European Union visa lists
Encyclopedia
All European Union member states
, with the exception of Ireland
and the United Kingdom
, have a unified visa
system as part of the Schengen Area
. Three non-member states—Iceland
, Norway
and Switzerland
—are also part of the Schengen area and also implement the unified system. Bulgaria
, Cyprus
and Romania
are not yet part of the Schengen area, but maintain the same immigration policies as required by Schengen. Liechtenstein
has signed up to Schengen but has yet to implement it. Ireland
and the United Kingdom
maintain independent immigration policies.
The United Kingdom
and Ireland
operate a passport-free zone called the Common Travel Area
, with limited passport controls between them. While the land border is open with no fixed checkpoints, Ireland does, however, perform routine passport controls at airports, selective controls at ferry ports and spot checks on cross-border road and rail transport. An Irish visa will not allow a traveller entry to the UK. As of July 2011, Ireland has established a limited visa waiver programme in which visitors in the UK from certain countries who hold UK tourist visas and who have cleared UK immigration will not need an Irish visa to enter the Republic. For other nationalities and for different kinds of UK visas, an Irish visa is still required.
Nationals of European Union member states, and of Iceland
, Norway
, Switzerland
and Liechtenstein
are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries, following the requirement of the EU's freedom of movement provisions
, the European Economic Area
Agreement and bilateral accords with Switzerland
.
These lists cover only the visa requirements for regular passport holders. Most often, countries allow some holders of official (service or diplomatic) passport holders visa-free access while they require visas from regular passport holders. In rare cases, however, a country may also allow visa-free access for regular passport holders but require visas from official passport holders. These rules have not been unified even within those EU countries that have fully implemented the Schengen acquis.
Individuals from the following countries can enter the Schengen Area
, Bulgaria
, Cyprus
, Liechtenstein
and Romania
without a visa:
As of right, using a passport or a national identity card
Visa-exempt countries and territories ('Annex II' countries and territories)
These Annex II nationals (except for New Zealand citizens) can enter the Schengen area as a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. New Zealand citizens can spend up to 90 days in each of Austria
, Belgium
, Czech Republic
, Denmark
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Greece
, Iceland
, Italy
, Luxembourg
, The Netherlands, Norway
, Portugal
, Spain
, Sweden
and Switzerland
without reference to time spent in other Schengen signatory states, but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.
Although all Annex II nationals can enter Schengen countries and Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania visa-free for pleasure or for business, individual Schengen countries can decide to impose a visa requirement on those who wish to enter to work (i.e. to carry out a 'paid activity'). The table at the end of the article indicates which Schengen countries permit Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay.
Passport holders who need a visa to enter the Schengen area
Passport types not accepted at all
Passport types to which a visa may not be attached: Northern Cypriot passport
Sahrawi passportCamouflage and fantasy passports
In addition, the following entities are not recognised as sovereign state
s by any EU member state. As such passports issued by them are not recognised as valid travel documents by any EU member state, visas will not be attached to such passports and holders will not gain entry into the Schengen Area. Abkhazian passport
Nagorno-Karabakh passport Somaliland passport South Ossetian passport
Transnistrian passport
The list of countries which nationals require Airport Transit visa consists of 12 countries:
Additionally, countries can impose airport transit visa requirements for nationals of other countries in urgent cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants. Ten countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Malta, Romania,
Slovenia, and Sweden) currently do not use this provision and have no additional requirements. As Liechtenstein has indicated not to accept flights originating outside the Schengen Area, airport transit visa requirements are not relevant there. The other Schengen countries require airport transit visas for nationals from up to 23 (in the case of France) additional countries (See Table below). The third countries for which most countries require airport transit visa are India (8), Sudan (8), Sierra Leone (7) and Syria (7).
based on advice from the individual member states. The Council
then proposes draft legislation which has to be approved by the European Parliament
.
The Balkan countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia joined annex II of countries with visa-free entrance on 19 December 2009 when traveling with biometric passports.
On November 8, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to introduce visa-free travel for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina holding biometric passports. The decision entered into force on 15 December 2010.
On November 25, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to approve visa-free travel for holders of Taiwan passports that contain an identity card number (indicating the right of abode in Taiwan). Visa requirements were dropped on 11 January 2011. The same legislation removed the entry of the Northern Mariana Islands from the visa list as there is no Northern Mariana Islands citizenship and those with a citizenship connection to the island have United States citizenship.
announced "an action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel".
On January 24, 2011 Moldova
officially received a similar "action plan" from the EU's Internal Affairs Commissioner.
According to the Soysal decision from 19 February 2009, the European Court of Justice
decided that Turkish
workers may enter to render services within the European Union without a visa. In its judgement, the Court ruled that Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol signed between Turkey and the EU on 23th November, 1970 obliges EU member states to refrain from introducing further restrictions on the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services. On the other hand, the Court emphasized that since the Schengen visa requires additional charges and costs, it constitutes a new restriction.
