Countries Requiring a Schengen Visa
Last verified: 2 min read
104+ nationalities that need a visa to enter Europe's Schengen Area
Africa
Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Comoros Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Republic of the Congo Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe
Understanding Schengen Visa Requirements
If your country appears on this page, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa (Type C) before traveling to Europe. This is a short-stay visa that allows visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period across all 30 Schengen member states.
You should apply at the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to spend the most time in. If visiting multiple countries equally, apply at the embassy of your first point of entry. Most embassies accept applications 3 to 6 months before your trip — do not wait until the deadline, as processing takes 15-45 calendar days.
Applying for a Schengen Visa
If your country requires a visa, here's what you need to know:
- Apply 3-6 months before your trip
- Cost: €80 for adults (€40 for children 6-12, free under 6)
- Processing: 15-45 days
- Apply at the embassy/consulate of your main destination country
- Requirements: Passport, photos, insurance, financial proof, itinerary, and more
Visa Requirement FAQs
Why do some countries need visas and others do not?
Visa requirements are based on bilateral agreements, security assessments, economic ties, and reciprocity arrangements between the EU and other countries. Countries with strong ties to Europe, low immigration risk, and reciprocal visa-free access for EU citizens tend to be visa-exempt.
I have dual citizenship — which passport should I use?
Use whichever passport gives you the best travel conditions. If one citizenship is visa-exempt and the other requires a visa, use the visa-exempt passport. You can hold passports from multiple countries and choose which to use for travel.
Does my country's visa requirement ever change?
Yes. The EU periodically reviews visa policies. Countries can be added to or removed from the visa-required list. For example, several Balkan countries became visa-exempt in recent years. Changes require EU-wide agreement and typically take effect with advance notice.
Can I transit through Schengen without a visa?
If you are just transiting through a Schengen airport (not leaving the international zone), you may not need a visa. However, citizens of some countries need an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) even for airside transit. Check specific requirements for your nationality.
What if I have a Schengen residence permit?
If you hold a valid residence permit from any Schengen country, you do not need a Schengen visa. You can travel throughout the Schengen Area using your residence permit and passport.
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