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Schengen, Borders & Visas: Everything You Need to Know

Posted on July 17, 2020

Every year a vast number of people want to get a Schengen visa from Bangladesh. If you wanna get a Schengen visa you need to know everything. EU citizens, non-EU residents and visitors to the EU need to be able to freely and safely travel within the Union. The Schengen Area has made this a concrete reality.

An area without internal borders

The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. It is an area without internal borders, an area within which citizens, many non-EU nationals, business people and tourists can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks. Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU States and a few associated non-EU countries.

While having abolished their internal borders, Schengen States have also tightened controls at their common external border based on Schengen rules to ensure the security of those living or traveling in the Schengen Area.

A single set of rules for external border checks on persons

The Schengen Borders Code governs the crossing of the external border, facilitating access for those who have a legitimate interest to enter into the EU. A special Local Border Traffic Regime has also been established to facilitate entry for non-EU border residents who frequently need to cross the EU external border. A common visa policy further facilitates the entry of legal visitors into the EU.

Security for citizens and travelers.

EU State authorities need to cooperate on border management to ensure the security of citizens and travelers in the EU. Several information-sharing mechanisms are central to this cooperation.

The Visa Information System(VIS) allows the Schengen States to exchange visa data, in particular data on decisions relating to short-stay visa applications.
The Schengen Information System(SIS) allows Schengen States to exchange data on suspected criminals, on people who may not have the right to enter into or stay in the EU, on missing persons and stolen, misappropriated, or lost property.

VIS and SIS, as well as EURODAC, are operated by the EU Agency for large-scale IT systems (EU-LISA).

It is also necessary to ensure the security of travel documents to fight against the falsification and counterfeiting of travel documents and to establish a reliable link between the document and its holder.

Schengen Area

The free movement of persons is a fundamental right guaranteed by the EU to its citizens. It enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in any EU country without special formalities. Schengen cooperation enhances this freedom by enabling citizens to cross internal borders without being subjected to border checks. The border-free Schengen Area guarantees free movement to more than 400 million EU citizens, as well as to many non-EU nationals, businessmen, tourists or other persons legally present on the EU territory.

Map of the Schengen Area and the Schengen States

Free movement in Europe

Originally, the concept of free movement was to enable the European working population to freely travel and settle in any EU State, but it fell short of abolishing border controls within the Union. A break-through came in 1985 when cooperation between individual governments led to the signing, in Schengen (a small village in Luxembourg), of the Agreement on the gradual abolition of checks at common borders, followed by the signing in 1990 of the Convention implementing that Agreement. The implementation of the Schengen Agreements started in 1995, initially involving seven EU States. Born as an intergovernmental initiative, the developments brought about by the Schengen Agreements have now been incorporated into the body of rules governing the EU.

Today, the Schengen Area encompasses most EU States, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania. However, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area. Of non-EU States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

Any person, irrespective of nationality, may cross the internal borders without being subjected to border checks. However, the competent national authorities can carry out police checks also at the internal borders and in border areas, provided that such checks are not equivalent to border checks. This is valid for cases when, in particular, the checks do not have border control as an objective and are based on general police information and experience. It’s also valid when the checks are carried out in a manner distinct from systematic border checks and based on spot-checks. Under such circumstances, the police may for example ask you to identify yourself or pose questions regarding your stay, depending on the purpose of the check.

If there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security, a Schengen country may exceptionally temporarily reintroduce border control at its internal borders for, in principle, a limited period of no more than thirty days. If such controls are reintroduced, the other Schengen countries, the European Parliament and the Commission should be informed, as should the public.

Freedom and security for travelers

The Schengen provisions abolish checks at the Union’s internal borders, while tightening controls at the external borders, by a single set of rules. These rules cover several areas:

A common set of rules applying to people crossing the EU external borders, including the types of visa needed and how checks at external borders have to be carried out
Harmonization of the conditions of entry and of the rules on visas for short stays (up to three months)
Enhanced police cooperation (including rights of cross-border surveillance and hot pursuit)
Stronger judicial cooperation through a faster extradition system and transfer of enforcement of criminal judgments
Establishment and development of the Schengen Information System(SIS)
Documents needed for traveling in Europe.

Border crossing

The abolition of internal border controls cannot come at the expense of security. Since no checks are carried out at the borders between Schengen states, EU States have decided to join forces to attain the dual objective of improving security through more efficient external border controls, while facilitating access of those having a legitimate interest to enter the EU territory.

