How does a Schengen visa work?
Emma Miller
Updated on February 03, 2026
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries.
What is the purpose of Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa is an official document mandatory for some non-Europeans to travel to all the 26 countries which are part of the Schengen area. Once granted, this visa allows the traveller to cross the borders of the other member-states without going through identity checks at the border.
Why is it called Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa derives its name from a 1985 agreement that abolished international borders within Europe. The signatory nations decided to treat the Schengen area as one big country and allow their citizens unrestricted and free movement within the area.
How many countries can I visit with Schengen visa?
26 countries
This visa permits you to enter 26 countries in Europe as many times as you wish, within five years, as soon as you do not violate the 90/180 days rule.
How much money do I need in bank for Schengen Visa?
Bank statement – this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months. If you do not have this amount in your bank, you could show a family member’s/guardian’s statement instead, with an accompanying letter stating that they are sponsoring your travel and stay.
How much money do I need in my bank account for Schengen Visa?
It is generally advisable to maintain a balance of roughly 1.5 lac for 2–3 months before applying for visa, but I recently applied for Schengen Visa with closing amount of 1 lac (out of which 80k was deposited in one go, four days prior to applying).
What is the minimum balance for Schengen visa?
How much does a Schengen visa cost?
Schengen Visa Fees
| Schengen Visa Category | Fee in EUR | Fee in USD* |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 80€ | 96$ |
| Child between 6-12 years of age | 40€ | 48$ |
| Child younger than 6 years of age | Free | Free |
| Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports travelling for official purposes | Free | Free |
How much money do I need in bank for Schengen visa?
What does Schengen mean in English?
the Schengen Agreement
noun. /ˈʃeŋən/ uk. /ˈʃeŋən/ (also the Schengen Agreement, us/ˈʃeŋən əˌɡriːmənt/ uk/ˈʃeŋən əˌɡriːmənt/) an agreement between many countries of the European Union that allows people and goods to pass freely across the borders of each country without passport or other controls.
What do you need to know about a Schengen visa?
What is a Schengen Visa? A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the …
What does it mean to have uniform Schengen visa?
The Uniform Schengen Visa stands for a permit of one of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired territory for a certain period of time up to the maximum of 90 days every six month period starting from the date of entry.
When does the validity of a Schengen visa expire?
The validity period of your visa can depend on this criteria. A single-entry visa (« 1 » on the visa sticker) authorizes the holder to enter the Schengen area once and for a certain period of time. Once they leave the Schengen area, the validity of the visa expires, even if the authorized period to stay in the area is not yet over.
Do you need an ETIAS visa to enter the Schengen Area?
To enter the Schengen Area from a third country, and depending on the visitors’ nationality, they might need either a Schengen visa or -as of late 2022- an ETIAS visa waiver.
