rules of schengen tourist visa

Visa Traveler

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Schengen Visa for Tourists: Everything You Need to Know

Updated: October 19, 2023

The Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows you to travel freely within the Schengen area. As per the UN, the continent of Europe is comprised of 44 countries. Of these, 27 countries are part of the Schengen agreement. The Schengen agreement abolished internal borders between these 27 countries.

A Schengen visa is a unified visa for short stays (up to 90 days) for these 27 European countries. Therefore, a Schengen visa is the only visa you will need to travel to any of these 27 countries.

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SCHENGEN VISA POLICY

The Schengen visa policy was introduced in 1995 which abolished internal borders between the Schengen countries. 

Once you have obtained a Schengen visa, you can travel freely between the Schengen member countries without any border controls. For example, if you enter France and would like to go to Germany, you will not pass through passport controls at the France-Germany border. 

Keep in mind that the Schengen visa policy only applies to the Schengen area and not to the entire European Union.

Schengen visa countries

There are currently 27 countries in the Schengen area that you can visit with a single Schengen visa. Below is the list of countries.

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

Apart from the above 27 Schengen member countries, you also travel to 50 non-Schengen countries visa-free using a Schengen visa .

SCHENGEN VISA TYPES

Those intending to visit the Schengen countries for tourism must either be visa-exempt or hold a valid Schengen visa from the embassy. 

• Visa EXEMPTION (ETIAS from 2024)
• Type-A (Airport Transit Visa)
• Single-entry
• Double-entry
• Multiple-entry
• Type-D (Long Stay Visa for stays more than 90 days)
• Limited Territorial Schengen Visa

For this guide, we will focus only on visas for tourism intent, that is Type-C Uniform Schengen visas. 

SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS

Minimum passport validity required to enter the Schengen area

Passport must be valid for at least 3 months from your planned departure from Schengen area.

Example: If your trip is from Mar 10 to Mar 20, your passport must be valid at least until Jun 20.

Visa EXEMPT nationalities

90-day entry.

• Antigua And Barbuda
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
• El Salvador
• Marshall Islands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• St Kitts And Nevis
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad And Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

Visa REQUIRED nationalities

• Afghanistan
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo, Dem. Rep. of
• Congo, Rep. of
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Dominican Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• North Korea
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Sao Tome And Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Turkmenistan

IMPORTANT Palestine and Kosovo are not recognized by at least one Schengen member state. If you are a Palestinian or Kosovo national, please inquire at your nearest Schengen consulate for visa requirements for your passport.

SCHENGEN VISA EXEMPTION (ETIAS FROM 2024)

Currently, 62 nationalities can enter the Schengen area without a visa. Though you do not require a visa, you must consider the total duration of your stay in the Schengen area and must carry the mandatory documents.

Duration of Stay in Schengen Area – the 90 days/180 days rule

Non-EU Passport holders who are visa EXEMPT are allowed to stay in the Schengen area countries for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This “90 days in any 180 days” applies to all short-stay visitors to the Schengen area.

• Stays in EU countries that are NOT part of the Schengen area (Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ireland) are not counted in calculating the period of stay.
• Stays in non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are counted in calculating the period of stay compliance with the 90-day / 180-day rule.
• Both the day of entry and the day of exit are counted in the calculation.
• The 180-day period is referenced backward from the day of checking.
• A simple rule of thumb is, if you are out of the Schengen area for a continuous period of 90 days allows you a new stay of 90 days.

You can use the Schengen calculator to determine the number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area. Here is the manual on how to use the Schengen calculator.

Documents to carry

Visa EXEMPT individuals must carry the following documents when entering the Schengen member states.

• Valid passport
• Proof of onward travel
• Proof of accommodation

SCHENGEN VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

Currently, 104 non-EU nationals require a visa to enter the Schengen area. These nationals must be in possession of a Schengen visa when entering the Schengen zone.

Validity of Schengen Visa

The Schengen visa validity depends on whether you are a first-time applicant or a subsequent applicant. 

First-time application: If you are applying for the first time, your visa will be valid for the exact number of days you have asked for. In some instances, you may get a few buffer days as additional. 

For example, if your itinerary is 12 days, your visa will be valid for exactly 12 days. 

As a first-time visa applicant, I suggest adding a few extra days to your itinerary so you will get a few extra days on your visa validity. That way, you can have some flexibility in your travel plans.

First-time Schengen visas are usually single-entry or double-entry. 

Subsequent applications: If you are applying for the second or third time, you may likely get a visa valid for 90 days. The visa may likely be multiple-entry. 

Rules for obtaining Schengen visa valid for 1, 2 or 5 years

• To obtain a 1-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used 3 Schengen visas within the last 2 years
• To obtain a 2-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used a 1-year Schengen visa within the last 2 years
• To obtain a 5-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used a 2-year Schengen visa within the last 3 years

Duration of Stay in Schengen area – the 90 days/180 days rule

Visa-required passport holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This “90 days in any 180 days” applies to all short-stay visitors to the Schengen area.

• Stays in non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are counted in calculating the period of stay compliance with the 90 days / 180-day rule.

Where to apply for Schengen visa

Most tourists plan to travel to more than one country during their Europe trip. The Schengen visa is valid for 27 countries, so you must first determine your Schengen country of application. This helps greatly in avoiding visa delays and refusals.

Follow the below guidelines to determine your country of application.

CASE 1: If you plan to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply for your visa at the consulate of that particular country.

Example: If you are traveling to Spain only, then you must apply for your visa at the Spain Embassy or Consulate.

CASE 2: If you plan to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for your visa at the consulate of the country of your main destination (the country where you will be spending most days).

