80s, as the Europe was stuck inside an everlasting debate of two opposing fragments: the one that was supporting the idea of free Europe with no internal border checks amongst countries, and the other part that was absolutely against it.

France and Germany are the two pioneering countries to take initial step as regards of free movement concept, steps that were even more concrete, as they commonly agreed to move this over-debated concept into a next level. These two countries on 17 June 1984 were the first ones to bring out the abovementioned topic within the framework of the European Council in Fontainebleau where they all approved to define required conditions for the free movement of citizens.

As a final point of this journey, what it came to be “The Schengen Agreement” – covering the gradual abolishment of the internal borders between countries and an extended control of the external borders, was only signed on 14 June 1985. The Agreement was signed by the five (5) following European countries: France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Netherlands, in Schengen, a small village in Southern Luxemburg on the river Moselle.

14 June 1985 – signing the Schengen Agreement: Catherine Lalumière (France), Waldemar Schreckenberger (Germany), Paul De Keersmaeker (Belgium), Robert Goebbels (Luxemburg) & Wim van Eekelen (Netherland).

Five years later, on 19 June 1990, a Convention was signed for the concrete implementation of the Schengen Agreement. This convention covered issues on abolition of internal border controls, definition of procedures for issuing a uniform visa, operation of a single database for all members known as SIS – Schengen Information System as well as the establishment of a cooperating structure between internal and immigration officers.

This way, Schengen Area concept experienced an incessant expansion, as on 27 November 1990 Italy, on 25 June 1991 Portugal and Spain and on 6 November 1992 Greece joined.

Despite that Schengen Agreement – including treaties and rules were established, the real implementation of the Schengen Area finally started on 26 March 1995, where seven Schengen member countries: France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain decided to abolish their internal border checks.

Since then, the Schengen Area breathed a fast developing and expanding trend. Thus, on 28 April 1995 Austria, on 19 December 1996 Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden were new five countries to join. On the other hand, led by sample of seven aforementioned countries, in October Italy and in December 1997 Austria abolished their internal border controls.

Another major progress shown by the Schengen Agreement was when in May 1999 “The Treaty of Amsterdam” incorporated the agreement inside the legal framework of the European Union, as in the past the Schengen treaties and rules set by the agreement were not part of the European Union and were operating autonomously.

The enlargement of the Schengen Area continued its prosperous journey as in January 2000 Greece and March 2001 Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, on 16 April 2003 Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia and in October 2004 Switzerland were the new fifteen countries (15) that joined. This successful story did not end there, as in December 2007 the same nations declared the abolishment of their land and sea, and in March 2008 of the airport border controls.

In February 2008, Liechtenstein was the 26th and the last country so far to sign the Schengen Agreement and become part of the Schengen Area.

In December 2008, Switzerland abolished land and in March 2009, the airport border controls.

The latest important event towards the implementation of the Schengen Agreement was in December 2011 when after three years of signing the Schengen Agreement Liechtenstein declared its internal border control abolishment.

Potential Schengen Area members

Being a member state of the European Union (EU) is not unquestionably associated with a membership into the Schengen Area, even though this, legally, is an unavoidable step. The majority of the following EU member countries have been prone of the unresolved political issues that have left these countries outside of the Schengen Agreement.

Such is the case of Cyprus – a member of the EU since 2004 but yet not a member state of the Schengen Area, thus it cannot sign the Schengen Agreement until it resolves its dispute as a de facto divided island and related political problems. The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia that are outside of the EU will also need other handling and mechanisms until they can join the area.

Bulgaria’s and Romania’s bids to join the Schengen Area were approved by the European Parliament in June 2011^[49] but rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, with the Dutch and Finnish governments citing concerns about shortcomings in anti-corruption measures and in the fight against organised crime

Just the same, Bulgaria and Romania are the following two (2) members of the EU since 2007 that are not members of the Schengen Area or did not yet signed the Schengen Agreement. These countries submitted their wish to become members of this area, which was approved by the European Parliament in June 2011 but this request was rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, as Finland and Germany expressed their worries regarding lack of these countries to enforce mechanisms for fighting corruption and criminality, as well as regarding the illegal entries of Turkish people from these countries towards the Schengen Area.

Croatia is the next country in the list of potential Schengen Area members to sign the Schengen Agreement. Even that it has joined the EU on 1 July 2013,  the country has not yet became a member of the area. The country as of March 2015 has expressed its readiness to become member, and is undergoing a technical evaluation that has started on 1 July 2015 and  is expected to end by July 2016. On the other hand, the illegal entries from the 2015 influx of migrations that came from Greece through Macedonia and Serbia to Croatia heading for Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary as Schengen member countries has grew many questions about the sustainability of the area and especially its further enlargement in this situation. Moreover, since the country was dealing with lots of illegal entries from the Croatian border, Hungary stated that it could be the one to vote against the accession of the Croatia in Schengen Area.

Schengen States Territories that are not part of the Schengen

Apart from the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, no other country that is located outside of the European continent is not part of the Schengen Area or have not signed the Schengen Agreement.

Accordingly, the following six integral parts of the France located outside the Europe:  French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, and Collectivity of Saint Martin are members of the EU but are not of the Schengen Area, and therefore even the Schengen visa issued by France is not valid in these territories. Each of these territories has its own visa policies and regimes for nonmembers of the European Economic Area and non-nationals of Switzerland.

These following four territories are also other integral territories of France, located also outside of the European territories that are not members of the EU or Schengen Area: French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Caledonia, Saint, and Wallis and Futuna.

