Schengen visa types — A, C, D
Three different visas, three different purposes. Here's exactly which one you need.
Quick comparison
| Visa A | Visa C | Visa D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Airport transit only | Short stay (tourism, business, family, medical) | Long stay (study, work, family reunification, retirement) |
| Maximum stay | Until next flight (no entry to Schengen) | 90 days in any 180-day period | From 91 days up to 1 year (renewable) |
| Validity area | Schengen international transit zones | All 29 Schengen countries | Initially issuing country only; once residence permit obtained → all Schengen |
| Fee (adult, 2026) | €90 | €90 | €60–€150 depending on country |
| Issued by | Consulate of destination country | Consulate of main destination country | Consulate of destination country |
Visa A — Airport transit
Visa A is required only by nationals of a small list of countries (about 12, set by EU regulation) when they change planes at a Schengen airport — even if they don't leave the international transit zone. If you're holding a Visa C or D, you don't need a Visa A. Most travelers will never need this.
Even when not on the EU-wide list, individual Schengen states can require airport transit visas from additional nationalities (Annex II of the Visa Code). Check the consulate of the country where you'll change planes.
Visa C — Short stay
This is the everyday "Schengen visa". 80%+ of Schengen visas issued each year are Visa C. It allows multiple short stays totalling up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling period.
Sub-types of Visa C
- Single entry (1) — one entry, one stay.
- Double entry (2) — exit and re-enter once.
- Multiple entry (MEV) — unlimited entries during validity, respecting 90/180. Validity 1, 3 or 5 years under the cascade rules (since 2020).
- LTV — Limited Territorial Validity — exceptional visa restricted to one or a few specified countries (humanitarian / urgent reasons).
Visa D — Long stay (national)
For any planned stay over 90 days, you need a national long-stay visa (Visa D) issued by the country you'll live in. Each country sets its own rules, fees and required documents.
Common Visa D categories
- Studies — university enrolment, language schools (often more than 6 months)
- Work — employment contract, intra-company transfer, EU Blue Card
- Family reunification — joining a spouse, children, parents legally residing
- Retirement / passive income — Portugal D7, Spain non-lucrative, France VLS-TS visiteur
- Researcher — Directive (EU) 2016/801 (Hosting Agreement)
- Self-employed / startup — France passeport-talent, Estonia digital nomad, Portugal D2
Once you arrive with a Visa D, you usually have 90 days to apply for a residence permit. Once you have the permit, you can travel freely in Schengen for 90 days in 180.