Example: If your itinerary is 10 days of which 4 days in Spain and 6 days in France, then you must apply for your visa at the French consulate since you will be spending more time in France.

CASE 3: If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination (same amount of days in each country) then you should apply for your visa at the consulate of the country of your first point of entry.

Example: If your itinerary is 10 days of which you will be spending 5 days in the Netherlands first and 5 days in France after, then you must apply for a visa at the Netherlands Consulate since the Netherlands is your first port of entry.

When to apply for Schengen visa

You must apply for your Schengen visa no later than 15 days prior to your travel. Otherwise, your application will not be accepted.

You can apply for your visa up to 6 months in advance. So, apply as soon as you can to avoid delays, refusals and disappointments.

Schengen Visa Application Process

There is a plan to implement online systems of Schengen visas. But as of now, the visa can only be applied in person. Visa application is a 4 step process

• Fill out your Schengen visa application form 14076-02 (online or offline)
• Schedule an in-person Schengen visa appointment (at the consulate or visa agent such as VFS Global)
• Appear in person to submit your visa application, documents, biometrics and visa fee
• Pick up your original passport with the approved visa.

You can apply for a Schengen visa through a visa/travel agency in some countries. Travel agencies that offer vacation packages to Europe usually are allowed to apply for the visa on your behalf.

Documents required for Schengen visa

The following documents are required for your Schengen visa.

• Filled and signed visa application form (online or downloadable from the consulate page)
• Original passport
• Copy of the visa/residence permit if applying in a third country
• One recent passport-size photo
• Confirmed round-trip flight reservation
• Proof of health insurance
• 3-month bank statement
• 3-month salary slips
• Original signed employment letter
• Cover letter with a detailed itinerary

Application Form

Filling out the application form can be done online or offline depending on the Schengen country. For example, the application form for France is online whereas for Spain, it’s paper.

Photo Requirements

The photo must be 4.5cm x 3.5cm. That is, 4.5cm high and 3.5 cm wide. The face must be 3.2 to 3.6cm or 70-80% of the photo.

Proof of Health Insurance

It’s MANDATORY to submit travel medical insurance for Schengen visa . You must attach a certificate of travel health insurance in the Schengen area or worldwide with 100% coverage with no deductibles or co-pays.

It must have a minimum coverage of €30,000 EUR for medical, hospitalization, emergencies and repatriation services.

You can purchase Schengen travel insurance from any online provider. You can cancel and get a refund if your visa is denied. Once you purchase the travel insurance for your desired dates, you can download the visa letter that you can submit with your visa application.

Recommended Schengen visa insurance:

• VisitorsCoverage | Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements | Costs $1 a day

Schengen Visa Fee

The Schengen visa fee for an adult is approximately €80 EUR. For children between the ages of 6 and 12, it’s €40 EUR. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from paying the visa fee.

The fee must be paid in local currency, in the form of cash or bank money order. Most Schengen consulates have outsourced the visa process to VFS or BLS. Therefore, in addition to the visa fee, you may have to pay a fee for biometric collection and courier services.

Schengen Visa Processing Time

Schengen visa processing can take from 15 calendar days to 45 calendar days depending on the consulate, country or agent. Apply no later than 15 days prior to your travel. Otherwise, your application will not be accepted.

ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT

Entering Schengen Zone by Air

You do not need to fill in any arrival/departure card on entering the Schengen area. Do not panic if your flight attendant did not give you an arrival/departure card on your flight.

At the immigration, you will generally be asked about your final destination, places you will be visiting and the number of days you are planning on staying. You might also be asked if it is your first time in Europe.

The immigration officer will stamp your passport upon arrival. The number of days you are allowed to stay will not be marked on your passport.

As always, carry a copy of your return ticket and hotel booking just in case. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, don’t forget to get proof of onward ticket .

Leaving Schengen Zone by Air

You must go through passport control on exiting the Schengen area. You will not be asked any questions unless you have overstayed your visa. Passport control is fairly quick, about 10-15 minutes depending on the airport.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What is the minimum bank balance required for a Schengen visa?

The minimum bank balance required for a Schengen visa depends on the country you are applying from and the duration of your stay. As a general rule, you should have at least €60 per day for your stay in the Schengen area. This should cover your travel expenses, including accommodation, food, and transportation.

Does Schengen visa cover Switzerland?

Yes, the Schengen visa covers Switzerland. Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area. You can travel to Switzerland and other Schengen countries with a single visa.

Which Schengen visa is hardest?

There is no specific Schengen visa that is considered the hardest to obtain. But visa refusal statistics show that Norway, France and Belgium have the highest refusal rates.

Which country gives fastest Schengen visa?

The processing time for a Schengen visa may vary depending on the country you are applying from and the purpose of your visit. However, some countries may have faster processing times than others. For example, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are known to have relatively fast processing times.

Which country gives Schengen visa easiest?

There is no specific country that gives Schengen visa easiest. But visa refusal statistics show that Finland, Hungary, Estonia and Poland have the lowest refusal rates.

Do US citizens need a visa to enter the Schengen area?

No, US citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area. US citizens can travel to the Schengen territory for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa for tourism or business purposes.

Europe is usually the first choice for most first-time international travelers. It’s a dream for most people to visit European countries at least once in their lifetime. Europe has such an impeccable beauty, history, art, and cuisine.

A Schengen visa allows you to travel freely within the Schengen area, comprised of 27 European countries. Non-EU nationals who are visa-exempt and visa-required are allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Schengen visas are single, double or multiple-entry visas. First-time Schengen visas are limited in validity, but subsequent visas are 90 days to 5 years of validity.

