Understanding who needs a Schengen visa is crucial for anyone planning to visit the Schengen Area in Europe.
This requirement depends on factors such as your nationality, passport-type, the nature of your trip to the Schengen countries, and specific agreements between countries. These factors collectively determine whether you are obligated to obtain a Schengen visa for your intended trip.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa?
If you are a national from the following countries, you must apply for a Schengen visa:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burma/Myanmar
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte d´Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- 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
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu*
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Please note that if your home country is not on this list, you will most likely find it in the list of countries that have a visa liberalisation agreement with Schengen.
Schengen Visa Need Assessment Tool
Use our Visa Wizard to check if you are required to apply for a Schengen visa before travelling to the Schengen zone. If you do, it will help you find out where to submit your visa application correctly
Check if You Need a Schengen Visa
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Can Anyone Be Exempted?
The following categories may be exempted from the visa requirement even if they are from the countries mentioned above:
Holders of Diplomatic Passports
Diplomatic passport holders from visa-required countries may not always enjoy automatic visa exemption. Eligibility depends on both nationality and the specific Schengen destination. It’s crucial to verify visa status before travelling.
Holders of Local Border Traffic Permit Issued by Member States
Nationals from visa-required countries holding a local border traffic permit issued by Member States according to Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006, can use their right under the local border traffic regime.
Civilian Air and Sea Crew Members, Crew Members of Emergency and Rescue Missions
Civilian aircrew members need specific licenses from Annexes 1 to 9 of the Chicago Convention to be exempt from visas. Seafarers, on the other hand, require a Seafarer’s Pass for exemption. Keep in mind that exemption rules vary based on your nationality and the Schengen country you’re visiting.
Intergovernmental Travel Document Holders
Holders of intergovernmental travel documents (e.g., UN Laissez-Passer, EU laissez-passer) may enter visa-free for official UN or EU-related work. This exemption varies depending on the visitor’s nationality and the specific Schengen destination. Travellers must present their national passport along with an official certificate verifying their travel’s official purpose.
School Pupils
Students from countries without a visa agreement with the Schengen Area can enter without a visa if they live in visa-exempt countries. This applies when they are part of a student group led by a teacher visiting the Schengen Area. Whether they qualify depends on their nationality and the specific Schengen destination they plan to visit.
Refugees/Stateless Residents
This exemption applies to refugees or stateless individuals legally residing in visa-exempt countries, provided they possess travel documents issued by the relevant authorities in that country. Exemption conditions may vary based on nationality and the specific Schengen country of visit.
Armed Forces/NATO Travel
Members of the armed forces traveling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business and those with identification and movement orders under the 1951 NATO Agreement can enter visa-free when on official duties. The application of this exemption can vary based on the visitor’s nationality and Schengen destination.
For a detailed list of all exemptions based on the nationality of the visitor, type of passport, visit purpose, and Schengen country, please refer to the EU official document under Article 6 (1), containing information pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of 14 November 2018.
Do EU Residence Card Holders Need a Visa?
Those who carry a residence card issued by an EU country can enter the Schengen Area visa-free, regardless of nationality. This is applicable to all EU family members who are also residence card holders.
Please note that this is not applicable to residence card holders from other countries outside the EU (e.g., the US). If you reside in a visa-exempt country but hold a passport from a country without a visa agreement with Schengen, you will still need a visa.
Do I Also Need a Transit Visa?
Citizens of the following countries need a transit visa for all Schengen countries regardless of whether they stay in the international transit zone:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
Some Schengen countries have expanded this list to include more countries that need a transit visa, so make sure to verify this requirement prior to travelling.
Do I Also Need to Register for ETIAS?
No, if you need a Schengen visa, you are not eligible to register for an ETIAS. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is applicable to only nationals of those countries that can enter the Schengen Area visa-free.
Read also: What Are the Differences Between ETIAS and Schengen Visa?
What if I Have More than One Nationality?
If you have more than one nationality, i.e., you are a dual or multiple citizen, the visa requirement may differ depending on which passport you enter the Schengen Area with. For example, if you are also a national of a country that has a visa-liberalisation deal with the Schengen, then you do not need to apply for a visa— provided you use the passport of that country.
Example:
You are a dual citizen of the US and Egypt. If you enter the Schengen Area using your Egyptian passport, you need to apply for a Schengen visa. However, if you enter with your US passport, then you do not need a visa.
Does a Visa Guarantee Entry?
A Schengen visa does not guarantee you entry. The ultimate decision rests with the border patrol officers, who may assess various factors before allowing entry.
In certain circumstances, such as security concerns, even with a valid Schengen visa, entry might be denied for safety reasons.