A Schengen Visa allows you to travel throughout the 26 Schengen countries without having to get a visa for each individual country. You may travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The Schengen Visa was introduced to make travelling faster and easier between all the EU countries that signed up for the agreement.

A Schengen Visa (issued by a consulate or embassy of a Schengen State) is valid for all 26 States of the Schengen Area unless it is marked otherwise on the visa sticker. So you do not need another visa to enter or stay in the Schengen territory. However, you must be in possession of documentary evidence for the reasons of your stay and your means of support. Schengen Area comprises of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The Schengen Visa is a short stay visa and takes the form of a sticker affixed to your passport. The definition of “short stay” is a stay of “90 days in any 180 days period”. This means that the total duration of stay is of maximum 90 days in any period of 180 days. The precise length of validity of your Schengen Visa is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Duration of visit”. With a single-entry visa you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Number of entries” by “1”. A two-entry or a multiple-entry visa allows for two or several entries during the validity of the Schengen Visa. This is indicated on the visa sticker by “02” or “MULT” under the heading “Number of entries”.

No, not necessarily all Schengen Visas will be granted for 90 days. You may get the Schengen Visa only for the number of days that you present in your travel itinerary and your flight & hotel bookings

You are free to apply again for a Schengen Visa if your application has been refused earlier.

The Schengen Visa cover letter is a letter which summarizes your intent to travel to a country that is part of the Schengen area. In your cover letter you should explain:

• the purpose of your trip
• when and where you intend to travel
• how your trip is going to be funded
• day-by-day itinerary for your trip
• duration of the trip

You cannot extend your Schengen Visa while in a Schengen country except in special circumstances, and exceeding your permitted period of stay is considered an act of illegality or criminality. Instead, you must return to your home country within the permitted period of stay and apply for another Schengen Visa if necessary.