Explanation about the Schengen visa sticker
Once the visa has been granted and you have received your passport back, it is important to carefully check the visa sticker.
The Schengen visa sticker is a sticker affixed to the passport that indicates that the passport holder is in possession of a valid Schengen visa. The Schengen visa is a temporary residence permit that grants permission for a short stay in the countries of the Schengen Area.
Check the visa sticker for these points:
- Is the visa valid in all 26 Member States?
- Are the dates correct: 'valid from to' and the number of days requested?
- Is the number of border crossings correct (1, 2 or multiple entries)?
- Are the personal data correct?
If you see an error, you must immediately contact the consular affairs department of the Dutch embassy in your country, so that they can correct it in time.
For a short stay, the letter C is entered in the “VISA TYPE” section. The validity period of the visa is calculated as follows: date of departure + 12 months.
The stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
According to point 4 of Annex VII to the Visa Code, a multiple-entry C visa valid for 6 months to 5 years entitles the holder to a stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. In this example, the visa is valid for 1 year.
In this example, the holder is entitled to multiple entries into the territory of the Member States. Therefore, “MULT” is entered in the “NUMBER OF ENTRIES” section. A uniform visa is valid for all Member States. Therefore, “Schengen States” is entered in the “VALID FOR” section.
Schengen Visitor Insurance OOM
Do you need travel insurance for a visa application? The Schengen Visitor insurance from OOM Verzekeringen is the best choice! This Dutch insurer from Rijswijk specializes in Schengen insurance.
The Schengen Visitor insurance offers visa guarantee (if the visa is refused, you get the premium back) and extensive coverage up to €500.000. With a low premium starting at €1,60 per day, it is a reliable and affordable choice. You can take out the insurance online immediately, and you will receive the policy within an hour.
✔ Meets all requirements for a Schengen visa application with ease.
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✔ The policy by email within 1 hour (iDEAL, credit card or PayPal).
✔ Also for persons over 70 years of age
✔ Coverage for medical expenses up to a maximum of €500.000
✔ VISA GUARANTEE: If your Schengen visa is rejected, you will receive a refund of the premium.
✔ Liability coverage can optionally be included.
The Schengen Visitor insurance is the best choice for a successful Schengen visa application!
Would you prefer to receive the policy in English? Click here: Calculate premium and finalize.
More information about OOM's Schengen insurance:
- Coverage overview Schengen Visitor Insurance
- Policy conditions Schengen Visitor Insurance
- Schengen Visitor Insurance Insurance Card
What information is on a Schengen visa sticker?
A visa sticker contains information that is important to the foreign guest, such as when he/she can enter the Schengen area and when to leave again. Below is an explanation.
Valid for
'Valid for' states for which countries the visa is valid. The visa in the example is valid for all Schengen states. This means that the holder of this visa can travel to all countries in the Schengen area.
View the countries in the Schengen area
Was the visa issued by another Schengen country? Then the information behind 'Valid for' will be in the language of that country.
Country codes
Are there any country codes in parentheses after the "Valid for" information, for example (-SE, ES, LI, MT)? Then the visa is valid for all Schengen states, except for those countries. You cannot travel to those countries with your visa. On the website of the European Union you will find an overview of all country codes of countries in the European Union.
View the country codes of countries in the European Union
Only valid for the Netherlands
Does 'Valid for' state only the Netherlands? And does 'Visa type' state D? Then you have a long-stay visa . With this visa, you may live in the Netherlands, but not in other countries of the Schengen Area. You may travel from the Netherlands to other countries in the Schengen Area, as long as your visa is valid.
'From' and 'until'
'From' and 'until' state how long your Schengen visa is valid.
- 'From': the first day on which you are allowed to enter the Schengen area
- Until': the last day on which you must leave the Schengen area
Duration of stay
'Duration of stay' states how long you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period stated under 'from' and 'until'.
The holder of the visa in the example is allowed to stay for 90 days.
Type of visa
At 'Type' you will find what kind of visa you have. That can be:
The visa in the example is a C visa.
Passport No.
At 'Passport no.' is the number of the passport in which your visa is pasted.
Passport expired
Is the passport in which your visa is no longer valid? Then bring the following documents with you to the Netherlands:
- your new passport
- the visa in your expired passport (the visa must be legible and not damaged)
Second Passport
Do you have a second passport? Take the passport with your visa on a trip to the Netherlands. Your visa only applies to the passport in which your visa is stuck, not to your other passport.
amount of entries
The 'Number of entries' states how often you are allowed to travel to the Netherlands and other Schengen countries:
- '1': With this single entry visa you may travel 1 time from a country outside the Schengen area to the Netherlands or other Schengen countries.
- 'MULT': With a valid multiple entry visa you may travel more than once from a country outside the Schengen area to the Netherlands or other Schengen countries. Please note that you cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 1 days in any 180-day period. It does not matter whether you stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in a row, or spread over several trips.
- 'X': With this airport transit visa you can transfer at an airport in the Netherlands. You are not allowed to enter the Netherlands. This means that you are not allowed through passport control and that you are not allowed to leave the international transit zone, because you will then cross the border to the Netherlands.
The number of entries of the example visa is MULT.
View the differences between a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa.
View the countries in the Schengen area
Issued at / on
At 'Issued in' you will find the location where the visa was issued. At 'On' is the date on which the visa was issued.
Name first Name
At 'Name, first name' you will find your last name and your first name.
Visa number
Your visa number is located at the top right of the visa sticker.
The visa number of the example visa is a series of zeros.
Comments
Under 'Remarks' you will find codes that the Schengen countries use among themselves. Such as a code of the location where you applied for the visa.
the below QR codes
Do you have a Schengen visa type A, C or D? Sometimes your visa has a QR code. With this code, the border control can check the authenticity of your visa.
The code contains the same information as on your visa. The code therefore has no influence on the journey you can make with your visa.
Decision about your visa
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides, based on your travel plans, when, for how long, and for how many trips your visa is valid. In making this decision, the Ministry adheres to European rules.
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