Countries Requiring a Schengen Visa
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
How to Know If You Need a Visa
The simplest way to determine your visa requirements:
- Check if you're an EU citizen — EU citizens never need a visa for Schengen travel
- Check if you're visa-exempt — About 60 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.) can visit visa-free (will need ETIAS from late 2026)
- If neither — You need a Schengen visa
What About Visa-Exempt Countries?
Citizens of about 60 countries do NOT need a Schengen visa. They can visit visa-free but from late 2026, they'll need ETIAS authorization. These include:
- Americas: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and more
- Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and more
- Europe (non-EU): UK, Ukraine, Georgia, and more
- Other: UAE, Israel, and various small nations
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 don't?
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're 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 don't need a Schengen visa. You can travel throughout the Schengen Area using your residence permit and passport.
Related Information
Last updated: