Is a Schengen visa different from a UK visa?

The best part about travelling anywhere in the European Union (EU) is that one can take a single Schengen visa and move about from country to country. Hence, whether one wants to go to France from Germany and then head to Poland and then move on to Denmark or Belgium, the Schengen visa will allow easy transit from one to the other.

The Schengen visa is valid for countries designated for inclusion in the Schengen territory.

It is a widely held notion that all European Union nations are automatically included in the Schengen territory. This is NOT true – the Schengen area is not the same as the EU area. Hence, countries in the EU may not necessarily be part of the Schengen territory.

This is particularly true of such countries as the UK and Ireland. Both countries are not part of the Schengen territory, and hence a Schengen visa cannot be used in these countries. Conversely, a Schengen visa will not be valid in the UK and Ireland. A UK visa will have to be taken to visit the UK, despite the traveller holding a Schengen visa.

The designated Schengen territory comprises the countries of Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Malta, Denmark, Latvia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Liechtenstein. More countries are expected to be added to this area in 2016, if they are able to meet the requirements to do so.

Terms and conditions

• The Schengen visa is valid for a period of 90 days from date of issuance for travel within all Schengen member countries in a six-month period. In some cases, the visa may be extended to a period of one or two years.

• Though one is allowed to obtain the Schengen visa from one member country and travel to another, the issuing country may note that the visa is not being used for travel and tourism in that country. There is a risk of that country refusing to issue the visa in the future for fear of the visa being misused or not used on their soil.

• Though there is just one Schengen territory comprising 26 countries, each member country may choose to exercise their right to grant, withhold approval or reject a visa application on the basis of their understanding of the applicant’s past travel records, problematic behaviour while on tour, the number of visits made in the past, and so on. One member country’s rules may not apply to another’s.

The Schengen visa fee is taken in Euros only. Be sure to find out the exchange rate in your local currency before buying the visa.