As of September 29, 2011, EU Commissioner of Interior Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, has indicated that visa requirement will eventually be discontinued. Visa liberalization will be ushered in several phases. Initial changes are expected in the fall which will include the reduction of visa paperwork, more multi-entry visas, and extended stay periods.
at least in such countries the citizens of which may enter the Schengen Area without visa. To this end, the European Commission
negotiates with third-countries, the citizens of which do not require visas to enter the Schengen Area for short-term stays, about the abolishment of visa requirements which exist for at least some EU member states. The European Commission involves the member state concerned into the negotiations, and has to frequently report on the mutuality situation to the European Parliament
and the Council
. The Commission may recommend the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of the third country in question.
The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. With regard to Mexico, Costa Rica and New Zealand, it already has achieved complete mutuality. With respect to Canada, the Commission has achieved visa-free status for all members except Bulgaria, Romania and more recently the Czech Republic due to the influx of Czech nationals seeking refugee status in Canada. With respect to the U.S., it is optimistic about new legislation modifying the Visa Waiver Program
but "reserves the right to propose retaliatory measures if expected progress towards full visa reciprocity fails to materialise in good time."
Reciprocity is sought for all countries of the visa-free list. That means that the EU expects that these countries offer visa-free access for 90 days to all EU citizens and to the citizens of Iceland
, Norway
and Switzerland
. When this is not the case, the affected Schengen member state is expected to notify the European Commission
, so that the EC takes an appropriate action - negotiate with the annex II state or remove it from the annex II list. All of the states that implement the Schengen visa rules (including Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus) with the exception of Switzerland have notified the European Commission about non-compliant third states. Switzerland has so far made no notifications, possibly because there are no reciprocity issues for Swiss citizens.
Since adoption of this policy full reciprocity has been achieved with the following countries (listed in order of achieving reciprocity): Nicaragua
, Venezuela
, Uruguay
, Costa Rica
, Mexico
, New Zealand
, Israel
,Strictly speaking, full reciprocity has not been achieved with Israel as German citizens born before 1 January 1928 need a visa for Israel. The German government, however, has apparently avoided to report this fact to the European Commission. Malaysia, Paraguay
, Panama
, Singapore
, and Taiwan
.
According to the sixth report on visa reciprocity issued on 5 November 2010 the following countries are still not implementing it fully:
The holder of a long-stay visa or a residence permit is entitled to move freely within the other state which comprise the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in any half year. Third-country nationals who are long-term residents in a Schengen state may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another Schengen state without losing their legal status and social benefits.
However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. Article 20(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows for this 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements concluded by individual signatory states with other countries before the Convention entered into force to remain applicable. As a result, for example, New Zealand citizens
are permitted to stay for up to 90 days in each of the Schengen countries (Austria
, Belgium
, Czech Republic
, Denmark
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Greece
, Iceland
, Italy
, Luxembourg
, The Netherlands, Norway
, Portugal
, Spain
, Sweden
and Switzerland
) which had already concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with the New Zealand Government prior to the Convention entering into force without the need to apply for long-stay visas, but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.
In July 2008, the UK announced the results of its first global review of those needing a visa to come to the UK against a set of strict criteria to determine the level of risk they pose to the UK in terms of illegal immigration
, crime and security. The review would determine whether the nationals of 11 countries would require visas by the end of 2008, unless the countries in question take measures to reduce the perceived risk they pose to the UK. The new visa rules announced on 9 January 2009 require that the nationals of South Africa
, Swaziland
, Lesotho
and Bolivia
obtain a visa; only Venezuela
n nationals travelling on biometric passports with an electronic chip issued since 2007 may enter the UK without a visa; and the existing visa-free status for the nationals of Botswana
, Brazil
, Malaysia, Mauritius
, Namibia
and Trinidad and Tobago
is maintained.
The following individuals can enter the United Kingdom
without a visa:
As of right
Non-visa nationals
Citizens of the following countries and territories are visa-exempt for stays in the UK of up to 6 months (or 3 months if they enter from the Republic of Ireland) as long as they fulfil all of the following criteria:
Citizens of the following countries can enter Ireland
without a visa:
As of right
Visa-exempt
the European Union
largely mirror those of Schengen countries, with the exception of Iceland
, an EU candidate country which has fully implemented the Schengen acquis.
Croatia grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis.
Macedonia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities (except Taiwan), as well as others, such as Botswana
, Kazakhstan
and Peru
.
Montenegro grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis and 30 day visa-free entry to a few other nationalities (such as Cuba, Russia and Ukraine, which are Schengen Annex I countries).
