View source for Visa policy of the Schengen Area

{{Foreign relations of the European Union}}
The [[European Union]] has unified visa policy as part of the [[Schengen treaty|Schengen]] [[Acquis communautaire|acquis]]. A number of EU member states do not participate in this policy, notably including [[Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]], consequentially maintaining independent immigration policies with respect to non-EU states.

==Visa requirements for Schengen member countries==
[[Image:EU_visa_lists.png|thumb|400px|EU (Schengen) visa lists {{legend|#0000ff|[[European Union member states|EU member states]]}}{{legend|#7f7fff|Special visa-free provisions ([[Schengen treaty]], [[Overseas Countries and Territories|OCT]] or other)}}{{legend|#ff0000|Visa required to enter the EU - annex I countries}} {{legend|#00ff00|Visa-free access to the EU for 90 days - annex II countries}} {{legend|gray|Visa-status unknown}}]]
There are two lists:
# ''negative visa list'' of countries (annex I of the [[European Council|Council]] regulation) from whose citizens a [[Visa (document)|visa]] is required to enter the territory of the [[European Union member states|EU member states]]
# ''positive visa list'' of countries (annex II) from whose citizens no visa is required to enter the territory of the EU member states for a period of maximum 90 days.

'''Annex I countries'''</br>
* All countries and territories not mentioned below.

'''Annex II countries''' 
* All countries and territories that are members of the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]] [[Acquis communautaire|acquis]], of the [[EU]] or of [[EFTA]].
Additionally:
{|width=75% style="background:transparent"
|-width=50% valign=top
|
*{{flagcountry|Andorra}}
*{{flagcountry|Argentina}}
*{{flagcountry|Australia}}
*{{flagcountry|Brazil}}
*{{flagcountry|Brunei}}
*{{flagcountry|Canada}}
*{{flagcountry|Chile}}
*{{flagcountry|Costa Rica}}
*{{flagcountry|Croatia}}
*{{flagcountry|El Salvador}}
*{{flagcountry|Guatemala}}
*{{flagcountry|Honduras}}
*''{{flagcountry|Hong Kong}}'' ([[Special Administrative Region|SAR]] of {{flagcountry|China}})
*{{flagcountry|Israel}}
*{{flagcountry|Japan}}
|
*''{{flagcountry|Macau}}'' ([[Special Administrative Region|SAR]] of {{flagcountry|China}})
*{{flagcountry|Malaysia}}
*{{flagcountry|Mexico}}
*{{flagcountry|Monaco}}
*{{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
*{{flagcountry|Nicaragua}}
*{{flagcountry|Panama}}
*{{flagcountry|Paraguay}}
*{{flagcountry|San Marino}}
*{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
*{{flagcountry|South Korea}}
*{{flagcountry|United States}}
*{{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
*{{flagcountry|Vatican City}}
*{{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
|}
</br></br>
*According to the provisions of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1932/2006 of 21 December 2006, amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001,  the exemption from the visa requirement for these countries will apply from the date of entry into force of an agreement on visa exemption to be concluded with the European Community:
** {{flagcountry|Antigua and Barbuda}} 
** {{flagcountry|Bahamas}} 
** {{flagcountry|Barbados}} 
** {{flagcountry|Mauritius}} 
** {{flagcountry|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} 
** {{flagcountry|Seychelles}}

*Additional annex I citizens:
** [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]s (BOTC) who do not have the [[Right of Abode (United Kingdom)|right of abode in the UK]]
** [[British Overseas citizen]]s (residual category [[British citizen]]s)
** current [[British subjects]] who do not have the [[Right of Abode (United Kingdom)|right of abode in the UK]] (residual category British citizens)
** [[British protected person]]s (residual category British citizens)

*Additional annex II citizens:
** [[British National (Overseas)]] (residual category British citizens)

