Sachin Walls
The Schengen Visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short-term visit to a Schengen country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you are travelling through an airport in the Schengen area and need to exit the international transit area, you may need to obtain an Airport Transit Visa (ATV). This is a short-stay permit that allows travellers from non-Schengen countries to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or flight transfer without entering the Schengen Area. The ATV is not required if you are only transiting through a single Schengen airport. To obtain an ATV, you must apply at least 15 days prior to travelling through the embassy or consulate of the country you are travelling through.
Can you get a Schengen visa at the airport?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who needs a Schengen visa? | Nationals of specific non-Schengen countries who are transiting through the international zone of a Schengen Area airport during a layover or flight transfer, without entering the Schengen Area. |
| When to apply | At least 15 days prior to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before departure. |
| Where to apply | The embassy or consulate of the country in which the transited airport is located, or through a Visa Application Center associated with the consulate of the country. |
| Application requirements | Visa application form, two recent passport-sized photos, a valid passport, a round trip itinerary or air ticket reservation, a visa or travel document valid for the main destination, and Schengen Visa Insurance. |
| Application fee | 80 Euros for adults. |
| Processing time | Generally about two weeks (15 days). |
| Validity | 24 hours, within the international zone of the designated airport. |
| Additional notes | If transiting through more than one Schengen airport or changing airports within the same country, a regular Schengen Visa is required. |
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What You'll Learn
Application requirements
To apply for a Schengen visa, you must submit your application to the consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, you should apply at the consulate of the country where you will be spending the longest. If your stays in multiple countries are of equal length, apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.
The general application requirements for a Schengen visa are as follows:
- A valid passport, issued within the last 10 years, with an expiry date of at least 3 months after your departure from the Schengen area. For multiple-entry visas, the expiry date should be at least 3 months after your departure from the last country visited.
- A completed visa application form.
- Two recent passport-sized photos, following ICAO standards and Schengen visa photo requirements.
- Proof of ongoing travel, such as flight tickets with a confirmed date.
- A visa or travel document valid for your main destination.
- Medical insurance covering at least €30,000 in emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation (including in the event of death).
- Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means, and accommodation during your stay.
- Evidence of your intention to return to your home country after your stay.
In addition, you may need to provide your fingerprints when submitting your application and additional documents may be requested by the consulates. It is recommended that you apply for a Schengen visa at least 15 days before your travel date, and no earlier than 6 months before your departure.
If you are only transiting through an airport in the Schengen area and will not be leaving the international transit area, you may need to obtain an Airport Transit Schengen Visa (ATV) or a Type A visa, depending on your nationality and travel itinerary. This visa is valid for 24 hours and allows transit within the international zone of a single Schengen airport. Nationals of the following countries are required to hold an ATV when passing through the international transit area of airports in Schengen countries:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
To apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa, you will need to submit the following documents:
- A completed visa application form.
- Two recent passport-sized photos, following Schengen visa photo requirements.
- A valid passport, with at least two blank pages, issued within the last 10 years, and valid for at least three months beyond your intended return date.
- Proof of ongoing travel, such as a round trip itinerary or air ticket reservation.
- Visa or travel document valid for the main destination.
- Schengen Visa Insurance, covering at least €30,000 in medical emergencies.
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Transit visas
An Airport Transit Schengen Visa (ATV) is a short-stay permit that allows travellers from specific non-Schengen countries to pass through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or flight transfer without entering the Schengen Area. Nationals of certain countries are required to obtain an ATV even if they remain within the international transit area and do not exit the airport. The ATV is valid for 24 hours and only permits transit within the international zone of the designated airport. If you need to leave the transit area or stay longer, you will need a regular Schengen visa.
To apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa, you must first verify if you need this visa based on your nationality and travel itinerary. Citizens of certain countries must obtain an ATV when travelling through Schengen states, while other nationalities require an ATV only for transit through specific Schengen airports. If you are transiting through two or more Schengen countries, you need to apply at the embassy, consulate, or Visa Application Centre of the country you will transit first.
The application process for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa involves completing the Schengen visa application form, gathering the necessary documents, and scheduling an appointment at the appropriate visa centre or embassy. The required documents typically include a valid passport, two recent passport-sized photos, proof of ongoing travel such as flight tickets, a visa or travel document for the main destination, and Schengen visa insurance. It is recommended to apply for the visa at least 15 days before your travel date, and no earlier than six months in advance. The standard fee for adults is 80 Euros, and the processing time is generally about two weeks.