• European Comission, Migration and Home Affairs
• European Union Law (EUR-Lex), Visa Code

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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• Schengen Visa Types

How to (Legally) Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days

When I planned my move to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered by thousands of travelers every year and a question that regularly (especially this time of year) pops up in my inbox.

“How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?”

It’s a simple question with a very complicated answer.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew just how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than 90 days; they just aren’t well known.

This post will teach you the options for staying in Europe over 90 days as well as give you tips on how to move to Europe. But first a few things:

It’s important to note that Europe isn’t just one place — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk about the “90-day limit,” they’re talking about restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 27 countries in Europe. It includes most of the European Union as well as a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the “Schengen Visa,” it’s not an actual visa you necessarily need to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, you may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport do not need to apply in advance.

However, it should be noted that as of 2025, visitors from 60 countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) will need to apply for an online ETIAS, which is essentially a visa waiver, when entering the 23 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries of the Schengen. It is valid for 90 days within a 180-day period.

You can apply and pay online up to 96 hours beforehand. It is similar to the US version of ESTA (or the eTA in Canada). ETIAS cost 7 EUR for those 18-70 years old and are free for those under 18 years or over 70.

If you come from a country that requires you to get a Schengen visa you will not need to apply for ETIAS. It’s one or the other. Learn more here . (The ETIAS was originally set to launch in 2024, but has been pushed back.)

Table of Contents

• What is the Schengen Visa?

Part 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Way

Part 2: staying in the schengen area past 90 days.

• Take Advantage of the Bilateral Agreement
• Working Holiday Visas
• Long-Term-Stay Visas
• Student Visas
• Freelancer Visas
• Marriage Visas

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Area countries, which are:

• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

  Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa agreement that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passports every time they cross a border. Essentially, it’s as if they’re one country, and you can move as freely as you want.

Citizens of many countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You’re allowed to enter and leave from any country you want — they don’t have to be the same.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that can enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day period. The easiest way to think of it is that you can visit for 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months before you can return.

However, you can also bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just need to keep track of all your dates of entry/exit.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the time. Your first entry in the 180-day period is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don’t need to be consecutive — the total is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and then come back in June for 10 days, that counts as 70 days in 180 days. Only days you are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you have to leave and technically can’t come back until July 1st.

If you’re doing a lot of bouncing around, use the EU’s Schengen visa calculator . Simply input all your travel dates and it’ll tell you how many days you have remaining.

However, not all travelers are allowed such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You’ll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the country for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

So, with that being said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How do you get around that rule? Let me break it down for you.  

Most non-Schengen countries such as Moldova , Ireland , and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for up to 60 or 90 days. Albania even lets Americans stay up to a year!

So, all you need to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and then visit the UK, go to the Balkans, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, you can easily be out of the Schengen Area for 90 days and then head back into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

Years ago, to get around this limit, I spent three months in Bulgaria , Romania , Ukraine , and England as I waited for my clock to reset.

After that, I headed back into the Schengen area for Oktoberfest .

If you want to travel the continent for a long time without having to go through the various visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There are plenty of countries to choose from while you wait for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free way of doing things.

—-> Need more tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and get in-depth information on what to see and do and how to save money .  

After all, the Schengen Area spans 27 countries and visiting so many destinations in 90 days can be a little rushed (you would have an average of just 3.5 days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or fall in love, then the “move around” option suggested above isn’t going to work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, there are a few ways to do this — and I can’t stress enough the importance of the word “few.” Because staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area isn’t easy.

First, let’s understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that you can’t stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you’re subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to another. Overstaying by a day might not be the end of the world, however, some countries do not mess around with visitors overstaying.

For example, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict about entry and exit rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there’s a good chance they’ll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and now has an “illegal immigrant” stamp on her passport. In order to enter Europe again, she must apply for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the mistake of attempting to leave from the Netherlands after overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they hand-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to note my overstay. They told me I’d have to contact the IND and find out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them too so don’t overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece , France , Italy , or Spain you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) haven’t stayed over too long and (b) didn’t catch the immigration officer on a bad day.

When I left Greece, no one even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, fell in love, and decided not to leave. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn’t even look twice. Another friend flew into France and didn’t even get an entry stamp. Spain is another place notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to exit from. Still, it’s a good idea not to take your chances.

Of course, I don’t think it’s wise to overstay. A day or two? Likely not the end of the world. But a few weeks? A few months? The risk is too great. The fines can be large and I love going to Europe too much to risk being banned.

But, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/stamp?

Unfortunately not. Simply put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There’s a 90-day limit, and that’s that.

So what’s a tourist to do?  

1. Take advantage of the Bilateral Agreement

There are 23 Schengen countries to date with bilateral agreements in place with Austria having the most visa waiver agreements (for 27 non-EU countries). Moreover, there are 12 countries that have bilateral agreements with Australia.

For example, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.S. citizens to stay an additional 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. You can enter from any Schengen country, stay 90 days in France, and then fly home. But the catch is you have to go home — you can’t go elsewhere. You have to leave Europe so you can’t use your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. It’s based on a post-World War II agreement that was never canceled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they thought this law existed but couldn’t tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible but only with a long-term visa.

BUT, after many calls, the US, Canada, and UK French embassies told me that yes, this law does exist and that yes, this is still valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, we found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out . It took us close to a year to find it but we did.

This is the note from the French government about it:

Hi, There is a bilateral agreement between French and the U.S. by exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries. However, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more border control between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration police while leaving France. Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area. Consulat général de France, Service des visas 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow-up to the London embassy gave me this response:

“Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole authority on deciding whether to apply it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area.”

