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Schengen Visa FAQs
You can find the answers to frequently asked questions here:
As a general rule you may cross any Schengen border with the visa issued by any Schengen country. However, the short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area in a country other than the issuing Schengen visa country.
At border controls (or during other controls) besides the visa you may also have to provide the documents which you presented when applying for the visa!
Yes, you can.
According to the Schengen agreement, Schengen visas are also valid for
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Please note, however, that you always have to apply at the consulate of the country where you are going to spend most of the days of your trip.
If you intend to visit several of the above-mentioned countries but do not have a primary destination (equal days in all countries that you are going tovisit), you should apply at the consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.
Technically, also a longer duration Schengen visa can be used for travel to other Schengen countries as well but preferably and only once travel has taken place to the issuing country and for the purpose it was applied for.
No.
A long stay visa or a residence permit issued by a Schengen State allows you to travel or stay in other Schengen States, while respecting the maximum duration of a “short stay” (a stay of “90 days in any 180 day period”).
As a general rule, once a Schengen visa application is submitted to the Consulate, we take a decision within 15 working days. This period may be extended up to 30 days or 60 days depending on the additional verification checks and answers awaited.
Yes, you can.
Please check your visas validity, its number of entries and the maximum duration of stay (both are mentioned on your visa sticker) carefully.
If your travel plans change and the visa is not valid at the time of your actual travel you have to apply for a new visa and submit documents with altered travel dates (i.e. health insurance, invitation, travel itinerary). We cannot provide you with a special appointment for that.
For the Schengen short-stay visa, the European Commission website has created a calculator that can help you check how many days are left on your visa:
(Reminder: the total length of your stay must not exceed a total of 90 days over a period of 180 days).