Categories

What is a Schengen Visa? Requirements and How to Apply for a Schengen Visa

IMG 20220614 WA0008 1 - efglobaltravels.com

Add%20a%20heading%20(2) - efglobaltravels.com

Schengen Visa Explained:

If you’re planning a trip to Europe for a vacation, study, or tour, you’ve almost certainly come across the term “Schengen.” Something strikes me that you might be interested in learning more about the Schengen countries in Europe, as well as the advantages of having a Schengen visa and how to obtain one. When do you need a Schengen visa in order to travel to Europe, you might ask? How do you go about getting one? What does having valid inbound and outbound insurance for a Schengen visa entail?

Get in touch quickly with EF Global Services Ltd for assistance to procure a Schengen visa for you either for business, school, or vacation.

From general travel laws to the application process for a Schengen visa, this guide covers all you need to know in order to successfully navigate the Schengen Zone.

Non-Europeans, such as Nigerians, most African countries, Asians, and others, must obtain a Schengen visa before visiting any of the Schengen countries. After the visa has been granted, the traveler is allowed to cross the borders of other countries that are members of the Schengen Area without being subjected to further identity checks at the border. When you apply for the short-stay visa, which is the most frequent type of Schengen visa, you will be given permission to travel to and remain in the Schengen Area for a maximum of ninety (90) days during a period of six months beginning on the date the visa is issued. Studying in institutions in the Schengen area, however, attracts an extended visa issued to you to accommodate the length of your schooling.

The holder of a Schengen visa can travel freely throughout the Schengen Area as long as the visa is only valid for a limited time. Border controls do not exist within the Schengen Area. There are 26 countries that make up the Schengen Zone. Once you are a Schengen visa holder, you can enter and leave within these countries and much more, the whole of the Euro Zone. which consists of 26 countries.

The Following Countries Make Up the Schengen Zone (in Alphabetical Order):

 Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

The Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Switzerland.

These countries have agreed to eliminate all border controls and implement a standardized visa policy. However, there may be minor differences in the processes and paperwork that a traveler must complete.

IMG 20220614 WA0008 - efglobaltravels.com

When a Schengen Visa is issued to you, you can accomplish the following:

*A stay in the territory of the Schengen States that is scheduled to last for no longer than 90 days out of every 180 days (“short-stay visa”). However, there are some exceptions, such as Student Visas, which can last up to four years depending on the length of the program.

*Passage through the international transit zones that are located in the airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”).

*Even if you do not require a visa to visit Europe, you are still required to have a travel document such as an international passport in order to enter any of the nations that make up the Schengen Area. When traveling to any of the member states of the Schengen Zone, citizens of countries that are not part of the Schengen State and do not have a Visa Facilitation Agreement with the EU are required to have a Schengen visa. Beginning in January 2022, those who are currently exempt from the need for a visa will be eligible for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

* Stay longer in a Schengen State for study purposes. You can visit the other Schengen States while studying in any of the Schengen Nations with a Study Visa.

It is possible that you will be required to provide evidence of the length of time you have been in Europe if you attempt to leave the Schengen Area without having your passport stamped. You will also be required to have a visa if you intend to leave the Schengen area before the validity of the visa ends. You must also show that you have all of the necessary documents and that you will be able to support yourself for the duration of your stay. The holder of a Schengen visa does not automatically have the right to enter any country within the Schengen area. This is particularly so if you have a short-stay visa. In that instance, you will have to provide information on your means of support, among other requests.

Also Read: 11 Essential Travel Etiquette You Should Know

How the Schengen Agreement Originated:

The year 1985 was significant because it was the year that five European countries agreed to abolish border controls across their shared borders. These five countries included the following:

Luxemburg

West Germany

Belgium

France

The Netherlands

The above countries were the founding signatories to the Schengen Area out of the 10 that made up the European Economic Community (EEC).

The most significant step required by the agreement was the removal of border barriers at these member countries’ shared borders. Additionally, there were recommendations to do away with the checks at entry points for automobiles, making it easier for visitors to cross borders.

Every one of the countries that participated in the agreement and formed a part of the border restriction removal was given the name “Schengen Area countries,” and the region that included those countries was given the name “Schengen Area.” Although there were once only five nations in the Schengen region, the Area has since expanded to include many more. It currently consists of 26 countries, as listed above, as well as a number of territories and other quasi-nations. The year 2011 marked Liechtenstein’s entry into the Schengen region, making it the most recent country to do so.

EF Global Services has assisted many people to migrate to the Schengen Zone for studies, vacations, medical, transit, and work. Chat us immediately to be of assistance to you

As part of the agreement, the Schengen visa system was put into place in 1995. This made it possible for travelers to move freely throughout the Schengen area as long as they held a valid Schengen visa. As a consequence of this, it is now possible to travel throughout the Schengen zone with just a single visa that will allow you to enter all of the member states of the Schengen area. In addition, because the majority of countries that participate in the Schengen accord are also members of the European Union, the regulations that govern the Schengen agreement have recently been integrated with those of the European Union.

Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway are the only countries in the Schengen Area that are not members of the European Union (EU). As a direct consequence of this, we refer to these nations formally as those that are associated with the Schengen activities of the EU. This means that these nation-states are required to abide by the decisions made by the EU, despite the fact that they are not members of the bloc. Furthermore, the Nordic Passport Union (NPU) includes two of these non-EU countries: Norway and Iceland.

Aside from these countries, the Schengen Zone includes micronations such as the French Caribbean Islands and the European pseudo-states of Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. These territories and micronations, which have open boundaries that are only partially closed, warmly welcome tourists and travelers.

Countries with the Easiest Schengen Visa Process

Although the application process may be slightly different depending on which consulate you travel to, the requirements necessary to submit an application for a Schengen visa are standard across the board. When we look at the different countries that make up the Schengen area, we can see that some of them have a particularly good track record when it comes to granting visas. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s have a look at the countries from which it is possible to obtain a Schengen visa.

Do you know that you can use your Schengen Visa to travel to other EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area?

Most Schengen visa holders are unaware that they can visit other EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Zone. I am delighted to bring this information to your knowledge. With your Schengen visa, you can travel to other European countries that are not signatories to the Schengen Zone, particularly, if your visa is a long-stay one, like a study visa. People who are obliged to obtain a visa in order to travel anywhere in the world, including nations that are members of the European Union, will find that this makes travel far simpler (EU). Then why not make the most of these visa-free rules and travel to a greater number of non-Schengen countries than you had initially intended to?

EF Global Services Ltd is poised to assist you with your visa application to the Schengen Area and with other immigration matters. You can reach us immediately to start to see your dreams come true.