Certain non-EU citizens must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. The EU has a common list of countries whose citizens are required to issue a visa when crossing its external borders. There are national derogations from the visa requirements for certain travellers. Some third-country nationals must also hold an airport transit visa when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in any of the Schengen States. For citizens of certain additional countries, an airport transit visa is required when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in some of the Schengen States. There are some categories of persons who are exempt from the requirement to hold an airport transit visa (see Article 3(5) of the Visa Code).

You must lodge the application for a Schengen visa at the Consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you intend to visit more than one Schengen States, you should apply at 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 first country you will visit. As a general rule, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the Consulate with territorial competence for the country in which you legally reside.