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Schengen VISA

A Schengen Visa is an official document handed out by the embassy of the country of destination. This visa allows the passenger to enter all countries who are part of the Schengen agreement. These countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

However, not everybody needs a Schengen Visa to enter these countries. Please read through the following document explaining who is required to have this travel document or not.

About the Schengen VISA

Effective March 26, 1995 the Schengen agreement has been implemented. The Agreement is to remove immigration control for travel within the collective territories of the member states. This creates a 'borderless' area known as the 'Schengen area'. Therefore, travel between above mentioned countries will in principle be without document check.

Passengers who need visa for one or more Schengen states to which they are ticketed and whose final destination is a Schengen state for which they do not need a visa, must NEVERTHELESS travel with a 'Schengen Visa'.

Moreover, TWOV (Transit without Visa) is NOT possible anymore for transiting in more than 1 Schengen country, because the passenger is then entering the Schengen territory for one or more Schengen states as from now NEED A VISA AT ALL TIMES.

Schengen visas should be obtained prior to arrival in the Schengen territory.

Nationals of the following countries DO NOT need a visa to enter Belgium or Luxemburg:

  1. Nationals of Belgium or Europe EEC shengen members
  2. British subjects holding passports endorsed 'British Citizen'. If passport is endorsed:
    • 'British Dependent Territories Citizen' or
    • 'British Overseas Citizen'
    the passport must also bear endorsement 'holder is entitled to readmission into the UK' or proof of readmittance to country of passport issuance.
  3. Nationals of:
    • Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City, Venezuela.
  4. Holders of Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.

Nationals of other countries DO NEED A SCHENGEN VISA!



 

FAQ

What is the Schengen agreement about?
Effective March 26, 1995 the Schengen agreement has been implemented. The aim is to remove immigration control for travel within the collective territories of the member states.

This creates a 'border-less' region known as the 'Schengen area'. Travel between Schengen countries will in principle be without document check. Only at the external borders (incl. international airports) of the Schengen area document checks will be performed.
Which countries belong to the Schengen area?
The Schengen countries are (as from 25 March 2001)
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
What is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen Visa is an official document handed out by the embassy of the country of destination. This visa allows the passenger to enter some or all countries part of the Schengen area.

Schengen visas should be obtained prior to arrival in the Schengen territory.

There are 6 kinds of Schengen visa:

  1. Airside transit visit-ATV "Type A"
    This visa is required for those nationals who cannot use the Transit Without Visa-facility at all, being in direct transit in a Schengen airport when arriving, and departing from/to Non-Schengen countries. In no way does this visa gives access to the Schengen territory, it is only valid during the transit. Of course, people in possession of a type visa B, C, or D do not need the Type A visa.
  2. Transit Visa "Type B"
    This visa is issued for a passenger making a transit in the Schengen territory which is exceeding the allowed transit-time and for passengers who are transiting in more than 1 Schengen airport. This visa allows a limited stay (indicated in the visa) in the Schengen area.
  3. Visa for a short stay or travel visa "Type C"
    This visa is valid for a maximum of 3 months, as indicated in the "Duration of Stay". It is the common "Schengen visa"
  4. Visa for a long stay "Type D"
    This visa is valid for a stay of more than 3 months. It is always valid for 1 Schengen-country and authorises the foreigner to transit by a Schengen-country, different than the country of final destination
  5. Visa with limited territorial validity. L.T.V. (whether type A, B, or C)
    This visa is only valid for the Schengen country mentioned in the "Valid for" box. The entry and the departure from the Schengen area has to happen in the country mentioned in this box (with the exception of type D)
  6. Collective visa
    This visa is delivered to passengers travelling in group. It is delivered to the responsible of the group and is valid for all passengers indicated on the visa.
Does everybody need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen Area?
No, there are exceptions.

For more details and confirmation about the visa requirements, you must contact the embassies or consulates of the concerned Schengen countries.

Passengers who do not have the required visa, will be denied to board the aircraft. It is the passenger's responsibility to have all documents (identity card, passport, visa) which are required by the concerned States.
I am flying with Virgin Express from London to Brussels (Belgium), which is my final destination. Do I need a Schengen visa?
Yes, you need a Schengen Visa, unless you are
  • a national of  Europe shengen members
  • a British national holding a passport endorsed 'British Citizen'
    If your passport is endorsed
    • 'Dependent Territories Citizen' or
    • 'British Overseas Citizen'
    your passport must also bear endorsement 'holder is entitled to readmission into the UK' or proof of re-admittance to country of passport issuance.
  • a national of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City, Venezuela.
  • Holders of Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR

Nationals of all other countries DO NEED a Schengen Visa.

For more details and confirmation about the visa requirements, you must contact the embassies or consulates of the concerned Schengen countries.
I am flying from London to a Schengen country. However, it is not a direct flight but I will be transiting through Brussels. Do I need a Schengen visa?
You must travel with a Schengen Visa, when you need a visa for
  • the Schengen country of your final destination
  • the Schengen country you are transiting
  • the country of your final destination and the Schengen country you are transiting

For more details and confirmation about the visa requirements, you must contact the embassies or consulates of the concerned Schengen countries.
I am travelling from a non-Schengen country to my final destination. However, I will be transiting via two or more airports in the Schengen area before I reach my final destination. Do I need a Schengen visa?
Regardless if your final destination is situated in the Schengen area or not, TWOV (Transit without Visa) is NOT possible anymore for transiting in more than 1 Schengen country, because the passenger is then entering the Schengen territory (borderless). As a result, all nationals of states who require a visa for one or more Schengen states need a visa AT ALL TIMES.

For more details and confirmation about the visa requirements, you must contact the embassies or consulates of the concerned Schengen countries.