Serbia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brunei, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, visas are required for Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passport holders (who have their application fee waived) and Taiwan passport holders (which is not recognized by Serbia and instead of which a 'certificate for entry' is issued to facilitate entry).
Turkey, however, has more complicated arrangements, granting visa-free entry only to some Annex II nationalities (such as Brazil, Hong Kong SAR and New Zealand) whilst requiring other Annex II nationalities to obtain a visa on arrival at a fee (such as Australia, Canada and the United States).
Schengen countries grant visa-free access to their territory by citizens of all European Union candidate and applicant states (with the exception of Turkey).
which applies implements the Schengen Areas's visa list, but excludes states which do not allow any visa-free nationals to work during their stay, namely: Austria
, Bulgaria
, Cyprus
, the Czech Republic
, Estonia
, Finland
, Hungary
, Latvia
, Lithuania
, Malta
, Poland
and Portugal
.
Member State of the European Union
A member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
, with the exception of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, have a unified visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
system as part of the Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
. Three non-member states—Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
—are also part of the Schengen area and also implement the unified system. Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
are not yet part of the Schengen area, but maintain the same immigration policies as required by Schengen. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
has signed up to Schengen but has yet to implement it. Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
maintain independent immigration policies.
The United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
operate a passport-free zone called the Common Travel Area
Common Travel Area
The Common Travel Area is a passport-free zone that comprises the islands of Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The area's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by Irish and British citizens with only...
, with limited passport controls between them. While the land border is open with no fixed checkpoints, Ireland does, however, perform routine passport controls at airports, selective controls at ferry ports and spot checks on cross-border road and rail transport. An Irish visa will not allow a traveller entry to the UK. As of July 2011, Ireland has established a limited visa waiver programme in which visitors in the UK from certain countries who hold UK tourist visas and who have cleared UK immigration will not need an Irish visa to enter the Republic. For other nationalities and for different kinds of UK visas, an Irish visa is still required.
Nationals of European Union member states, and of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries, following the requirement of the EU's freedom of movement provisions
Directive 2004/38/EC on the right to move and reside freely
The Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States...
, the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
Agreement and bilateral accords with Switzerland
Switzerland and the European Union
Relations between Switzerland and the European Union are framed by a series of bilateral treaties whereby Switzerland adopts EU law in order to participate in the EU's single market.-Trade:...
.
These lists cover only the visa requirements for regular passport holders. Most often, countries allow some holders of official (service or diplomatic) passport holders visa-free access while they require visas from regular passport holders. In rare cases, however, a country may also allow visa-free access for regular passport holders but require visas from official passport holders. These rules have not been unified even within those EU countries that have fully implemented the Schengen acquis.
Visa requirements for the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Romania
As of 2001 the European Union issues two lists regarding visas: a white list of countries whose nationals do not require visas and a black list of countries whose nationals do require visas.Individuals from the following countries can enter the Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
without a visa:
As of right, using a passport or a national identity card
- Citizens of European Union member states and their special territories
- Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic AreaEuropean Economic AreaThe European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and LiechtensteinLiechtensteinThe Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
), their special territories and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Visa-exempt countries and territories ('Annex II' countries and territories)
- Holders of British National (Overseas) passportBritish National (Overseas) passportThe British National passport is a British passport for the holders of the nationality British National . It is mainly held by residents of Hong Kong from 1987.-Physical appearance:...
s (those with connection to former British Hong KongBritish Hong KongBritish Hong Kong refers to Hong Kong as a Crown colony and later, a British dependent territory under British administration from 1841 to 1997.- Colonial establishment :...
)Residual citizenship category that will become extinct with the passage of time, as such citizenship can only be passed down to the national's children in exceptional circumstances, e.g., if the child would otherwise be stateless. - Citizens of the following countries and territories holding ordinary passports:
These Annex II nationals (except for New Zealand citizens) can enter the Schengen area as a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. New Zealand citizens can spend up to 90 days in each of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, The Netherlands, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
without reference to time spent in other Schengen signatory states, but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.
Although all Annex II nationals can enter Schengen countries and Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania visa-free for pleasure or for business, individual Schengen countries can decide to impose a visa requirement on those who wish to enter to work (i.e. to carry out a 'paid activity'). The table at the end of the article indicates which Schengen countries permit Annex II nationals to work during their visa-free stay.
Passport holders who need a visa to enter the Schengen area
- States listed in Annex I of the Council Regulation 539/2001 Palestinian Authority passportPalestinian Authority passportPalestinian Authority Passport/Travel Document is a passport/travel document issued since April 1995 by the Palestinian Authority to Palestinian residents of the Palestinian territories for the purpose of international travel....