Smart Borders

Every year millions of travelers from third countries cross the external borders of the Schengen States and estimations point to ever-increasing traveler flows. Some of the visitors have a short-stay visa, while others come from countries where no visas are required. This requires modern, effective and efficient management of the external borders which strikes a balance between facilitation for travelers and internal security.

Entry/Exit System (EES)

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border. The system will register the person’s name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will be an automated IT system for registering travelers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers, each time they cross an EU external border. The system will register the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.

EES will contribute to prevent irregular migration and help protect the security of European citizens. The new system will also help bona fide third-country nationals to travel more easily while also identifying more efficiently over-stayers as well as cases of document and identity fraud. In addition to this, the system will enable us to make wider use of automated border control checks and self-service systems, which are quicker and more comfortable for the traveler.

The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (EU-LISA) is responsible for developing and managing the system. The EES is expected to be operational in the first half of 2022.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

ETIAS will be a largely automated IT system created to identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks posed by visa-exempt visitors traveling to the Schengen States, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travelers who do not pose such risks. Non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area will have to apply for a travel authorization through the ETIAS system before their trip. The information gathered via ETIAS will allow, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection principles, for advance verification of potential security, irregular migration of high epidemic risks.

After filling in an online application form, the system will conduct checks against EU information systems for borders and security and, in the vast majority of cases, issue a travel authorization within minutes. In limited cases, where further checks on the traveler are needed, the issuing of the travel authorization could take up to 30 days. The ETIAS travel authorization will be a mandatory pre-condition for entry to the Schengen States. It will be checked together with the travel documents by the border guards when crossing the EU border. This prior verification of visa-exempt non-EU citizens will facilitate border checks; avoid bureaucracy and delays for travelers when presenting themselves at the borders; ensure a coordinated and harmonized risk assessment of third-country nationals; substantially reduce the number of refusals of entry at border crossing points.

Thanks to ETIAS authorities will receive vital information necessary to assess potential risks with individuals traveling to the EU and, if required, a travel authorization could be denied. Schengen participating States will be able to manage their external borders more effectively and improve internal security. Travelers will have early indications of their admissibility to the Schengen States, making legal travel across Schengen borders easier.

The European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for developing the system. ETIAS is expected to be operational by the end of 2022. The ETIAS Regulation provides for transitional measures to ensure a smooth rollout of the system.

Visa policy

The border-free Schengen Area cannot function efficiently without a common visa policy that facilitates the entry of legal visitors into the EU while strengthening internal security. The EU has established a common visa policy for transit through or intended stays in the territory of the Schengen States of no more than 90 days in any 180 days and for transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States. In 2016, the 26 Schengen States issued 13.9 million “Schengen visas”. You may find the complete data on Schengen visas lower on this page.

Main elements of the common visa policy

Citizens from some non-EU countries are required to hold a visa when traveling to the Schengen Area. The EU has a common list of countries whose citizens must have a visa when crossing the external borders and a list of countries whose citizens are exempt from that requirement. These lists are set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. Generally, a short-stay visa issued by one of the Schengen States entitles its holder to travel throughout the 26 Schengen States for up to 90 days in any 180 days. Visas for visits exceeding that period remain subject to national procedures.

A Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area. The Schengen area covers 26 countries (“Schengen States”) without border controls between them. These countries 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.

A Schengen visa is an authorization issued by a Schengen State with a view to:

transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen States of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180 days (“short stay visa”),
transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”).

Who must apply for a Schengen visa

Short stays

Citizens of certain countries must hold a short-stay visa. The EU has a common list of countries whose citizens must have a visa when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. There are national derogations from the visa requirements for certain travelers.

Airport transit

Whether you are required to apply for a Schengen airport transit visa or not depends on your nationality.

Citizens of some countries must hold an airport transit visa when transiting through the international parts of airports situated in any of the Schengen States, while citizens of certain countries must hold an airport transit visa when transiting through the international parts of airports situated in some of the Schengen States.

You may be exempt from the airport transit visa requirement, if you:

Hold a valid visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state;
Hold a visa valid for a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Canada, Japan or the United States ;
Hold a valid residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area ;
Hold a residence permit issued by the Principality of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Republic of San Marino, or the United States, that guarantees the unrestricted right of return;
Are a family member of a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland ;
Hold a diplomatic passport;
Is a flight crew member national of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation?

