Types of Schengen Visas

There are many types of Schengen visas depending on your needs to travel to this region. It could be tourism, business, meeting friends and family in terms of purpose. On the other hand, it is also important to remember the permission to enter a member Schengen country how often? It could be a single-entry, double-entry, or a multiple-entry visa.

In general, there are two types of Schengen visas:

Short-term Schengen visa

The first one is for a short period for example for 90 days. This is called a short-term “c” type Schengen visa (you cannot stay more than 90 days during 180 days in a row in a Schengen country on this visa even if the validity of the visa is 5 years at maximum).

Long-term Schengen visa

The second one is a long-term visa for a stay longer than 90 days in a Schengen state, which is called a long-term Schengen visa “D” type (You can stay regularly without having to leave the Schengen zone).

Shortm Term Schnegen Visa (Type “C”)

The Uniform Schengen visa holder is allowed to travel in 29 courtiers as mentioned above. A Uniform Schengen visa requires permission for a Schengen country member to move to the desired area. The Uniform Schengen visa applies to both  “A” and “C” categories, depending on the purpose of the Schengen visa trip.

• “A” category means airport Transit Visa. Airport Transit Visa is allowed to travel in the international zone of Schengen country airport without entering the Schengen area. “A” category visas are required for citizens traveling from one non-Schengen state to another by changing flights at Schengen country’s airports.
• The “B” category is also the Transit Visa. It allows you to transit through more than one Schengen country on the way to a non-Schengen country and is valid for 5 days.
• The “C” category is a short-term visa. Short-term visa holders are required to live in the Schengen area for a specified period, depending on the visa validity. Short-term visa holders are given a visa choice according to their traveling purpose. They can get a visa in the form of the following:

Multiple Visa Types

The multiple Schengen visa is further divided into 3 types:

1-year multiple-entry Schengen visa

Multiple 1-year entry visas give you the right to enter the Schengen zone as many times as you like, but one thing to keep in mind is that this right will last as long as you do not stay more than 90 days. When you apply for this visa, you must provide proof that you have made your previous visas and trips to the Schengen zone. If you have legally obtained three visas in the last two years and have used this visa by the law, you can easily obtain this visa.

3-year multiple-entry Schengen visa

The 3-year multiple-entry Schengen visa allows the visa holder to enter the Schengen area as many times as possible within three years, provided the visa holder is not allowed to stay in the EU for more than 90 days in 180 days. Only those who have obtained and used it legal previous multiple entry visa for one year in the last two years are eligible for this visa.

5-year multiple-entry Schengen visa

The visa is for those who have legally obtained and used the last multiple-entry visa for at least two years in the last three years is eligible for a 5-year multiple-entry Schengen visa unless you violate the 90/180-day rule. This visa allows you to enter 29 European countries in five years, at your discretion.

Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)

LTV is issued in rare cases such as humanitarian reasons or under international obligation as an exception to the common USV system and in some emergency cases. Limited territorial validity visas deal with case accordance. In one case the visa holder can travel only to the Schengen State that has issued the visa, number two case is the same with the addition of travel to certain Schengen states mentioned at the time of visa application, and apart from that countries are all other Schengen states are ban. The movement is not allowed in any other Schengen country that is not the first and final destination target of the visa holder.

Purposes of the Schengen Visa

There are many purposes one can apply the Schengen visa for.

a- Business

The applicant will tick the “Business ”option in the application form. A large number of businessmen travel to Schengen countries for business purposes, mostly it consists of a quick appointment. 

b- Medical reasons 

In this category, the visa is provided to patients who need medical care in any hospital or medical clinic in one of the Schengen member states for a time of 12 weeks within 180 days. The patient will tick the option (medical reason) in the application form to get this kind of temporary visa. 

c- Study purposes 

The students who need to take an entrance exam in any educational institute in the Schengen Area should ticket this visa purpose. Those who want to attend any school or university courses, language, and other short courses within ninety days of the period will be given this visa. 

d- Official visit 

First of all the applicant will tick the “official visit ”option in the application form then he has to show his designation and the nature of his duty for the official visit. 

e- Visiting family and friends 

This type of visa is for those who want to visit their friends and family in the Schengen Area. For this visa, the host will be a legal resident of a Schengen member country, and he will send an invitation letter to the guest. This visa will be granted if all necessities are fulfilled given in the application form regarding the visiting family and friend category. 

f- Tourism 

This is the most entertaining category of the Schengen visa and probably one of the most used options for traveling to Schengen countries. Tourists enjoy the culture, food, and natural beauty of the Schengen countries. The applicant has to tick the “Tourism ”option for a tourism visa.

g- Airport Transit 

Transit visas are very popular nowadays as many people travel a lot. This option is for those who travel through the international zone of a Schengen Country Airport without using the Schengen Country. Schengen states granted this visa to fewer countries, therefore You will not need a visa to travel through some countries, depending on your nationality you may need others. 

h- Transit 

This visa is similar to an airport transit visa. Many seafarers, who need to stay for a short time at one of the member state ports will use this visa. They can get this visa by ticking on the “Transit” option on the application. 

i- Sports, Cultural, and Film crews 

This type of visa is for people who are from outside of the Schengen area and want to attend religious, Sports, or Cultural events and film crews. The candidate should be a participant in the event, not just an audience. 

j- Others 

If you do not find your desired visa category in the application form, you will select the “others” option and write a one-line description of the reason for your journey. 

National Visas (D-type Long term Schengen visa) 

The long-term residence permit of Schengen countries is issued to students, workers, and permanent residents in one of the Schengen states.  This is usually called a national visa of the “D” category for a certain purpose. National visas can be two types, single entry or multiple entries. 

Types of long-term Schengen visas 

Single entry long-term visa

This is a type of single-entry visa that is granted temporarily to those deserving individuals who need residence in one of the Schengen countries for a certain period of need.

Multiple entry long-term visa

This is for those individuals who want to move freely in all Schengen countries without any additional visa documents. This is the most awarded visa in general. Multiple entry visas can be granted to an individual who falls under one of the following conditions:

• One-year visa granted through an International student program;
• Medical emergency case;
• For professionals such as players for their matches, artists for their unique art, and experts who can serve the country through their expertise;
• A professional student who has to travel to other Schengen countries for completion of his course.
• Researchers who have to travel to one of the Schengen countries for their course-related search.