What is a Schengen visa and which countries accept it?
In short
- A Schengen visa is a short-stay travel document allowing entry to 29 European countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- The Schengen Area covers most EU members plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, but excludes Ireland and Cyprus.
- You apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time, or your first point of entry if your stay is split evenly.
What is a Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa is a unified short-stay visa that allows non-EU travelers to enter and travel freely within the Schengen Area. It was created under the Schengen Agreement to remove internal border controls between participating European countries.
With one visa, you can cross internal Schengen borders without passport checks at every country. This makes it ideal for multi-country European trips - from a hotel stay in Paris to a city break in Prague, all on a single document. trip1 lets you book hotels across the Schengen Area and pay with cryptocurrency in one place.
Which countries accept the Schengen visa?
As of 2026, the Schengen Area includes 29 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Bulgaria and Romania completed full Schengen integration in 2025, while Ireland and Cyprus remain outside Schengen despite being EU members - they require separate national visas.
How long can I stay on a Schengen visa?
A Schengen tourist visa allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies to total time spent across the entire Schengen Area, not per country. Overstaying can result in fines, deportation, and future entry bans.
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Schengen visa basics - FAQ
A standard Schengen tourist visa allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The visa itself can be issued for a single entry, multiple entries, or for long-term validity of up to 5 years depending on your travel history.
Yes. With a valid Schengen visa, you can enter and travel between all 29 Schengen Area countries on one document. Internal borders have no passport checks for short-stay visitors.
No. Ireland and Cyprus are EU member states but not part of the Schengen Area. Travel to either country requires a separate national visa, even if you already hold a Schengen visa.
The standard Schengen visa fee is 90 EUR for adults and 45 EUR for children aged 6 to 12. Children under 6 are free, and reduced fees apply for citizens of countries with EU visa facilitation agreements.
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