The Schengen visa, the history of Schengen visa

Since 1995, seven European countries:

Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg

according to the signed agreement between them started to issue visas valid for travel in each of these countries, the so-called Schengen visa.

In 1997 they were joined by:

Italy and Greece, then Austria,

and from March 25, 2001 five more countries:

Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden.

In December 2007, the Schengen zone was joined by nine member countries of the European Union (EU).

These are the three Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia,

5 countries in Eastern Europe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Malta.

C 15 December 2008, Switzerland also has moved to the issuance of Schengen visas.

What does this mean?

Now, the visa holder of one of these countries can travel to all these countries are not making out a visa for each of them separately.

The embassy which country should get a Schengen visa?

For a visa should contact the embassy of the country, which is the main purpose of the trip. If your trip spans multiple countries and identify key is not possible, you must obtain a visa in the country, which is the first in the route.

In practice this means the following: if you are traveling to France, following transit through Germany, then you need to get French visa, and if, for example, you go first for a few days in Germany to visit, and then a few days for France You should contact the German embassy and to place the documents kasyuschiesya both the German and the French part of the trip. In the latter case you get a visa for the duration of the trip. It should be noted that if the first time after the start issuing Schengen visas to these rules are not particularly controlled, that is, getting a visa, for example, Spanish traveler flying in any of the countries, but now you may have trouble crossing the border, but with still more likely to have serious problems the next time the visa. Therefore, even if you do not violate, but rode, for example, the French visa to France, but the train through Germany (in this case, your visa will only mark the German frontier), save any evidence of your stay in France (checks, invoices from hotels, pictures, etc.) to the next applying for a visa you could prove it a consulate officer.

For how long can obtain a Schengen visa?

Schengen visas are issued for a period not exceeding 90 days. It is also a limit to the total duration of stay for a year. These are the same 90 days. If your planned stay exceeds this period, you must obtain a special visa (working, training, etc.) that are no longer yalyayutsya Schengen.

Entry into the Schengen zone

Upon entry into the Schengen zone citizens from countries acceding to the Schengen Agreement are required to present a passport and visa. In addition, they must be prepared to produce a document that gives reason for visit (invitation), as well as to prove that have sufficient financial means to support themselves during the trip. Entry may be denied if there is reason to believe that entering a security threat, and if there is suspicion that the person may engage in criminal activity or prostitution.