schengenvisa

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SCHENGENVISA

A Schengen Visa is an official document handed out by the embassy of the country of destination.

This visa allows the passenger to enter all countries who are part of the Schengen agreement.

Which countries are members of the Schengen Area?
The Schengen countries, which have abolished "internal" border controls between them, are:

Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic*, Denmark, Estonia*, Germany, Finland, France, Greece,

Hungary*, Iceland, Italy, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Malta*, the Netherlands, Norway,

Poland*, Portugal, the Slovak Republic*, Slovenia*, Spain and Sweden.

* Joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. As of 21 December 2007, these members states

(except for Cyprus) have also become part of the Schengen Area.

On 1 January 2007, Bulgaria and Rumania also joined the European Union.

How long may I travel freely within the Schengen Area?
Whether they require a visa or not, nationals of non-EU countries may travel freely in the Schengen Area for a maximum of three months.

This has long been the customary limit on short stays in the individual Schengen countries.

Now that they have abolished internal border controls, it applies to the entire Schengen Area.

However, not everybody needs a Schengen Visa to enter these countries.

Please read through the following document explaining who is required to have this travel document or not.

Visitors still require a visa or residence permit to stay longer than three months. Granting these authorizations is still a matter for the individual Schengen countries.

What travel documents do I require for identification?
A passport, normally valid throughout the world, or a European Identity Card, valid in more than 27 European countries.

About the Schengen VISA

Effective March 26, 1995 the Schengen agreement has been implemented.

The Agreement is to remove immigration control for travel within the collective territories of the member states.

This creates a 'borderless' area known as the 'Schengen area'.

Therefore, travel between above mentioned countries will in principle be without document check.

Passengers who need visa for one or more Schengen states to which they are ticketed and whose final destination is a

Schengen state for which they do not need a visa, must NEVERTHELESS travel with a 'Schengen Visa'.

Moreover, TWOV (Transit without Visa) is NOT possible anymore for transiting in more than 1 Schengen country,

because the passenger is then entering the Schengen territory for one or more Schengen states as from now

NEED A VISA AT ALL TIMES. Schengen visas should be obtained prior to arrival in the Schengen territory.

Nationals of the following countries DO NOT need a visa to enter Belgium:

Nationals of Belgium
British subjects holding passports endorsed 'British Citizen'. If passport is endorsed:
- 'British Dependent Territories Citizen' or
- 'British Overseas Citizen'
the passport must also bear endorsement 'holder is entitled to readmission into the UK' or proof of
re admittance to country of passport issuance.
Nationals of:
- Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Costa Rica,
- Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
- Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
- Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua,
- Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia,
- Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City, Venezuela.
Holders of Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.

Nationals of other countries DO NEED A SCHENGEN VISA!

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