Serbian Coordination DirectorateSerbian Coordination DirectorateThe Serbian Coordination Directorate is an authority which is responsible for issuing Serbian passports to Serbian citizens residing in Kosovo....
passport for Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija citizens Kosovan passportKosovan passportThe Kosovan passport is a travel document that is issued to the citizens of the disputed Republic of Kosovo. The document facilitates international travel as well as serving as proof of citizenship. The issuance of passports is the prerogative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the...
for Republic of KosovoRepublic of KosovoKosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
citizens British Overseas Territories citizenBritish Overseas Territories citizenThe status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s other than GibraltariansGibraltar passportThe Gibraltar passport is a British passport issued to Gibraltarians and other British residents in Gibraltar.As a result of the British Nationality Act 1981 Gibraltarians were British Overseas Territories citizens by default, but could apply for registration as a British Citizen under section 5...
without the right of abode in the UKRight of Abode (United Kingdom)The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:...
(those related solely to Akrotiri and DhekeliaAkrotiri and DhekeliaThe Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two British-administered areas comprising a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus administered as Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom...
) British Overseas citizenBritish Overseas citizenIn British nationality law, the status of British Overseas citizen is one of several categories of British national. A British Overseas citizen does not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s British subjectBritish subjectIn British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :...
s without the right of abode in the UKRight of Abode (United Kingdom)The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:...
British protected personBritish protected personA British protected person is a member of class of certain persons under the British Nationality Act 1981 associated with former protected states, protectorates, mandated and trust territories under British control...
s
Passport types not accepted at all
Passport types to which a visa may not be attached: Northern Cypriot passport
Northern Cypriot passport
Holders of a Northern Cypriot Citizen passport can visit 7 countries in the world. According to the Northern Cypriot government, these countries are: Australia, Pakistan, France, Syria, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom.-External links:*...
Sahrawi passportCamouflage and fantasy passports
Camouflage passport
A camouflage passport is a passport issued in the name of a non-existent country that is intended to look like a real country’s passport.Such passports are also often sold with several matching documents, including an international driver’s license and similar supporting identity papers.Camouflage...
In addition, the following entities are not recognised as sovereign state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
s by any EU member state. As such passports issued by them are not recognised as valid travel documents by any EU member state, visas will not be attached to such passports and holders will not gain entry into the Schengen Area. Abkhazian passport
Abkhazian passport
The Abkhazian passport is issued to citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia for the purpose of international travel and for the purpose of legal identification within Abkhazia...
Nagorno-Karabakh passport Somaliland passport South Ossetian passport
South Ossetian passport
South Ossetian passports are issued to inhabitants of South Ossetia for the purpose of international travel and for the purpose of legal identification within South Ossetia. They were first issued on August 15, 2006...
Transnistrian passport
Transnistrian passport
The Transnistrian passport is issued to citizens of Transnistria for the purpose of international travel and for the purpose of legal identification within Transnistria. As Transnistria is not recognised by any country of the world, a Transnistrian passport is not valid for travel to any country in...
Transit visas
As of 5 April 2010, common visa requirements for the airport transit were introduced by the European Union. From that date, citizens of certain countries need transit visas unless they:- hold a Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by an EU member state,
- hold certain residence permits issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States guaranteeing the holder's unconditional readmission to that country,
- hold a valid visa for an EU member state or for a member of the European Economic Area Agreement, Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or when they return from those countries after having used the visa,
- are family members of an EU citizen,
- hold a diplomatic passport, or
- are flight crew members whose state of nationality is a party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The list of countries which nationals require Airport Transit visa consists of 12 countries:
Additionally, countries can impose airport transit visa requirements for nationals of other countries in urgent cases of mass influx of illegal immigrants. Ten countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Malta, Romania,
Slovenia, and Sweden) currently do not use this provision and have no additional requirements. As Liechtenstein has indicated not to accept flights originating outside the Schengen Area, airport transit visa requirements are not relevant there. The other Schengen countries require airport transit visas for nationals from up to 23 (in the case of France) additional countries (See Table below). The third countries for which most countries require airport transit visa are India (8), Sudan (8), Sierra Leone (7) and Syria (7).
