So, you’re ready to embark on your tour of Europe. You’re super stoked, and can’t wait for all the awesome adventures you’re going to have. While on your tour, whatever it is you choose, you’ll meet new people, see amazing sights, try new foods, and get to experience the trip of a lifetime.
But, then you see something that makes you a little nervous: information about a visa.
A visa? But, wait! “I thought I didn’t need a visa?”
In most cases, it’s likely you don’t and you don’t need to worry much at all. Additionally, if you are going a tour that includes your transportation, it’s very likely that they’ll help you take care of this and answer all of your questions. But, to be absolutely sure and stay informed about the requirements are, this little guide should help:
Understanding European Geography
Europe is a huge continent, and it would be a mistake to try and categorize each individual country as just being “European.” Although the beautiful thing about this region of the world is that many of the same rules apply throughout, not all the countries follow the same rules. And, not for nothing, but what’s classified as political Europe and what’s classified as geographical Europe, are two very different things.
The Schengen Region
The Schengen region is a term given to a majority of countries in Europe. Countries that fall under the Schengen region include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom
(Note: because of the current political situation in Europe, you might see a lot of commentary on specific countries on this list.)
Anyway, you’ll notice that when reading about visas, the websites will talk specifically about the Schengen Region. See, the beautiful thing about the Schengen region is that it’s super easy to pass through any country within this region’s borders. So, let’s say you want to travel from France to Germany, you’re not going to have any problem at all. Whatever applies to your own passport’s specific requirements in one country in the Schengen region, applies to all.
Let’s take the U.S. passport, for instance. If you are an American citizen and possess an American passport, you’re allowed up the three months travel in the Schengen region, and for this, you don’t need a visa. You will get a stamp in your passport that allows you to travel between these countries. However, sometimes, immigration officials will ask for proof that you’re leaving the region before those three months expire. So, if your flight arrives in Germany but leaves from Switzerland, that’s fine — as long as it’s within that three month period.
However, while the easy transfer between countries is great news, if you want to stay longer, you actually need to apply for a different visa. Otherwise, you will need to leave the region for another three months, before you can re-enter the region again.
Hopefully, this doesn’t sound too confusing, and it’s important to understand that depending on your home country, their might be different rules. You want to clear that up before you travel here, to make sure you have absolutely no problems on the day you start traveling.
Do you have any other questions about the Schengen region or visas? Ask in the comments below!
Hana LaRock is originally from New York, though has called other places around the world her home for the last two years. She currently lives in Mexico and freelance travel writer. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing, reading, spending time with her dog, and of course, traveling. You can find her at www.hanalarockwriting.com