These following six territories are integral parts of Netherland in Caribbean: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba (BES Islands) and Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten (independent countries of the Kingdom of Netherlands).  None of these territories is not part of the EU nor of the Schengen Area, and they have their own visa policy and regime.

The territory of Svalbard is an integral part of the Norway that under the International Law enjoys a special status but it is not part of the Schengen area. This territory does not imply any visa regime for entering in there, yet any non-national cannot enter it without travelling through the Schengen Area.

The two following territories are an integral part of the Denmark: Faroe Islands and Greenland. Despite this, none of them is a member of the EU or of the Schengen Area. As a result, holders of Denmark visas cannot enter any of these two territories if they first do not get visas specifically from such countries. However, nationals of Nordic Passport Union member countries can enter these two territories only through Identification cards

Guidelines on How to Apply for a Schengen Visa

Every person wishing to enter the Schengen Area, under whatever purpose, may be a subject to visa regime, depending on his or her nationality.

If you have never been to Europe before, the first thing you have to do is ask yourself “Do I need a visa to Schengen Area?” Currently, more than 60 countries around the world can enter Europe visa free zone without the need to obtain a visa first, and remain there for 90 days within a six-month period.The application process to obtain a European visa is mandatory for your freedom of movement in this area. Therefore, you should be very careful when lodging your Schengen visa application.

If you need to apply for a visa to Europe, proceed reading this article which is the ultimate guideline of a Schengen visa application process.

1. Figure out which Schengen visa type you need

Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types:

• Transit visa
• Tourism visa
• Visa for Visiting Family or Friends
• Business visa
• Visa for Culture and Sport activities
• Visa for Official Visits
• Study visa
• Visa for Medical Reasons

2. Find out where you need to apply

Depending on how your destination country in Schengen has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, you will have to file your Schengen visa application at one of the following:

• Their embassy
• One of their consulates
• A visa center to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission
• The embassy / consulate of another Schengen state to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission

By your “destination country”, we mean the country where you need to lodge your application, according to the Schengen rules.

These rules are as follows:

• If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy / consulate / visa center of that country
• If you are going to visit more than two Schengen countries, file your application:
  • At the embassy / consulate / visa center of the country where you will spend most days, if you will be spending unequal amount of days in each
  • At the embassy / consulate / visa center of the country where you will step first, if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each

3. Find the most suitable time to apply

Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates worldwide need to process a Schengen visa, you have an appointed period within which you can file your visa application.

The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as following:

• The earliest you can file a visa application: three months before you start your planned trip.
• The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.
• The recommended time to file a visa application: at least three weeks before your trip.

4. Book an appointment

Book a Schengen visa appointment in order to proceed with your application.

Most of the countries give you the chance to book an appointment online. On the other hand, in others you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.

5. Fill out the visa application form

Download the application form and fill it in correctly and honestly.

The Schengen visa application form has the same format no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.

You will have to give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:

• Your personal information,
• Information on your background,
• Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area,
• Other details regarding your trip.

In order to complete and submit the form correctly, pay attention to the following tips:

• Download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.
• Make sure you fill out every required gap. Here you can find some clear instructions on how to fill-in the visa application form.
• Do not leave any columns blank. If you feel that, there are columns that do not correspond to your case, fill them with NA (No Answer).
• Remember to print the form twice. Sign both of the copies at the end.
• If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

6. Gather the Required Documents

The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. Usually these documents are categorized into two groups.

The first group is of the standard required documents, which include:

• The visa application form.
• Valid passport.
• Two identical photos.
• Travel insurance policy. The insurance from MAWISTA meets the Schengen visa insurance requirements.
• Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of financial means, etc.

The other group is of the visa specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other. In addition, some of the Schengen member states have their own extra requirements for visa applicants.

Check our list of documents required for Schengen visa application, which includes the standard requirements, as well as the visa-specific requirements for each visa type.

7. Attend the visa interview

On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the facility where you will be interviewed. There you will meet a visa consular to whom you need to hand the collected documents, as required.During the interview, you will be asked personal questions about your whereabouts, the intended trip and other travel details. Make sure your answers are firm and correct, and that they comply with the information in the application form and the other documents. The interview may last around 10-15 minutes.

Some of the questions you might be asked during the Interview

• Which countries in the Schengen are you planning to visit?
• Do you have any family member or friends living in Europe?
• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Who will pay for your visit?
• Are you married? If yes, what does your spouse do? For how long have you been married?
• Do you have any children? If yes, how old are they, what do they do?
• How long are you going to stay in Europe?
• Where are you going to stay?
• What is your educational qualification?
• Which company do you work for?

Read also Top 60 Most Asked Questions during a Visa Interview

8. Pay the visa fee

You will need to pay a non-refundable administration fee when applying for a Schengen visa, in order for your visa application to be processed.

The member countries have synchronized the visa fees; therefore, they are static and unchangeable until decided otherwise by the Schengen states.

Currently a Schengen visa fee is €60 per person. Children and some other specific categories will have to pay either reduced fees or no fees at all, depending on their situation. Check the list of Schengen visa fees, their reductions and exemptions to see if you belong to any of those categories!

9. Wait for an answer on your application

Wait until you get a response on your visa application. Although in most cases it takes no more than 15 days for processing a visa, there are times when this process takes quite much longer. That period can be extended from 15 up to 30 days in some countries concerning some citizens.

If your Schengen visa is approved

If you get your visa, make sure to understand carefully the labels attached to the visa sticker, including the period it permits you to remain in Europe, otherwise, overstaying in the Schengen Area might have consequences.

