Explanation about the Schengen visa sticker
When it visum has been awarded and you passport received back, it is important to check the visa sticker carefully.
The Schengen visa sticker is a sticker that is placed in the passport and indicates that the holder of the passport is in possession of a valid Schengen visa. The Schengen visa is a temporary residence permit that gives permission for a short stay in the countries of the Schengen zone.
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 section “TYPE OF VISA”. 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 on the territory of the Member States. That is why “MULT” is entered in the “NUMBER OF ENTRIES” section. A uniform visa is valid for all member states. Therefore, in the section “VALID FOR” “Schengen States” is entered.
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
Is 'Valid for' only the Netherlands? And does 'Type of visa' state D? Then you have one long stay visa. This visa allows you to 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.
Check out the differences between a single entry visa en multiple entry visa
View the countries in it 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.
QR code
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
Based on your travel plans, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides when, for how long and for how much you travel visa valid is. The ministry adheres to European rules when making its decision.
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