*Territories of annex I/II states that fall into different category
** {{flagcountry|Northern Mariana Islands}} - annex I in contrast to the [[United States]] that is annex II.
** {{flagcountry|Hong Kong}} - annex II in contrast to the [[PR China]] that is annex I
** {{flagcountry|Macao}} - annex II in contrast to the [[PR China]] that is annex I

*Countries and territories missing from both annex I and II lists
** {{flagcountry|Western Sahara}} - most probably it is practically annex I like all [[African]] states (including [[Morocco]], which administrates most of the territory) and all entities, not recognised as independent states by the EU.
** {{flagcountry|Puerto Rico}} of the [[United States]] - other [[Caribbean]] territories are annex I
** {{flagcountry|United States Virgin Islands}} - other [[Caribbean]] territories are annex I
** {{flagcountry|Guam}} of the [[United States]] - other [[Pacific]] territories are annex I
** {{flagcountry|American Samoa}} of the [[United States]] - other [[Pacific]] territories are annex I

Reciprocity is sought for all countries of the visa-free list. That means that the EU expects that these countries offer visa-free access to all EU citizens. When the situation is the opposite the affected member state is expected to notify the [[European Commission]], so that the EC takes an appropriate action - negotiate with the annex II state or remove it from the annex II list. The most notable example here is the [[United States]] that does not offer visa-free travel to 14 of the EU members.

==Visa requirements for the United Kingdom==
[[Image:UK_visa_lists.png|thumb|400px|UK visa lists {{legend|#0000ff|[[European Union member states|EU member states]]}}{{legend|#7f7fff|Special visa-free provisions ([[European Economic Area|EEA]], [[Overseas Countries and Territories|OCT]] or other)}} {{legend|#00ff00|Visa-free access to the UK for 90 days}} {{legend|#ff0000|Visa required to enter the UK, transit without visa}} {{legend|#7f4000|Visa required to enter the UK and for transit trough the UK}} {{legend|gray|Visa-status unknown}}]]
There are two lists:
# ''negative visa list'' of countries (annex I of the [[European Council|Council]] regulation) from whose citizens a [[Visa (document)|visa]] is required to enter the territory of the [[European Union member states|EU member states]]


Citizens of the following countries can enter the [[United Kingdom]] (which is not a member of the [[Schengen Agreement]]) without a visa.
* All countries and territories that are members of the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]] [[Acquis communautaire|acquis]], of the [[EU]] and of [[EFTA]].
Additionally:
{|width=100% style="background:transparent"
|-width=50% valign=top
|
*{{flagcountry|Antigua and Barbuda}}
*{{flagcountry|Argentina}}
*{{flagcountry|Australia}}
*{{flagcountry|Bahamas}}
*{{flagcountry|Barbados}}
*{{flagcountry|Belize}}
*{{flagcountry|Bolivia}}
*{{flagcountry|Botswana}}
*{{flagcountry|Brazil}}
*{{flagcountry|Canada}}
*{{flagcountry|Chile}}
*{{flagcountry|Costa Rica}}
*{{flagcountry|Croatia}}
*{{flagcountry|Dominica}}
*{{flagcountry|Grenada}}
*{{flagcountry|Israel}}
*{{flagcountry|Japan}}
*{{flagcountry|Kiribati}}
*{{flagcountry|Lesotho}}
*{{flagcountry|Maldives}}
*{{flagcountry|Malaysia}}
*{{flagcountry|Marshall Islands}}
*{{flagcountry|Mauritius}}
*{{flagcountry|Mexico}}
*{{flagcountry|Micronesia}}
*{{flagcountry|Namibia}}
|
*{{flagcountry|Nauru}}
*{{flagcountry|Nicaragua}}
*{{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
*{{flagcountry|Palau}}
*{{flagcountry|Papua New Guinea}}
*{{flagcountry|Peru}}
*{{flagcountry|Samoa}}
*{{flagcountry|Solomon Islands}}
*{{flagcountry|South Africa}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
*{{flagcountry|Seychelles}}
*{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
*{{flagcountry|South Korea}}
*{{flagcountry|Swaziland}}
*{{flagcountry|Timor-Leste}}
*{{flagcountry|Tonga}}
*{{flagcountry|Trinidad and Tobago}}
*{{flagcountry|Tuvalu}}
*{{flagcountry|United States of America}}
*{{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
*{{flagcountry|Vanuatu}}
*{{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
|}
{{list-stub}}
* List of nationals who '''do''' need a visa is available at [http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1020786334922]. All '''other''' countries need adding to the above list.