The articles How to find low-cost flights to Europe and What do you need to pack when traveling to Europe will help you not just to save money but also to have a more pleasant journey to Europe. Have a nice trip to Europe!

If your Schengen visa gets rejected

If your visa application gets denied, read the reason why didn’t they grant you a visa and try to fulfill it the next time you apply or if you think that your application was correct, and the decision on its refusal was a mistake, you can always appeal the visa rejection.

Need to stay more than 90 day in Europe?

If you need to remain longer in Europe, you need to apply for a National Visa at the embassy of the adequate country. A National Visa permits you to remain in Europe for a maximum of 12 months.

FAQ about applying for a Schengen visa

What happens if there is no embassy/consulate of the certain Schengen country in the applicant’s place of residence?

In some third world countries, there might not be an embassy/consulate of the particular Schengen country you need the visa issued from. Nevertheless, that doesn’t pose any problems since these cases there are embassy/consulate representatives of the country that represents the interests of the country in the matter as well as their own which are responsible for issuing the applicant the required visa.

In case the applicant is denied the visa due to inability to provide the necessary documentation or proof that he/she meets the standards to be travelling in a Schengen zone there is a possibility to apply again at the embassy/consulate of their desired destination in a neighboring country.

Can I apply for a Schengen visa in a country where I am not a resident?

Yes. If you must apply for a Schengen visa in a country where you are not a resident, the justification why you are applying from that country will suffice.

The applicant must attend the designated meeting in person when handing the application form and the attached documentation. At the consulate, the applicant shall not be accompanied unless he/she is a minor, of sensitive health or not able to perform any locomotive activity. In case the applicant is not able to speak English or the language of the Schengen country whose consulate he/she is applying in a company is recommended.

If you fail to attend the embassy/consulate appointment without a prior notice of 48 hours the request will be cancelled and you will have to undergo the procedure once again.

Learn how to apply for a Schengen visa in different countries

• How to apply for a Schengen visa in the UK?
  • France Visa UK
  • Germany Visa UK
  • Spain Visa UK
  • Italy Visa UK
  • Switzerland Visa UK
  • Netherlands Visa UK
  • Greece Visa UK
  • Portugal Visa UK
  • Belgium Visa UK
  • Sweden Visa UK
  • Norway Visa UK
  • The Czech Visa UK
  • Denmark Visa UK
  • Iceland Visa UK
  • Malta Visa UK
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in the US?
  • France Visa US
  • Germany Visa US
  • Greece Visa US
  • Italy Visa US
  • Switzerland Visa US
  • Austrian Visa US
  • How to apply in Boston
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in Australia?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in Canada?
  • How to apply in Toronto
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in UAE?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa in India?

What do I do if I urge to extend the Schengen visa?

In a case of any trustworthy reasons, personal, occupational, medical or otherwise, the applicant has to turn to the corresponding institutions in the Schengen country of residence and apply for an extension of the Schengen visa. The extended Schengen visa will give the applicant the right to visit the same Schengen territory as the original visa issued. A visa extension may not result in the duration of stay exceeding 90 days.

Schengen Visa Application Requirements

When applying for a visa to Europe you will have to submit some required documents as part of the Schengen visa application process.

The Schengen States have created a list of the required documents for each purpose of entry in this territory, and these requirements are approximately the same for stay in each of them.

In this article, you can find a checklist of the generally required documents to obtain a Schengen Visa, as well as the specific required documents for each visa type. In addition, you will also find a short brief for each requirement and their specifications.

What Documents are Required when Applying for a Schengen Visa?

The following list of documents are required for any short-term Schengen visa application:

• Visa application form. Fully completed and signed.
• Two recently taken photos must be attached. Both photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the visa photo requirements.
• A valid passport. Not older than 10 years and it should valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).
• Round trip reservation or itinerary. It must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use the visa consultation services like this one. These guys can handle most of your visa requirements such as flight itineraries, hotel reservations along with free consultation over email.
• Travel insurance policy. A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
• Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This can be one of the following:
  • A hotel/hostel booking.
  • A rental agreement.
  • A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.
• Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen. This can be one of the following:
  • Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
  • Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
  • A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.
• Proof of paid visa fee.  €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.

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Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, Schengen embassies around the world require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of Schengen visa applied for.

Schengen Visa Requirements According to Applicant’s Employment Status

Specific required documents, based on visa applicant’s employment status are as following:

• For employees:
  • Employment contract.
  • Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.
  • Leave permission from the employer.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.
• For the self-employed:
  • A copy of your business license.
  • Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR).
• For students:
  • Proof of enrollment.
  • No objection letter from School or University.
• For retirees:
  • Pension statement of the latest 6 months.
• If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:
  • Confirmation of Employment letter, no older than three months, from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date.
  • Spouse’s valid passport.
  • An official marriage certificate.

What Documents are Required for Schengen Visa for Minors?

The parents / legal guardians of minors applying for a Schengen visa, must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant:

• The minor’s birth certificate.
• Application form signed by both parents.
• Family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
• Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents.
• A notarized parental authorization signed by both parents / guardians if the minor will be travelling alone.

Specific Documents Required According to Schengen Visa Type

Apart from all the aforementioned documents, depending on the Schengen visa type you are applying for, several additional documents should be submitted as well.

Below you will find the information about all the additional documents needed for any type of Schengen visa separately.

