Who Needs a Schengen Visa?
If you are from one of the countries below, you must apply for a 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
- 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
- Zimbabwe
*Since the EU has partially abolished the visa-free travel agreement with Vanuatu, only Vanuatuan nationals holding ordinary passports issued before May 25, 2015, can enter the Schengen Area visa-free.
Who Can Travel to Schengen Without a Visa?
If you are from one of the following countries/territories, you can travel through Europe for up to 90 days 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
Who Needs a Visa to Transit in Schengen?
If you are from one of the countries listed below, 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 from the following countries need a visa only when transiting in specific Schengen States, as listed:
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Czech Republic |
| Angola | France |
| Armenia | Czech Republic |
| Bolivia | France |
| Cameroon | Greece, Spain, France |
| Central African Republic | France |
| Chad | Czech Republic, France |
| Congo | Greece, Spain, France |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Spain, France |
| Cuba | Czech Republic, Spain, France, Netherlands, Poland |
| Djibouti | Spain |
| Dominican Republic | Belgium, France |
| Egypt | Czech Republic |
| Gambia | Spain |
| Guinea | Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal |
| Guinea Bissau | Belgium, Spain, Netherlands |
| Haiti | France, Spain |
| India | Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France |
| Jordan | Germany |
| Lebanon | Czech Republic, Germany |
| Liberia | Spain |
| Libya | Czech Republic |
| Mali | Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France |
| Mauritania | Czech Republic, France |
| Nepal | Belgium, Netherlands |
| Niger | Czech Republic |
| Philippines | France |
| Palestinians | Belgium, Czechia, France, Spain |
| Sierra Leone | France, the Netherlands, Spain |
| Syria | Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland |
| Togo | France, Spain |
| Yemen | Belgium, Czechia, France, Spain |
Exemptions from Schengen Airport Transit Visa
You may be exempt from holding an Airport Transit Visa when travelling through Schengen if:
- You already have a valid Schengen visa.
- You have a valid residence permit issued by an EU or EEA Member State.
- You have a valid visa issued by an EU or EEA Member State, Canada, Japan or the United States.
- You have a valid residence permit issued by the Principality of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Republic of San Marino, or the United States.
- You are a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
- You have a diplomatic passport.
- You are a flight crew member national of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Also read: Schengen 90/180 rule calculator
Do UK Citizens Need a Schengen Visa?
No, they do not. UK citizens can travel to any of the Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism, business, and other short-term purposes.
Do Americans Need Visas for Europe?
American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Europe for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business purposes. However, for long-term study or work, Americans do have to apply for the corresponding visa and/or residence permit.
Do Green Card Holders Travelling to Europe Need a Visa?
A Green Card does not give you visa-free access to Europe. If you are from a country who ordinarily needs a Schengen Visa, then you must apply for one before travelling, even if you have a US Green Card.
Even though Schengen States are not included, with your Green Card you can travel to Canada, Mexico, and certain other European countries.
Do I Need a Schengen Visa if I Already Have a Residence Permit from a Schengen Country?
No, you do not. If you already have a residence permit issued by a Schengen State, then you are free to move to all other Member States without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Are Family Members of EU/EEA Citizens Exempt From the Schengen Visa Regime?
No they are not. Non-EU family members (spouse, kids) of EU/EEA citizens must have a valid Schengen Visa to travel along with their EU/EEA national family member – unless they are from a country with a visa exemption.
Marriage or family relationship to an EU/EEA national does not grant you visa-free status to the EU.