Who Need A Schengen Visa

If you’re planning a trip to Europe, it’s important to know whether you need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen Area or not. The Schengen visa system allows visitors to travel freely across the 27 participating European countries without the need for additional visas or border controls. However, not all travelers are required to obtain a Schengen visa before entering the Schengen Area. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Citizens of certain countries are exempt from the Schengen visa requirement, while others must obtain one before entering the Schengen Area.
  • The list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the Schengen visa requirement includes most European countries, as well as a few others such as Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
  • Citizens of countries that are not on the exemption list must obtain a Schengen visa before traveling to the EU. This includes countries such as China, India, Russia, and many others.
  • There are also some exceptions to the Schengen visa requirement, such as for travelers with certain types of residence permits or visas issued by a Schengen country.
  • It’s important to check the latest requirements and regulations before traveling to Europe, as they can change frequently and may vary depending on the purpose of your trip and the specific country you’re visiting.

Remember that not having the required documentation or visa could result in being denied entry to the EU, so it’s always best to be prepared and informed before your trip.

Who Needs a Schengen Visa?

If you are from one of the countries below, you must apply for a Schengen visa before you travel to one of the Schengen States:

Western Sahara Algeria Angola
Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain
Bangladesh Belarus Belize
Benin Bhutan Bolivia
Botswana Burkina Faso Myanmar
Burundi Cambodia Cameroon
Cabo Verde Central African Republic Chad
China Comoros Republic of the Congo
Ivory Coast Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador
Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea
Ethiopia Fiji Vanuatu
Gabon Gambia Ghana
Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana
Haiti India Indonesia
Iran Iraq Jamaica
Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya
Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan
Laos Lebanon Lesotho
Liberia Libya Madagascar
Malawi Maldives Mali
Mauritania Mongolia Morocco
Mozambique Namibia Nepal
Niger Nigeria North Korea
Northen Mariana Oman Pakistan
Papua New Guinea Philippines Qatar
Russia Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone
Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka
Sudan Suriname Syria
Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand
Timor-Leste Togo Tonga
Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan
Uganda Uzbekistan Vietnam
Yemen Zambia

Who Don’t Need a Schengen Visa to Enter Europe?

If you are a citizen of certain countries, you may not need a Schengen visa to enter Europe. Citizens of the following countries can enter the Schengen Area visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period:

Albania Andorra Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina Australia Bahamas
Barbados Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil
Brunei Canada Chile
Colombia Costa Rica Dominica
El Salvador Georgia Grenada
Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong
Israel Japan Kiribati
Macao Malaysia Marshall Islands
Mauritius Mexico Micronesia
Moldova Monaco Montenegro
New Zealand Nicaragua North Macedonia
Palau Panama Paraguay
Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino
Serbia Seychelles Singapore
Solomon Islands South Korea Taiwan
Timor-Leste Tonga Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu Ukraine United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom (British citizens) United States Uruguay
Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela

Note that even if you are a citizen of one of the above-listed countries, there are still certain requirements that you must meet in order to enter the Schengen Area visa-free. For example, you must have a valid passport that will not expire for at least three months after your intended departure from the Schengen Area, and you must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.

Citizens of Which Countries Need an Airport Transit Schengen Visa?

Traveling to a Schengen Area country might require a visa for some individuals, specifically those coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and a few other countries. However, there are exceptions to this rule. If the individual holds a residency permit or a valid visa for a Schengen member country, a visa for entering one of the EFTA countries, Canada, Japan, or the United States, or if they are a family member of an EU citizen (close family only) or hold a diplomatic passport, they are not required to obtain an airport transit visa.

Few Bullet points:

  • Some individuals traveling to a Schengen Area country may need an airport transit visa.
  • Countries subject to this rule include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and a few others.
  • There are exceptions to this rule, including:
    • Holding a residency permit or a valid visa for a Schengen member country
    • Holding a visa for entering one of the EFTA countries, Canada, Japan, or the United States, even if they are returning from those countries
    • Being a family member of an EU citizen (close family only)
    • Holding a diplomatic passport.

Who Needs a Visa to Transit in Schengen?

f you are a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and you plan to transit through one of its airports, you may need an airport transit visa. The Schengen area is made up of 27 countries in Europe that have abolished border controls between them, allowing free movement of people and goods. The airport transit visa is a document that allows you to pass through the international zone of a Schengen airport, without entering the Schengen area.

Here is a table listing the countries whose citizens need an airport transit visa to transit through a Schengen airport:

Country
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Congo (DRC)
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Pakistan
Somalia
Sri Lanka

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to this requirement. If you hold a residency permit from a Schengen member country, a valid Schengen visa for short or long stays, a valid visa for entering one of the EFTA countries, or are a family member of an EU citizen, you will not need an airport transit visa. Additionally, if you hold a diplomatic passport, you are exempt from this requirement. It’s always a good idea to check with the embassy or consulate of the country you will be transiting through to confirm whether or not you need an airport transit visa.