Schengen visa types: which one do you need and how to apply?

Applying for a Schengen visa can quickly become confusing, especially when facing different visa types, technical terms on the visa sticker, and strict administrative rules. Many applicants struggle to understand the real difference between Type A, Type C or Type D visas, or misinterpret key notions such as validity period, duration of stay or number of entries — mistakes that can lead to refusals or issues at the border.

Beyond the first application, understanding Schengen visa types also plays a key role in future renewals and long-term travel plans. Consulates closely analyse how previous visas were used, whether travel rules were respected, and if supporting documents — including travel insurance — were fully compliant. A well-prepared application not only improves approval chances, but also increases the likelihood of obtaining longer validity or multiple-entry visas over time.

What are the different Schengen visa types?

Before applying, it is essential to understand how Schengen visas are classified. Each visa type corresponds to a specific travel situation, defines how long you can stay, and determines whether you can enter the Schengen area once or multiple times. Choosing the wrong visa type is one of the most common causes of refusals or travel restrictions.

At a high level, Schengen visas are divided into short-stay visas (Type A and Type C) and long-stay national visas (Type D). The table below provides a clear overview of the main Schengen visa types and when they apply.

Each visa type follows different rules and conditions. For example, a Type A visa never allows entry into the Schengen area, while a Type C visa always remains subject to the 90/180 rule, even if issued for several months or years. Type D visas, on the other hand, fall under national immigration rules, which vary from one country to another.

What is a Schengen Type A visa and who needs it?

A Schengen Type A visa is an airport transit visa. It allows travellers to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport while waiting for a connecting flight to a non-Schengen country. This visa is strictly limited to transit and does not authorise entry into the Schengen area.

The Type A visa is required only for certain nationalities, based on EU regulations and individual risk assessments. Many travellers never need it, while others must obtain it even if they leave the airport for only a few hours between flights.

Key characteristics of the Schengen Type A visa:

• Transit only through the international airport zone ✈️
• No entry into the Schengen area allowed 🚫
• No hotel stay or overnight exit from the airport 🏨❌
• No border crossing at passport control
• Requirement depends on nationality and, in some cases, the airport or transit country

In practice, if your itinerary involves leaving the airport, collecting luggage, changing terminals outside the transit zone, or staying overnight, a Type C short-stay visa may be required instead. Checking the exact transit requirements before booking flights is therefore essential to avoid being denied boarding or entry.

What is a Schengen Type C visa and who is it for?

A Schengen Type C visa is the most common visa issued for travel to the Schengen area. It is designed for short stays and applies to travellers who wish to visit one or more Schengen countries for a limited period, without settling or working long term. This visa type covers the vast majority of leisure, family and business travel.

The Type C visa can be issued as single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry, but the underlying stay rules remain the same in all cases.

What does a short-stay visa allow?

A Schengen Type C visa authorises:

• A maximum stay of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period
• Travel for tourism, family or friends visits, business trips, professional events, or short courses and training
• Entry during the visa’s validity period, regardless of how long that validity lasts

This means that a visa valid for 6 months or even 1 year does not allow staying continuously for that entire period. The 90/180 rule always applies, and overstaying — even unintentionally — can affect future applications.

📊 2024 data: more than 9.7 million Schengen Type C visas were issued worldwide, with a global refusal rate of 14.8%. These figures highlight both the popularity of this visa type and the importance of submitting a clear, compliant application to avoid refusal.

What is a multiple-entry Schengen visa (Type C MULT)?

A multiple-entry Schengen visa (Type C MULT) allows travellers to enter and exit the Schengen area multiple times during the visa’s validity period. It is typically issued to frequent travellers who need flexibility, such as business visitors, people with family ties in Europe, or travellers making several short trips over time.

Despite its extended flexibility, the MULT visa follows exactly the same stay rules as any other Type C visa.

Key clarification:

A multiple-entry visa does not allow a longer stay. The 90 days within any 180-day period rule still applies, no matter how long the visa is valid.

What the MULT visa offers is freedom of movement: you can leave the Schengen area and return without needing a new visa each time. This is particularly useful for travellers with back-to-back trips, regional travel plans, or professional obligations requiring regular visits — as long as total stay limits are respected.

Finally, remember that Schengen-compliant travel insurance remains mandatory for Type C visas. Many applicants choose to compare policies online with tools such as HelloSafe, which helps ensure that the insurance fully meets Schengen requirements before submitting the application.

What is a Schengen Type D visa and how is it different?

A Schengen Type D visa is a national long-stay visa issued by an individual Schengen country. Unlike Type A or Type C visas, it is intended for stays longer than 90 days and falls under national immigration laws, not the uniform Schengen short-stay rules.

