Most people think that a Schengen visa is only for the Schengen zone. Of course, it is, but many non-Schengen countries are also offering VISA-FREE entry for Schengen visa holders.
Apart from the 29 Schengen countries, there are about 52 non-Schengen countries across Europe, Americas and Asia that you can travel VISA-FREE with a Schengen visa.
That’s a whopping 81 VISA-FREE countries for one visa.
Unlike US or Canada visas, Schengen visas are not usually long-term visas. But if you travel to the Schengen area frequently, your subsequent Schengen visas can be longer.
The longest allowed validity for a Schengen visa is 5 years. So if you strategize well, you can get a 5-year visa and add 81 additional VISA-FREE countries to your passport.
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Why do non-Schengen countries accept Schengen visas?
There are several reasons why non-Schengen countries accept Schengen visas.
Reason 1: Countries aspiring to join the Schengen zone
Countries aspiring to join the Schengen zone usually honor Schengen visas. For example, Bulgaria and Romania accepted Schengen visas even before joining Schengen. They joined the Schengen Zone and became official Schengen countries in 2025.
Similarly, Cyprus and Montenegro plan to join the Schengen Zone at some point, and therefore, they will accept Schengen visas.
Reason 2: Countries trust the Schengen visa screening process
Schengen Visa is considered one of the most “difficult” visas to get. The refusal rate is quite high, making the applicant screening process near perfect.
Schengen visa applicants are usually screened thoroughly for their strong ties with their home countries. Countries simply trust the Schengen visa application screening.
Reason 2: Countries that lack infrastructure, technology or resources
Countries may not have the required infrastructure, technology or resources to screen applicants as thoroughly as a Schengen visa.
Building a robust system and having qualified visa officers as good as Schengen requires significant investment.
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What Schengen visas are eligible?
Depending on the country, any of the below Schengen visas can be used.
- Short-term C-Type Schengen visa (tourism/business)
- Long-term D-Type Schengen visa (study/work)
- Transit A-Type Schengen visa (transit)
Refer to each country below for permitted Schengen visa types. Some countries require the Schengen visa to be multiple-entry and have been used at least once to travel to the Schengen area.
A Schengen residence permit is also accepted by many countries. There is a separate article on that topic. Refer to the VISA-FREE countries for Schengen residence permit for details.
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Schengen Zone (29 countries)
Schengen visa is a unified visa offering access to the entire Schengen zone. The Schengen zone consists of 29 countries. With a Schengen visa you can travel to all of these 29 Schengen countries.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
It doesn’t matter which country approved your Schengen visa, you can freely travel to all of the above 29 countries without any restrictions. But keep in mind that you are only allowed a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Zone.
Now, let’s look at the non-Schengen countries that you can travel VISA-FREE with your Schengen visa.
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Europe
30. Albania
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except for Iranian nationals; Albania cut its diplomatic ties with Iran over cyber attacks)
- Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must have been used to enter the visa-issuing country
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania
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31. Andorra
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid USED double/multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements:
- Andorra doesn’t require any visa, but entry/exit to Andorra is only through Spain or France which requires a Schengen visa
- Schengen visa must be multiple-entry or at least double-entry as the entry/exit to Andorra is only through the Schengen zone
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Andorra
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32. Armenia
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Solomon Islands
- Suriname
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 21 or 120 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Armenia e-Visa (needed for Egypt, India and Iraq passport holders)
- VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
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33. Belarus
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Egypt
- Gambia
- Haiti
- India
- Iran
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Namibia
- Pakistan
- Samoa
- South Africa
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must have been used to enter the visa-issuing country
- Must arrive and depart from the following airports only – Minsk National Airport, Airport Brest, Airport Gomel, Airport Grodno, Airport Mogilev and Airport Vitebsk.