Documents Required when Applying for an Airport Transit Visa

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Airport transit visa are:

• A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to
• The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to

Documents Required when Applying for a Visa to Visit Relatives or Friends

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen visa to visit relatives / friends are:

• Affidavit of Support. In case one does not have a bank account or does not own enough funds to be taking care of their expenses during this travel, one must ask the visiting friends or relatives to sign an “official affidavit of support” at the corresponding office in his/her place of residence. Make sure you carry the original document when applying for the visa.
• Travel Itinerary. The applicant’s description of their trip, the purpose of travelling, the time frame and all the personal date written down in a letter.
• Means of Subsistence. If the applicant declares that he/she will be covering all the travel expenses, proof of one’s financial status is requested otherwise if the relative/friend is to cover the applicant’s expenses, a formal document issued by the competent authorities to a resident of a Schengen country (the friend/relative in this case) is to be submitted.
• Letter of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in a Schengen country. If the applicant will be covering the expenses on his/her own, the relatives/friend’s name, address and the copy of their passport will suffice. In case that the friend/relative is not a citizen of this Schengen country, the copy of the residency permit will also be required.

Documents Required when Applying for a Tourist Visa

The additional required documents to obtain Schengen visa for tourism purposes are:

• Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
• Affidavit of Support. In case one does not have a bank account or does not own enough funds to be taking care of their expenses during this travel, one must ask the visiting friends or relatives to sign an “official affidavit of support” at the corresponding office in his/her place of residence. Make sure you carry the original document when applying for the visa.
• Travel Itinerary. The applicant’s description of their trip, the purpose of travelling, the time frame and all the personal date written down in a letter, as well as hotel reservations or a formal invitation letter from a resident of a Schengen country.

Documents Required when Applying for a Business Visa

On the following link you can find the list of required documents to obtain a Business Schengen visa.

Documents Required when Applying for a Training Visa

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Training visa are:

• Enrollment certificate. At an eligible institution for the courses one will be attending in the Schengen country.
• No objection letter.  NOC from the educational institution where the visa applicant is currently enrolled (if applicable)

Documents Required when Applying for a Medical Visa

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Medical visa are:

• A letter from a doctor / clinic / hospital in the home country of the visa candidate, that he or she needs medical treatment.
• Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in EU.
• Proof of financial means. Proof that the applicant has sufficient financial means to pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout their treatment. This can be one of the following:
  • Bank statements.
  • Letter of sponsorship + bank statements of the sponsor.
  • Proof of advance payments of the treatment + bank statement for other related expenses.
  • Verbal note from the Ministry of Health of applicant’s home country – which must declare the readiness of the relevant government of the applicant’s home country to cover his medical treatment costs (for covered medical treatment by the Government of the home country of the applicant).

Other Travel Purposes

If the purpose of your visa is different than any of those listed above, then you should collect the additional documents listed below, according to your purpose of traveling to Europe.

Documents Required when Travelling to Europe for the Purpose of Studying

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Student visa are:

• Two application forms instead of one.
• Letter of acceptance at an EU University/College/School.
• Proof of financial means. Documents that show one is able to reside and financially maintain him / herself during their stay in the Schengen zone.

Documents Required when Travelling to Europe for the Purpose of Employment

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Working visa are:

• Two application forms instead of one.
• Employment contract. Contract between the applicant and the future employer residing in the Schengen territory.

Documents Required when Travelling for the Purpose of Joining a Spouse Residing in EU

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen visa to join a Spouse residing in the EU are:

• Two application forms instead of one.
• The original certified copy of the marital certificate.
• A copy of spouse’s passport, if he / she is an EU citizen. If the spouse is not an EU citizen, but only lives in a Schengen country the copy of his/her residency permit is to be submitted as well.

Documents Required when Travelling for the Purpose of Participating in Cultural, Sports or Religious events in Europe

The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen visa for Cultural, Sports or Religious events are:

• Event Information. As i.e. invitation letters, entry tickets, enrollment conditions, detailed programme and other documents that present relevant information about the event.
• Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).

Europe Visa Requirements for:

• South Africans
• Indians
• British
• Americans
• Canadians
• Australians
• Emiratis
• Filipinos

Tips:

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• Top Mistakes to AVOID during a Visa Interview
• How to Appeal a Refusal Decision

A Schengen visa obtained by any of the Schengen Area member countries allows free movement to its holder within the whole Schengen Zone regarding the European Union Schengen members as well as the EFTA Schengen members, up to its validity and period limitations.

According to the type of visa issued by the certain embassy/consulate of any Schengen country there are different restrictions that apply to the particular visa in accordance to the nature of travelling and other relevant circumstances.

Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)

The Uniform Schengen Visa stands for a permit of one of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired territory for a certain period of time up to the maximum of 90 days every six month period starting from the date of entry.

Holder of a Uniform Schengen Visa can travel to these countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

According to the purpose of traveling the Uniform Schengen Visa applies to all of the two categories, “A” and “C”.

• “A” category stands for the Airport Transit Visa which allows its holder to travel through the international zone of the Schengen country Airport without entering the Schengen Area. Airport transit visa is mandatory for the citizens travelling from one non-Schengen state to another non-Schengen state through a change of flights in a Schengen country airport.
• “C” category stands for a Short-term visa which allows its holder to reside in a Schengen Area for a certain period of time depending on the visa validity. This particular category, according to the holder’s purpose of the travel can be obtained in a form of:
  • Single-entry visa,
  • Double-entry visa and
  • Multiple-entry visa.