Countries for which an airport transit visa is required in some countries
| Country | Additional nationals required to have an ATV | Reference |
|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Liberia | |
 Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg |
Angola, Colombia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria | |
 Czech Republic |
Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Palestinian National Authority, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen | |
 Estonia |
Angola, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria and Togo | None of these countries has been registered with the EU. |
 Early Modern France |
Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Congo (Republic), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Peru, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Togo | , |
 Germany |
Burma, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria and Turkey | |
 Greece |
Angola, India, Sudan, Syria, Turkey | |
 Hungary |
Cameroon, Guinea, Lebanon, Liberia, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, Syria | None of these countries has been registered with the EU. |
 Italy |
Colombia and Senegal | |
 Lithuania |
North Korea, Sudan | |
 Portugal |
Liberia, Senegal | |
 Slovakia |
India | |
 Spain |
Angola, Cuba, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo | |
 Switzerland |
Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, India, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Togo Turkey |
Local border traffic at external borders
Schengen States are authorised by virtue of the EU regulation no 1931/2006 to have bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries regarding local border traffic permit. This is a kind of multiple-entry visa in the form of a passport sticker or a card containing the name and a picture of the holder, as well as a statement that its holder is not authorised to move outside the border area and that any abuse shall be subject to penalties. The border area may include any administrative district within 30 kilometres from the external border (and, if any district extends beyond that limit, the whole district up to 50 kilometres from the border). The applicant for the permit has to show legitimate reasons to frequently cross an external land border under the local border traffic regime. This routine is implemented in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia for Ukrainian citizens, and is being implemented or negotiated in Poland and Lithuania regarding Belarus and the Kaliningrad area, and also negotiated between Norway and Russia. See Schengen Area#Local border traffic at external borders.Non-ordinary passports
Unlike the common Schengen rules for ordinary passports there are no common black, white and transit lists for holders of diplomatic, service and other official passports and each state has different policy on these.Obtaining a Schengen visa
To obtain a Schengen visa, a traveller must take the following steps:- He or she must first identify which Schengen country is the main destination. This determines the State responsible for deciding on the Schengen visa application and therefore the embassyDiplomatic missionA diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
or the consulateConsul (representative)The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
where the traveller will have to lodge the application. If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should file the visa application at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country of first entry. If the Schengen State of the main destination or first entry does not have a diplomatic missionDiplomatic missionA diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
or consular post in his country, the traveller must contact the embassy or the consulate of another Schengen country, normally located in the traveller's country, which represents, for the purpose of issuing Schengen visas, the country of the principal destination or first entry. - The traveller must then present the Schengen visa application to the responsible embassy or consulate. A harmonised form is to be submitted, together with a valid passport and, if necessary, the documents supporting the purpose and conditions of the stay in the Schengen Area (aim of the visit, duration of the stay, lodging). The traveller will also have to prove his or her means of subsistence, i.e., the funds available to cover, on the one hand, the expenses of the stay, taking into account its duration and the destination, and, on the other hand, the cost of the return to the home country. Certain embassies or consulates sometimes call the applicant to appear in person in order to explain verbally the reasons for the visa application.
- Finally, the traveller must have travel insurance that covers, for a minimum of €30,000, any expenses incurred as a result of emergency medical treatment or repatriationRepatriationRepatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
for health reasons. The proof of the travel insurance must in principle be provided at the end of the procedure, i.e. when the decision to grant the Schengen visa has already been made.
Recent Changes (2009-2011)
Changes to the entries on annex I (visa required) and annex II (visa-free) are regularly considered by the Council of the European UnionCouncil of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
based on advice from the individual member states. The Council
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
then proposes draft legislation which has to be approved by the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
The Balkan countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia joined annex II of countries with visa-free entrance on 19 December 2009 when traveling with biometric passports.
On November 8, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to introduce visa-free travel for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina holding biometric passports. The decision entered into force on 15 December 2010.
On November 25, 2010 the Council of the European Union decided to approve visa-free travel for holders of Taiwan passports that contain an identity card number (indicating the right of abode in Taiwan). Visa requirements were dropped on 11 January 2011. The same legislation removed the entry of the Northern Mariana Islands from the visa list as there is no Northern Mariana Islands citizenship and those with a citizenship connection to the island have United States citizenship.
Future changes
On November 22, 2010 the European Council and UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
announced "an action plan for Ukraine toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel".
On January 24, 2011 Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
officially received a similar "action plan" from the EU's Internal Affairs Commissioner.
According to the Soysal decision from 19 February 2009, the European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
decided that Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
workers may enter to render services within the European Union without a visa. In its judgement, the Court ruled that Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol signed between Turkey and the EU on 23th November, 1970 obliges EU member states to refrain from introducing further restrictions on the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services. On the other hand, the Court emphasized that since the Schengen visa requires additional charges and costs, it constitutes a new restriction.
As of September 29, 2011, EU Commissioner of Interior Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, has indicated that visa requirement will eventually be discontinued. Visa liberalization will be ushered in several phases. Initial changes are expected in the fall which will include the reduction of visa paperwork, more multi-entry visas, and extended stay periods.
Reciprocity
It is a political goal of the European Union to achieve freedom from visa requirements for citizens of the European UnionCitizenship of the European Union
Citizenship of the European Union was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty . European citizenship is supplementary to national citizenship and affords rights such as the right to vote in European elections, the right to free movement and the right to consular protection from other EU states'...
at least in such countries the citizens of which may enter the Schengen Area without visa. To this end, the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
negotiates with third-countries, the citizens of which do not require visas to enter the Schengen Area for short-term stays, about the abolishment of visa requirements which exist for at least some EU member states. The European Commission involves the member state concerned into the negotiations, and has to frequently report on the mutuality situation to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and the Council
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
. The Commission may recommend the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of the third country in question.
