Everything you need to know about Schengen Visa: How to obtain and where it’s valid

The short-term visa that allows travelers to visit Schengen Area countries for business or tourism purposes for up to 90 days is called a Schengen visa. It is the most common visa for Europe and allows you to travel freely within Schengen countries. The region covering countries that are members of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association is called the Schengen area. The visa-free travel among these countries allows citizens to travel within the area with just their ID cards and passports. Citizens of countries outside the Schengen area, however, need a visa, known as a Schengen visa, to enter. There are a total of 26 countries that can be visited with a Schengen visa. There are also countries that are members of the European Union but not part of the Schengen area. Romania, Ireland, Croatia, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Bulgaria are among these countries. To obtain a Schengen visa, you first need to meet the relevant conditions and prepare the required documents. Then, you can apply for an appointment at the representation of the country you want to visit and wait for the result. Although the steps may vary for different types of visas, such as Schengen C type visa or D type visa, the initial application and document submission process is common. The requirements for a Schengen visa vary depending on factors such as the applicant's current nationality, the destination country, the type of travel, and other political considerations. Among the Schengen visa countries are the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Denmark, Portugal, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Malta, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Luxembourg, Italy, and Latvia. Every country in the Schengen area can issue Schengen visas. When your visa is approved, you need to enter the country that issued the visa first. Then, you can travel around Europe with the Schengen visa. Schengen visas can be obtained for various purposes such as visiting friends or relatives, tourist accommodation, business travel, education, and employment. The processing time for Schengen visas can vary depending on the following factors.