So this is really a thing. And, while they don’t like you using it, it’s still the law. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to use this rule, bring documentation as border guards may not be aware of it.

Additionally, Denmark, Norway, and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the United States that let citizens stay an additional 90 days in each country separate from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the same way as the French one. Denmark also has a bilateral agreement that is applicable for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea .

That said, travelers can only use the Norwegian or the Danish bilateral agreement — they can’t use both (time in Norway under the bilateral agreement counts as time in Denmark and vice versa).

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where you will be stamped again (i.e., direct flight from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and then fly to Poland. Poland’s rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. ( Here’s a copy of the letter from the Polish government) .

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I’ve been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. as well. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements .

However, I reached out to each country’s consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in any meaningful way. They simply directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral 60-day visa:

Please note that those 60 days are an exceptional extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

Now, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel you could get your “extra 90 days in Denmark” and then just travel around, fly out of Denmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. But I’ve noticed a lot more intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in France for not having my passport with me while on a train to see a chateau. So, I wouldn’t recommend doing this.

Note: Most countries have bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more information (you’ll have better luck calling than emailing).  

2. Get a Working Holiday Visa

There is no single “working holiday” program for the Schengen or EU so applicants must apply for a visa from a specific country. Usually, applicants must be younger than 30, though age restrictions are becoming more relaxed in recent years.

Additionally, you can get consecutive working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a two-year Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they mostly used it as a way to travel around the continent.

Note : This type of visa won’t allow you to work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are only two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen country). Both programs are essentially the same, providing a 12-month work visa to those either currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a higher education institution.

While you must be at least 18 to apply, there’s no upper age limit, provided that you fit the other criteria. For the Portuguese visa, you can only work for 6 months out of the 12-month visa, while the Irish visa has no work restrictions.

3. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

However, in 2023, if you have a fully online business, there are countries within Schengen that allow digital nomad visas provided you make a certain amount of money per month and have your own health insurance. Countries that currently offer digital nomad visas include Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Romania, Spain, and Norway.

The countries that allow you to apply with the lowest online salary are Portugal, Hungary, Malta, and Croatia, which require around 2,500 EUR in income per month.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to one year. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to country. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly impossible despite being in the same visa treaty zone.

However, there are a few countries that do offer long-term visas that aren’t too hard to get:  

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a period of up to one year. According to the French Embassy, “The ‘visitor’ visa (or visa ‘D’) allows you to enter France and stay for more than three months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in France for up to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay.”

To get this visa, you must set up an appointment at the French consulate near you. You can’t walk in — you must make an appointment.

At this appointment, you’ll need the following documents:

• One application form filled out completely and signed
• Three passport photos
• Your original passport, which must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for three months after your return, and have at least two blank pages left
• A letter certified by a notary public that promises you won’t engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you’ll need copies of a pension certificate or your last 3 bank statements)
• Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance and medical coverage of at least €30,000 (a copy of your US health insurance card is not acceptable as proof, you need a detailed description of coverage)
• Proof of accommodation in France. (If you don’t have an official document such as a sublet agreement, you can include a letter describing your accommodation arrangements).

Note : You can’t apply for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.

France-Visas is the official visa website for France. It details all the types of visas and has a helpful “visa wizard” where you put in your situation and it tells you what type of visa you should apply for as well as all the documents that you need.

You can also visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more information. Find your closest consulate here .

This post has some helpful information to get you started on long-term visas in particular .  

Sweden also offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of one year. Here’s a brief overview of what you need:

• Residence permit for visitor’s application form
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity and the validity of your passport, as well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport also needs to be valid for 3 months after your stay.
• A bank statement showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (450 SEK for each day of your stay)
• A return airplane ticket
• Proof of medical coverage of at least 30,000 EUR

Most people who apply for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don’t, you’ll need to have clear reasons as to why you need to stay longer and show ample proof that you can support yourself (i.e., “I want to meet Swedish guys/girls” won’t cut it!).

You can apply either in Sweden or outside the country. If you’re applying from Sweden, you can apply online, and then make an appointment at the consulate or embassy to show your passport and get fingerprinted. If you’re applying outside of Sweden, you need to file your application in person at the consulate or embassy. When you file your application abroad, you’ll also be interviewed about your intended trip and the purpose for staying in Sweden.

You can learn more about the process on this government page .

Spain offers a couple of long-term visas. The Golden Visa is based on a sizable financial investment in Spain, either into a company (minimum 1 million EUR), real estate (minimum 500,000 EUR), or invest in a new business such as in science or tech that creates local employment opportunities. The other more attainable and popular long-term visa targets retirees and is called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for tax purposes. During this time, you are unable to work in Spain (so you’ll need to have enough savings to get you by). However, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big catch for this visa is that you need to have at least 26,000 EUR in your bank account (ideally more). Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you’re coming here to rest on your financial laurels after a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn’t recommend this visa if you’re a digital nomad (Spain is supposedly working on a visa specifically for digital nomads, though it’s not currently available). This is a bit of a gray area though. If you can show enough savings to financially sustain yourself for a year without working, you can get this visa. You just cannot use monthly statements (such as from your remote job) to prove income; financial proof must be savings or passive income (such as a pension).

In addition to having sizable savings, you’ll also need to fill out the application, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the following:

• Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain not travel insurance)
• A doctor’s note certifying that you’re healthy
• A criminal background check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency (usually with the help of lawyers). The application varies per country, usually between 120-900 EUR (it’s around 125 EUR for Americans and over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you need regarding the application .

