Long Stay Visa Requirements for Europe (2026)

If you're planning to travel to Europe, specifically the Schengen zone, for an extended amount of time, there's a lot of preparation to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch.

When it comes to countries in the Schengen area (like France, Spain, Italy, and others), most people will need to apply for a long-stay visa (or residence permit) for trips longer than 90 days.

But do you qualify for a long stay visa or permit? And how do you get one? Are there other requirements? What about long stay travel insurance? Something else?

There are so many questions - and that's normal. This guide will fill you in with everything that you need to know.

What is a long-stay visa?

A long-stay visa allows you to legally stay in a foreign country for an extended period of time. In the Schengen zone, that's any number of days exceeding 90. If you want to travel to a Schengen country for fewer than 90 days, you don't need a long-stay visa, but you may need a short-stay one.

Long-stay Schengen visas can last anywhere from 90 days to 12 months, depending on your travel plans.

Categorized as a Type-D visa, you might see Schengen visas for long-term trips referred to as National Visas, or even sometimes Residence Visas.

What is a resident permit?

While we may think of resident permits as moving somewhere with the intention to stay indefinitely, that's not the case when it comes to the Schengen area.

Some countries in the Schengen zone require you to apply for a residence permit in order to stay more than 90 days, even if your stay is temporary.

You may need:

• A long-stay visa
• A residence permit
• A visa and a residence permit

It depends on your destination, duration of stay, and nationality.

Who can get a Schengen long stay visa?

Anyone can apply for a long-stay visa, but whether or not it'll be approved depends on your situation. They can be issued for many situations. Some of the most common reasons travelers apply for long-stay visas are for study, tourism, work, or to rejoin family members abroad.

In fact, some countries even offer digital nomad visas that allow travelers to spend time experiencing a new country and culture while working remotely for their jobs back home.

In the Schengen area, unless you are an EU citizen or resident of a Schengen country, you have obtain a long-stay visa or residence permit if you plan to stay in the area for more than 90 days.

Long-stay visa requirements

Unlike visas for short stays (trips under 90 days in length), long-stay visa requirements vary from country to country.

Not only that, but types of long-stay visas vary too. For instance, some Schengen countries, like Lithuania, offer digital nomad visas; others, like France, do not. Some offer specific work visas, while others offer something different. There are many different types of visas for each country in the Schengen area - and each has its own requirements and processes.

Additionally, some countries don't require certain travelers to have long-stay visas at all. Instead, they require residence permits.

For example, in Germany, US passport holders (among others) who intend to establish residency can travel to Germany before obtaining a visa, but they must register their residency once they arrive.

Another example is for travelers heading to the Netherlands longer term. If you want to stay there for longer than 90 days, you may need to apply for a residence permit after applying for a long-stay visa.

For France, if you're a tourist who wants to spend longer than 90 days in the country, you'll need to apply for a long-stay visa, and then validate it online after arriving in the country.

Norway and Iceland require residence permits.

As you can see, applying for a long-stay visa isn't a one-size-fits-all situation. Which one you apply for depends on your unique situation and the requirements, which vary greatly from country to country and visa to visa.

Do you need to have a reason to apply for a Schengen long-stay visa?

Yes, you must have a reason to apply for a long-stay visa to the Schengen area. This reason can be as simple as "tourism", but you still have to list the reason and choose the appropriate visa to apply for.

When you apply, you will also be required to "prove" your reason. If you're applying for a long-stay visa for tourism, this can be as simple as showing your proof of funds, hotel reservations, and other listed requirements. If you're planning to work remotely abroad, you'll be required to show a different set of proof related directly to your work.

Each type of visa from each Schengen country can have a different list of application requirements that you'll need to fulfill. When you go through the application process, the visa application center or consulate will give you a list of the requirements for your specific visa.

The long-stay visa application process

Applying for a long-stay visa begins with initial research. First and foremost, you need to know which country you're planning to stay in. Once you know that, you can figure out which visa you need. If you're a tourist, a tourism visa will likely be what you're looking for. If you're studying abroad, the educational program that you've been accepted into may have details on how to apply.

Once you know the specific type of long-stay visa that you need, you can begin the application process, typically through a visa application center or consulate in your country of residence. Though, as mentioned above, the process can vary greatly for each applicant, so always follow the official guidelines presented to you.

Long stay/National visa requirements are often similar to Schengen visas (short stay), but with additional document requests. These documents can be things like passports and birth certificates, to bank statements and travel insurance. Keep in mind that Schengen visa insurance requirements usually differ from long-stay ones.

As an example, Portugal requires a criminal record certificate for those applying for long-stay visas. See our Portugal visa guide.

The Czech Republic, language translations (all supporting documents must be submitted in Czech, regardless of your country of residence).

For France, foreign public documents typically need to be legalized by either a notary or an apostille.

Sometimes specific examination or language requirements must be proven depending on the type of visa you're applying for. Some visas in Germany, for example, require you to prove a certain level of German fluency as well.

Schengen countries may offer long-stay visas that are very niche. France offers a visa called the Passeport Talent, or Talent Passport. This visa doubles as a residency permit and allows holders to access government-provided health care and work in France. This visa was designed for highly skilled professionals with proven experience in their fields.

It doesn't stop there, though - there are even specific types of Passeport Talents. One is specifically for "innovative companies" (such as tech start ups) while another is for highly qualified individuals.

There can also be criminal or health checks required. The Netherlands, for example, requires all regular residence permit applicants to take a TB (Tuberculosis) test once in the Netherlands.

How to find specific requirements for your situation

Not only are there many visas with many different requirements, but visa types and their prerequisites are subject to change as well.