The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. With regard to Mexico, Costa Rica and New Zealand, it already has achieved complete mutuality. With respect to Canada, the Commission has achieved visa-free status for all members except Bulgaria, Romania and more recently the Czech Republic due to the influx of Czech nationals seeking refugee status in Canada. With respect to the U.S., it is optimistic about new legislation modifying the Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...
but "reserves the right to propose retaliatory measures if expected progress towards full visa reciprocity fails to materialise in good time."
Reciprocity is sought for all countries of the visa-free list. That means that the EU expects that these countries offer visa-free access for 90 days to all EU citizens and to the citizens of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. When this is not the case, the affected Schengen member state is expected to notify the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, so that the EC takes an appropriate action - negotiate with the annex II state or remove it from the annex II list. All of the states that implement the Schengen visa rules (including Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus) with the exception of Switzerland have notified the European Commission about non-compliant third states. Switzerland has so far made no notifications, possibly because there are no reciprocity issues for Swiss citizens.
Since adoption of this policy full reciprocity has been achieved with the following countries (listed in order of achieving reciprocity): Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
,Strictly speaking, full reciprocity has not been achieved with Israel as German citizens born before 1 January 1928 need a visa for Israel. The German government, however, has apparently avoided to report this fact to the European Commission. Malaysia, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
According to the sixth report on visa reciprocity issued on 5 November 2010 the following countries are still not implementing it fully:
- AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(the European Commission has yet to evaluate for compliance the eVisitor system of Australia which covers all member states, but for which certain application provisions will be assessed); - BruneiBruneiBrunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
(which restricts the visa waiver to 30 days (which is extendable twice) in contrast to the 90 days granted by the EU); - BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
currently still requires visas of Cypriots, Maltese, Estonians and Latvians. A bilateral treaty abolishing visa requirements has been adopted by the EU on 24 February 2011 and is pending ratification by Brazil; - CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(which requires visas of Bulgarians and Romanians as well as of Czechs. This was an important setback to the visa reciprocity policy because Canada reintroduced a visa requirement for Czechs on 13 July 2009): - JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
currently allows visa-free access to all citizens of the European Union. For Romanian citizens a temporary waiver is in effect until December 31, 2011 at which point it may be extended indefinitely; - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(which maintains visa requirementsVisa Waiver ProgramThe Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...
for Bulgarians, Cypriots, Poles and Romanians; furthermore certain provisions of the US ESTAElectronic System for Travel AuthorizationThe Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a United States government requirement for participating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries arriving by air or sea to complete online the I-94W form in...
system — such as the application fee — will be assessed).
Stays exceeding three months
For stays in the Schengen Area as a whole which exceed three months, a third-country national will need to hold either a long-stay visa for a period of no longer than a year or a residence permit for longer periods. A long-stay visa is a national visa but is issued in accordance with a uniform format. It entitles the holder to enter the Schengen Area and remain in the issuing state for a period longer than three months but no more than one year. If a Schengen state wishes to allow the holder of a long-stay visa remain there for longer than a year, the state must issue him or her with a residence permit.The holder of a long-stay visa or a residence permit is entitled to move freely within the other state which comprise the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in any half year. Third-country nationals who are long-term residents in a Schengen state may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another Schengen state without losing their legal status and social benefits.
However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. Article 20(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows for this 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements concluded by individual signatory states with other countries before the Convention entered into force to remain applicable. As a result, for example, New Zealand citizens
New Zealand nationality law
New Zealand citizenship was created on 1 January 1949 by the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948...
are permitted to stay for up to 90 days in each of the Schengen countries (Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, The Netherlands, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) which had already concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with the New Zealand Government prior to the Convention entering into force without the need to apply for long-stay visas, but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.
United Kingdom visa requirements
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
, crime and security. The review would determine whether the nationals of 11 countries would require visas by the end of 2008, unless the countries in question take measures to reduce the perceived risk they pose to the UK. The new visa rules announced on 9 January 2009 require that the nationals of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
obtain a visa; only Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n nationals travelling on biometric passports with an electronic chip issued since 2007 may enter the UK without a visa; and the existing visa-free status for the nationals of Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Malaysia, Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
is maintained.
The following individuals can enter the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
without a visa:
As of right
- Citizens of CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries who have the right of abodeRight of Abode (United Kingdom)The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:...
in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971Immigration Act 1971The Immigration Act 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning immigration.The Act, as with the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, and that of 1968, restricted immigration, especially primary immigration into the UK.... - Citizens of European Union member states
- Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic AreaEuropean Economic AreaThe European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and LiechtensteinLiechtensteinThe Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
) and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - British NationalsBritish nationality lawBritish nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom that concerns citizenship and other categories of British nationality. The law is complex because of the United Kingdom's former status as an imperial power.-History:...
