European Short-Stay Visa
Schengen Visa
Short-stay visa for the 27-country Schengen Area — up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Last verified: 2026-05-01 · European Commission — Schengen Visas
About the Schengen Visa
The Schengen Visa (technically a Uniform Short-Stay Visa or Type-C Visa) allows holders to travel freely across the 27 Schengen Area member states for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. It is issued by the member state that is either the sole or primary destination of the visit.
The Schengen Area is not identical to the European Union — four non-EU countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) are members, while some EU states (Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania) operate separate border regimes. All 27 Schengen states apply the Schengen Borders Code and recognise each other's visas.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) — a separate pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationalities — is a distinct system from the Schengen Visa. ETIAS affects those who currently travel to Schengen without a visa, not those who require a Schengen Visa.
Key facts
- Validity: up to 90 days in any 180-day period (90/180-day rule)
- Issued by: the member state of primary/sole destination; valid across all 27 Schengen states
- 27 Schengen member states include EU and non-EU countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)
- Type-C (short-stay) visa is distinct from Type-D national long-stay visa (issued individually by each state)
- Applications typically filed through the issuing state's embassy or visa application centre (VFS Global, BLS International, etc.)
- ETIAS (for visa-exempt nationals) is a separate system — distinct from the Schengen Visa
Recent Schengen Visa news
Italy sets 497,550 work-entry quotas for 2026-2028 under new Flows Decree
A decree published October 15, 2025 authorises 497,550 non-EU work entries for 2026-2028 — 267,000 seasonal and 230,550 non-seasonal — rising each year.
June 26, 2026
EU Commission reports 12 million Schengen visa applications for 2025
Annual Schengen short-stay applications climbed 1.8% to nearly 12 million in 2025, with over 10 million visas issued at a 14.8% global refusal rate.
May 29, 2026
Greece exempts UK passport holders from EES biometric registration
The Embassy of Greece in London confirmed UK passport holders are excluded from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points from April 10, 2026.
May 4, 2026
EU Commission clarifies key differences between EES and ETIAS for travellers
Published 28 April 2026, the explainer separates the live border-control EES from ETIAS, the pre-travel authorisation scheduled for the last quarter of 2026.
May 3, 2026
Related visa types
- UK Electronic Travel Authorisation — Pre-travel authorisation for non-visa nationals entering the UK — mandatory for eligible nationalities from 2024.