Single-entry visa

A single-entry visa allows its holder to enter the Schengen Area only once, within the given period of time, as mentioned in the visa sticker affixed to their passport. Once the visa holder exits the Schengen territory, he or she can no longer go back, even if they have not spend there the number of days as permitted by the embassy that issued them the visa.

Some people confuse the single-entry visa, thinking that it is about the number of countries the visa holder is permitted to visit, and that it allows them to enter one single country. In fact, the territory you are permitted to visit is given close to the “Valid for” tag in your visa sticker, whereas the time you are permitted to stay is given close to the “Number of entries” tag.

Double-entry visa

In general, a double-entry visa applies the same way as the single-entry visa explained above. The sole difference between a single-entry and a double-entry visa is that the second gives you the chance to go once more back to the Schengen territory once you have left it.

You should be very careful not to exceed the number of days you are permitted to stay in the Schengen Zone, as well as the period within which you can spend these days in the EU. Once again, do not mix the “double-entry” tag with the number of countries you are permitted to enter and remain within the given time.

With this visa, when you leave the Schengen Area for the second time, you no longer have the right to go back, even if you have not spend all of the days you were permitted to remain there. However, if you have obtained a double-entry visa more than once, and you are a frequent traveler to the Schengen zone, you are more likely to be granted with a multiple-entry visa, as explained below.

Multiple-entry visa

A multiple-entry visa allows its holder to go in and out of the Schengen Area as many times as he or she wants, as soon as they do not violate the 90/180 rule.

Based on how frequently you travel to Schengen zone, you may apply and obtain one of the following multiple-entry visa types:

• 1 year multiple-entry visa
• 3 year multiple-entry visa
• 5 year multiple-entry visa

1 year multiple-entry Schengen visa

You can obtain this visa if you have been traveling to the Schengen Area more often, and you have also been in possession of at least one Schengen double-entry visa. When you apply for this visa, you will need to show proof that you are a regular traveler, as well as why you need this visa in the future.

The 1-year MEV visa gives you the right to enter in the Schengen Zone as many times as you want, as long as you do not remain more than 90 days within this period.

3 year multiple-entry Schengen visa

The 3-year MEV gives the right to its holder to enter the Schengen Area as many times as they wish within a period of three years. However, even in this case the visa holder is limited to remaining in the EU no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period.

When you apply for a 3-year MEV you will have to present evidence that you are a frequent traveler to at least one of the countries of the Schengen. You will also have to explain and prove why you need a visa with a validity of three years.

5 year multiple-entry Schengen visa

5-year MEV is granted to people that travel a lot to the Schengen Zone, especially for business. This visa permits you to enter 26 countries in Europe as many times as you wish, within five years, as soon as you do not violate the 90/180 days rule.

You will need to show very strong proof that you travel frequently to any of these countries and why you travel. In addition, you will need to show evidence why a visa with a validity of 5 years is necessary for you.

Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)

This type of visa obtained allows you to travel only in the Schengen State that has issued the visa or in some other cases, in the certain Schengen States specifically mentioned when applying for the visa. Apart from these Schengen countries, this specific visa is invalid to any other Schengen country not specified prior. The holder of this type of visa cannot enter or transit through any other Schengen country that is not the first and final destination target. This type of visa is issued in very peculiar cases such as a humanitarian reason or under international obligation as an exception to the common USV system. This type of visa may apply for individuals who don’t possess a valid travel document yet have to travel to a Schengen area on an emergency of any kind.

National Visas

The national visa of “D” category is granted to the certain individuals who are to be studying, working or permanently residing in one of the Schengen countries. The national visa can be of a single entry, granted to the people who are in need of residing in the Schengen country for a certain period of time and for a sole purpose after which they shall return to their country. On the other hand a multi-entry national visa is also granted for certain individuals, allowing its holder to travel in and out of this Schengen country as he/she pleases and also travel throughout the whole Schengen Area without additional visa requirements.

In order to obtain a multi entry national visa, one must meet the certain criteria:

• An international student program will grant a visa for a period of not more than one year.
• An international student that is about to start a full course of studies in one of the Schengen countries. Again the visa is issued for a period of one year with the possibility of extending it.
• A pedagogical work at a higher institution or research center in any of the Schengen countries, regarding the person and its close family members.
• A professional who is traveling in any of the Schengen countries due to its expertise be it a sportsman, an artist or any other professional of its kind with the purpose of sharing its expertise.
• Emergency cases as a medical condition that prevents the individual leave the Schengen Area at the designated time frame.

Schengen Visa Types according to purpose of travel

On the other hand, when an applicant fills the Schengen Visa application form, he or she will also have to select a purpose why he or she is applying to enter the Schengen territory. Following find these purposes, and an explanation on what each of them stands for:

Airport Transit – this purpose of entry is for people who need to travel through the international zone of a Schengen Country Airport without entering the Schengen Country. The Schengen states have made a very narrow list of countries the nationals of which need to be possession of this visa. On the other hand, some of the member states have added extra other countries in their list. Therefore, despite of the fact that to transit through some countries you may not need a visa, depending on your nationality you might need it in others.

Transit – which is very similar to the previously explained purpose of travel.  Mostly foreign seafarers, who only need to stop for very short periods by the seaport of one of the member states, check this purpose of travel in their application form.

Tourism – one of the most famous purposes for traveling to the Schengen Zone. People who are planning to visit any of the countries in this territory for sightseeing and experiencing their culture, architecture, foods and much more, should select this purpose of traveling in their application form.

Visiting Family or Friends – people who have family members or friends legally residing in the Schengen area, can apply for this visa, if they wish to visit them. There are some special requirements for this visa that the applicant must fulfill in order for the application to be successful, as i.e. a letter of invitation.

