Before talking about Schengen visa types, what is the
meaning of Schengen itself? Schengen is a treaty and an agreement ratified by
various European countries that include as the European Union member to end
border checkpoints and control the travel of citizens of those countries. Those
countries established Schengen area, it is a special area that allows EU member
states to freely travel and move from one country to another. In order to
travel freely within Schengen Area, visitors need Schengen Visa. They
can use this Schengen visa until its validity is ended or exceed the limit of
the period. There are three of Schengen Visa types issued by certain embassy or
consulate in every Schengen countries. They are Uniform Schengen Visas (USV),
Limited territorial validity visas (LTV), and National Visas. Different
Schengen visa types have different rules and restrictions. It depends on the
nature of traveling and other relevant circumstances.
UNIFORM SCHENGEN VISAS
Uniform Schengen Visas:
This visa permits the citizens from other countries to
transit and resides in the desired territory. They are able to stay in the
desired country for a certain period of time with maximum 90 days in the
six-month period. It starts from the date when the person enters the country. According
to the purpose of traveling, the Uniform Schengen visa only applicable for two
categories A and C. A category is for Airport Transit Visa and C category is
for Short term visa. This airport transit visa is for the citizens who are
traveling to the non-Schengen state during a change of flights in a Schengen
Country airport. Short-term visa is for foreign countries citizens who want to
stay in other Schengen countries for certain period of time depending on its
validity. In addition, the Uniform Schengen Visa only works for these following
countries:
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Czech
Republic
4. Denmark
5. Estonia
6. Finland
7. France
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Hungary
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Latvia
14. Lithuania
15. Luxembourg
16. Malta
17. Netherlands
18. Norway
19. Poland
20. Portugal
21. Slovakia
22. Slovenia
23. Spain
24. Sweden
25. Switzerland.
LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY VISAS
Limited territorial validity visas:
Different with the Uniform Schengen Visa, this visa
only allows the person to travel in the Schengen states that have issued the
visa or certain Schengen states that have been specifically mentioned when the
person applying for the visa. Except for the Schengen countries, the limited
territorial validity visa is invalid to any Schengen countries which are not
being specified for. A person who brings this visa cannot enter or transitthrough any Schengen countries that do not become an official destination. Usually,
this type of visa is issued for particular reasons such as for humanitarian
reasons or the person is under international obligation as an exception to the
Uniform Schengen Visa system.
NATIONAL VISA
National Visa:
National Visa is one of the Schengen visa types that
commonly granted for the person with D category. This category is for
individuals who go to other Schengen countries for studying, working, or
permanently residing. A person with a National visa can reside or stay in the
Schengen countries for a certain period of time. After the period ends, he or
she shall return to their home country. This visa is known as multi-entry
national visa that allows its holder to go or out of the particular Schengen
countries as they like. They also can travel to all of the Schengen countries
without additional visa requirements.
To get a national visa or multi entry national visa,
the persons must meet at least on of these criteria:
1. A
Foreign student with visa is no more than one year.
2. A
Foreign student that is about to start a full course of study in the Schengen
countries for one-year period.
3. A
person who work in the institution or research center in Schengen countries.
4. A
professional who is traveling to any Schengen countries. It can be a sportsman,
an artist or any professional who come to share their expertise.
5. The
person in emergency cases such as medical condition.
Remember that under the regulation of the European
Parliament and the Council, all of the Schengen visa types above only valid for no
more than 90 days during 180-day period.