Sources reviewed on 26 October 2026 · Short visits; check the stated passport and purpose.

A Schengen short-stay visa lets a visa-required traveller request a temporary visit to the Schengen Area. Start with your passport, residence and purpose, then apply through the country responsible for your real itinerary. A visa does not itself guarantee admission or permit a long-term move.

Scope
Short visits by non-EU nationals; nationality-based exemptions and family-member rules can change the route.
Short-stay ceiling
Up to 90 days in any rolling 180 days across the area; the visa can grant fewer days.
Standard visa fee
EUR 90 for adults; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; under 6 normally exempt. Other reductions and exemptions apply.
Application window
Normally from 6 months to at least 15 days before travel. Allow extra time to obtain an appointment.

These are the general rules in the European Commission’s application guide. Local document lists and special categories still need checking.

Do you need a Schengen visa?

The requirement depends on the passport you will use, not the language you speak or the airport you fly from. Check the official nationality list linked by the Commission. Ordinary passports, diplomatic passports, qualifying residence documents and family members of EU citizens can follow different rules. A visa-exempt traveller must still satisfy the entry conditions.

This guide covers short visits. Work, studies and stays exceeding the short-stay allowance can require a national visa or residence permission. Ireland is outside the Schengen Area; the United Kingdom also has a separate immigration system.

Which Schengen country should you apply to?

  1. One destination: apply to that country.
  2. Several destinations: identify the main destination by the length or purpose of the visit. For an ordinary multi-country holiday, this is normally where you stay longest.
  3. No main destination: use the country whose external border you will cross first.
  4. Application location: normally use the consulate responsible for the country where you legally reside.

For example, a holiday with 8 nights in Portugal and 3 in Spain normally belongs with Portugal even if the flight lands in Spain. Do not change the stated itinerary merely to obtain an easier appointment. See the competence rules in Article 5 of the Visa Code.

Schengen visa document checklist

  • A completed, signed application form and a compliant photograph.
  • A passport issued within the previous 10 years, normally valid for at least 3 months after planned departure, with at least 2 blank pages.
  • Evidence of lawful residence where you apply, if applicable.
  • Your actual itinerary, accommodation or host invitation, and evidence of the purpose of the trip.
  • Financial evidence and evidence of your intention to leave after the visit, as required by the local checklist.
  • Travel medical insurance covering the Schengen territory for the intended stay, normally with at least EUR 30,000 cover for emergency care and repatriation.
  • Additional papers for minors, sponsors or special situations, and translations where requested.

Use the responsible consulate’s checklist for document age, format and translation requirements. There is no single bank-balance amount that applies to every destination and applicant.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Confirm whether your passport and circumstances require a visa.
  2. Choose the responsible country and locate its official consular application page.
  3. Complete the correct form and book with the consulate or the provider it designates.
  4. Prepare the local checklist, attend the appointment and provide biometrics unless exempt.
  5. Pay the applicable fees and retain the receipt or tracking reference.
  6. After a decision, check the name, passport number, validity, entries and permitted days on the visa before travelling.

Schengen visa fees and processing time

The standard short-stay fees are shown above. A designated application centre may collect a separate service charge; local-currency amounts and exemptions must be checked at the time of application. Optional courier or assistance services are separate purchases.

The usual decision period is 15 calendar days and can extend to 45 when further examination is needed. An appointment queue is separate from processing after submission. These periods are not an approval guarantee, and this page does not report live appointment availability.

Single-entry, multiple-entry and the 90/180 rule

A single-entry visa normally allows one entry to the Schengen Area. A multiple-entry visa allows further entries within its validity, subject to the permitted days and the rolling 90/180 limit. Travelling between Schengen countries does not restart that allowance; leaving the area does not automatically reset it either.

The visa’s validity dates and its permitted duration of stay are separate limits. A long-validity visa does not permit continuous residence. Airport transit permission is another category and does not by itself allow entry into the country.

Can you extend a Schengen tourist stay?

Extension is exceptional. Under Article 33 of the Visa Code, force majeure or humanitarian circumstances preventing departure can justify an extension; serious personal reasons may also be considered. Contact the competent authority in the country where you are before your permission expires. A longer holiday is not an automatic entitlement.

Common application questions

Can a visa centre approve my application?

No. It can collect documents and biometrics, but the competent authorities decide. Buying an optional service does not secure approval.

Can I use the same visa for several Schengen countries?

Check the territorial validity and entries on your issued visa. A uniform visa normally covers the Schengen Area, but restricted territorial visas and other exceptions exist.

What happens if my application is refused?

Read the written reasons and the country-specific appeal instructions and deadline. Correcting an application or appealing is a separate procedure; approval cannot be promised.