Where and how to apply

You must lodge the application for a Schengen visa at the Consulate of the country that you intend to visit, or – if you intend to visit more than one Schengen State, the Consulate of the country where you will spend the longest period.

If you intend to visit several Schengen States and the stays will be of equal length, you must apply at the Consulate of the country whose external borders you will cross first when entering the Schengen area.

As a general rule, you must apply for a visa at the Consulate with territorial competence for the country in which you legally reside. If you have doubts about this, e.g. there is no Consulate of the Schengen State that you intend to visit in the country where you reside, you should contact the central authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Office)of that country. There you can get information on whether that Schengen State is represented by another in the country where you reside.

The application must, in principle, be submitted to the Consulate at least 15 days before the intended journey and cannot be lodged earlier than three months before the start of the intended journey. You may have to book an appointment before lodging the application.

Family members of EU/EEA nationals

You may be entitled to an accelerated visa procedure free of charge if as you meet the following criteria:

you are a family member of an European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen; and
that EU/EEA citizen is travelling to or is residing in a member state other than that of which he/she is a citizen; and
you are accompanying the EU/EEA citizen or planning to join him/her in the Schengen State of destination.

If you think you are entitled to an accelerated visa procedure you will need to show proof that you meet these criteria when you submit your visa application.

Required documents

In order to apply for a visa, you need:

a passport with at least two empty pages. The passport should have been issued within the last 10 years. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen territory, or, in the case of multiple journeys, the date on which you intend to leave after the last stay.
a visa application formcompleted and signed.Any person appearing in your travel document must complete a separate application form. The visa application form for a child under 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian.
a recent identity photograph conform to ICAO standards.
in the countries where the Visa Information System is operational your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).
a visa fee to be paid when you submit your application
a service fee to be paid if you are requested to submit your application at the offices of a service provider.
a travel medical insurance covering emergency medical, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in case of death). The minimum cover should be of 30.000 EUR. This insurance must be valid for the entire Schengen area and throughout the duration of the stay.
various documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of means of support during your stay and your accommodation.

The complete list of documents can be consulted on the website of the consulate. During the processing time the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents or you may be contacted for an interview.

Processing of a visa application

As a general rule, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 days.

This period may, in individual cases, be extended up to 30 days and, exceptionally, 60 days, if a more detailed examination of your application and/or additional documents are required.

Some Schengen States require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen States by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to seven calendar days. Likewise, one Schengen State may require to be informed when a visa has been issued to nationals of certain third countries.

How to read the visa sticker

DURATION OF STAY………DAYS indicates the number of days you may stay in the Schengen area. The days should be counted from the date you enter the Schengen area (the entry stamp) to the date you exit the Schengen area (the exit stamp), i.e. both days included.

The period of time between “FROM …UNTIL” is usually longer than the number of days printed in the “DURATION OF STAY” field. The difference in period is meant to give you flexibility to plan your entry into and exit from the Schengen area, but your stay in the Schengen area must never exceed the exact number of days in the “DURATION OF STAY …DAYS” field. No matter how many days you have stayed in the Schengen area, you must leave no later than the date printed in the “UNTIL” field.”

Entry and stay in the Schengen area

Your short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. At border or during other controls you may, for instance, have to provide information on your means of support, how long you intend to stay in the Schengen State, and why you are visiting the Schengen State.

In some cases, such checks may result in a refusal for the visa holder to enter the Schengen State or the Schengen area.

It is therefore recommended that you carry with you copies of the documents which you presented when you applied for the visa (e.g. letters of invitation, travel confirmations, other documents stating the purpose of your stay). This will help to make the border control procedure easier and avoid delays at the border.

The definition of short stay of non-EU citizens in the Schengen area is “90 days in any 180 days period” The short-stay calculator can be used for calculating the period of allowed stay.

Refusal of a visa and appeal

The decision to refuse a Schengen visa and the reasons for the refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form. The decision to refuse the visa must include the reasons on which the refusal was based, and the procedures and deadlines for submitting an appeal.

For information on appeal procedures, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Schengen State you intend to visit.

For more information or visa application assistance please contact with us.

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DISCLAIMER

Due to the periodic changes of information/requirement/document, BICAVS doesn’t provide any confirmation, guarantee or representation, express or implied, that the information contained or referenced herein is completely accurate or final. BICAVS also doesn’t assure the grant of visa for its ‘Visa logistics support’. Visa grant is the distinct decision of embassy or consulate of the respective countries.