- Must not arrive or transit through Russia
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
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34. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities, except Kosovo
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (click on “Decision on Visas – Amendments – 73_17” link)
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35. Cyprus
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities, except Azerbaijan and Turkey
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused double/multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type and D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
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36. Georgia
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
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37. Gibraltar (British Territory)
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Permitted visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 21 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must have been used to enter the visa-issuing country
- Schengen visa must be valid for at least 7 days beyond the period of stay
- Official source: Gibraltar Borders & Coastguards Agency
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38. Kosovo
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 15 days
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo
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39. Moldova
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- China
- Comoros
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Kuwait
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Nauru
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Thailand
- Togo
- Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen Visa must be valid for the intended period of stay
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova
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40. Monaco
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid USED double/multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements:
- Monaco doesn’t require any visa, but entry/exit to Monaco is only through France which requires a Schengen visa
- Schengen visa must be multiple-entry or at least double-entry as the entry/exit to Monaco is only through the Schengen zone
- Official source: Government of Principality of Monaco
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41. Montenegro
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay
- Official source: Government of Montenegro
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42. North Macedonia
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 15 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months in any 6 months period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia
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43. San Marino
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid USED double/multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: San Marino has no border controls, but entry/exit to San Marino is only through Italy which requires a Schengen visa
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of San Marino
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44. Serbia
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
- Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
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45. Turkey
- Eligible nationalities: Following 19 nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Algeria (those aged 15-18 and 35-65)
- Bangladesh
- Cape Verde
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- India
- Iraq (those aged 15-50)
- Libya (those aged 16-45)
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Sri Lanka
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa online
- E-Visa fee is 43 USD, validity is 180 days, and single-entry only
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
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46. United Kingdom
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen D-Type visas only (Short stay C-Type visas are not eligible)
- Duration of stay: 24 hours only (Transit Without Visa)
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to request a 24-hour entry at London (LHR) or Manchester (MAN) airports
- Must be traveling to or from the visa-issuing Schengen country only
- Must arrive and depart by air only
- Must hold the boarding pass for the onward flight
- Onward flight must be within 24 hours (on the same day or the next day before midnight)
- Granting the 24-hour entry is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer
- Official source: GOV.UK
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47. Vatican City
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 1 day (there are no accommodation facilities for tourists in Vatican City)
- Additional requirements: Vatican City doesn’t require any visa, but entry/exit to Vatican City is only through Italy which requires a Schengen Visa
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
RELATED: 55 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2025
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Middle East
48. Bahrain
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 14 days or 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Bahrain eVisa
- Single-entry VOA fee is 5 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
- Multiple-entry VOA fee is 12 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 1 month
- Single-entry eVisa fee is 10 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
- Multiple-entry eVisa fee is 17 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 1 month
- Official source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
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49. Jordan
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem. Rep. Of
- Congo, Rep. of
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lao
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Uganda
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Jordan e-Visa
- Official source: Jordan E-Visa Portal
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50. Oman
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bhutan
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- India
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Peru
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 10 or 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
- 26M eVIsa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- 26N eVIsa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
- Official source: Foreign Ministry of Oman
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51. Qatar
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for A3 Visa online on the Hayya portal
- A3 Visa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- Must provide hotel booking for the entire stay reserved through the Discover Qatar website
- Schengen visa must be valid on the day of the A3 Visa application
- Official source: Qatar Tourist Board
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52. Saudi Arabia
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type and D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Saudi Arabia eVisa
- VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, multiple-entry (plus service fee and insurance fee)
- Schengen visa must have been USED to enter the visa-issuing country
- Official source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority
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53. United Arab Emirates
- Eligible nationalities: Indian passport holders only
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused long-term multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 14 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain UAE Visa on Arrival at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi airports
- VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
- Schengen visas must be long-term visas such as 1, 2 or 5 year with at least 6 months validity remaining on the day of arrival
- Official source: UAE Government Portal
RELATED: 41 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Canada visa in 2025
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Africa
54. Egypt
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports
- VOA fee is 25 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- Schengen visa must have been used to enter the visa-issuing country
- Official source: Egypt Tourism Department
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55. Morocco
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities, except Iran, Palestine and Syria
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa
- E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
- Schengen visa must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal
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56. Sao Tome and Principe
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 15 days
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
RELATED: 40 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa in 2025
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Asia
57. Kyrgyzstan
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused LONG-TERM multiple-entry Schengen visas issued for at least 3+ years
- Duration of stay: 7 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must be a long-term visa issued for 3 or more years. Schengen visas issued for less than 3 years are not accepted.