Business – a lot of people travel often to and from the Schengen countries for business purposes. The perks of applying for such a visa are many, as i.e. being able to get a quicker appointment during the peak season of visa applications when there is a high number of people applying.

Official Visit – you will have to tick “Official Visit” in your application form, if you are traveling to the Schengen Area on an official duty.  You will have to check this visa purpose even if you are traveling together with a large delegation with identical travel dates and official purpose.

Medical reasons – If you are traveling to any of the member states of the Schengen territory to seek medical treatment, you should select ‘medical reasons’ in your application form. This visa enables patients to get the medical care they need at any medical clinic or hospital for a period of three months within 180 days.

Study Purposes – pupils and students that wish to attend any type of educational institutions, as university courses, language courses and other, for a period shorter than three months, can apply for a Schengen study visa. Those that need to take an entrance exam for school or university in the Schengen Area, should also tick this visa purpose.

Cultural, Sports and Film Crews – a visa established for people living outside of the Schengen area, wishing to travel to Europe for the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event and Film Crews. The applicant should be part of the event, as i.e. a performer at a concert, or a writer presenting their book at a book fair, and not only audience.

Other – If your purpose of entry to the Schengen Area does not match any of the purposes given above, you will have to tick the “Other” option in the application form. However, you will still need to specify what the reason behind your application is. You will have the chance to do so in a short simple sentence, at most. I.e. if wish to enter any of the member states to attend a religious event or something similar, you can write “Religious Visit” or “Religious Purposes”.

Difference between Visa Validity and Duration of Stay

Aside of a multiple-entry visa, which enables you to remain in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180 days period, the validity of your single-entry visa or double-entry visa depends on the embassy. The embassy appoints the number of days you are permitted to stay in any of the Schengen countries, as well as the first date you are permitted to enter Schengen and the last day that you are permitted to remain.

This is the point where many people get confused, because they do not realize there is a difference between visa validity and the duration of stay in a visa. 

Duration of Stay – is the maximum of days you are permitted to remain in the Schengen. The first day you enter Schengen is counted as “Day 1”, even if you enter just a few minutes before midnight. Whereas, the “Last Day” is counted the day you leave Schengen, even if it is just a few minutes after midnight. 

Visa Validity – on the other hand, is the period of time from which to which you can use your visa to enter and stay in the Schengen Area.

Example: the duration of stay in your visa is 10 days, whereas the validity of your visa is from 1 January to 20 January. In this case, you can enter the Schengen Zone anytime within this period. You can enter i.e. on 3 January and leave on 12 January.  On the other hand, if you enter on 15 January, you will still have to leave on 20 January, despite of not having spent the number of days you were permitted to stay.

On the other case, if you have a double-entry visa, with a visa valid from January 1 to March 1, and a duration of stay of 10 days, then you can enter the Schengen Area twice within this period. You are still not allowed to remain more than 10 days during both trips. If during the first trip you stay 7 days, then in the second trip you can stay for three days at most. If you make just one trip and spend 10 days in any of the member states, then you have no right to enter the country despite of the fact that you visa is still valid.

As per a multiple-entry visa, if i.e. you have a three-year multiple-entry visa, which becomes valid on January 15, 2018 then you will be permitted to enter and leave the Schengen whenever you want until January 15, 2021. You should not forget that there is a rule of 90 days limit per each 180 day-period.

90/180 Schengen Visa Rule

Another point where most multiple-entry Schengen visa holders get confused, as well as the nationals of the countries that are permitted to enter Schengen visa-free. Most people think that the 180-day period starts on the day you visa becomes valid, which is not true.

Actually, the 180-day period keeps rolling. Therefore, anytime you wish to enter the Schengen, you just have to count backwards the last 180 days, and see if you have been present in the Schengen for more than 90 days throughout that period.

Visa Sticker

All of the information explained above is given in your Schengen visa sticker affixed in your passport. Many people get confused because they do not know how to read and interpret the labels attached into a visa. For this reason, we have written an entire article about “Reading a Schengen Visa Sticker“, which will help you understand easy everything what is written there.

Schengen Visa Extension

Short-stay Schengen visa extensions are permitted by the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No. 810/2009 of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Journal of Laws of the EU of 2009 L243/1). However, you will have very low chances to get one, if you do not have a strong reason as the basis of you application.

According to the Schengen visa policy, acceptable reasons to extend a Schengen short-stay visa are only the following:

• Late Entry
• Humanitarian Reasons
• Force Majeure
• Important Personal Reasons

Schengen Visa Insurance – Europe Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa

When visiting Europe, travelers shall be financially covered so to properly challenge any sudden event that might call for unanticipated expenses.

As for that matter, the concept of travel insurance policy has been proven to help travelers offering the needed financial support and comfort so to enjoy their travel journey without worries.

Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements

Medical insurance for Schengen visa must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum coverage of at least 30,000 EUR (equivalent to 50,000 USD).
• It should cover all member states of the Schengen Area.
• Cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent health attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death.

Despite that the travel health insurance is a necessary travel tool that everyone is worth having it, not all travelers are obliged to. The only people for which having a covered insurance policy is a mandatory requirement are visa nationalities. This group of travelers is always required to have the needed coverage for the entire period of their stay in Europe, regardless if they go there for business, tourism, studying, holidays, or for other reasons.

Foreign travelers visiting Europe who enjoy visa-free procedures with the EU, they shall get their preferred travel insurance policy optionally – but they are not demanded to.