Portugal has multiple long-term stay visas. First, there is a Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of 280,000 EUR and takes around 18 months to process. The D7 Passive Income visa, which is similar to Spain’s non-lucrative visa, is more realistic for most people.

To apply for the D7 visa in Portugal you need:

• Proof of health insurance covering at least 30,000 EUR
• A background check
• Proof of financial means to stay in Portugal (8,460 EUR)
• Letter of purpose and intent in Portugal
• 2 passport photos
• Proof of accommodation

The main difference between the Portuguese and Spanish long-term visas is that you only need an income of around 8,460 EUR instead of the 26,000 EUR in savings that the Spanish visa requires. You still cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomad as it is valid for 4 months. Portugal is much more accepting of remote work as proof of income for the visa application than Spain.

Portugal also offers the D2 immigrant Entrepreneur visa, which isn’t designed specifically for digital nomads, but could be used by specific entrepreneurs. You’ll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have enough capital to get started. You’ll also need to explain why you want to start your business in Portugal (or move it there). You’ll have a much higher chance of getting approved if you have invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese (it’s not required, but these visas are regularly rejected so it will give you a leg up).

In short, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa. However, you can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years.

You’ll need to apply for both of these visas in your country of residency.

The official Portuguese visa website has more information about specific visas and requirements. You can locate your nearest Portuguese consulate here .

A note on long-term visas: Keep in mind that the information above is just for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your application and not all visas are open to everyone. You’ll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and additional information.  

4. Get a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries offer student visas that are easy to obtain so long as you’re enrolled in a recognized university program. This would require you to pay for the course and you may also have to show proof of minimum fund requirements, but it will virtually guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

One of the best countries to do this is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. There are tons of schools that will allow you to enroll and write letters stating you’re a student there. You’ll need to apply in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements .

Germany is another popular choice, as post-secondary schools there are essentially free. While there may be more competition, the costs are much lower. However, you need to show proof that you have money in a bank account to cover your expenses. As of October 2022, that amount is 11, 208 EUR in a blocked bank account.

In Germany, you might also be able to work up to 120 full days, or 240 half days (20 hours a week) while you study as well. You can learn about the application process here .

While most student visas allow you to stay in a country for one year, I would only consider getting one if you actually plan on studying. If you’re just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it’s not going to be worth the cost and paperwork since you’ll need to set up everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local phone number and more.  

5. Get a Freelancer/Remote Worker Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas and visas geared towards the increasing number of remote workers. This process is a little more complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If you’re just a casual tourist, expect to be denied. But if you’re a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer or remote worker visas include:

• Germany (no set income amount, but you need a business plan and upwards of 10,000 EUR in savings)
• Estonia (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Czechia (5,600 EUR in savings)
• Portugal (2,800 EUR income/month)
• Greece (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Malta (2,700 EUR income/month)
• Hungary (2,000 EUR income/month
• Croatia (17,800 HRK (2,300 EUR income/month)

Non-Schengen countries that have them include:

• Romania (no set income, reports of successful applicants range from about 3,700 EUR/month)
• Georgia (2,000 USD income/month)
• Iceland (1,000,000 ISK income/month (6,617 EUR), only valid for up to 6 months)

Germany is the country most used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you’re a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get. If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South Korea, or Japan you can apply after you arrive in Germany (everyone else needs to apply in advance).

The visa only lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for three years. I have many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more information about the process .

Most of these visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then wait to be accepted. However, some have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia’s freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR per month leading up to your application. For the Czechia visa, you need to have at least $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this process a couple of years ago, can walk you through the steps ).

If you are a digital nomad and are considering working remotely from the EU you can compare these programs to see which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best place to start since it’s one of the easiest to get).  

6. Get Married to a European

Fall in love with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! You’ll get to stay there while the application process goes through and then you can move to Europe and stay there forever with the love of your life! That’s a win-win! (This is a joke. Don’t get married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

The best, easiest, and most effective way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you’re in the Schengen Area for only 90 days. As I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Area so this is easy to do.

If you’re like me and want to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or just want to move to Europe because it’s awesome), be prepared to work the system. It’s not impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. By understanding the system and using the few loopholes that do exist, one can legally stay past 90 days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying about being barred for life.  

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel while in Europe. It has suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Europe? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone’s situation, we do not answer any visa related questions in the comments or via email. Thank you.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

• studying a short course
• getting medical treatment
• travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
• journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, 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.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to EU countries that are not in the Schengen area

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in each of these countries without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in these countries.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

• stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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Two Can Travel

Digital Nomads & House Sitters

(2023) Europe’s New Schengen Visa Rules 8 min read

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

In this article, we’re going to tell you about the Schengen visa and the new rules that are starting in 2023. We’ll go over what the Schengen visa is, what it means for you, how you can get one, and how things are about to change. 

Europe! Where your friends go to learn how to say croissant weird. If you’re embarking on a trip to the Old World, you need to know your visa situation. You don’t want to end your backpacking trip of self-discovery in a German prison awaiting deportation.

We’ve spent the past 20 months traveling all over Europe. We’ve spent time in Romania, France, the UK, Albania, Spain, and Bulgaria, mostly in that order. Wherever you go in Europe it’s important to be aware of the Schengen area and its time limits.

If you’re asking yourself, what the heck is a Schengen? We’ll explain. 

Table of Contents

What the Heck is a Schengen?

The Schengen Area is a zone made up of these 27 European countries that came together to abolish their internal borders.

The countries in the Schengen zone are:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

This allows for the free and unrestricted movement of people within the Schengen zone. It also allows for common rules for controlling external borders and police cooperation. 

