What is a Schengen visa and how to apply for it ?
Explanation about Schengen visas. What is it, what can you do with it and how to get it?
- A Schengen visa is a visa that allows anyone to legally travel to and within the Schengen area, an area in Europe where the free movement of people is allowed. The Schengen visa is intended for tourists and other short-term travelers who want to travel to the Schengen area for a stay of up to 90 days.
- There are a number of things that you should take into account when applying for a Schengen visa to the Netherlands. For example, you must prove that you have enough money to pay for your stay in the Netherlands and that you have a valid return ticket. You must also prove that you have a valid reason to travel to the Netherlands, such as a vacation, business trip, to visit family or friends.
- Once you have received a Schengen visa for the Netherlands, it is important to comply with the rules. For example, you may not stay in the Netherlands longer than your visa allows and you must comply with the laws of the country.
Schengen visa conditions
A Schengen visa is issued by the embassy or Consulate of one of the countries of the Schengen area. To be eligible for a Schengen visa, a person must prove that he has sufficient financial resources to travel and stay in the Schengen area, that he does not pose a threat to public order, national security or public health of any country in the Schengen area.
A Schengen visa is valid for the entire Schengen area, so anyone with a Schengen visa can travel to any country in the Schengen area. However, a Schengen visa is valid only for one person staying for up to 90 days in any 180-day period .
One visa for 1 European country
With a Schengen visa, you can travel to and within the Schengen area. This means that you can travel to any of the 27 countries of the Schengen area with a Schengen visa without the need for a separate visa.
The Schengen visa is intended for tourists and other short-term travelers who want to travel to the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. With a Schengen visa, you can travel freely within the Schengen area and enjoy everything that these countries have to offer, such as beautiful cities, cultural monuments and landscapes. However, a Schengen visa is not a bond and does not entitle you to work or study in Schengen countries.
What is a short-stay Schengen visa?
- An appointed Schengen visa is actually nothing more than a sticker in the passport of foreign travelers visiting the Netherlands or other Schengen countries. Officially, the name of the Schengen visa is: "short-stay visa Type C". However, the term "Schengen visa" or "Schengen visa" is somewhat simpler.
- The Schengen visa sticker in your passport gives you access to 26 Schengen member states of Europe. You can travel through most of Europe on a Schengen visa without having to apply for a separate visa for each country.
- A visa is a sticker that is stuck on your travel document (passport). The Schengen visa indicates that at the time of issue there is no objection to the entry of a foreign citizen for a short stay (maximum 90 days). The Dutch government always checks first whether you are eligible for a visa.
On the basis of the Schengen implementation agreement, which entered into force on March 26, 1995, member states in principle issue a "joint" visa (Schengen visa). Usually, a Schengen visa gives access to all countries in the Schengen area. In some cases, a so-called "regionally restricted" visa may be issued that is valid only for one country.
Is the Schengen visa a tourist visa?
A short-stay visa/Schengen visa is often referred to as a tourist visa by name. This is not entirely true. Visas are always issued for staying in a country. Tourism is just one example of this purpose of accommodation. Other purposes of residence are: work, visiting family or friends, Culture, Sports, official reasons, medical, study, transit, airport transit and others.
Visa policy
- The Netherlands implements the European visa policy provided for by the EU visa law . The visa policy of the Schengen countries revolves around two important issues: who is required to obtain a visa and when is the visa application granted? The main points of the Schengen visa policy are as follows.
- Citizens of Schengen and other countries without the need to obtain a visa can freely travel within the Schengen area.
- Citizens of countries requiring a visa apply for a visa to one of the Schengen countries to gain access to the entire Schengen area.
- Schengen countries grant an application (or refuse an application) on the basis of criteria established jointly by all countries in the Schengen area.
- The holder of a Schengen visa can travel freely within the entire Schengen area.
The 26 Schengen countries
The Schengen area consists of the following 26 countries: EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden
There are another 18 countries that are not part of the Schengen area, however they allow foreign citizens from other non-Schengen countries to enter and stay in their territory only by showing a valid Schengen multi-entry visa. You do not need a national visa issued by these countries to enter, transit or temporarily stay in their territory.
Types of Schengen visas for short stays in Europe
You are required to apply for a Schengen visa if you intend to visit one or more European countries in this region for the following reasons: Commercial purposes . Visiting friends and family . Tourism and holidays . Cultural and sports events . Cross the airport and cross the sailors . Official visit . Medical reasons . The purposes of study and research are short-term . Depending on the reasons for your visit to the Schengen countries and the frequency of your visits, the Schengen consulate can issue you a single-entry visa, a double-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa . The validity of your single-entry visa depends on the number of days you stated that you will spend in the Schengen area in your visa application form and the actual decision of the consulate that issued you a Schengen visa. How long does a Schengen visa allow me to stay in Europe Depending on the type of visa issued by a particular Embassy/Consulate of any Schengen country, there are various restrictions that apply to the selected visa depending on the nature of travel and other relevant circumstances. However, the most common type of visa issued to travelers can be up to a maximum of 90 days in each six-month period starting from the date of entry. If you are a frequent traveler, you can apply for an EU visa valid for up to 5 years, but you need to keep in mind that you cannot stay within the Schengen area for more than 90 days during a 180-day period of time. Even if you hold a multiple entry visa to Europe, it is valid for up to 5 years.