Uniform Schengen Visa

If you obtain a Schengen visa from any of the member countries in the Schengen Area, you can move freely within the entire Schengen Zone. This applies to both European Union Schengen members, as well as EFTA Schengen members, as long as the visa is valid and within its period limitations.

What is a Uniform Schengen Visa?

There are currently 26 different countries that are all part of the Schengen area in Europe. Some countries include Austria, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and more. Traveling to one or more of these areas, it is important to verify your travel documentation is in order.

The Schengen visa application form is a simple one-page application form that you can download here.

Schengen Visa Types

There are three types of visas people who are visiting a country in the Schengen region will need. These include the:

• Uniform Schengen Visa (or the USV)
• Limited Territorial Validity Visa (or the LTV)
• National Visa

You can download the Schengen visa application form here.

What is a Uniform Schengen Visa?

A Uniform Schengen visa allows a visitor to travel or reside in one of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days. Visits can occur once every six months, beginning with the original entry date.

A, B and C Uniform Schengen Visas

The Uniform Schengen visa is further broken down into three main categories: A, B, and C.

• A Uniform Schengen visa is an airport transit visa that allows the visa holder to transit through a Schengen country without entering the country area. It is mandatory for those traveling through Europe, either for a stopover or while traveling to or from a non-Schengen area member.
• The AB category Uniform Schengen visa serves as a transit visa, allowing the holder to travel through one of the member countries of the Schengen area by car, train, or plane. This visa type is valid for up to five consecutive days, provided that the destination is outside the Schengen territory.
• A C-category Uniform Schengen visa is a short-term visa. People holding this type of visa can reside in any of the participating Schengen countries for a specified period of time depending on their purpose. A Single entry C category visa allows the holder to enter a Schengen country once. When they eventually leave, this particular type of visa expires.
• A double-entry C category Uniform Schengen visa allows the holder essentially the same rights as a single entry, only they can enter the specified country two separate times over the allotted time period. Once again, as soon as a person leaves the Schengen country, this type of visa will expire.
• A multiple entry C category Uniform Schengen visa allows the person holding it to enter and exit the specified Schengen country as many times as they need to over a period of 90 days. This type of visa is allowed to be issued every six months. Starting from the day that the traveler first crosses the border from a non-Schengen country into the country of a Schengen member.

Single Entry Visas

A single-entry Schengen visa allows entry only once during the specified period. Once the holder exits, re-entry is not permitted, even if the allowed stay duration is not over.

Double Entry Visas

Both single-entry and double-entry visas work in a similar way. The only difference between them is that a double-entry visa allows you to re-enter the Schengen territory once more after leaving it.

Multiple Entry Visas

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows unlimited entries, as long as the 90/180 rule is not violated.

• One Year Multiple Entry Visas
• Three Year Multiple Entry Visas
• Five Year Multiply Entry Visas

Expedited Visa and Passport Services

If your big trip to a Schengen member country is coming up and you suddenly find that your visa or passport is no longer valid or needs to be renewed, expedited visa and passport services can help make sure that your trip carries on without issue.

These trusted third-party services can have your documentation in your hand in as little as 24 to 48 hours depending on the area of the country where you live.