Schengen Visa: For Which Countries ?

Are you a citizen of a country outside the Schengen Area? You may need a visa to visit one or more Schengen countries, even for a short stay (less than 90 days). This article lists the countries whose nationals are required to apply for a Schengen visa. Unsure about your situation? See the list of Schengen visa-exempt countries below.

What Is A Schengen Visa?

The Schengen visa (type C) is a short-stay visa allowing its holder to enter the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days (in any 180-day period). Depending on a number of criteria, Schengen visa holders are granted one, two or more entries and a visa validity period ranging from 6 months to 5 years. 
 Which Countries Require A Schengen Visa?
As a reminder, there are 27 member countries in the Schengen Area :
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway (non-EU), Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway (non-EU), the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (non-EU) - as well as 3 de facto integrated microstates:  Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican.

These 27 countries share a common short-stay visa policy (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). The first thing to know is that the nationality of the traveler wishing to enter the Schengen Area determines whether or not they need a short-stay Schengen visa. This means that for stays of up to 90 days, citizens of certain countries can enter the Schengen Area with a valid passport, while others will need to apply for a Schengen visa. 

Schengen Visa Country List

Regardless of the country of entry, a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) is required for the following countries:

Afghanistan
South Africa
Algeria
Angola
Saudi Arabia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Belarus
Burma/Myanmar
Bolivia
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
China
Comoros
Congo
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
Ecuador
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Iran
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Laos
Lesotho
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
The Maldives
Mali
Morocco
Mauritania
Mongolia
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Oman
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Pakistan
Palestine
Papua New Guinea
The Philippines
Qatar
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominican Republic
Russia
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Swaziland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Chad
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
Vanuatu (except holders of passports issued before May 25, 2015)
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe 

However, if you have one of the following documents, you are exempt from the Schengen short-stay visa requirement:
- a valid French residence permit
- a residence permit issued by a Schengen State
- A long-stay type D visa issued by France or another Schengen State
- Certain travel documents issued by an EU Member State
- A special card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the staff of a diplomatic or consular mission.

How Do I Get a Schengen Visa?

Go to the consulate’s website for the Schengen country where you wish to travel for all the information you will need to apply for a Schengen visa and the list of documents required to complete your application (passport, passport photo, proof of local accommodation, proof of means of subsistence, travel insurance, etc.). Please note: if you wish to visit several countries in the Schengen Area, you must specify this in your Schengen visa application. 

Once you have obtained your visa, be sure to keep your supporting documents with you, including your proof of insurance covering medical and hospital expenses for a minimum of €30,000. The border police may request them when you enter the Schengen Area. 

 How Long Does a Schengen Visa Last?

Established on a discretionary basis by the authorities of the Schengen country in question based on the supporting documents provided with the visa application (as well as compliance with previous visas obtained), the Schengen visa period of validity varies from one application to another. 

First, it depends on the number of entries:
- A single-entry Schengen visa allows you to take a single trip to the Schengen area for up to 90 days. The duration of the Schengen visa then corresponds to the travel dates entered in the file.
- The Schengen visa for two or more entries generally lasts from 6 months to 5 years, and allows the holder to take several trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 

 Which Schengen Visa Insurance Should You Choose?
Choose peace of mind for your Schengen visa application and when crossing the border with Schengen travel insurance policies from Europ Assistance. 

Starting at 3 euros, Europ Assistance's Schengen visa travel insurance covers you for medical expenses of up to €60,000 in the event of illness or accident, as well as additional coverage in all Member States of the Schengen Area and European Union (as well as the United Kingdom).

Apply online and get your proof of insurance immediately, recognized and accepted by Schengen embassies and consulates worldwide.

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Schengen Visa: Visa-Free Countries

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area for a short stay:

Albania 
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
South Korea
Costa Rica
Dominica
The United Arab Emirates
The United States 
Georgia 
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong (holders of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” passport)
Mauritius
Marshall Islands
Solomon Islands
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Macau (holders of a “Região Administrativa Especial de Macau” passport)
Northern Macedonia
Malaysia
Mexico
The Federated States of Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro 
Nicaragua
New Zealand
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
El Salvador
Samoa
Serbia
The Seychelles
Singapore
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Lucia
Taiwan 
East Timor
The Kingdom of Tonga
The United Kingdom
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine
Uruguay
Venezuela

Citizens of these countries are exempt from a Schengen visa, but must show a valid passport issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 90 days from their expected return date to enter the Schengen Area. When passing through border control, they may also be asked to provide the following documents: proof of the reason for stay, means of subsistence during the stay and means of returning to the country of origin, as well as proof of insurance covering all medical, hospital and death-related expenses, including repatriation for medical reasons. 

Finally, as of November 2024, citizens of visa-exempt countries will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization to enter the Schengen Area. 

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Please note: all foreign travelers, including nationals exempt from short-stay visa requirements (type C), will need to apply for a visa for a long stay (more than 90 days in any 180-day period).