Can I use my Schengen visa to travel to non-EU countries?
Did you know a Schengen visa can be used to enter and remain in certain non-EU countries as a replacement for their national visas?
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa which allows its holder to enter, freely travel within and leave the Schengen zone from any of the 26 Schengen member countries. Obtaining a Schengen visa is the best way for visa-required nationals to travel across multiple countries on a single permit.
Besides the 28 Schengen member countries, a Schengen visa can also be used to gain entry to the following list of countries: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia and Turkey.
Despite the fact that these countries are not members of the Schengen Area, they do allow foreign citizens from other countries to enter and remain in their countries only if they present a valid Schengen visa with double or multiple entry.
However, each country has slightly different rules and permissions in place to determine how long visitors can stay. Below, we set out the requirements for each country.
Albania
Foreigners can enter, pass, and remain in Albanian territory without an Albanian visa if they have a valid, multiple-entry short-stay Schengen visa previously used in one of the Schengen states. The maximum permitted period of stay is 90 days in any 180-day period.
Antigua and Barbuda
Third country nationals wishing to enter, transit and conduct short-stays in the territory of Antigua and Barbuda may do so if they have a valid Schengen visa. However, a single entry tourist visa-on-arrival for a stay of up to 30 days will be issued on arrival at the border.
Belarus
Nationals of El Salvador, Honduras, and China who wish to enter, transit, or conduct short-stays in the Republic of Belarus may do so without a Belarus visa if they have a valid Schengen Visa.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Foreigners with a multiple-entry Schengen visa can remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 15 days per entry, for a total of 180 days, if the visa has already been used in one of the Schengen Area countries.
Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria has implemented a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas to enter, transit, and remain in the country since 31 January 2012. This group of foreigners is entitled to stay for up to 90 days in any six-month period.
Colombia
The below listed nationals are able to remain in Colombia for a maximum of 90 days if they hold a visa or permit issued by a Schengen country:
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Macau
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Schengen visa holders must ensure that their visa is valid for at least 180 days from the date of their arrival in Colombia.
Croatia
Since 22 July 2014, the Republic of Croatia has allowed all foreigners holding a valid Schengen visa to enter, transit and remain in its territory without having to have an additional Croatian visa. A maximum of 90 days can be spent in any six-month period.
Cyprus
Foreigners who have a valid Schengen visa (type C, double or multiple-entry) and wish to enter, transit, or remain in Cyprus are exempt from obtaining a Cypriot visa. This group of foreigners is only permitted to stay for a maximum of three months in any six-month period.
Georgia
Persons holding a visa from a Schengen country are not required to have a Georgian visa to enter, transit, or remain in Georgia. The permitted duration of stay for such group of foreigners is 90 days in any 180-day period.
Gibraltar
Moroccan, Chinese, Mongolian, Indian, or Russian nationals with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa can enter, transit, and remain in Gibraltar without a separate Gibraltar Visa. The maximum permitted length of stay is 21 days.
Kosovo
Foreigners with a valid Schengen multi-entry visa are exempt from obtaining a Kosovo visa to enter, transit, or remain in the Republic of Kosovo for up to 15 days within a six-month period.
Mexico
If you have a valid and unexpired Schengen visa, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourism, business or transit purposes. Individuals in this group must display their passports as well as their current and unexpired visas. Both documents must be valid for the duration of your visit to Mexico.
Montenegro
Foreigners with a valid Schengen visa are not required to show a Montenegrin visa in order to enter, transit, or remain on the territory of the Republic of Montenegro. This category allows a limit of 30 days of stay upon each entry over a 180-day period.
North Macedonia
Foreigners with a short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) are among those who can enter, transit, and stay in North Macedonia without a national entry visa. The permitted duration of stay in this case is 15 days upon every entry per period of 180 days.
Romania
Foreigners with a valid Schengen visa (type C, double or multiple entry) can enter, pass via, and remain in Romania for a limited period of time without having to show a national Romanian visa. The permitted stay cannot exceed 90 days in a six-month period, however the visa must be used in the Schengen region first.
Sao Tome and Principe
Foreigners who have a valid Schengen visa can enter, transit, and remain in Sao Tome and Principe’s territory without having to show that they have a Sao Tome and Principe visa. This group of foreigners is entitled to stay for up to 15 days within a six-month period.
Serbia
Since 30 October 2014, the Republic of Serbia has agreed to allow foreigners who have a valid Schengen visa to enter, pass, and remain in its territory without a Serbian visa. The maximum amount of time you are permitted to stay is 90 days in any six-month period.
Turkey
Nationals of the following countries who hold a valid Schengen visa will be able to enter, transit and perform short-stays in Turkey:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
They should first obtain a single-entry Turkish e-Visa with a one-month validity period.
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