- After entering Kyrgyzstan this way, you can only reenter Kyrgyzstan again after 21 days.
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan
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58. Philippines
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days (India) or 7 days (China)
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure
- Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India
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59. Singapore
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas that allow entry into Germany or Switzerland, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 96 hours (4 days)
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Singapore Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
- Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
- Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
- The visa must be valid for at least 1 month at the time of arrival
- Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
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60. South Korea
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except the following 23 nationalities – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Must be traveling to/from the visa-issuing country through South Korea
- If there is a transit or stop-over before South Korea, it cannot be more than 3 days
- Official source: South Korea Embassy in Washington DC, USA
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61. Taiwan
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Cambodia
- Colombia
- India
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid/expired used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 14 days (TAC) or 30 days (eVisa)
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is EXEMPT but must apply for Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) online or Taiwan e-Visa (Colombia passport holders only) before arrival
- TAC is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
- eVisa is 1,600 TWD, valid for 3 months, single-entry only
- For TAC, if using an EXPIRED Schengen visa, the visa must have expired in the last 10 years only
- For eVisa, Schengen visa must be valid
- Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
RELATED: 17 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with an Australian visa in 2025
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North America
62. Mexico
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: Up to 180 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico
- Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico
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Central America
63. Belize
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bosnia Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem. Rep. of
- Congo, Rep. of
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Official source: Ministry of Immigration of Belize
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64. Costa Rica
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas – C-Type and D-Type only
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for at least 1 day from the day of arrival
- Official source: Directorate General of Migration and Immigration (click on “Directriz General de Visas.pdf” link and refer to “QUINTO: EXCEPCIONES PARA GRUPOS DE INGRESO CON VISA CONSULAR O VISA RESTRINGIDA.” section in the PDF)
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65. El Salvador
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenade
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Additional requirements:
- If entering by air, a fee of 12 USD will be charged for a tourist card
- If you have already entered Guatemala or Honduras, you can enter El Salvador from Guatemala or Honduras by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador
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66. Guatemala
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d´Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenade
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauricio
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Additional requirements:
- If you have already entered Honduras or El Salvador, you can enter Guatemala from Honduras or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement.
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala
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67. Honduras
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Macau
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days total in the entire CA-4 zone (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua)
- Additional requirements: If you have already entered Guatemala or El Salvador, you can enter Honduras from Guatemala or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement.
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
—
68. Nicaragua
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- India
- Iraq
- Kenya
- Laos
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Timor-Leste
- Yemen
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
- VOA fee is 50 USD, payable in USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- Besides the VOA fee, there is a 10 USD entry fee, a 2 USD land border migration fee (for land border only) and 1 USD municipality tax (for land border only) (payable in USD only)
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
—
69. Panama
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Schengen visas, except those issued by non-EU countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Schengen visa must have been used at least once to enter the visa-issuing country
- Schengen visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
- Official source: Embassy of Panama in the USA
RELATED: 16 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with Japan visa or PR in 2025
***
Caribbean
70. Antigua and Barbuda
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements:
- Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
- VOA fee is 100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
- Schengen visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda
—
71. Aruba
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for the period of intended stay
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
—
72. Bahamas
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- India
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas
—
73. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas – C-Type and D-Type only
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
—
74. Cuba
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas, except those issued by non-EU countries – Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein (C-Type and D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: Must hold the Tourist card (Tarjeta del Turista), which can be obtained from
- Cuban Embassies and Consulates
- Authorized Airlines at the time of check-in
- Travel Agencies specialized in Cuba tours
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
—
75. Curaçao
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type and D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
—
76. Dominican Republic
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Additional requirements: If arriving by land or sea, must pay a departure tax of 20 USD before departing. If arriving by air, the departure tax is included in the airfare.
