Schengen Visa Types: Which One You Need in 2026

Not all visas for Europe are the same. In fact, not all visas for a single European country are even the same. The Schengen area has several types of visas, and which one you should apply for depends on why you’re traveling and for how long. If you pick the wrong one, it can delay your application or even result in a refusal, so it’s important to get it right up front. While millions of travelers need a visa before they visit Europe, not all of them do.

This guide looks at Schengen visa types and breaks them down in a way that’s easy to understand. We look at what Type C and D mean, how single, double, and multiple entry work, who needs one, the costs, and how to apply. We also look at the less common visa option: Type A.

Don't forget that Schengen travel insurance is mandatory for Schengen visas.

What exactly is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is a permit that allows non-EU nationals to visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days. Applicants choose a specific Schengen country to apply to (examples are France, Italy, Germany, etc.). That said, the visa generally allows them to travel to any of the 29 countries in the Zone. Schengen visas come with requirements, like travel insurance, passport criteria, and more. 

There are visas that allow visitors to stay more than 90 days, but those are called national visas. Schengen visas typically refer to short stays. The 90-day limit isn’t calendar-based. It’s rolling. This means that it looks at the most recent 180-day window and how long you’ve spent in the Schengen area within that window. 

Now, with EES (the EU’s new Entry/Exit system), entries and exits are digitally recorded, meaning it’s easier to track these 90 days, as well as overstays. In the past, it was manually tracked.

Who needs a Schengen visa?

Who needs one depends on a few different factors. The biggest one is your passport. Some countries have visa-waiver agreements with the Schengen area. This means that their citizens can visit Europe for short periods of time, visa-free. However, not all countries have this kind of agreement – about 60 do. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and dozens of other countries can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days (in that 180 day window) without a visa. 

If you’re a citizen of an EU/Schengen country, you also don’t need a visa to visit. 

Everyone else does. 

The three official Schengen visa types: A, C and D

Schengen countries offer three types of visas. Type A visas are for transferring through the Schengen area, Type C are for short stays, and Type D are for long ones. 

Type A: the airport transit visa

Type A visas allow travelers to change planes inside a Schengen airport. It’s for those who have connecting flights, but final destinations outside of the zone. An example could be a Pakistani passport holder traveling to Canada with a connection through Paris. To connect in Paris, this traveler would need an Airport Transit Visa. Not everyone needs to apply for a Type A visa if their connection is in the zone. It only applies to around a dozen nationalities. If you have an Afghan, Nigerian, or Pakistani passport, for example, you need to apply for a transit visa if you plan to connect in the zone. 

Type C: the short-stay visa

When most people are referring to a Schengen visa, they’re thinking of the Type C visa. This is the one that allows you to take short trips in the Schengen Area (up to 90 days). It’s for several kinds of trips, including tourism and to see the sights, family visits, seeing friends, even attending conferences and business meetings. Most Type C Schengen visas allow you to go anywhere in the Area without applying for an additional visa. 

Type D: the long-stay national visa

The Type D visa is also often called a long-stay visa or a national visa, and it’s for long stays within a specific Schengen country. In this context, a long stay is defined (by the European Union) as more than 90 days. Long-stay visas are the ones people typically apply for when they’re moving for work, they’re reuniting long-term with a spouse or family member, or establishing residence as part of the immigration process. It’s also a common visa for those studying abroad.

A small note: ETIAS is not a visa. It is a new pre-travel authorization that will be mandatory for millions of travelers, including Americans and Britons.

Single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visas

One thing that isn’t discussed as much in visa guides is the number of entries allowed. Your visa will tell you exactly how many times you can enter the Zone before it expires. 

Single entries allow you to enter the Schengen Area one time. So, if you enter, then leave early, you cannot return, even if your visa hasn’t expired yet. Single-entry visas are perfect for one-off trips, such as to visit Paris for two weeks.

Double-entry and multiple-entry visas

As implied by the name, double-entry Schengen visas allow you two entries. This means you can enter and leave the Schengen area twice during your visa’s validity. This is helpful if you’re planning a multi–country trip. For instance, if you are visiting Paris, then London, then Amsterdam. Paris is in the Schengen Area, London isn’t, and Amsterdam is. So, in this case, you’d enter the Schengen Area, leave to visit London, then re-enter to visit Amsterdam. Once you’ve entered twice, you won’t be allowed to enter again. 

Multiple-entry Schengen visas allow you to enter and leave the area as many times as you’d like, so long as your visa is still valid. You have to choose whether or not you’d like to apply for a multiple-entry visa, and if you have one, your visa will say “MULT” on it. 

Schengen visas by purpose: tourism, business, study, and work

There are the three main categories (A, C, and D), but then there are multiple subcategories within each. Why you’re traveling affects which documents you need to provide during the application process. For example, a short vacation, conference, and visiting family all fall under the Type C visa category, but what you need to show can differ.

One thing that’s interesting to know that most guides don’t mention is that the purpose of your trip doesn’t actually appear on the physical visa. The visa sticker (inside of your passport) shows its validity dates, how many entries you’re allowed, your personal information, but nothing about whether it’s for leisure or business. That’s ok though; it’s just how the visa visual is designed.

Which Schengen visa type is right for your trip?

The visa categories are pretty easy to distinguish between. Type A is for airport transits (should you be required to apply); Type C is for stays under 90 days that are primarily for visiting, tourism, or business. Type D is for trips longer than 90 days. 

If you’re applying for a Type C, then you need to decide whether you’re applying for single, double, or multiple entry. 

Once you’ve decided those main details, you can start the actual application process, which you can learn all about in our guide: How to Apply for a Schengen Visa. Also, do keep in mind that you should always refer to an official embassy or visa center site when determining which visa to apply for. 

Schengen visa fees, processing times and validity

Fees by applicant category

Short-stay visa fees are set by the Schengen area, which means the visa price is the same whether you’re applying for a Type C visa for France, Italy, or somewhere else. It doesn’t change or vary from country to country. It also doesn’t change whether you’re applying for a single or multiple entry. The fee for adults is 90 euros per adult and 45 euros for children ages 6-11. Children under the age of 6 can apply for free. 

Type D visa fees vary, as they’re set at a country level. Different countries can decide what they’d like to charge.

Keep in mind that the fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether you’re approved, denied, or change your mind about traveling.

Frequently asked questions about Schengen visa types

Our popular visa guides

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France visa guide

Germany visa guide

Spain visa guide

Italy visa guide