The Schengen area is the world’s largest visa-free zone! (Well, visa-free for now at least, but we’ll talk more about that later).

Croatia was the latest country to join the Schengen zone in January 2023. More countries are set to enter the Schengen area in the future, including Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.

Interestingly, some countries that are not part of the EU are in the Schengen zone, like Iceland and Norway.

Another fun fact: The Schengen zone was named for the city of Schengen in Luxembourg where the treaty was signed.

So now that you understand what the Schengen area is, let’s talk about the Schengen visa. 

The Schengen Visa

A Schengen visa is the visa some travelers can receive when they first enter the Schengen zone, depending on what passport you hold.

If you are from one of these 62 countries , then as of February 2023, there is no paperwork and no need to apply for a Schengen visa. Your entry stamp serves as your Schengen visa and allows you to stay and travel around in any of the 27 Schengen area countries without having to apply for a new visa for each country. 

That means you can land in Spain, take a train into France, bus over to Belgium, bike over to Germany, take a river cruise to Austria, and accidentally wander into Lichtenstein, all without having to show your passport or go through immigration! That’s pretty cool!

BUT It’s important to note that all of this is going to change near the end of 2023, which we’ll get into below.

The downside is that with a Schengen visa, you only have 90 days in a 180-day period to be in any of those 27 countries.

90 out of 180 Rule

Generally speaking, passport holders from those 62 countries mentioned before can stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in a 180-day period. 

That sounds pretty straightforward…but it’s not!

The 180-day period is any 180-day period. So if you spend 45 days in Spain (Schengen), then a week in Bulgaria (not Schengen), then head to Germany (Schengen), you do not get a new 90 days to spend in the Schengen zone. You will only have 45 days left because of the 180-day travel window.

It’s also important to note that 90 days does not mean 90 days in a row. If you want to spend a few weeks in Belgium (Schengen), then head to the UK (not Schengen), then go to France (Schengen), that’s totally fine, as long as your time in Belgium and France combined does not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. 

If this all sounds very confusing, don’t worry, there are a multitude of apps that can help you keep track of your time in the Schengen Zone. (We use this one .) You put in your travel dates and the app does all the math. The apps can tell you how many days you can stay in the Schengen zone, or how long you’ll have to wait before you can go back in. 

How to stay in Europe longer than 90 days

So, you can only stay in the Schengen area for 90 days out of 180 days. Full stop. But what if I want to spend more than 90 days in Europe, you may ask? Great question! 

As we mentioned before, we’ve been traveling around Europe for the past 20 months. It’s actually quite easy to spend more time in Europe because, luckily, not every European country is part of the Schengen zone. 

There are currently 16 countries in Europe that are not part of the Schengen zone. Those countries are:

• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• United Kingdom

That means you can spend time in those countries while you wait for your Schengen clock to reset. Just make sure to check out how long you’re allowed to stay in those countries and any visa requirements before traveling. For instance, if you’re American, you can spend an entire year in Albania ! 

Romania, however, only allows Americans to stay for 90 days in a 180-day period. And 90 days in a 180-day period is not a suggestion, it is very much the rule. If you break that rule, you will get deported. And getting deported is not fun. Trust me on this one . 

From our own personal experience, at the end of 2021, we spent 90 days house sitting across France. We would have stayed longer, and finally learned how to say croissant correctly, but we did not want to overstay. Penalties for overstaying your time in the Schengen zone are pretty serious. 

You WILL get deported, probably fined, and maybe even banned from reentering the Schengen zone for many years. We did not want that. We love good cheese and wine. So we left France and spent the next months in the UK and Albania while we waited for our Schengen time to reset before we went to Spain .

Now for the really important information: the new Schengen visa changes that are starting in 2023.

2023 Schengen Visa Changes: Introducing ETIAS

ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, which is basically fancy talk for the new Schengen visa system.

The US and Canada have had similar visa systems for travelers in place for years, it’s just taken the EU a couple of years to iron out the kinks and implement the ETIAS system.

Under ETIAS, passport holders of 59 of the 62 countries that currently travel visa-free in the Schengen zone, will require an ETIAS waiver to travel to Europe for the purposes of tourism, business, or transit for a 90-day stay in any 180-day period.

You will be required to apply for a visa before traveling into the Schengen zone. 

The visa application costs 7 Euros and will be valid for three years. If you’re under 18 or over 70, then you don’t need to pay. You can apply for ETIAS, pay for it with a credit or debit card, and be accepted online.

In order to apply for ETIAS you’ll need a current valid passport that is machine readable bearing the electronic passport sign, or chip.

Countries that are not eligible for ETIAS must still apply for Schengen Visa. You can find all of the ETIAS-eligible countries and requirements on the ETIAS.com website. 

The ETIAS will begin rolling out in May of 2023 so that travelers can begin applying and getting used to the new rules. By November 2023, it will become mandatory for all travelers to apply for and receive an ETIAS visa before traveling to the Schengen zone.

If you are from a country that cannot get a Schengen visa on arrival, then things aren’t really going to be changing for you. You will still have to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel.

All in all, the biggest difference is that you’ll have to apply to enter the Schengen zone before you leave your home country and pay seven euros. 

Stay Up to Date

Check out all of the most up-to-date requirements for ETIAS .

If you plan to travel to Europe in 2023 or in the future, then we hope this info is helpful for you. Make sure you go to ETIAS.com to see all of the latest requirements and updates for entering the Schengen zone depending on your passport country. 

Thank you so much for reading! If you’re a digital nomad then you might want to check out this article about Digital Nomad Visas, and whether you actually need one .