Travel Visa Insurance is a must when applying for a Schengen Visa

Extract from “Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009”, which entered into force on April 5 of 2010:

“… Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.
The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Area Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000” (…)

Who must purchase Schengen Travel Insurance for Europe?

Anyone travelling temporarily to Europe from a country that is subject to visa requirements, be it an individual visitors or group visitors, tourists, or business travelers.

The Schengen VISA Insurance policy can be purchased either online here for a very low cost or conventionally depending on the chosen company.

Who provides Schengen Travel Insurance?

First and foremost, the health insurance policy that one already possesses through the employment contract might cover international medical emergency expenses. However, there are usually limitations to this offer, therefore one shall be well aware of what to expect and what not to expect when having a medical issue in a Schengen territory.

Usually, travelers purchase an individual Schengen travel insurance policy for the days planned to spend in Europe at the rightful insurance/travel agency. Make sure the company you choose is licensed and accepted in the Schengen country you are planning to travel to.

We recommend MAWISTA Visum by ALLIANZ WorldWide – It is very cheap and it is accepted by European Embassies. You, also can cancel it for free of charge, subject to presentation of proof that a visa has been refused!

MAWISTA Travel insurance provides the mandatory insurance certificate required when you apply for a Schengen visa.

Helpful Tips about Europe Visa Insurance

As aforementioned, before purchasing another travel insurance policy for your upcoming travel to Europe make sure that the one you already have doesn’t cover or alleviate any international health emergency costs.

In case your policy does cover some international medical costs carefully check the restrictions and limitations to the travel insurance policy. Surprises at this particular matter are never welcome.

If you are travelling by car in the Schengen region and can’t afford to pay crazy amounts of money in case of an unpredictable car accident – or simply you are not willing to give all that money away, you shall consider purchasing a combined travel insurance including health matters as well as valuable possessions.

Depending on the travel destination the risk of illness varies with the changes in the climate or the natural habitat (unfamiliar microbe residents). It’s highly recommendable for people with preexisting conditions like allergies, for example, to carry their medical file from their personal physician describing the condition and the drugs prescribed to maintain it. In case one has a chronic disease, again, it’s smart to be carrying the prescribed drugs in the amount needed for the days spent in the international domain.

What does Europe Travel Insurance policy usually cover?

A good travel insurance policy for Europe should cover the following costs:

• Medical emergency (accident or sickness) while in the Schengen Area
• Emergency evacuation
• Repatriation of remains
• Return of a minor
• Trip cancellation
• Trip interruption
• Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
• Overseas funeral expenses
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents
• Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
• Flight connection missed due to airline schedule crash
• Travel delays due to weather
• Hijacking
• Usually, the insurers cover pregnancy-related expenses, if the travel occurs during the first trimester. After that, insurance coverage varies from insurer to insurer.

Travel Medical Insurance policies for travelling to Europe that fulfill Schengen Visa requirements can be purchased online here.

Should travel visa insurance policy cover all Schengen Area countries?

Yes, travel health insurance policy should cover all member states: 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 and Switzerland.

What is presumably excluded or optional in a common Schengen travel insurance policy?

Every travel insurance company is different; however, there are ones that offer to cover additional costs if necessary. If not, additional insurance must be purchased to cover explicit costs like:

• Preexisting conditions (e.g. Asthma, diabetes)
• Sports with an element of risk (e.g. Skiing, scuba diving)
• Travel to high-risk countries (e.g. Due to war, natural disasters or acts of terrorism)
• Acute onset of pre-existing conditions – It means a sudden and unexpected occurrence of pre-existing medical conditions without any prior warning from a health care professional. If you have pre-existing conditions, make sure to get this coverage to protect you against any emergency situation that arises due to pre-existing conditions in spite of taking care.

How to find cheap travel visa insurance for Europe?

Finding the right cheap travel visa insurance for Europe calls for an individual and personalized desk-researching. This means having to search online on your own for the appropriate travel insurance policy. It is recommended that you make a comparison of products and companies before you decide which company has the cheapest and the best travel insurance for Schengen visa.

Something not to be confused is the price, as not all low-cost travel insurance policies contain low-quality services and not pricey insurance plans have a high-quality offer. That is why, the safest way to properly choose amongst boundless offers of travel insurance companies, is by choosing not the cheapest travel insurance, but the policy which covers all the areas as required by the Schengen visa application requirements.

Why you should choose MAWISTA as your travel insurance partner when traveling to Europe?

• Meets all Schengen visa requirements
• Ideal for
  • Visitors or guests (visitor visa)
  • Business travelers (business visa)
  • Tourists (tourist visa)
  • Group visitors (visitor visa for travel groups)
• Immediately download your Insurance Certificate / Letter
• Reimbursement in case of visa refusal (free of charge subject to presentation of proof that a visa has been refused)

MAWISTA Visum by ALLIANZ WorldWide will allow you to fully enjoy your travel to the Schengen Area and Europe with peace of mind.

How much does Schengen Travel Insurance cost?

The cost for Schengen visa insurance vary from company to company. Here are the premiums from MAWISTA.

Duration of travel	Price per person (up to 64 years of age)	Travel groups from 10 persons per person up to 64 years of age
up to 8 days	13 €	9 €
up to 15 days	19 €	16 €
up to 31 days	34 €	29 €
up to 45 days	49 €	42 €
up to 62 days	67 €	58 €
up to 92 days	95 €	86 €
up to 183 days	199 €	170 €

For more information about choosing the best Schengen insurance plan for your needs, please visit MAWISTA website.

