Schengen Area · 29 countries

One visa, 29 countries — but the nuances are national

The Schengen short-stay rules are identical everywhere: one uniform C visa (or none, if your nationality is exempt), €90 fee, 90 days in any 180. What differs is where and how you apply — each member state has its own consulates, portals and outsourcing providers, and everything beyond 90 days is purely national law. Pick a route below, or your destination country further down.

Border systems status (2026-06-12): the biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational since 2026-04-10 — fingerprints and photo replace passport stamps. ETIAS (the €20 online authorisation for visa-exempt travellers, valid 3 years, free for under-18s and over-70s) is expected Q4 2026 — not yet required.

Going digital: an EU-wide digital visa platform (Regulation (EU) 2023/2667) is expected around 2028 — it will let visa-required travellers apply online and replace the passport sticker with a digitally-signed visa.

Not in Schengen: Ireland (separate Irish visa) and Cyprus (same visa lists, full accession targeted for late 2026).

The routes

Short stays (up to 90 days)

Short-stay visa (C) — tourism & visiting

The uniform Schengen visa for tourism, visiting family or friends, and other short stays — valid for the whole area, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Tourists and holidaymakers
People visiting family or friends in any Schengen country
Attendees of short courses, events or medical appointments

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, across the whole area

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Short-stay visa (C) — business

The same uniform C visa, supported by business documents — meetings, conferences, negotiations and short assignments that don't amount to local employment.

Business meetings, conferences and trade fairs
Negotiating or signing contracts
Short intra-company visits (without taking up local work)

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

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Airport transit

Airport Transit visa (A)

For changing flights inside a Schengen airport without entering the area. Only nationals on the EU's common airport-transit list (plus some national lists) need it.

Nationals of the 12 common-list countries connecting through any Schengen airport
Nationals on a member state's own additional list, for that state's airports

Airside only — no entry into the Schengen area

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Long stays (over 90 days)

National long-stay visa (D)

Work, study, family reunification or residence beyond 90 days. These are NATIONAL visas — each member state sets its own routes, fees and rules; only the 90/180-day movement right is shared.

Workers, students and family members settling in one member state
Digital nomads, researchers, retirees — where the destination state has such a route

Over 90 days — set by the destination country's national rules

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Digital nomad visa (national)

A growing number of Schengen states issue a national residence permit for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside the country. There is NO Schengen-wide nomad visa — you apply to one specific country and live there.

Remote employees and freelancers working for clients/employers outside the destination country
Available in Portugal (D8), Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Malta, Germany (Freiberufler), Czechia, Hungary, Romania and more

Typically 1 year, renewable toward longer residence — set by each country

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