COMMON INFORMATION SHEET
FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICANTS IN INDIA
WHAT IS A SCHENGEN SHORT STAY VISA?
It is an authorisation issued by one of the Member States of the Schengen Area with a view to
transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the Member States of a duration of no more
than 90 days (short stay) in any 180 day period.
The processing of visa applications is based on the VISA CODE Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of
the European Parliament and of the Council of July 2009. Information given below is also based on
this Regulation.
WHICH COUNTRIES ISSUE SCHENGEN VISA?
There are currently 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states
of the European Union. These 26 countries share a common legal framework and there are no
checks on the borders between them.
The countries issuing Schengen visas are: Austria*, Belgium*, the Czech Republic*, Denmark*,
Estonia*, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Hungary*, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia*, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania*, Luxembourg*, Malta*, the Netherlands*, Norway, Poland*, Portugal*, Slovakia*,
Slovenia*, Spain*, Sweden* and Switzerland.
* European Union Member States
More information on the Schengen Area can be obtained visiting the following website:
www.ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-
visas/schengen/index_en.htm
WHAT TYPES OF SCHENGEN VISA EXIST?
1) SHORT STAY VISA:
UNIFORM VISA: the holder of a uniform visa is allowed to travel to the States mentioned
above for a period of max 90 days during any 180-day period. In order to calculate the
period of allowed stay the applicant can consult the short stay calculator available on the
website of the Directorate-General for Home Affairs of the European Commission
VISA WITH LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY: the holder of a visa with limited
territorial validity is allowed to travel to the State(s) indicated on the visa sticker but not to
any of the other Schengen States.
2) AIRPORT TRANSIT VISA: the holder of an airport transit visa is allowed to transit
through the international transit areas of the issuing State and possible other States, if
indicated on the visa sticker. Airport transit visa is required by the nationals of
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.