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   Facts about Schengen visas

 

Visa guide - Schengen visas

You may have heard of the word Schengen and thought, 'What's it all about?' Here's the low down on Schengen visas.

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you more than one entry into the Schengen region.

If you've just arrived in London and are planning to scoot off to Europe, think twice. Do you need a Schengen visa? If you're from South Africa chances are you do. So what's it all about?

Schengen is a town in Luxembourg where seven countries signed a treaty to allow for free travel between certain European countries without internal boundary checks. The number of countries has since expanded to 15 Schengen states.

Some people living in London, such as South Africans, require a visa to enter these Schengen states but it varies with the passport you are travelling on and how long you are travelling for. Here are some general tips to help you out:

What is a Schengen country?

There are 15 Schengen countries in Europe that have agreed to allow free movement across their borders without people having to obtain a visa in each country. These countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Not all European Union (EU) countries are Schengen countries, such as Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic.

What is a Schengen visa?

As there are no or few internal boundary stops and checks between Schengen countries, the Schengen visa is like a common visa that gives you the freedom to travel around the Schengen region while the visa is valid.

Multiple-entry Schengen visas

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you more than one entry into the Schengen region, so you can return to the UK and re-enter the region at a later date. Not all embassies issue multiple entry visas though, preferring to issue single-entry visas for one specific trip.

This visa provides greater flexibility as it may be validated up to a year, allowing you to visit Europe for a total of 90 days. However, embassies are quite strict on these visas and take into account your travel history and financial situation before issuing the visa. Also, you must enter Europe via the country you have obtained the visa from for it to be validated.

Who needs a Schengen visa?

Anyone with a European Economic Area (EEA) passport or those who are Schengen residents don't need a visa to visit Schengen countries.

Great Britain has not signed the Schengen Agreement but most British passport holders will not require a Schengen visa. If you hold a permanent or temporary residency permit to reside in the UK, you may still need a visa in order to enter the Schengen zone.


A very random selection of countries require Schengen visas so it is best to contact the embassy for the country in which you're travelling to find out for sure.


*See the table below to find out if you need a Schengen visa.

Types of Schengen visas

There are three types of Schengen visas. The Short Stay Visa is the most common.

Short Stay Visas, also known as travel visas, allow you to enter the Schengen nations for a cumulative total of 90 days, in any six month period.

Airport Transit Visas allow you to travel through the international transit zone in a Schengen member nation on the way to their final destination, but do not allow visitors to enter the territory of the country.

Transit Visas allow visitors to travel through the national territory of several Schengen nations en route to a final destination, however, in a period no longer than five days.

How do I apply?

You need to apply for your visa in the embassy of the country you will be spending the most time. If you are spending equal amount of time in a few countries then you apply to the embassy of the country that is your first point of entry.

If, for example, you'd like to travel to France, Belgium and Spain and are spending most of your time in Belgium, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa through the Belgium Embassy or Consulate (the country you are spending the most time in) and indicate how long you will be staying, where you will be going next and you'll also need to provide accommodation contact details. Once you've received your visa this will cover you for the time you are travelling in those countries.

All Schengen visa requirements differ slightly between countries but generally you will need a passport valid for at least three months with a blank page, travel insurance, the original airline/travel ticket, accommodation information, proof of funds – whether in a bank statement or travellers cheques – and proof of your status in the UK.


Visa agencies
 

Getting a Schengen visa can be issued to you in either one day or a few months, often depending on how busy it is. Busy holiday periods such as summer often mean longer waiting times and could become 'fully booked.'

Embassies have a limited quota on how many visas they can give out.

Worldwide Visa department manager, Anna Perkowska says: "Schengen visas to Spain are booked up until October, Italy is booked up for the next six weeks and France is also getting very busy with the World Cup."

This means that anyone wanting to travel to Spain from August to October will be unable to obtain a visa if they already haven't done so.

Perkowska says visa agencies can usually obtain a visa between five and seven days, but if you go direct through an embassy it can take up to a month just to get an appointment.

She also says: "A lot of people think they can easily travel anywhere in Europe but Schengen countries have become a lot stricter."

So if you'd like to go to Europe and you need to get a visa, start planning your trip well in advance.

Do you need a Schengen visa?

Below indicates which nationalities do and don't need a Schengen visa to the popular European to visit Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Greece.
NO – don't need a visa
Australia
Britain
New Zealand
Japan
USA
Canada

YES – do need a visa
South Africa
India
Algeria
Philippines
Thailand
Russia
Zimbabwe
Pakistan
Egypt
Ukraine
China


NB: Not a complete list – if your country is not listed, please contact the embassy or a visa agency for the Schengen country you wish to visit. Some Schengen visa applications may need you to apply in person.
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