Long Stay Visas for Backpacking Through Europe

The culture, the flexibility, the thrill - backpacking through Europe is a dream for so many travelers, offering a chance to explore multiple cultures, landscapes, and historic cities.

However, if you’re planning an extended trip to backpack overseas, you may need a visa that allows for a long stay.

Understanding the visa process is very important as it is at the foundation of your trip. Without the right visa, you might not be able to make your incredible dream a reality.

Do you need a visa to backpack through Europe?

It depends. Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality, the duration of your trip, and the country in Europe.

Most European countries are members of the Schengen area. In this guide, we are going to focus on these countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Citizens of the EU, Schengen area countries, and visa-exempt countries like the US, UK, and Canada can travel to the most popular countries in Europe without a visa (so long as the trip is under 90 days in length).

However, if your trip exceeds this limit, you must apply for a long stay visa (or a residence permit, depending on the country).

If you are NOT an EU/Schengen country citizen AND you plan to backpack for more than 90 days in Europe, you will need to apply for the appropriate long stay visa.

Backpacking in Europe for 3+ months

If you are NOT an EU/Schengen country citizen AND plan to be in Europe for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long stay visa (or a resident permit, depending on the country).

With that being said, there isn't just one "EU visa". You will need to apply for a visa for a specific country. When it comes to long stay visas, this needs to be the country that you plan to stay in the longest.

Visa-exempt travelers (so, US citizens, among others) can only stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days without a visa. This applies to specific countries, but it also applies to the entire zone.

So, if you want to backpack through Switzerland, France, and Spain, for example, your entire trip has to be under 90 days in length to do so without a visa.

What to know before you apply

Several things need to be considered before you apply for a long-stay visa for your backpacking trip.

• For long trips, you need to get a visa for the country you'll be in the longest.
• If you get a long stay visa for one country, it doesn't automatically grant you entrance into another country. Whether or not you can go depends on your nationality and the country. This is why it's important for you to look up the specific requirements for where you're going.
• You need to make sure that you can meet the long stay visa requirements for your destination. While requirements differ depending on where you're going and which visa you're applying for, some common requirements include:

What does a long stay visa allow you to do?

A long stay visa allows you to stay in a country for a specific amount of time - in the Schengen area, that's more than 90 days.

Different visas allow foreigners to do different things. For example, students have to get a specific type of visa to study. Employees need a different one that grants them the ability to work.

It's really important to apply for the visa that most accurately reflects your situation.

How to apply for a long stay visa for backpacking through Europe

There isn't a visa specifically dedicated to backpacking in Europe, but it doesn't necessarily mean you can't apply.

Many countries offer an "other" category when applying for a visa, giving you the option to explain your scenario and needs.

With that being said, it's best to check the official Embassy website of your destination(s) to get an idea of what types of visas they offer.

Do your research

Before applying, determine which country will be your main base. Check the official Embassy website of this country to learn everything you can about what visas they offer, their specific long stay visa application process, and what the visa will allow you to do (such as travel to other Schengen countries, for example).

You will need to settle on a country and then review all of the visa application requirements.

Prepare the necessary documentation

Different visas will have different requirements when it comes to the application.

When you choose a country and visa to apply for, you will get a list of all of the specific requirements.

Gather all of these required documents ahead of time. This includes your passport, a passport-sized photo, and more.

Pay close attention to the instructions, as you need to submit all of the documents in the requested formats, which could include official translations, notaries, and more.

Book your long stay visa appointment

In Europe, most countries require foreigners to attend an in-person appointment in order to apply for a long stay visa. This typically happens in your current country of residence.

That said, some countries require you to apply for a residence permit, in which case the process may happen in your destination - it depends, again, on your nationality and the specific country.

If you need to book an appointment, make sure you do it well in advance. Due to high demand, appointment slots may fill up quickly.

Attend your appointment and submit your application

On the day of your appointment, bring all of the required documents. A visa officer will go through your application and documents with you to make sure that you have all of the requested information. You will also likely submit your biometrics (fingerprints) at this appointment.

After you submit your application, processing times vary depending on the country.

FAQs: long stay visas for backpacking