* The following territories' status is unknown
** {{flagcountry|Western Sahara}} - most probably it is practically as "require visa" like most [[African]] states (including [[Morocco]], which administrates most of the territory) but it is not included in the "require visa" list - unlike other entities, not recognised as independent states like Taiwan and the Palestinian Authority, that are explicitly listed there.

* Special Territories
**''{{flagcountry|Hong Kong}}'' ([[Special Administrative Region|SAR]] of {{flagcountry|China}}) 
**''{{flagcountry|Macau}}'' ([[Special Administrative Region|SAR]] of {{flagcountry|China}}) 
- not mentioned in the "require visa" list. However, although not being a country, these territories have separate agreements independent of China and are visa-free for visitors, while special regulations apply for other categories.

==Visa requirements for Ireland==
[[Image:Ireland_visa_lists.png|thumb|400px|IE visa lists {{legend|#0000ff|[[European Union member states|EU member states]]}}{{legend|#7f7fff|Special visa-free provisions ([[European Economic Area|EEA]], [[Overseas Countries and Territories|OCT]] or other)}} {{legend|#00ff00|Visa-free access to Ireland for 90 days}} {{legend|#ff0000|Visa required to enter Ireland, transit without visa}} {{legend|#7f4000|Visa required to enter Ireland and for transit trough Ireland}}]]

A [[Common Travel Area]] exists between the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]], no passport controls are done on the land border between the two countries. While a UK visa will not allow a traveller entry to the Republic of Ireland, nor will a Republic of Ireland visa allow entry to the UK, in practice use of the land border will avoid this problem.

Citizens of the following countries can enter [[Ireland]] (which is not a member of the [[Schengen Agreement]]) without a visa.

* All countries and territories that are members of the [[European Economic Area]], which includes the 27 [[European Union]] members together with [[Iceland]], [[Norway]] and [[Liechtenstein]].<ref>[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/moving-country/moving-to-ireland/coming-to-live-in-ireland/visa-requirements-for-entering-ireland Citizens' Information Ireland - ''"Visa requirements for entering Ireland"'']</ref>
Additionally:
{|width=100% style="background:transparent"
|-width=50% valign=top
|
*{{flagcountry|Andorra}}
*{{flagcountry|Antigua and Barbuda}}
*{{flagcountry|Argentina}}
*{{flagcountry|Australia}}
*{{flagcountry|Bahamas}}
*{{flagcountry|Barbados}}
*{{flagcountry|Belize}}
*{{flagcountry|Botswana}}
*{{flagcountry|Brazil}}
*{{flagcountry|Brunei}}
*{{flagcountry|Canada}}
*{{flagcountry|Chile}}
*{{flagcountry|Costa Rica}}
*{{flagcountry|Croatia}}
*{{flagcountry|Dominica}}
*{{flagcountry|El Salvador}}
*{{flagcountry|Fiji}}
*{{flagcountry|Grenada}}
*{{flagcountry|Guatemala}}
*{{flagcountry|Guyana}}
*{{flagcountry|Honduras}}
*{{flagcountry|Hong Kong}} (special administrative region)
*{{flagcountry|Israel}}
*{{flagcountry|Japan}}
*{{flagcountry|Kiribati}}
*{{flagcountry|Lesotho}}
*{{flagcountry|Macau}} (special administrative region)
*{{flagcountry|Malawi}}
*{{flagcountry|Malaysia}}
|
*{{flagcountry|Maldives}}
*{{flagcountry|Mauritius}}
*{{flagcountry|Mexico}}
*{{flagcountry|Monaco}}
*{{flagcountry|Nauru}}
*{{flagcountry|New Zealand}}
*{{flagcountry|Nicaragua}}
*{{flagcountry|Panama}}
*{{flagcountry|Paraguay}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}}
*{{flagcountry|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
*{{flagcountry|Samoa}}
*{{flagcountry|San Marino}}
*{{flagcountry|Seychelles}}
*{{flagcountry|Singapore}}
*{{flagcountry|Solomon Islands}}
*{{flagcountry|South Africa}}
*{{flagcountry|South Korea}}
*{{flagcountry|Swaziland}}
*{{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
*{{flagcountry|Tonga}}
*{{flagcountry|Trinidad and Tobago}}
*{{flagcountry|Tuvalu}}
*{{flagcountry|United States of America}}
*{{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
*{{flagcountry|Vanuatu}}
*{{flagcountry|Vatican City}}
*{{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
|}