This visa type is generally required for people who plan to live, study or work in a specific Schengen country rather than simply visit.

Key characteristics of the Schengen Type D visa:

• National long-stay visa 🏠
• Valid for more than 90 days
• Issued by one country, under its own national rules
• Conditions and rights vary depending on the issuing state

Typical situations covered by a Type D visa:

• Study programmes and long-term education 🎓
• Employment or professional activity 💼
• Family reunification 👨‍👩‍👧
• Residence permits and settlement pathways 🪪

While a Type D visa may allow limited travel within the Schengen area, it is not equivalent to a Schengen Type C visa and does not follow the 90/180 rule. Applicants must always refer to the specific national regulations of the issuing country to understand their rights and obligations.

What is the difference between visa validity, duration of stay and entries?

One of the most common sources of confusion for travellers is the interpretation of the information printed on a Schengen visa sticker. These three elements serve different purposes and must be read separately.

What are the refusal rates for each Schengen visa type?

While Schengen authorities mainly publish global statistics for short-stay visas (Type C), refusal patterns vary depending on the visa type and the issuing country. The table below consolidates the latest available figures (2024) from official EU reporting and national long-stay statistics, so travellers can better understand how demanding each visa type can be in practice.

What this means for applicants

• Around 1 in 7 short-stay Schengen visa applications is refused globally.
• Multiple-entry (MULT) visas may face higher rejection probability when applicants cannot demonstrate solid travel history, ties, or financial stability.
• Type D visas are assessed under national rules, meaning documentation standards and approval rates differ significantly depending on the destination country.

Preparing a clear, consistent and fully documented application, including compliant travel insurance, helps reduce the risk of refusal and improves eligibility for longer-validity or multiple-entry visas in the future.

Does the Schengen visa type change the 90/180 rule?

The 90/180 rule is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Schengen visas. Many travellers assume that the visa type, the number of entries, or a long validity period changes how long they are allowed to stay. In reality, the rule applies strictly depending on the visa type, as shown below.

The key point is that no Schengen Type C visa ever allows you to stay longer than 90 days within a 180-day period, regardless of whether it is single-entry or multiple-entry, or valid for several months or years. Only Type D visas, which are national long-stay visas, follow separate rules defined by the issuing country.

How to get a Schengen visa depending on the visa type?

Applying for a Schengen visa follows a structured administrative process, but the exact requirements and checks vary depending on the visa type (A, C or D) and the purpose of travel. Below is a clear, step-by-step breakdown of the application journey, aligned with how consulates and visa centres operate in practice.

Step 1 – Identify the correct Schengen visa type

🧭 Determine whether your travel situation falls under Type A (airport transit), Type C (short stay) or Type D (long stay).

🧭 The visa type depends on length of stay, purpose of travel and whether you will enter the Schengen area or only transit.

🧭 Choosing the wrong visa type is one of the most frequent causes of refusal.

Step 2 – Determine the competent consulate or authority

📍 For Type C visas, you must apply through:

• the consulate of the main destination country (longest stay or main purpose), or
• if stays are equal, the country of first entry.

🏛️ Examples of competent authorities:

• French visa: France-Visas (applications often handled by TLScontact or VFS Global)
• German visa: German embassy or consulate, via TLScontact or VFS depending on the country
• Spanish visa: Consulate of Spain or BLS International

🏠 For Type D visas, applications are always handled under national immigration rules of the issuing country.

Step 3 – Prepare the required documents

📄 Document requirements vary slightly by country and visa type, but the core structure remains consistent.

📌 For Type C visas, travel insurance is systematically reviewed and must meet Schengen minimum requirements.

Step 4 – Book an appointment at the visa centre or consulate

🗓️ Most Schengen visa applications must be submitted in person, via an official visa centre or directly at a consulate.

📌 Appointment availability varies by country and season. Booking several weeks in advance is often necessary.

Step 5 – Attend the biometric appointment and submit the application

🖐️ Biometric data (fingerprints and photo) are collected for Type C and Type D visas, unless already registered recently.

📑 Original documents and copies are reviewed by the visa centre.

💳 Visa fees and service fees are paid at this stage.

📬 After submission, the file is forwarded to the competent consulate for decision-making. Standard processing time is 15 calendar days for Type C visas, with possible extensions in complex cases.

How much does a Schengen visa cost depending on the visa type?

The cost of a Schengen visa depends primarily on the visa type, the age of the applicant, and whether the application is submitted directly at a consulate or through an external visa center. Visa fees are harmonised at EU level for short-stay visas, while long-stay visas follow national pricing rules.