To find the requirements for your specific situation, you should look to:

• Embassy websites. Embassy websites typically have a goldmine of information about which visas are offered and who is eligible to apply. Plus, because embassy websites are government-owned, you can trust the information that you receive from them.
• Visa processor websites. Most visa applicants apply for a visa through something called a visa processor (examples of this are TLScontact and VFS Global). These official websites typically have excellent, detailed information about which documents you will need to provide when applying. Plus, they are trusted partners of the governments they serve, so you can trust that the information you glean is accurate.
• Government visa sites. Some governments have official visa sites. If you're applying for a long-stay visa for France, for instance, you can check the official France-Visas site. In Germany, there is Videx. These sites (and others) are a treasure trove of reliable information.
• A qualified immigration lawyer. If you're not sure where to start, you can recruit the help of an immigration lawyer. With their expertise, you can rely on the counsel that they provide about your unique situation.
• Your employer. If you are moving with the assistance of your employer, they may also be able to provide you with the appropriate resources needed.
• Your university or program. Are you a student or part of a program? Check to see if they offer any information or support for visa applicants. There may also be additional official websites relating to your academics abroad. For instance, students preparing to study abroad in France can look to Campus France for trustworthy information.
• EU VAP. While not launched yet, the EU is in the process of developing a new platform called EU VAP. This platform will allow some visa applicants to apply for their visas online. Once live (expected around 2028), EU VAP will be another dependable source for official information.

Long-stay visa process tips

Get clear on your plans

Which country are you planning to stay in long-term? Make a decision and stick to it, as you'll need to apply for a specific visa from a specific country.

What is the purpose of your trip? Are you studying abroad? Working? Knowing this is crucial because the visa you apply for will directly relate. If you apply for the incorrect visa for your scenario, you may not be able to carry out the duties that you're planning to.

How long are you going to stay? When applying for a visa, you need to know your entry dates and, usually, your exit dates too. However, with some long-stay visas, you may not have to provide a set return date. That doesn't mean you can overstay your visa, however.

Do you need to work while you're there? If you're going to be working in a Schengen country, remotely or otherwise, you will need to find the appropriate visa. For example, tourist visas generally do not allow you to do work while abroad.

Do your research

Thoroughly research which visa is the best fit for you and what those requirements are. While fact-finding, prioritize official ".gov" sites and authorized partner sites.

It can be helpful to look at online forums for real-life experiences and testimonials, but always keep it in the back of your mind that the information found there may not be accurate.

Find the visa processor in your country of residence

Often, but not always, the long-stay visa application process starts with a visa processor in your country of residence (as mentioned above). Sometimes, the process is different, though.

If this is the case for you, find the official visa processor in your country of residence for your destination. As an example, all Spanish visas in the US are obtained through BLS International.

The visa processor's website will guide you through the process, telling you what information is needed and what you should do to successfully submit your application.

In some cases, countries may not have visa processors. If this is the case, seek out the appropriate consulate or embassy to apply for your visa.

Read everything very carefully and follow all directions

During the process, you will likely come across a lot of information with very specific requirements, from which documents need to be presented to the formats they need to be presented in.

If any of the required documents are missing, your visa application could be delayed, or even rejected. The same is true when it comes to formatting. If you are required to notarize documents or get certified translations and don't, you risk further delays and refusal.

This is why it's crucial to lean on your left brain and focus on the details.

Learn more

We have written long stay visa guides for several countries. Check them out here:

• Austria long stay visa guide
• Belgium long stay visa guide
• Bulgaria long stay visa guide
• Croatia long stay visa guide
• Czechia long stay visa guide
• Denmark long stay visa guide
• Estonia long stay visa guide
• Finland long stay visa guide
• France long stay visa guide
• Germany long stay visa guide
• Greece long stay visa guide
• Hungary long stay visa guide
• Iceland long stay visa guide
• Italy long stay visa guide
• Latvia long stay visa guide
• Lithuania long stay visa guide
• Luxembourg long stay visa guide
• Malta long stay visa guide
• Norway long stay visa guide
• Poland long stay visa guide
• Portugal long stay visa guide
• Slovakia long stay visa guide
• Slovenia long stay visa guide
• Spain long stay visa guide
• Sweden long stay visa guide
• Switzerland long stay visa guide

Start early and be proactive

One mistake that travelers make is not starting the visa application process early enough.

Some documents may take longer to prepare than others, largely due to the required formatting. For example, if you need a notarized translation, it could take several days to process your document, translate it, notarize it, and return it, depending on the service that you use. And, you may need several documents formatted this way. It all depends on the visa you're applying for and which requirements apply to you.

On top of that, in-person appointments are typically mandatory for long-stay visa applications. However, these appointment slots can be sparse, especially during peak seasons. It's possible that you may not be able to get a slot the first time you try or that the earliest available appointment is weeks out.

When you do schedule an appointment, depending on where you live, you may have to travel in order to attend it. Starting the process early can also help you get the best prices if you require transportation and lodging.

Stay organized

During the long-stay visa application process, you'll likely have a lot of papers and official documents with sensitive, personal information. Staying organized with file folders, tabs, paper clips, etc., can help you know where your information is.

Take a big breath in, then let it out

There's a lot to do during the visa process. It can seem intimidating, but an end is in sight. Millions of people go through visa application processes every year.

It can help to take a bite-sized approach if you feel overwhelmed during the process. This can also be a good time to lean on the support of your friends, family, and online forums (though again, try to get all of your actionable information from official government or partner websites).

If needed, seek out help from an authorized immigration lawyer who can help clear up the process for you.

FAQs: Europe long stay visa requirements

What is a long-stay visa for Europe?

Is there one visa for all of Europe?

What is a national visa?