(whether they have the right of abode in the United Kingdom or not) of the following categories:- British citizens
- British Overseas Territories citizenBritish Overseas Territories citizenThe status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s - British National (Overseas)British National (Overseas)British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
- British Overseas citizenBritish Overseas citizenIn British nationality law, the status of British Overseas citizen is one of several categories of British national. A British Overseas citizen does not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s - British protected personBritish protected personA British protected person is a member of class of certain persons under the British Nationality Act 1981 associated with former protected states, protectorates, mandated and trust territories under British control...
s - British subjectBritish subjectIn British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :...
s
Non-visa nationals
Citizens of the following countries and territories are visa-exempt for stays in the UK of up to 6 months (or 3 months if they enter from the Republic of Ireland) as long as they fulfil all of the following criteria:
- they do not work during their stay in the UK
- they must not register a marriage or register a civil partnership during their stay in the UK
- they can present evidence of sufficient money to fund their stay in the UK (if requested by the border inspection officer)
- they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit and can meet the cost of the return/onward journey
- they have completed a landing card and submitted it at passport control unless in direct transit to a destination outside the Common Travel AreaCommon Travel AreaThe Common Travel Area is a passport-free zone that comprises the islands of Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The area's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by Irish and British citizens with only...
- if under the age of 18, they can demonstrate evidence of suitable care arrangements and parental (or guardian's) consent for their stay in the UK
Transit visas
Citizens of the following countries need transit visas:| Non-biometric passports only |
Ireland visa requirements
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
without a visa:
As of right
- Citizens of European Union member states
- Citizens of non-EU member states of the European Economic AreaEuropean Economic AreaThe European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and LiechtensteinLiechtensteinThe Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
) and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Visa-exempt
- Holders of a Residence Card of a family member of a Union citizen.
- British Overseas Territories citizenBritish Overseas Territories citizenThe status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s - British National (Overseas)British National (Overseas)British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens...
- British Overseas citizenBritish Overseas citizenIn British nationality law, the status of British Overseas citizen is one of several categories of British national. A British Overseas citizen does not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s - The following countries and territories:
Hong Kong 
Macau
- The Holder of a refugee travel document issued by one of the following countries:
Visa Waiver Programme
Under a Visa Waiver Programme introduced in July 2011, citizens of the following countries who hold a valid UK visa (limited to the following kinds: general visitor, child visitor, business visitor, sports visitor or academic visitor) and who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom. The programme is being run on a pilot basis and is due to expire on 31 October 2012.Transit visas
Citizens of the following countries need transit visas:Visa policy of candidate and applicant states
Although the visa lists drawn up by the European Union only apply legally to Schengen signatories, in practice the visa policies of other European countries which aspire to joinFuture enlargement of the European Union
The future enlargement of the European Union is theoretically open to any European country which is democratic, operates a free market and is willing and able to implement all previous European Union law...
the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
largely mirror those of Schengen countries, with the exception of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, an EU candidate country which has fully implemented the Schengen acquis.
Croatia grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis.
Macedonia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities (except Taiwan), as well as others, such as Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Montenegro grants 90 day visa-free entry to exactly the same nationalities which appear in Annex II of the Schengen acquis and 30 day visa-free entry to a few other nationalities (such as Cuba, Russia and Ukraine, which are Schengen Annex I countries).
Serbia grants 90 day visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brunei, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, visas are required for Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passport holders (who have their application fee waived) and Taiwan passport holders (which is not recognized by Serbia and instead of which a 'certificate for entry' is issued to facilitate entry).
Turkey, however, has more complicated arrangements, granting visa-free entry only to some Annex II nationalities (such as Brazil, Hong Kong SAR and New Zealand) whilst requiring other Annex II nationalities to obtain a visa on arrival at a fee (such as Australia, Canada and the United States).
Schengen countries grant visa-free access to their territory by citizens of all European Union candidate and applicant states (with the exception of Turkey).
