Who Needs a Schengen Visa?

Which Countries/Citizens Need Schengen Visa

If you are from any of the countries listed below, you must apply for a visa before traveling to any of the Schengen States:

Africa

• Algeria 🇩🇿
• Angola 🇦🇴
• Benin 🇧🇯
• Botswana 🇧🇼
• Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
• Burundi 🇧🇮
• Cabo Verde 🇨🇻
• Cameroon 🇨🇲
• Central African Republic 🇨🇫
• Chad 🇹🇩
• Comoros 🇰🇲
• Republic of the Congo 🇨🇬
• Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩
• Djibouti 🇩🇯
• Egypt 🇪🇬
• Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶
• Eritrea 🇪🇷
• Ethiopia 🇪🇹
• Gabon 🇬🇦
• Gambia 🇬🇲
• Ghana 🇬🇭
• Guinea 🇬🇳
• Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
• Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
• Kenya 🇰🇪
• Lesotho 🇱🇸
• Liberia 🇱🇷
• Libya 🇱🇾
• Madagascar 🇲🇬
• Malawi 🇲🇼
• Mali 🇲🇱
• Mauritania 🇲🇷
• Morocco 🇲🇦
• Mozambique 🇲🇿
• Namibia 🇳🇦
• Niger 🇳🇪
• Nigeria 🇳🇬
• Rwanda 🇷🇼
• Sao Tome and Principe 🇸🇹
• Senegal 🇸🇳
• Sierra Leone 🇸🇱
• Somalia 🇸🇴
• South Africa 🇿🇦
• Sudan 🇸🇩
• Tanzania 🇹🇿
• Togo 🇹🇬
• Tunisia 🇹🇳
• Western Sahara 🇪🇭
• Uganda 🇺🇬
• Zambia 🇿🇲
• Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Asia

• Armenia 🇦🇲
• Azerbaijan 🇦🇿
• Bahrain 🇧🇭
• Bangladesh 🇧🇩
• Bhutan 🇧🇹
• Cambodia 🇰🇭
• China 🇨🇳
• India 🇮🇳
• Indonesia 🇮🇩
• Iran 🇮🇷
• Iraq 🇮🇶
• Jordan 🇯🇴
• Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
• Kuwait 🇰🇼
• Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
• Laos 🇱🇦
• Lebanon 🇱🇧
• Maldives 🇲🇻
• Mongolia 🇲🇳
• Myanmar 🇲🇲
• Nepal 🇳🇵
• North Korea 🇰🇵
• Oman 🇴🇲
• Pakistan 🇵🇰
• Philippines 🇵🇭
• Qatar 🇶🇦
• Russia 🇷🇺
• Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
• Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
• Syria 🇸🇾
• Tajikistan 🇹🇯
• Thailand 🇹🇭
• Timor-Leste 🇹🇱
• Turkey 🇹🇷
• Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
• Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
• Vietnam 🇻🇳
• Yemen 🇾🇪

Other Regions

• Belarus 🇧🇾
• Belize 🇧🇿
• Bolivia 🇧🇴
• Cuba 🇨🇺
• Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
• Ecuador 🇪🇨
• Fiji 🇫🇯
• Haiti 🇭🇹
• Jamaica 🇯🇲
• Northern Mariana Islands (not included in the original list but recognized as requiring a visa for Schengen states)
• Vanuatu 🇻🇺

Countries/Territories Whose Citizens Can Travel to Schengen Without a Visa

Try our Calculator to find out what a 90/180 Schegen Visa stay date is for you.

Citizens of the following countries and territories can travel through Europe for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without applying for a Schengen Visa:

