I'm planning a short trip (≤ 90 days)
Tourism, business, family visit, transit. The standard "Schengen visa" you've heard about — Visa C.
Short-stay visa CYour Schengen visa, demystified.
Clear, accurate, up-to-date information for the 29 Schengen countries — including the €90 fee that takes effect on 11 June 2026, the new ETIAS system, and the live EES border system. Every page here is built around official sources.
Choose where to start
Pick your situation. Each card links to a focused, plain-language guide.
I'm moving to Europe (> 90 days)
Studies, work, family reunification, retirement. You need a national long-stay visa (Visa D).
Long-stay visa DI'm visa-exempt (US, UK, Canada, etc.)
From late 2026, you'll need an ETIAS travel authorisation (€7). EES biometric checks are already live.
ETIAS & EES explainedHow much will it cost me?
Use our calculator: visa fee + service centre + insurance. From €110 minimum for a typical adult.
Fees & cost calculatorWhich country should I apply to?
The country where you spend the most days. See all 29 with direct application links.
All 29 Schengen countriesWhat documents do I need?
Passport, photos, insurance, proof of funds, accommodation, travel itinerary — and the small details that make a difference.
Required documents
2026 at a glance
What changed this year
€90 visa fee
From 11 June 2026, the Schengen short-stay visa fee rises from €80 to €90 for adults, and from €40 to €45 for children aged 6–12. Children under 6 remain exempt.
Source: European Commission Implementing Decision, KPMG Flash Alert 2024-126.
EES is live
The Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026. Your fingerprints and facial image are now recorded the first time you enter Schengen — passport stamps are gone.
Source: European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs.
ETIAS in late 2026
Visa-exempt travelers (US, UK, Canada, Japan…) will need an ETIAS authorisation (€7) when launched in Q4 2026, with a transitional period until late 2027.
Source: travel-europe.europa.eu, EU Council.
29 member states
Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members on 1 January 2025. Cyprus is the only remaining EU country outside Schengen.
Source: Council of the EU press release 12 December 2024.
Cascade visas
Frequent travelers with a clean visa history can get multi-entry visas valid for 1, 3, or 5 years, under the cascade rules in force since 2020.
Biometrics for 5 years
Fingerprints collected for a Schengen visa application are kept in the Visa Information System for 59 months — saving you a trip to the consulate next time.
What is the Schengen Area in 2026?
The Schengen Area is a zone of 29 European countries that have abolished checks at their internal borders. With one Schengen visa, a traveller can move freely across all 29 states for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Schengen is not the same as the European Union: Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are Schengen members without being in the EU; Cyprus is in the EU but not yet in Schengen.
The legal foundation is the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399) and the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, last major update 2020). Together they define who needs a visa, what documents are required, what fees apply, and how appeals work.
Three types of Schengen visa, simply
- Visa A — Airport transit: only for changing planes inside the international transit zone, without entering Schengen. Required for nationals of about a dozen high-risk countries.
- Visa C — Short stay: the standard tourist / business / family / medical visa. Up to 90 days in 180. Single, double, or multiple entries.
- Visa D — Long stay (national): for stays over 90 days. Issued by one country, but lets you travel through Schengen once you have it.
Find your country in 1 click
Each country has its own portal, providers and service fees. Click your destination to jump straight to the official application page.
France
Paris · VFS Global / TLScontact / Capago
Apply now ↗ ">🇫🇷 FranceGermany
Berlin · VIDEX + VFS Global
Apply now ↗ ">🇩🇪 GermanyItaly
Rome · VFS Global (exclusive)
Apply now ↗ ">🇮🇹 ItalySpain
Madrid · BLS International (most posts)
Apply now ↗ ">🇪🇸 SpainNetherlands
Amsterdam · VFS Global
Apply now ↗ ">🇳🇱 NetherlandsLuxembourg
Luxembourg · VFS Global (Belgium represents Luxembourg in many countries)
Apply now ↗ ">🇱🇺 LuxembourgBelgium
Brussels · VFS Global
Apply now ↗ ">🇧🇪 BelgiumSwitzerland
Bern · VFS Global / TLScontact
Apply now ↗ ">🇨🇭 SwitzerlandHow a Schengen application actually works
1. Pick the right country
Apply to the consulate of your main destination (where you'll spend the most days). If equal, the country of first entry.
2. Book your appointment
Most consulates outsource intake to VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International or Capago. Some (France, Germany) require pre-registration on a national portal first.
3. Prepare your file
Application form, passport, photos, travel medical insurance with €30,000+ coverage, flight reservation, accommodation, financial proof, employment proof, cover letter.
4. Attend the appointment
Submit documents, give fingerprints (if not already in VIS), pay fees. Some consulates conduct a brief interview.
5. Wait 15 days (sometimes 45)
The legal limit is 15 calendar days, extendable to 45. Plan ahead, especially for the Netherlands, Italy and France in summer.
6. Pick up & check the sticker
Verify dates, number of entries, country code, validity. Always check before leaving the centre.