Do I need a Schengen visa?

Depending on what country you are from, you will need a Schengen visa to enter Europe, which contains all the countries in the Schengen visa area. The 27 Schengen visa countries share a visa policy; if you need a Schengen visa to enter one Schengen state, you can use that same visa to enter the others. Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality. Certain nationalities enjoy visa-free access to the zone, while others require a Schengen visa to enter. See the following list to check if your nationality grants you visa-free access to Schengen Area or you need to apply for a Schengen visa:

  • The nationals of the following countries are excluded from visa-free access to Schengen area, and need to apply for a Schengen visa:

1.     AFGHANISTAN

53.   LAOS

2.     ALGERIA

54.   LEBANON

3.     ANGOLA

55.   LESOTHO

4.     ARMENIA

56.   LIBERIA

5.     AZERBAIJAN

57.   LIBYA

6.     BAHRAIN

58.   MADAGASCAR

7.     BANGLADESH

59.   MALAWI

8.     BELARUS

60.   MALDIVES

9.     BELIZE

61.   MALI

10.   BENIN

62.   MAURITANIA

11.   BHUTAN

63.   MONGOLIA

12.   BOLIVIA

64.   MOROCCO

13.   BOTSWANA

65.   MOZAMBIQUE

14.   BURKINA FASO

66.   NAMIBIA

15.   BURMA/MYANMAR

67.   NAURU

16.   BURUNDI

68.   NEPAL

17.   CAMBODIA

69.   NIGER

18.   CAMEROON

70.   NIGERIA

19.   CAPE VERDE

71.   NORTH KOREA

20.   CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

72.   OMAN

21.   CHAD

73.   PAKISTAN

22.   CHINA

74.   PAPUA NEW GUINEA

23.   COMOROS

75.   PHILIPPINES

24.   CONGO

76.   QATAR

25.   COTE D’IVOIRE

77.   RUSSIA

26.   CUBA

78.   RWANDA

27.   DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

79.   SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

28.   DJIBOUTI

80.   SAUDI ARABIA

29.   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

81.   SENEGAL

30.   ECUADOR

82.   SIERRA LEONE

31.   EGYPT

83.   SOMALIA

32.   EQUATORIAL GUINEA

84.   SOUTH AFRICA

33.   ERITREA

85.   SOUTH SUDAN

34.   ETHIOPIA

86.   SRI LANKA

35.   FIJI

87.   SUDAN

36.   GABON

88.   SURINAME

37.   GAMBIA

89.   SWAZILAND

38.   GHANA

90.   SYRIA

39.   GUINEA

91.   TAJIKISTAN

40.   GUINEA-BISSAU

92.   TANZANIA

41.   GUYANA

93.   THAILAND

42.   HAITI

94.   TOGO

43.   INDIA

95.   TUNISIA

44.   INDONESIA

96.   TURKEY

45.   IRAN

97.   TURKMENISTAN

46.   IRAQ

98.   UGANDA

47.   JAMAICA

99.   UZBEKISTAN

48.   JORDAN

100. VIETNAM

49.   KAZAKHSTAN

101. YEMEN

50.   KENYA

102. ZAMBIA

51.   KUWAIT

103. ZIMBABWE

52.   KYRGYZSTAN

 
  • Third-party nationals from the following entities/territories are also required to apply for a Schengen visa: KOSOVO and the PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
  • Those who do require a visa may learn more about the Schengen visa application process below. 

Who can apply for Schengen visa

In theory, anyone who requires a visa to enter the Schengen visa area may apply for one (see Do I need a Schengen visa, explained above). In practice, only those who meet the visa requirements are approved for Schengen visa. Meeting the requirements involves submitting all the Schengen visa required documents, paying the Schengen visa fees, and completing the rest of the steps which comprise the Schengen visa application process. Successful applicants are granted access to the 27 Schengen visa countries for a period not exceeding 90 days. 

How to apply for a Schengen visa

  • Would-be travelers should follow these 10 steps to complete the Schengen visa application process:
    • Decide when to travel 
    • Choose one of the Schengen visa countries as your primary destination 
    • Select your Schengen visa type 
    • Select your entry category for the Schengen visa area
    • Find your application destination (physical location where you will submit your Schengen visa required documents) 
    • Access your Schengen visa form
    • Submit your Schengen visa required documents
    • Pay your Schengen visa fees 
    • Attend a visa interview 
    • Receive your visa decision 

Where you need to apply

The Schengen visa application process occurs at the foreign embassies and consulates of Schengen visa countries; you will apply for your Schengen visa through the embassy or consulate of your primary destination in the Schengen area. There are 27 countries in the Schengen visa area; your primary destination in the zone is the country in which you intend to spend the most number of days. Once you know your primary destination, you will apply for your visa through that country’s embassy or consulate in your country of residence. This is where you will submit your Schengen visa required documents, pay your Schengen visa fees, and complete all tasks associated with the Schengen visa application process.

Schengen visa type you need

Please note that Schengen visa fees are the same for all Schengen visa types to all Schengen visa countries.