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Visas and entry requirements in europe and the schengen area.

This page is for Australians travelling to Europe.

Read this page to learn about:

• the Schengen Area
• entry and exit to the Schengen Area
• other European countries with visa waivers
• non-Schengen European countries

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries. We can't provide final information on border rules. Ask your destination's high commission, embassy or consulate for details before you travel.

The Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is made up of 27 European countries with common border rules. It lets travellers move freely between member countries without

• going through border controls
• getting a visa for each country.

The members of the Schengen Area are:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland

Bulgaria  and  Romania  partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March.  Border checks should have ceased for air or sea travel  between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen Area countries. Checks are still undertaken for land-based travel. Stays in Bulgaria and Romania now count towards your total visa-free stay in the Schengen Area (see below).

Entry and exit in the Schengen Area

Australians can travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your travel must be for:

• business purposes
• visiting friends and family
• tourism and holidays
• cultural and sports events
• official visit
• medical reasons
• short-term study

Apply at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country where you'll stay the longest. If you're staying for the same length of time in each country, apply at the embassy of the country you'll visit first.

You'll need to apply for a visa if:

• you're planning to stay for more than 90 days
• your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel.

You'll need to apply outside the country you want a visa for.

Calculating your 90/180 days

Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. The European Commission provides a calculator to help you track your visa-free days .

• The 180 days isn't fixed in time. It's calculated backwards from today.
• Your 90 days are calculated from your first day in the Schengen Area within the 180 days.
• If you leave and return within 180 days, your last stay will count towards the 90-day maximum.
• If you use up your visa-free days, you must leave until you accumulate more or apply for a visa.
• You may be fined or banned from the Schengen Area if you overstay your 90 days.

Example You arrive in Spain on 18 March. You fly to the UK on 21 April and stay there until the 29th. On 30 April, you travel to Greece and stay until 23 June. Your trip was 97 days, but only 90 were in the Schengen Area. You can't re-enter the Area until at least 14 September, when the Spanish leg of your trip falls outside your 180 days. If you re-enter on 14 September, you can only stay another 35 days as your time in Greece still counts towards your current 90 days. If you re-enter on 22 September, you can stay another 90 days, as you haven't been in the Area in the past 180 days .

Entering and exiting the Schengen Area

You must show a valid passport when entering the Schengen Area.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave.

Make sure you get a clear entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen Area for the first time. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.

Some countries need you to register within 3 days of arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country. Check the European Commission for information on temporary border controls .

These visa rules only apply when travelling on your Australian passport . If you're a dual national travelling on your other passport, check the rules for that nationality.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic security system. It will do a security check before you can enter participating European countries . ETIAS is expected to start in mid-2025 if the new system is working.

You won't need an ETIAS for EU countries who aren't taking part in the program.

Other European countries with visa waivers

There are other European countries where you can travel visa-free. Travel to these countries does not count towards your 90 days for Schengen Area travel.

Countries can change their border rules at short notice. Before you travel, ask your destination's nearest embassy or consulate for the latest rules.

Visa waiver agreements with Australia

Australia has visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen Area. These agreements may allow you to spend 60 to 90 days in the country for tourism.

Visa waiver agreement countries include:

Using visa waiver agreements with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver in its own way.

Most countries need you to use the visa waiver at the end of your Schengen Area travel.

Visa-free tourism programs in non-Schengen countries

Some European countries outside the Schengen Area allow you to enter visa-free for tourism. Most let you stay up to 90 days. Some are for longer. See our country advisories for details on border rules.

• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia)
• United Kingdom

Non-Schengen European countries

Many European countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Non-Schengen countries have their own border rules. These countries include:

Ask these countries' high commission, embassy or consulate for visa information.

• General advice on  visas .
• Before you go, get the right travel insurance .
• Read about Australia's 11 reciprocal health care agreements .
• The Schengen Area explained

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Many Australians hold two or more nationalities. If you're travelling to the country of your other nationality, find out how your citizenship can impact you.

Foreign governments often require you to get a visa before they let you enter. This page provides general advice and information about visas overseas.

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Indians can now apply for a multiple entry schengen visa with longer validity.

The European Commission's new visa 'cascade' regime simplifies Schengen visa access for Indian nationals, enabling long-term multi-entry visas. This enhances travel flexibility within the Schengen area, reflecting the deepening EU-India relationship and cooperation on migration policy.

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New Schengen visa rules announced; longer validity and easier access to Indian nationals

T his initiative by the European Commission, adopted on April 18, represents a departure from the standard Visa Code rules that previously applied to Indian nationals. These new rules offer more favourable conditions for obtaining multiple entry visas, reflecting the EU's efforts to strengthen ties with India and promote tourism and business exchanges between the two regions.

Under the newly adopted visa "cascade" regime for India, Indian nationals are eligible for long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas with extended validity. To qualify for a two-year visa, individuals must have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. Following this, if their passport has sufficient validity remaining, they can typically receive a five-year visa.

The decision to implement this regime is part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility. This agenda aims to foster comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a crucial aspect of this cooperation, given India's importance as a partner for the EU in various fields.

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely within the Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries, including 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). These visas permit short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Also read: Türkiye rolls out Digital Nomad Visa: Eligibility criteria and all that you need to know

This visa arrangement simplifies travel within Europe, as travellers only need one visa to visit multiple countries within the Schengen area, rather than obtaining separate visas for each country.

Also read: Sri Lanka visa update: New online visa system introduced by Sri Lankan government

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EU eases multiple-entry Schengen visa regime for frequent travellers in India

Eu ambassador hervé delphin announced the adoption of specific rules on issuing multiple-entry visas to indian nationals by the european commission.