- Official source: Ministry of Tourism of Dominican Republic
—
77. Haiti
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Panama
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: A tourist fee of 10 USD must be paid on arrival at the airport
- Official source: IATA Travel Centre
—
78. Jamaica
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Albania
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Dominican Republic
- Honduras
- Kazakhstan
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Romania
- Serbia
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 30 days
- Official source: Immigration Department of Jamaica
—
79. Sint Maarten
- Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas (C-Type or D-Type only)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Official source: Netherlands Worldwide
RELATED: 5 ways to get proof of onward travel for your next trip
***
South America
80. Colombia
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Macau
- Myanmar
- Nicaragua
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Schengen visas, except transit (A-Type)
- Duration of stay: 90 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for at least 180 days from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
—
81. Peru
- Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
- China
- India
- Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Schengen visas
- Duration of stay: 180 days
- Additional requirements: Schengen visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
- Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru
***
Change history
| Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2025 | Countries updated: (1) Moldova (eligible nationalities list shrunk from 56 countries to 30) |
| 05 Jun 2025 | Countries updated: (1) Philippines (duration of stay for Indians increased from 14 to 30 days) |
| 18 Feb 2025 | NOTE: This article is becoming too large to maintain, so I created a separate article for Schengen Resident Permit. Refer to this article for VISA-FREE countries for Schengen residence permit holders. Countries added: Sao Tome and Principe (official source available) Countries removed: Bulgaria (joined Schengen), Romania (joined Schengen), Thailand (Thai eVisa is now available to all) Countries updated: Belize (updated eligible countries), Costa Rica (accepts Schengen C-Type), El Salvador (updated eligible countries, Armenia (removed Indonesia from eligible countries, added eVisa countries), Moldova (added Bahrain to eligible countries), Turkey (removed North Korea and Seychelles from eligible countries), Oman (updated eligible countries), Morocco (added eligible countries exceptions), Philippines (added China to eligible countries) |
| 22 Mar 2024 | Countries added: UK, UAE and Kyrgyzstan Countries removed: Cuba (due to lack of proper official sources in 2024) Countries updated: Requirements for several countries have been updated for 2024 |
***
There you have it! 81 countries and territories you can travel with a Schengen visa, updated for 2025.
Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) where you can travel VISA-FREE with a Schengen visa? Let me know in the comments below.
Credits: Maps are made with mapchart.net
75 VISA-FREE countries for Schengen residence permit (2025)
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Sapitri says
I just want to thank you so much for this article. As an Indonesian living in one EU country temporarily, I’ve been looking for this information! I understand I still need to check and recheck with the respective embassy because policies may change from time to time, but this gives me an idea of where to go on vacation rather than checking one by one.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Sapitri! Thanks! I try to keep it updated but yeah please check with the authorities before booking your travel.
SUSHILA says
How many countries (other than 26 Schengen) can an Indian passport holder travel to if he is holding Schengen visa type D or Type C?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Sushila! All the 50 countries and territories I have listed in the article. India is not listed for countries such as Haiti and Jamaica but Indian passport holders are VISA-FREE for those countries. Indian do not need a Schengen visa for those two countries.
Abdul Rehman says
I am having valid Schengen visitor visa multi-entry and a Pakistani Passport. I want to check if being a Pakistani national, I am eligible for a visa on arrival for Armenia based on my Schengen visa.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Abdul! Unfortunately, Pakistani passport holders are not eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival to Armenia. You would need to apply for a visa at the Armenian embassy or consulate.