It is important to note that travellers with an ATV are not authorised to enter the Schengen Area. If your journey involves transiting through two airports or requires an overnight stay, you will need a short-stay Schengen visa. Additionally, if you need to transit through multiple Schengen airports, you must obtain a regular Schengen visa instead of an ATV.
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Short-stay visas
A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short-stay visit of up to 90 days within any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. There are different types of Schengen visas, including multiple-entry visas and airport transit visas.
An Airport Transit Visa (ATV) is a short-stay permit that allows travellers from specific non-Schengen countries to transit through the international zone of a Schengen Area airport during a layover or flight transfer without entering the Schengen Area. Nationals of certain countries, such as Algeria, Angola, Armenia, and Cameroon, are required to possess an ATV when passing through the international transit area of airports of Schengen countries. It is important to note that ATV holders are not authorised to enter the Schengen Area. If you have a connection between two airports in the Schengen Area or need to stay overnight, you must obtain a regular short-stay Schengen visa.
To apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa, you need to verify the requirement based on your nationality and travel itinerary, complete the visa application form, collect the necessary documents, schedule an appointment at the appropriate visa centre or embassy, and submit the application. The required documents typically include a valid passport, two recent passport-sized photos, a visa application form, proof of ongoing travel, and Schengen visa insurance. The standard fee for adults is 80 Euros, and the processing time is generally about two weeks. It is recommended to apply for this visa at least 15 days before travelling and no earlier than 6 months before departure.
If you intend to visit more than one Schengen country, you should apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time. If your stays in multiple Schengen countries are of equal length, apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit. As a general rule, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate with territorial responsibility for the country where you are legally resident.
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Visa exemptions
Nationals of certain countries are required to hold an airport transit visa (ATV) when passing through the international zone of an airport in the Schengen area. However, there are some exemptions to this rule. Nationals of the following countries are exempt from ATV requirements if they hold a visa or residence permit for an EU single market country, Canada, Japan, the United States, or the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
Other ATV exemptions apply to those holding:
- A residence permit for Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or the United Kingdom
- A diplomatic passport
- A special passport issued by Angola, Bolivia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, the Philippines, the Republic of Guinea, or the Republic of the Congo
- A diplomatic passport
- A flight crew member
Additionally, individuals of any nationality who are family members of EU single market nationals and possess a residence card are exempt from holding a visa when entering the EU single market if they are accompanying their EU single market family member or seeking to join them.
In some cases, individual Schengen countries can grant visa-free access to certain groups, such as diplomatic staff, armed forces, refugees, and school pupils on excursions. Furthermore, holders of a double or multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state or Monaco can travel to Cyprus without an additional visa, except for nationals of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The EU has also been working towards visa liberalisation with several countries, including Armenia, Belize, Ecuador, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Maldives. These efforts aim to facilitate visa-free travel or simplified visa procedures for non-EU citizens wishing to enter the Schengen area.
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Application process
The Schengen visa application process can be completed in the following steps:
Step 1: Determine your eligibility
Firstly, you need to determine whether you require a Schengen visa for your trip. Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. Additionally, if you are connecting through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area, you may need an airport transit visa (ATV). The requirement for an ATV depends on your passport type and the country that issued it.
Step 2: Gather required documents
The following documents are typically required for a Schengen visa application:
- A valid passport with an expiry date of at least 3 months after your departure from the Schengen area.
- A visa application form.
- A photo that complies with ICAO standards.
- Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
- Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation, and proof of your intention to return to your home country.
- Application fees, which are due upon filing.
Step 3: Submit your application
You must submit your application to the consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time or the first country you will visit. Applications should be submitted at least 15 days before your journey and no earlier than 6 months in advance. You may need to book an appointment before submitting your application. During the submission, your fingerprints will be collected.
Step 4: Wait for processing
The normal processing time for a Schengen visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended up to 45 days if additional documents or a more detailed examination are required. If your application is rejected, you will be informed.
Step 5: Collect your passport
Once your visa application has been processed, you will be notified when your passport is ready for collection from the visa centre where you applied.
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Frequently asked questions
A Schengen Visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area.
You can apply for a Schengen Visa at the embassy or consulate of the country in which the airport you are travelling through is located, or through a Visa Application Centre associated with the consulate of the country.
To apply for a Schengen Visa, you need the following documents:
- A completed and signed visa application form
- Two recent passport-sized photos
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages and issued within the last 10 years
- Proof of ongoing travel, such as flight tickets with a confirmed date
- Visa or travel document valid for the main destination
- Schengen Visa Insurance: A policy covering at least €30,000 in medical emergencies
