On 26 March 1995 the SCHENGEN visa was introduced. This visa is valid for the following countries: 

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 

A Schengen visa issued by an Embassy or Consulate of one of the Schengen countries allows the holder to travel freely in these countries. However, a holder of a Schengen visa is still subject to immigration control and is not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries; a visa in itself is not a right to enter a country. Applications have to be submitted well in advance as processing the application takes a minimum of 10 working days.

General information Schengen Visa

Please mind the following information carefully before your apply for a Schengen visa:

Applicants are not entitled by law to receive a visa.

• Change of itinerary or travel purpose after issuance of the visa is unacceptable. 

• Total stay in Schengen should not exceed 90 days per 6 months. 

• Multiple entry visas are only issued if the itinerary states that within the requested period travel outside of Schengen is imminent and visas for those destinations are in the passport. 

• In principle, applications need to be handed in in person. Applications can not be send in by mail.

• Applications have to be submitted to the Embassy of the country of the main purpose of travel, or of the country in which you will stay the longest. 

• It is possible that Immigration authorities upon entry request the traveller to present documentation on purpose of travel, proof of financial means, information on the referent, hotel reservations etc.

If you intend to visit several Schengen countries you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country to which the main purpose of your stay relates. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries and the main purpose is equal you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country where you have the longest stay. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries and the main purpose and the duration of the stay are equal you must apply to the Consulate of the country of the first entry. See further requirements for the different types of visa purposes below.