Can I travel to other Schengen countries with single-entry visa? If you have been issued a single entry visa, we are sure you would like to know whether it is possible to travel to more than one country with the same visa. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is The Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area or Zone is a geographical location compromising most of Europe with the exception of Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, and the Republic of Ireland. Twenty-seven countries in Schengen Europe operate an open border policy that allows citizens from any of the countries to freely enter and exit any nation in the union without a visa.
The policy also allows visitors with Schengen visas issued by one member nation to enter another nation since Schengen visas are universally recognized by all 27 countries in the zone. When applying for a Schengen visa, travelers are advised to apply to the embassy or consulate of their primary destination country.
Schengen Visa Types
There are two types of Schengen visas in terms of how many times they can be used. The single-entry visa type can only be used once, so once you enter the zone with it, you cannot use it again. As for the multiple entry visa, you can use it several times before it expires.
Can I Travel To Other Schengen Countries With Single-Entry Visa?
One can visit several Schengen countries with a single entry visa as long as they do not leave Schengen area in between. For example, one can travel from Lebanon to Germany, continue to Finland, take a day trip to Estonia and fly home with a SINGLE ENTRY visa.
How To Visit Multiple Schengen Countries?
To visit multiple Schengen countries, you will need a multiple-entry visa, not a single-entry visa. With a multiple-entry visa, you are free to visit and stay in several other countries for 90 days. The length of a visa depends on the issuing country as well as the purpose and the need for the visa. In Finland we grant single entry visas for the length of the trip + 15 days, unless the person has extensive previous Schengen history and believable grounds for a longer multiple entry visa.
Schengen Visa Rules
Here are some Schengen rules to bear in mind
First Point Of Call: Always adhere to the first point when traveling to the Schengen Area.
The first point of call or entry is the issuing country. One should apply a visa according to their main destination (the one they plan to spend most time in) but they can enter Schengen in any other country as well. For instance, if your visa was issued by France, but you plan to travel to Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Latvia, you must visit France before traveling to other countries. Once your visa is stamped in France or any other country which is your first port of call, you can then travel to other destinations.
Don’t Overstay: Don’t overstay beyond the 90 days or 180-day expiry, as that will be an immigration offense with severe consequences. You can stay in one or more countries for a combined 90 days, not 90 days in each country.
Provide Valid Information: Provide valid information, including a complete trip itinerary. Resist the temptation to give conflicting or partially accurate information. If caught, your application may be rejected, or you may be denied entry at the border or airport even if you have a visa.
Obey The Laws: Always obey the laws in your host country at all times during your stay. Despite having a common heritage and immigration laws, nations have independent and unique laws that citizens and visitors must obey. Take your time to study the culture of the country you wish to visit and adapt once you are within their borders.
Don’t Work: Unless you have been issued a Schengen work Visa for a particular country, do not engage in any paid work during your short stay, as this would be a violation. Only foreigners with work visas are allowed to work.
Schengen Visa Documents
Completed visa application form
Valid passport
Two recent passport
Travel Itinerary
Cover letter
Medical Travel Insurance
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of Financial Means
Application Fee
Schengen Visa Application Fee
All applicants must pay a processing fee when submitting their visa application form and documents. This fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee that the visa will be issued to you. The standard fee is €80 for 12-80-year-old applicants and €40 for 6-11-year-olds. Applicants older or younger than these age brackets are exempted from paying the fee.
Visa Processing Time
It takes about 15 calendar days to process a Schengen visa application, but in exceptional cases, yours may take longer. Consider submitting your application at least four weeks before the day you hope to travel.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries with single-entry visa? No, you may not. Only a multiple-entry visa allows you to do this.