These fees are non-refundable, even in case of refusal. Some applicants benefit from reduced fees or exemptions under visa facilitation agreements or specific categories (children under 6, certain students, researchers, or family members of EU citizens).

Additional costs to anticipate

Beyond the official visa fee, applicants should budget for several mandatory or practical extra costs:

• 💳 Visa center service fee: when applying via an external provider (VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International), a service fee applies. This fee is capped at €45 for Schengen short-stay visas, but the exact amount varies by country and provider.
• 🛡️ Travel insurance: mandatory for most Schengen visa types, with minimum medical coverage of €30,000. The price depends on the duration of stay, age of the traveller and level of coverage.
• 📦 Optional services: SMS notifications, courier return of passport, premium lounge access or appointment assistance may increase the total cost.

In practice, the total budget for a Schengen Type C visa often exceeds the official fee once service charges and insurance are included. This is why many applicants choose to compare compliant travel insurance policies online before submitting their application.

Is travel insurance mandatory for each Schengen visa type?

Travel insurance is one of the most closely examined documents in a Schengen visa application. However, the obligation to provide insurance depends on the visa type, the purpose of travel, and sometimes the applicant’s nationality. Failing to meet insurance requirements is a frequent reason for delays or refusals, especially for short-stay visas.

In practice, consulates expect applicants to demonstrate that potential medical costs will not fall on the host country, particularly for short stays.

How to interpret these requirements:

• Type A (airport transit): insurance may be required depending on nationality, transit duration, and airport rules, but it is not systematically requested.
• Type C (short stay): travel medical insurance is mandatory. It must cover emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, and be valid across the entire Schengen area.
• Type C MULT (multiple-entry): insurance is also mandatory. For long-validity visas, consulates usually require coverage for at least the first planned trip, with a declaration committing to future coverage.
• Type D (long stay): insurance rules vary by country and often change once a residence permit or local health coverage is obtained.

📌 A compliant Schengen travel insurance remains one of the most scrutinised documents in a visa application. Online tools like HelloSafe allow travellers to compare insurance policies that meet official Schengen requirements and adapt coverage to their travel profile.

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Can you renew or get a longer Schengen visa depending on the visa type?

Renewal possibilities and visa duration upgrades depend largely on the type of visa previously held and, more importantly, on how it was used. While Schengen visas cannot be “renewed” from inside the Schengen area, past compliance plays a decisive role in future applications, especially for Type C short-stay visas.

Renewal logic for Type C visas

When assessing a new application, consulates systematically review the applicant’s visa track record. The following factors strongly influence whether a longer validity or a multiple-entry visa may be granted:

• Clean travel history: entries and exits respected, no irregular stays
• No overstays: even minor overstays can significantly reduce future chances
• Proper use of previous visas: travel purpose consistent with what was declared
• Valid travel insurance: compliant coverage for each stay, meeting Schengen requirements

Applicants who demonstrate reliability over time are statistically more likely to receive visas with longer validity and greater flexibility.

Multiple-entry visa cascade system

EU rules provide for a progressive system — often referred to as the “visa cascade” — allowing travellers to obtain longer multiple-entry visas based on past compliance.

It is important to note that even with a 1-, 2- or 5-year multiple-entry visa, the 90 days within any 180-day period rule always applies. Longer validity does not increase the number of days allowed, but it significantly simplifies travel for frequent visitors by reducing repeated applications.

For travellers aiming to move up this ladder, consistency, transparency and administrative compliance remain the key drivers of success.

What are the most common mistakes when choosing a Schengen visa type?

Choosing the wrong Schengen visa type is one of the main reasons applications are refused or future visas become harder to obtain. These mistakes are extremely common worldwide and often result from misunderstandings rather than intentional non-compliance.

Here are the most frequent errors identified by consulates and repeatedly mentioned by applicants:

❌ Applying for the wrong visa type: For example, requesting a short-stay Type C visa when the trip clearly falls under long-stay study, work or residence rules (Type D).
❌ Confusing visa validity with duration of stay: Assuming that a visa valid for 6 months or 1 year allows staying continuously for that entire period, instead of respecting the 90/180 rule.
❌ Assuming a multiple-entry visa allows longer stays: A MULT visa only increases entry flexibility. It does not extend the total number of days allowed in the Schengen area.
❌ Inadequate or non-compliant travel insurance: Submitting insurance with insufficient coverage, wrong geographical scope, or dates that do not fully match the planned stay.
❌ Inconsistent travel purpose or itinerary: Mixing tourism, business and family visits without clear explanations, or applying to the wrong consulate based on the main destination rule.

Avoiding these mistakes significantly improves approval chances and helps build a clean visa history, which is a key factor for renewals and longer-validity Schengen visas in the future.

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