Interpreting a Schengen Visa Correctly: What Does Each Item Mean?

Traveling to Europe can be jeopardized even if you already have a Schengen visa in your passport.

Upon receiving the long-awaited permission to enter the Schengen area, the first thing you should do is thoroughly check all the details. Pay special attention to the validity period of the document, the accuracy of your passport information, and your photograph (you cannot rule out the possibility that a stamp might have the picture of another applicant who equally dreams of visiting Europe). It is also important to ensure that all data is clearly printed, as corrections and handwritten notes are strictly unacceptable. If you catch an error in time, there is a chance the consulate can correct it within a few hours.

Tips for Interpreting a Schengen Visa

The permissions and restrictions implied by a Schengen visa can be deciphered from the printed sections on the visa sticker:

Schengen Visa Number

In the top right corner of the affixed sticker, there is a unique number, which can be either numeric (usually consisting of 9 digits) or alphanumeric. Below the number, the alphabetical code of the country whose consulate issued the entry permit is specified. The visa number may be required when filling out documents upon entering certain countries.

“Valid for” field

If your visa bears the mark “SCHENGEN STATES” (which may be in any language depending on the issuing country), it means that the visa grants the right to travel across all Schengen Agreement countries.

The LTV mark (“Limited Territorial Visa”) indicates that the visa allows travel to only one country. In this case, the abbreviation of the country you are allowed to enter will also be indicated on the visa.

In some cases, you may see the mark “SCHENGEN STATES (-NL)” (where you can see the abbreviation of any country). This means you can travel throughout the Schengen area except for the specified country.

“From – until” field (validity period of the Schengen visa)

From – the date from which you are officially permitted to enter the Schengen zone;
Until – the date by which you must officially leave the Schengen zone.

“Number of Entries” field

The numbers indicated on the sticker (01 or 02) grant the right to 1 or 2 entries.

The abbreviation MULT means you have been issued a multiple-entry visa, allowing unlimited visits to the Schengen area without quantitative limits. It’s important to note that if the validity period of the visa has not expired, but the number of entries is exhausted, the visa ceases to be valid.

“Duration of Stay” field

The duration of stay in the permitted territory is indicated in days and is always marked with two digits (if the number of days is less than 10, a 0 precedes the number).

The maximum possible value in this field is 90.

“Type of Visa” field

Depending on the purpose of your trip, one of three types of visas is issued: A, C, or D.

Visa type “A” (transit visa) is issued if you are traveling with a layover that requires a change of airport or terminal.

Visa type “C” is issued if you plan to enter the Schengen area for a short period (up to 90 days within six months). It can be single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry.

Visa type “D” is necessary if you intend to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days (up to one year).

In addition to these details, the visa always indicates the city where it was issued, the applicant’s passport number, and his surname and first name. There is also a “Remarks” section on the stamp, which usually contains internal notes for visa service officers, including information on potential restrictions.

According to the statistics, the total number of Schengen visa applications exceeded 10.3 million in 2023. However, not everyone who received a stamp in their passport managed to visit Europe: 17% of visas contained errors.

To avoid such a situation, you need to carefully check your visa immediately after receiving your documents. Even better, apply for a Schengen visa with The Visa Services, gaining assistance from qualified specialists who can guarantee a trip to Europe becomes real just a few weeks after applying!

FAQ:

What should I do if my visa is issued without a stamp?

The consulate stamp is a crucial detail, without which the visa will be considered invalid. You should report the error immediately and request it to be corrected

If an error in the visa is made by the consulate, can consulate staff quickly correct it?

Yes, but only if you check the documents immediately and report the error. If too much time passes, the process of reissuing the visa might be significantly delayed