Schengen Visa 2026Requirements, Countries List, Fees & the 90/180 Rule
One short-stay visa · 29 countries · 90 days in any 180
- Member countries
- 29
- Also visa-exempt
- 66
- Need a visa
- 104
- Max short stay
- 90/180
Europe's common short-stay visa (Type C): one application, one sticker, free movement across all 29 countries. Whether you need one depends on your passport.
Jump to: countries list, who needs a visa, how to apply, fee, 90/180 rule.
What Is the Schengen Area?
29 European countries with no passport checks at their shared internal borders - mostly EU members, joined by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Ireland is in the EU but not in Schengen, and the United Kingdom is in neither: a Schengen visa is not valid in either.
Schengen Countries List 2026 (29)
One short-stay visa is valid in all of them. Tap a country for its entry requirements by passport.
The 90/180 Rule, Explained
Visa-free or on a visa, short stays are capped at 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole area: three days in France, four in Italy and a week in Spain all draw from one allowance. On each day of the stay, look back 180 days: the total must not exceed 90. Overstaying means fines, an entry ban and later refusals.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa in 2026?
The EU keeps one harmonised exemption list, so a single member's policy answers the question for the whole area - verified here against France's.
Nationalities That Do Not Need a Schengen Visa (66 visa-exempt)
Admitted visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. Citizens of the 29 member states are not listed - they have freedom of movement, with no visa and no stay limit.
Show all 66Show fewer
Nationalities That Need a Schengen Visa (104)
Must obtain a short-stay visa before travelling, even for tourism.
Show all 104Show fewer
Schengen Visa Guides by Nationality
Where to apply, documents and fees for your passport.
Visa required
- 🇮🇳Indian citizens
- 🇵🇰Pakistani citizens
- 🇧🇩Bangladeshi citizens
- 🇳🇵Nepali citizens
- 🇱🇰Sri Lankan citizens
- 🇨🇳Chinese citizens
- 🇵🇭Filipino citizens
- 🇮🇩Indonesian citizens
- 🇻🇳Vietnamese citizens
- 🇹🇭Thai citizens
- 🇳🇬Nigerian citizens
- 🇪🇬Egyptian citizens
- 🇰🇪Kenyan citizens
- 🇬🇭Ghanaian citizens
- 🇿🇦South African citizens
- 🇲🇦Moroccan citizens
- 🇩🇿Algerian citizens
- 🇪🇹Ethiopian citizens
- 🇷🇺Russian citizens
- 🇹🇷Turkish citizens
- 🇸🇦Saudi citizens
- 🇶🇦Qatari citizens
- 🇮🇷Iranian citizens
- 🇯🇴Jordanian citizens
- 🇰🇿Kazakh citizens
No visa needed (short stays)
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa
Harmonised across members - the same form, fee and core documents everywhere.
- 01
Pick the right consulate
Your main destination - where you spend longest, or first entry if stays are equal. Applying to an "easier" consulate while mainly visiting elsewhere is a common ground for refusal.
- 02
Fill the harmonised application form
Usually lodged at an outsourced centre (VFS Global, TLScontact or BLS) in your country of residence.
- 03
Gather the standard file
Passport valid three months beyond departure, photos, travel medical insurance with EUR 30,000 coverage, accommodation, itinerary, proof of funds, evidence of ties to home. Each consulate publishes its own per-nationality checklist.
- 04
Book biometrics and pay the fee
Fingerprints on the first application, then reused from the VIS system.
- 05
Wait for the decision
France decides within 15 days in most cases, extendable to 45. Apply up to 6 months before travel.
Schengen Visa Fee 2026
Set EU-wide - the same whichever member state you apply to.
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adults (12+) | EUR 90 |
| Children 6 to 12 | EUR 45 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
| Visa-facilitation nationals (e.g. Armenia, Azerbaijan) | EUR 35 |
A VFS Global or TLScontact service fee is charged on top, and the fee is not refunded if you are refused. For the bank balance to show, see the Schengen proof-of-funds guide.
Schengen Visa Requirements by Destination & Nationality
Stay length, conditions and documents for the most-visited Schengen destinations.
Schengen Visa FAQ
What is a Schengen visa?
One short-stay visa (Type C) valid across all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180, for tourism, family visits or business. It is not valid in Ireland or the United Kingdom, which run their own visa policies.
Do I need a Schengen visa?
It depends on your nationality: 95 of the 199 nationalities we track are exempt for short stays (Schengen members, or on the EU's visa-exempt list), and the remaining 104 must apply before travelling.
How much does a Schengen visa cost?
EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, free under 6, and EUR 35 under an EU visa-facilitation agreement. VFS or TLScontact handling fees are charged on top.
What is the 90/180 rule?
At most 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across the whole Schengen Area rather than per country. On each day of your stay, look back 180 days: the days spent in Schengen must not exceed 90.
How long does a Schengen visa take to process?
For France, 15 days in most cases, extendable to 45 where extra scrutiny is needed. You can apply up to 6 months before travel, and several weeks ahead is advisable in high season.
What documents do I need for a Schengen visa?
The harmonised form, a passport valid three months beyond departure, photos, travel medical insurance with EUR 30,000 coverage, accommodation and itinerary, proof of funds, and evidence of ties to home. Consulates publish per-nationality checklists.
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