• Andorra 🇦🇩
• United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
• Antigua and Barbuda 🇦🇬
• Albania 🇦🇱
• Argentina 🇦🇷
• Australia 🇦🇺
• Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
• Barbados 🇧🇧
• Brunei 🇧🇳
• Brazil 🇧🇷
• Bahamas 🇧🇸
• Canada 🇨🇦
• Chile 🇨🇱
• Colombia 🇨🇴
• Costa Rica 🇨🇷
• Dominica 🇩🇲
• Micronesia 🇫🇲
• United Kingdom 🇬🇧
• Grenada 🇬🇩
• Georgia 🇬🇪
• Guatemala 🇬🇹
• Hong Kong 🇭🇰
• Honduras 🇭🇳
• Israel 🇮🇱
• Japan 🇯🇵
• Kiribati 🇰🇮
• Kosovo 🇽🇰
• Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇰🇳
• South Korea 🇰🇷
• Saint Lucia 🇱🇨
• Monaco 🇲🇨
• Moldova 🇲🇩
• Montenegro 🇲🇪
• Marshall Islands 🇲🇭
• North Macedonia 🇲🇰
• Macau 🇲🇴
• Mauritius 🇲🇺
• Mexico 🇲🇽
• Malaysia 🇲🇾
• Nicaragua 🇳🇮
• New Zealand 🇳🇿
• Panama 🇵🇦
• Peru 🇵🇪
• Palau 🇵🇼
• Paraguay 🇵🇾
• Serbia 🇷🇸
• Solomon Islands 🇸🇧
• Seychelles 🇸🇨
• Singapore 🇸🇬
• San Marino 🇸🇲
• El Salvador 🇸🇻
• Timor-Leste 🇹🇱
• Tonga 🇹🇴
• Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹
• Tuvalu 🇹🇻
• Taiwan 🇹🇼
• Ukraine 🇺🇦
• United States 🇺🇸
• Uruguay 🇺🇾
• Vatican City 🇻🇦
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 🇻🇨
• Venezuela 🇻🇪
• Vanuatu 🇻🇺
• Samoa 🇼🇸

This extensive list includes countries across various continents, ensuring a broad spectrum of nationals can enjoy visa-free access to the Schengen Area, fostering easier and more accessible travel experiences.

Schengen Visa Application Form

Countries Requiring Transit Visa in Schengen

If you are from one of the following countries, you must have a visa when passing through the international transit area of an airport in any of the Schengen States:

• Western Sahara 🇪🇭
• Bangladesh 🇧🇩
• Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩
• Eritrea 🇪🇷
• Ethiopia 🇪🇹
• Ghana 🇬🇭
• Iran 🇮🇷
• Iraq 🇮🇶
• Nigeria 🇳🇬
• Pakistan 🇵🇰
• Somalia 🇸🇴
• Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

Citizens of these countries must ensure they obtain the proper transit visa to avoid complications while traveling through Schengen airports. This measure primarily applies to those who need to change flights within the international zones of these airports.

Schengen Transit Visa Requirements for Specific Country Routes

This detailed table provides information on the specific Schengen States where transit visas are required for nationals of certain countries. It emphasizes that the transit visa requirement varies based on both the citizenship of the traveler and the specific Schengen country they are transiting through.

Exemptions from Schengen Airport Transit Visa Requirements

Certain individuals are exempt from the requirement to hold an Airport Transit Visa when traveling through the Schengen area. These exemptions include:

• Holders of a valid Schengen visa.
• Individuals with a valid residence permit issued by an EU or EEA Member State.
• Persons holding a valid visa issued by any EU or EEA Member State, Canada, Japan, or the United States.
• Individuals with a valid residence permit issued by the Principality of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Republic of San Marino, or the United States.
• Family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens.
• Holders of a diplomatic passport.
• Flight crew members who are nationals of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

These exemptions are designed to facilitate smoother travel for certain categories of travelers when transiting through airports within the Schengen zone.

Can I transit through multiple Schengen countries with a valid Schengen visa from another Schengen state?

• Yes, if you have a valid Schengen visa issued by one Schengen state, it typically allows you to transit through other Schengen states as long as you comply with the duration and purpose of your visa limitations.

Does holding a residence permit in a Schengen country exempt me from needing a transit visa in all Schengen states?

• Holders of a residence permit from a Schengen country are generally exempt from requiring a transit visa for traveling through other Schengen countries. However, it is always advisable to check the specific entry and transit conditions according to your destination or transit country.

If I have a diplomatic passport, do I automatically qualify for exemption from the airport transit visa requirement?

• While having a diplomatic passport generally exempts you from requiring an airport transit visa, certain conditions may apply, and it is advisable to verify with the embassy of your transit country for specific exemptions and requirements.

Can a valid visa from a non-EU country like the United States influence my Schengen transit visa requirements?

• Yes, travelers holding a valid visa from certain countries, including the United States, Canada, or Japan, are often exempt from the airport transit visa requirement when passing through the Schengen area. This is dependent on the visa being valid at the time of transit.

Are there special transit considerations for flight crew members under international agreements?

• Flight crew members who are nationals of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation are usually exempt from needing a transit visa in the Schengen zone. This is in recognition of their professional obligations and the international nature of their duties.