Summary of visa-free travel to the European Union
Note that the visa requirements for the French Overseas departments are different, even though they are part of the EU.| Country | Schengen area Schengen Area The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... , Cyprus Cyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... , Liechtenstein Liechtenstein The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan... , Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... |
Ireland Republic of Ireland Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,... |
United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania |
(biometric passports only) |
|||
 Andorra |
||||
 Antigua and Barbuda |
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 Argentina |
||||
 Australia |
||||
 The Bahamas |
||||
 Barbados |
||||
 Belize |
||||
 Bolivia |
||||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
(biometric passports only) |
|||
 Botswana |
||||
 Brazil |
||||
 Brunei |
||||
 Canada |
||||
 Chile |
||||
 Costa Rica |
||||
 Independent State of Croatia |
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 Dominica |
||||
 East Timor |
||||
 El Salvador |
||||
 Fiji |
||||
 Grenada |
||||
 Guatemala |
||||
 Guyana |
||||
 Honduras |
||||
| Hong Kong |
||||
 Israel |
||||
 Japan |
||||
 Kiribati |
||||
 Lesotho |
||||
| Macau |
||||
 Republic of Macedonia |
(biometric passports only) |
|||
 Malawi |
||||
 Malaysia |
||||
 Maldives |
||||
 Marshall Islands |
||||
 Mauritius |
||||
 Mexico |
||||
 Federated States of Micronesia |
||||
 Monaco |
||||
 Kingdom of Montenegro |
(biometric passports only) |
(Visa Waiver available with UK visa) |
||
 Namibia |
||||
 Nauru |
||||
 New Zealand |
||||
 Nicaragua |
||||
 Palau |
||||
 Panama |
||||
 Papua New Guinea |
||||
 Paraguay |
||||
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
||||
 Saint Lucia |
||||
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
||||
 Samoa |
||||
 San Marino |
||||
 Serbia |
(biometric passports only, excludes Kosovo residents) |
(Visa Waiver available with UK visa) |
||
 Seychelles |
||||
 Singapore |
||||
 Solomon Islands |
||||
 South Africa |
||||
 South Korea |
||||
 Swaziland |
||||
 Republic of China |
||||
 Tonga |
||||
 Trinidad and Tobago |
||||
 Tuvalu |
||||
 United States |
The entry Mariana Islands has been removed from the "visa required" list on 11 Jan 2011. As there is no Northern Mariana Islands citizenship in contrast to the United States citizenship, this entry produced no effects. | |||
 Uruguay |
||||
 Vanuatu |
||||
 Vatican City |
||||
 Venezuela |
(biometric passports only) |
|||
 British National (Overseas)British National (Overseas) British National , commonly known as BN, is one of the major classes of British nationality under British nationality law. Holders of this nationality are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British Citizens... |
||||
| British Overseas Territories citizen British Overseas Territories citizen The status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:... s (other than Gibraltar Gibraltar Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region... iansGibraltar Gibraltar Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region... ians are United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes, making them entitled to the EU's freedom of movement provisions as of right, see parliament.uk) without the right of abode in the UK Right of Abode (United Kingdom) The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:... |
||||
| British Overseas citizen British Overseas citizen In British nationality law, the status of British Overseas citizen is one of several categories of British national. A British Overseas citizen does not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom.-British Nationality Act 1981:... s |
||||
| British subject British subject In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :... s without the right of abode in the UK Right of Abode (United Kingdom) The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:... British Overseas Territories citizen British Overseas Territories citizen The status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:... s and British subject British subject In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :... s with the right of abode in the United Kingdom Right of Abode (United Kingdom) The right of abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration law that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. It was introduced by the Immigration Act 1971.-British citizens:... are United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes European Union law European Union law is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states. The three sources of European Union law are primary law, secondary law and supplementary law... (page 12, 14), making them EU citizens. After 2002 British Overseas Territories Act 2002 The British Overseas Territories Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which superseded parts of the British Nationality Act 1981... all BOT citizens (apart from these solely connected to a SBA) became full British citizens. Currently the category of British Overseas Territories citizens without the right of abode in the UK consists only of SBA citizens, but most of them have also Cyprus Cypriot nationality law The Cypriot nationality law dates back from 1967. It is mainly based on jus sanguinis.-External links:*... or British citizenships, both of which are entitled to free movement inside the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... . |
||||
| British protected person British protected person A British protected person is a member of class of certain persons under the British Nationality Act 1981 associated with former protected states, protectorates, mandated and trust territories under British control... s |
||||
Summary of visa-free stays involving paid activity in the Schengen Area
Below is a table of Schengen countries which permit nationals of Annex II countries and territories to work during their 90 day visa-free period of stay without authorization. It includes RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
which applies implements the Schengen Areas's visa list, but excludes states which do not allow any visa-free nationals to work during their stay, namely: Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
See also
- Central America-4 Border Control AgreementCentral America-4 Border Control AgreementThe Central America-4 Border Control Agreement was a treaty signed in June 2006 between the Central American nations of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, establishing the free movement across borders between the four signatory states of its citizens without any restrictions or checks...
- Third country relationships with the European Union
- Visa Information SystemVisa Information SystemThe European Union Visa Information System is a database containing information, including biometrics, on visa applications by Third Country Nationals requiring a visa to enter the Schengen group....
- Visa Waiver ProgramVisa Waiver ProgramThe Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...