Moving between countries

Schengen visa is like tickets to another EU countries.The rules that apply to enter or stay in another EU country will depend on what type of visa or residence permit you have, how much time you plan to spend in the other EU country and the rules that apply there. 

If you are a non-EU citizen already staying in one EU country, you may be able to go to another EU country. This applies to any kind of stay.

Short-term visit – less than 90 days

If you have entered an EU country with a Schengen visa, you can travel throughout the Schengen area for as long as your visa is valid, and for a maximum of 90 days during an 180 day period. You will not need a separate visa for each Schengen area country and you will not need to show your passport at each internal border.

The borderless Schengen area includes 22 EU countries, excluding Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK. If you wish to travel to one of these six countries for a short stay, you must get a separate national visa. If you wish to travel from one of these six countries to the Schengen area, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Long-term stay – more than 90 days

When you stay in an EU country for a long stay, it means, for more than 90 days, you will generally be issued with a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit.

If your long-stay visa or residence permit has been issued by a Schengen area country, you can travel to another Schengen area country for 90 days per 180 day period. You must:

• justify the purpose of your stay;
• have sufficient financial resources for your stay and travel back;
• not be considered a threat to public policy, public security or public health.

You can also pass through other Schengen area countries on the way to your host country.

To move from one EU country to another for more than 90 days, you will need a long-stay visa or a residence permit for that country. If you wish to work, study or join your family in the second country, you may have to fulfil more conditions.

Certain categories of non-EU residence permit holders, and their family members, may be able to move more easily from their EU country of residence to another EU country, where both countries have adopted applicable EU rules.