== Visa-free travelling for EU citizens ==

EU citizens do not require visas to travel to the [[EFTA]] and [[EU]] countries, additionally the ones listed below.

=== Austrian citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Isles, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Solomon islands, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela

=== Belgian citizens ===
Andorra, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Serbia, United States of America

=== British citizens ===
See [[British passport]].

=== Bulgarian citizens ===

See [[Bulgarian passport]].

=== Cyprus citizens ===
See [[Cyprus passport]].

=== Czech citizens ===
See [[Czech passport]]

=== Danish citizens ===
Brazil

=== Estonian citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, British Virgin Isles, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Swaziland, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vatican city.

=== Finnish citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Turkey, Andorra, United States of America

=== French citizens ===
See [[French passport]].

=== German citizens ===
See [[German passport]].

=== Greek citizens ===
Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Mexico, Philippines, Peru, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, United Arab Emirates

=== Hungarian citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador,  Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela

=== Irish citizens ===
Andorra, Canada, Chile, United States of America, Vatican City

=== Italian citizens ===
See [[Italian passport]].

=== Latvian citizens ===
=== Lithuanian citizens ===
Andorra, Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Republic of Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritius; United Mexican States, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Salvador, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Swaziland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vatican City.

=== Luxembourg citizens ===
=== Maltese citizens ===
See [[Maltese passport]].

=== Citizens of the Netherlands ===
Andorra, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, United States of America, Vatican City

=== Polish citizens ===

See [[Polish passport]]

=== Portuguese citizens ===
=== Romanian citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela

=== Slovak citizens ===
=== Slovenian citizens ===
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Cook Islands, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guyana, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Georgia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Macao, Macedonia, Maldives, Malaysia, Morocco, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Reunion, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Swaziland, Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican city, Venezuela, Wallis & Futuna.

=== Spanish citizens ===
Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, United States of America, Vatican City

=== Swedish citizens ===

==See also==
* [[Third country relationships with the European Union]]
* [[Visa Information System]]
* [[Visa Waiver Program]]

==References==

<references/>
* [[Council of the European Union|Council]] [[European Union regulation|regulation]] 539/2001 [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2001R0539:20050624:EN:PDF]
* [[Council of the European Union|Council]] [[European Union regulation|regulation]] 1932/2006 [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:029:0010:0013:EN:PDF]
* [[Council of the European Union|Council]] [[European Union regulation|regulation]] 539/2001 consolidated version, 19.1.2007 [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/consleg/2001/R/02001R0539-20070119-en.pdf]
* List of nationals who '''do''' need a visa to visit the UK [http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1020786334922].
* List of countries whose passport holders '''do not''' require visas to enter Ireland [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/moving-country/moving-to-ireland/coming-to-live-in-ireland/visa-requirements-for-entering-ireland].
* List of visa requirements provided by [[KLM]] [http://www.klm.com/travel/ch_en/travel_information/travel_planning/travel_clinic/visaform.htm].

[[Category:European Union]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the European Union]]
[[Category:Visa policy by country|European Union]]
[[Category:Visas]]