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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 , Sweden and
| Austria |
Germany |
Netherlands |
| Belgium |
Greece |
Norway |
| Denmark |
Iceland |
Portugal |
| Finland |
Italy Tourist Visa |
Spain |
| France |
Luxembourg |
Sweden |
| Czech Republic |
Hungary |
Estonia |
| Latvia |
Lithuania |
Malta |
| Poland |
Slovakia |
Slovenia |
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.
Please note that the UK and Ireland are not a part of
the Schengen agreement.
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:
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Nationals of Belgium or Europe EEC
shengen members
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British subjects holding passports
endorsed 'British Citizen'. If passport is endorsed:
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'British Dependent Territories Citizen'
or
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'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.
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Nationals of:
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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.
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Holders of Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR.
Nationals of other countries DO NEED A
SCHENGEN VISA!
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FAQ
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What is the Schengen agreement about? |
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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.
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Which countries belong to the Schengen area? SEE BELOW PAGE TABLE |
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The Schengen countries are (as from 25 March
2010)
The full Schengen members are Austria, Belgium, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (but not Ireland and the United Kingdom) plus
Iceland and Norway (which are not EU members).
Cyprus which joined the EU in 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania which joined in 2007
do not yet fully participate in Schengen. You will therefore need a valid
passport or ID card to travel to those countries and to Ireland and the United
Kingdom.
Switzerland is the newest member of the Schengen area. Switzerland has been
cooperating with the Schengen
zone and started implementing
rules on December 12, 2008.
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What is a Schengen visa? |
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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"
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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
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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)
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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.
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Does everybody need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen Area? |
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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.
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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
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a national of Europe shengen members
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a British national holding a passport
endorsed 'British Citizen'
If your passport is endorsed
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'Dependent Territories Citizen' or
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'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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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the Schengen country of your final
destination
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the Schengen country you are transiting
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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.
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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? |
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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.
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JOINT LIST OF THIRD
COUNTRIES WHOSE CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A VISA BY MEMBER STATES
BOUND BY COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 539/2001, AS AMENDED BY REGULATION
(EC) NO 2414/2001, REGULATION (EC) NO 453/2003 AND REGULATION (EC) NO
1932/2006 |
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AFGHANISTAN
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GEORGIA
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PALAU
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ALBANIA
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GHANA
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA
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ALGERIA
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GRENADA
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PERU
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ANGOLA
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GUINEA
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PHILIPPINES
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ANTIGUA AND
BARBUDA (2)
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GUINEA-BISSAU
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QATAR
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ARMENIA
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GUYANA
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RUSSIA
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AZERBAIJAN
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HAITI
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RWANDA
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BAHAMAS (2)
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INDIA
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SAMOA
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BAHRAIN
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INDONESIA
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SAO TOME AND
PRINCIPE
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BANGLADESH
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IRAN
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SAUDI ARABIA
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BARBADOS (2)
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IRAQ
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SENEGAL
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BELARUS
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JAMAICA
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SERBIA
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BELIZE
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JORDAN
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SEYCHELLES (2)
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BENIN
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KAZAKHSTAN
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SIERRA LEONE
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BHUTAN
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KENYA
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SOLOMON ISLANDS
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BOLIVIA (1)
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KIRIBATI
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SOMALIA
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BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
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KUWAIT
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SOUTH AFRICA
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BOTSWANA
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KYRGYZSTAN
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SRI LANKA
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BURKINA FASO
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LAOS
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ST KITTS AND NEVIS (2)
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BURMA/MYANMAR
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LEBANON
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ST LUCIA
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BURUNDI
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LESOTHO
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ST VINCENT AND THEGRENADINES
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CAMBODIA
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LIBERIA
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SUDAN
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CAMEROON
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LIBYA
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SURINAME
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CAPE VERDE
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MADAGASCAR
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SWAZILAND
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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
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MALAWI
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SYRIA
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CHAD
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MALDIVES
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TAJIKISTAN
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CHINA
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MALI
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TANZANIA
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COLOMBIA
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MARSHALL ISLANDS
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THAILAND
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COMOROS
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MAURITANIA
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TIMOR-LESTE
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CONGO
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MAURITIUS (2)
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TOGO
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COTE D'IVOIRE
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MICRONESIA
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TONGA
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CUBA
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MOLDOVA
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TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OFCONGO
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MONGOLIA
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TUNISIA
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DJIBOUTI
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MONTENEGRO
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TURKEY
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DOMINICA
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MOROCCO
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TURKMENISTAN
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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MOZAMBIQUE
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TUVALU
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ECUADOR
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NAMIBIA
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UGANDA
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EGYPT
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NAURU
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UKRAINE
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
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NEPAL
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
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ERITREA
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NIGER
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UZBEKISTAN
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ETHIOPIA
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NIGERIA
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VANUATU
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FIJI
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NORTH KOREA
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VIETNAM
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FORMER YUGOSLAV
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
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NORTHERN MARIANAS (ISLANDS)
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YEMEN
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GABON
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OMAN
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ZAMBIA
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GAMBIA
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PAKISTAN
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ZIMBABWE
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ENTITIES AND
TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES NOT RECOGNISED AS STATES BY AT LEAST
ONE MEMBER STATE
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PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
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TAIWAN
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BRITISH CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT NATIONALS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMMUNITY LAW
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BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CITIZENS WHO DO NOT
HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THEUNITED
KINGDOM
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BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENS
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BRITISH SUBJECTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF
ABODE IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM
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BRITISH PROTECTED PERSONS
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(1) Member States shall apply the visa requirement
for Bolivian nationals with effect from 1 April 2007
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(2) Member States shall apply the exemption from
the visa requirement for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas,
Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Seychelles from the
date of entry into force of an agreement on visa exemptions to be
concluded by the European Community with the third country in question.
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