So, this article is about "How to Read Schengen Visa?" If you have been granted a Schengen visa, there are some important information on the visa sticker.
Please read it carefully to understand better meaning of the stickers and the labels attached into a Schengen visa.
The visa sticker information is provided in three languages:
ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN.
-- Countries where the visa holder is permitted to Enter:
A visa sticker always contains the information on the countries that the visa holder is permitted to visit.
The phrase <<VALID FOR>>, <<VALABLE PUR>> and <<GULTIG FUR>> are set before the territory, where you are permitted to enter.
-- If <<ETATS SCHENGEN>> , <<SHCENGEN STATES>> or <<SHCENGENER STAATEN>>is return after those words, then it means that the visa you are permitted is valid in all the Schengen states. And as we discussed in our previous blog, the schengen visa holder can visit each of the schengen countries, inside the territory.
-- On the other hand, the letters A, B, CH, CZE, D, DK, E, EST, F, FIN, GR, H, I, IS, LI, L, LT, LVA, M, N, NL, P, PL, S, SK, SVN- are short forms for the shcengen countries where the visa is valid.
And they stand for,
A – Austria
B – Belgium
CH – Switzerland
CZE – Czech Republic
D – Germany
DK – Denmark
E – Spain
EST – Estonia
F – France
FIN – Finland
GR – Greece
H – Hungary
I – Italy
IS – Iceland
L – Luxembourg
LT – Lithuania
LVA – Latvia
M – Malta
N – Norway
NL – Netherlands
P – Portugal
PL – Poland
S – Sweden
SK – Slovakia
SVN – Slovenia
If in visa there are listed few acronyms of the country names i.e. <<LVA, M, N, NL, P, PL>> then it means that you are permitted to enter only Latvia, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal and Poland.
- SCHENGEN VISA STICKER VALIDITY:
Next to the tables <<FROM>>, <<DU>> and<<VOM>> is shows the first day for your permission to enter the Schengen Area.
Where as near the label <<UNTIL>>, <<AU>> and <<BIS>> is shows the last day when you will have to leave the schengen country.
- NUMBER OF ENTRIES
The <<NUMBER OF ENTRIES>>, <<NOMBRE D’ETNREES>> and <<ANZAHL DER EINREISEN>> stands for the number of times you are permitted to enter the Schengen Area.
Label <<MULT>> means the holder is authorised to enter the schengen area more than one time, as long as they wish, as long as they do not exceed their permitted duration to stay.
Label <<1>> means the visa holder is authorised to enter only once in the Schengen Area.
Label <<2>> means that the visa holder is authorised to enter twice in the Schengen area and so on.
- DURATION OF STAY:
Label <<DURATION OF STAY>>, <<DU REE DE SEJOUR>> and <<DAUER DES AUFENTHALTS>> and immediately next to it <<DAYS>>, <<JOURS>> and <<TAGE>> stands for the number of days a person is permitted to stay in the Schengen Area within the given Schengen visa validity.
[ Note: If you stay longer than the amount of days mentioned in the visa, then you might be fined and future Schengen visa applications are subject to possible refusal.]
- VISA TYPES:
The labels <<A>>, <<C>> and <<D>> stands fro the type of visa you have got.
The visa types are as below:
Label <<A>> --- Visa Type A- Stands for 'Airport visa', that does not permit the visa holder to pass the "International Airport Zone"
Label <<C>>--- Visa Type C- Stands for short-stay visa, that does not permit the visa holder to stay more than 3 years in the Schengen Area.
Label <<D>>--- Visa Type D- stands for long term visa, which permits the visa holder to stay more than 3 months.
- DETAILS ABOUT THE VISA ISSUER & DATE OF ISSUANCE:
Label <<ISSUED IN>>, << DILIVRE A>> and <<SUGESTELLT IN>> stands right next to the name of the city where is located the embassy that issued the visa.
Label <<ON>>, <<LE>> and <<AM>> is for the date when the visa is issued.
- DETAILS ABOUT THE VISA HOLDER:
Label <<NUMBER OF PASSPORT>>, <<NUMERO DE PASSEPORT>> and <<NUMMER DES PASSES>> stands for the passport number of the visa holder.
Label << SURNAME, NAME >>, <<NOM, PRENOM>> and <<NAME, VORNAME>> stands for the name and the surname of the visa holder.
Label “REMARKS”, “REMARQUES” and “BEMERKUNGEN” stands for the purpose of the visa holder behind their travel to the Schengen Area.