Schengen visa: Refers to a visa issued in accordance with the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement is named after Schengen, Luxembourg, where it was signed, and it establishes a unified visa policy for member states. A Schengen visa is a mandatory visa for visiting Schengen countries.
Under this agreement, a visa issued by any Schengen member state is considered valid in all other member states without the need for an additional visa. Countries that implement this agreement are commonly referred to as "Schengen countries."
Schengen visas come in various forms: visas for visiting family and friends, short-term tourist visas, and business visas, etc. Depending on the duration and frequency, they can also be classified as single-entry or multiple-entry visas, and short-term or long-term visas.
Which countries are Schengen countries?
Currently, 22 European countries are Schengen members, along with four additional countries: Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland. Although they are not members of the European Union, they are within the Schengen Area.
Among the European Union member states, the six countries that remain outside the Schengen Area are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia.
Important Notes
For travelers planning to visit multiple Schengen countries, it is advisable to consult the relevant embassy or consulate of the destination country in China regarding their entry and exit policies in advance. If there are any changes to your itinerary or purpose of travel, it is best to promptly determine whether this will affect your entry into the destination country to avoid the complications of being denied entry after departure.