NEW DELHI: The European Union (EU) has adopted new visa rules that will allow frequent travellers from India to apply for multiple-entry Schengen visas with longer validity, easing travel to 29 European countries.

The adoption of specific rules on issuing multiple-entry visas to Indian nationals by the European Commission on April 18 was announced by EU ambassador herve delphin in a post on X on Monday.

“Travel to Europe made easy! [EU] takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with [India]. New #Schengen #visa regime gives frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5 y.) Europe delivers on the partnership!” Delphin said in his post.

The Schengen visa area comprises 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The new rules are more favourable than the standard rules of the Schengen visa code that applied to date, the EU delegation to India said in a statement.

The new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals residing in India and applying for short-stay Schengen visas will provide “easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history”, the statement said.

Under the new rules, Indian nationals can be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after they have obtained and used two visas within the previous three years. This two-year visa will be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient remaining validity.

“During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals,” the statement said.

The decision was made in the “context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India”. The common agenda is also aimed at facilitating people-to-people contacts “due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU”.

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound but they do not grant the right to work.

The Schengen area consists of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail

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New Delhi:  Indian citizens will soon be able to get a five-year, multi-entry Schengen visa stamped on their passports, after the European Union (EU) adopted specific rules regarding travellers from the country on 18 April.

This will be a first for Indians.

Announced by the EU delegation to India and Bhutan Monday, the rules will make it easier for regular Indian travellers to get the visa under the “new cascade regime”.

The delegation’s statement read: “Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining.”

It added that during the validity period of these visas, holders will “enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals”.

EU ambassador to India Hervé Delphin lauded the new rules saying the EU had taken another step “towards enhancing people-to-people contact with India” His post on X further said: “New #Schengen #visa regime gives Indian frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5y.). Europe delivers on the partnership!”

Travel to Europe made easy! ✈️ ⁰🇪🇺 takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with 🇮🇳.⁰New #Schengen #visa regime gives 🇮🇳 frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5 y.) Europe delivers on the partnership! Know More 👉 https://t.co/6EzlUF8jrR pic.twitter.com/ELhZdCfI83 — Hervé Delphin (@EUAmbIndia) April 22, 2024

Also read: Number of Indian students in Russia must grow, says ambassador Denis Alipov

The new “favourable” visa regime for Indians comes as part of the India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) — first signed between the two partners on 29 March, 2016.

The joint declaration on CAMM was signed with a goal “to facilitate the mutually beneficial movement of persons between India and the European Union, while ensuring the better management of these migration flows and mobility”.

“Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states),” said the EU delegation in its statement.

The EU states covered by Schengen area are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

Countries that are not members of the European Union, but members of the Schengen area include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (European Free Trade Association).

(Edited by Tikli Basu)

Also read: Indian woman cadet on vessel seized by Iranian military returns home

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Travel to Europe made easier for Indians with multi-year Schengen visa

A new visa regime that simplifies travel to europe for indian travellers, strengthening ties between india and the eu. under the new schengen visa regime, indian frequent travellers can obtain a multi-year visa for up to five years..

Listen to Story

• EU introduces new visa regime for Indian travellers, offering multi-year Schengen visas up to 5 years
• Announcement made by EU envoy Herve Delphin on April 18, emphasising ease of travel to Europe
• Schengen visas permit short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period across 29 European countries

The European Union (EU) has introduced a new visa regime that simplifies travel to Europe for Indian travellers, strengthening ties between India and the EU.

Under the new Schengen visa regime, Indian frequent travellers can obtain a multi-year visa for up to five years. This initiative aims to promote people-to-people contact and enhance international alliances.

The announcement was made on April 22 by EU envoy to India, Ambassador Herve Delphin in a post on X. "Travel to Europe made easy! The EU takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with India. The new #Schengen #visa regime gives Indian frequent travellers access to a multi-year visa (up to 5 years). Europe delivers on the partnership!" the tweet read.

A statement issued by the EU mission in New Delhi said, "On April 18, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history if the passport validity allows.”

The statement detailed how the visa rules work, explaining that Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. This two-year visa can then be followed by a five-year visa, provided the passport has sufficient validity remaining.

The EU's decision is part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy.

Schengen visas allow holders to travel freely within the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas do not grant the right to work and are valid in 29 European countries, including 25 EU states and four associated countries. Published By: Vadapalli Nithin Kumar Published On: Apr 22, 2024 ALSO READ | No decision to stop it: Swiss embassy on Schengen visas for Indian tourists

• Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas as EU adopts 'more favourable' rule for the country

Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas as EU adopts 'more favourable' rule for the country

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EU introduces five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa for Indians

NEW DELHI: The European Commission has decided to offer Indians multiple-entry visas, making travel within the EU easier for Indians.

“Travel to Europe has been made easier, as the EU takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with India. The new Schengen visa regime will enable frequent fliers from India easier access through multi-year visas (up to 5 years),” said EU Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin.

This new visa 'cascade' regime will be open to Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen short-stay visas.

Such visas are likely to be issued in India for travellers with an established travel history, provided the passport validity allows.

According to the newly adopted visa 'cascade' regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

Indians can now apply for a long-term (5 year) multiple entry Schengen visa @NewIndianXpress @MEAIndia @EU_Commission @EUAmbIndia @schengen_info @VFSGlobal pic.twitter.com/DBt1fvNLno — Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) April 22, 2024

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with the facilitation of people-to-people contacts being a key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU.

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work.

The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

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