Which nationals are required to purchase travel insurance for Schengen visa?

Nationals and passport holders of any of the following countries are required to buy travel insurance in order to be able to apply for a Schengen visa.

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

Buy the required medical travel insurance protection for your Schengen Visa at a very low cost.

What is travel health insurance?

The concept of travel health insurance relates to covering up medical expenses in case an injury or unexpected sickness arises during one’s trip. In case you are wondering if one needs health insurance when travelling to a foreign country depends deeply on the desired destination as well as the ability to personally cover any health care needs during the stay out in the certain foreign country.

However, travel insurance is a must for most people, especially the elderly, people who have predetermined medical conditions and are bound to constant therapy or most importantly if the traveler’s destination happens to be an underdeveloped region.

Apart from medical expenses, travel insurance is destined to cover different losses suffered during the trip, including one’s own country as well as internationally. Unexpected happenings like lost luggage, cancellation of your flight at the last moment, travel agency or accommodation bankruptcy will most definitely ruin your trip. Therefore, travel insurance policy is designed to provide also cancellation insurance by means of full or partial refund.

Whether you are travelling once or several times during a short period of time, the travel insurance policy will match and cover the exact number of the days spent in the international territory, in this case, the Schengen territory, the price ranging accordingly.

What are the common restrictions and limitations?

• As previously mentioned there are travel insurance companies that don’t provide coverage for a preexisting condition in an international domain. In case you have a condition prior to your departure to Europe, you’ve consulted a doctor and are already on treatment and you’ve decided to travel out of the country, in this case, you are not prone to any medical cost alleviations via your insurer. However, if one is proclaimed fit to travel having the condition under control, most commonly the travel insurance is ought to cover an unexpected emergency related to the condition when travelling in an international domain, an acute onset of the preexisting condition.
• Sports – Participation in high-risk activities such as extreme sports e.g., scuba diving, skydiving, etc., can be excluded.
• War – Policies may exclude coverage for injuries caused by war when travelling to an endangered war zone.
• Duration – Many policies specify a time limit for coverage (e.g., 60 days) and the costs differ accordingly.
• Suicide in an international or domestic domain is excluded from any insurance policy as well as the self-inflicted injuries.
• In a case of any substance abuse, drugs or alcohol, domestic or international the medical expenses won’t be covered by your insurance policy.

Is travel health insurance mandatory for visa-free third country nationals entering Schengen Area?

Travel medical insurance is not mandatory for visa-free third country nationals. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to get one in case of travel to the Schengen countries.

Should we choose the travel insurance with 0 EUR deductible?

It is not a requirement to get a travel insurance with 0 EUR deductible, however, it is best that you get one without a deductible.

For more information, read How to Extend a Schengen Visa?

Schengen Visa Fees

When applying for a Schengen visa there is a non-refundable mandatory visa fee every applicant must pay.

The Schengen visa costs vary depending on the type of visa and age of the applicant as well as some other exceptions stated below in the text. The Schengen visa fee can be paid in the designated consulate/embassy via cash, debit or credit card. However, some consulates may not allow you to pay by credit card.

The Schengen visa application costs include the visa fees payable at the corresponding embassy/consulate when applying.

Schengen Visa Category	Fee in EUR	Fee in USD*
Adult	60€	70$
Child between 6-12 years of age	35€	41$
Child younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports traveling for official purposes	Free	Free
Family member of a EU/EEA national	Free	Free
Pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip	Free	Free
Researchers traveling to perform scientific research	Free	Free
Nationals from, Georgia, Kosovo, Russia, and Ukraine.	35€	41$

* The applicable visa fee in USD (US Dollar) is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change without notice.

Despite of the fact that these fees are static and unchangeable until the Schengen members decide otherwise altogether, there are some categories exempt from paying this amount.

The visa fees may also be waived for participants aged 25 years or less in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organized by non-profit organizations. The decision will be made case by case according to the relevance of the event.

Again, in case the visa is denied there is no refund of the money paid.

Schengen visas issued in 2015 at external border crossing points

19 Apr 2016

The following statistics will reveal the information regarding the number of visa issued during 2015 at the external border crossing points of Schengen States. According to these official figures, the country with the greatest number of Schengen Visa issued  at external border crossing points is Greece, while the country with lowest number is [...]

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Schengen Visa statistics for consulates, 2014

Below are presented the Schengen visa statistics for year 2014. The statistics were conducted based on the number of applications, the number of visas issued, and the number of visas not issued regarding Uniform Schengen Visas and Airport Transit Visas types throughout Schengen member-states. The rate of the visas not issued was extracted from [...]

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Schengen visas issued in 2015 at external border crossing points

19 Apr 2016

The following statistics will reveal the information regarding the number of visa issued during 2015 at the external border crossing points of Schengen States. According to these official figures, the country with the greatest number of Schengen Visa issued  at external border crossing points is Greece, while the country with lowest number is [...]

read more →

Schengen Visa statistics for consulates, 2014

Below are presented the Schengen visa statistics for year 2014. The statistics were conducted based on the number of applications, the number of visas issued, and the number of visas not issued regarding Uniform Schengen Visas and Airport Transit Visas types throughout Schengen member-states. The rate of the visas not issued was extracted from [...]

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World citizens are now traveling more than ever. Latest data published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that international tourist arrivals grew 6% in 2018, totaling a 1.4 billion, which was forecasted to be reached only in 2020. In Europe alone were registered 713 million international tourist arrivals, or about [...]

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