A Schengen Visa is a visa which allows the holder to visit any country which is part of the Schengen Agreement. Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland are the present Schengen countries (as of May 2009). Liechtenstein is expected to fully sign-up later this year. Also there are no border controls between San Marino, Vatican City and Italy or between Monaco and France. Separate visas are still needed for visits to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and other European countries. Schengen countries are those where border controls have been abolished so there are no longer any passport checks on borders and it's often difficult to know if you've actually crossed a border. Note that there are still customs checks between Schengen countries where one is an EU member (for example, Sweden) and the other is not part of the EU (for example, Norway). All Schengen countries require people to carry some form of ID with them (whether they are a visitor or a national or resident of that country). To apply for a Schengen visa you should apply to the embassy of the first country you intend to visit. If you plan to visit Italy, France and Spain (in that order) then you only need to apply to the Italian embassy and your visa is good for France and Spain too. European Union and EEA citizens don't need any visas to travel within the EU or Schengen countries. Croatians don't need any kind of visa for travel in Italy, Slovenia or Hungary but do need a visa if they intend to go elsewhere in the EU. Americans and Canadians may need a visa for some EU countries.
The full list of the 26 current (as of 2013) members of the Schengen area is:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
In addition there are no border controls between Schengen states and the micro-states of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, making them de facto part of the Schengen Area.
Bulgaria and Romania are due to join Schengen in late 2013, but this has been postponed many times and may be postponed again.
The Schengen Area is a European region that consists of 26 different countries. These areas, including France, Spain, and Germany have abolished Immigration and passport control.
No , Russia is not part of the Schengen Area.
No, Russia is not part of the Schengen Area.
The Schengen Area consists of 26 countries. Some of the countries in the Schengen Area include Spain, Italy, and Germany.
Yes, as both countries are a part of the Schengen Area.
You need to apply to the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam. A Schengen visa is a visa that allows you to go to all the countries in the Schengen Area. Once you are legally in the Schengen Area, you can freely travel to any other Schengen country.
No. Georgia is neither in the EU nor in the Schengen area. It is geographically separated from the EU and the Schengen area, so is unlikely to join either in the near future.
If you need a Schengen Visa it applies for all Schengen countries, this means that you can then travel freely within the Schengen area for the length of your visa.
Yes,Both Switzerland and Germany are members of the Schengen Area. A tourist visa for one Schengen country is valid for all Schengen countries.
The Schengen area is special because it's a group of 26 european countries that have abolished passport and imigration controls at their common borders.
Yes.If you need a Schengen Visa it applies for all Schengen countries, this means that you can then travel freely within the Schengen area as long as your visa remains valid.
Romania is not yet a member of the Schengen Area. It is not your residency which decides if you need a visa for the Schengen Area, it is your nationality. Romania is due to join the Schengen Area in 2013. Once this happens, all legal Romanian residents will be able to travel freely anywhere in the Schengen Area.
No difference. Poland is part of the Schengen area, all Polish tourist visas are automatically Schengen visas, and all Schengen tourist visas issued by other Schengen countries are valid in Poland.