ELSAEID HISSAIN says
Hi Thirumal, new update Morocco has launched e-visa for Schengen visa holders. Also, Egypt no need a visa if you have a valid Schengen visa.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Elsaeid! Fantastic news! Thanks for letting us know! I will update the articles to reflect this new info. Thanks again!
Peter Sathish says
Hi Thirumal, hope all is well, fantastic stumble on your blog via google. well done indeed.
Quick one on visiting other countries on valid Schengen? I am in the process of applying for a tourist multi. I am planning on going to Mexico via Netherlands/Paris. There is a new online portal where we have to fill out the application form. They are asking if I am going outside the Schengen region during this trip. Should I avoid mentioning this, as the requirement for applying is to stay in the Schengen area the longest not just transit? Also any recommendation for Traveller insurances with CFAR valid within India? I want to be able to modify the destination after getting the visa? TIA.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Peter! In order to keep the application simple, just say that you are not going outside the Schengen region on this trip. Once you have the visa, you can figure out whether you want to travel only to Schengen or Schengen and Mexico or any other combination.
For Schengen, I have previously used VisitorsCoverage. They have insurance specifically for Schengen visas since Schengen insurance must be of certain value with zero deductible. The insurance is valid for the Schengen region only. I use SafetyWing these days as my primary insurance and you can change the destination on the policy as many times as you want, but it’s not zero deductible though. Check out both and see whichever works for your needs.
Siaka says
Hello there, thanks for the time you had in giving us this information for free. Thanks again. My question is, I am a Ghanaian living in Spain and I have got a 2yrs temporary residency car. I want to know if I can go to Mexico or Guatemala without a visa and what are the requirements needed? I will be having my vacation soon and I want to travel to Central and maybe South America for a week or 2 and come back. Also, can you kindly update me on the fact that I can go to Belize without a visa with my Ghanaian passport? I saw it’s visa-free but also heard some are not allowed entry. Hope you understand and will be glad to hear from you soon. Thanks!
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Siaka! Unfortunately, none of those countries you have mentioned offer entry to Ghanaian passport holders with Schengen residence permits.
Mexico: No. Mexico only allows permanent residence permits. Since your’s is a temporary residence permit, Mexico will not offer visa-free entry.
Guatemala: No. Ghanian passport holders are not eligible to enter Guatemala visa-free using a Schengen residence permit.
Belize: No. Only Schengen visas are allowed, not residence permits unfortunately.
The only country in Latin America that would allow temporary residence permits is Panama.
Marius says
When you enter for example Cyprus with a Schengen visa, do they give you their own visa and can stay longer than the Schengen visa is valid or do all the visas will have only the length of the original Schengen visa?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Marius! Each country will give a certain amount of days to stay. This can be longer than the length of your original Schengen visa. Your Schengen visa must just be valid at the time of entry.
Sam Nguyen says
I am a greek permanent resident. Can I travel visa-free to those countries?
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Sam! Yes. Greece is part of Schengen zone and it would be considered a “residence permit from a Schengen country”.
Jonny says
No, it does not. I am a permanent resident of Switzerland (Schengen) and still needed a visa for Colombia and Mexico. The embassy staff told me they only accept Schengen visas but not residence permits (at least not the 1-year type that I have).
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Jonny! Mexico has changed its visa policy and now they only accept permanent residence permits. Colombia still accepts regular residence permits.
Ashraf says
Hi brother, I have a Schengen visa single entry so I can visit Mexico. Please tell me if Mexican immigration allows Schengen single visas or multiple visas.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Ashraf! Unfortunately, the Schengen visa must be multiple-entry in order to enter Mexico.
Gabriel says
Hi, I’m a Syrian citizen living in Sweden. However, I was wondering which countries I can visit visa-free for touristic purposes. I’m very interested to know Morocco visa policies in my case.
Thirumal Motati says
Hi Gabriel! If you hold a Swedish residence permit, you can travel to all those countries that accept a residence permit from any Schengen/EU country. Look up countries that say “A valid residence permit from any Schengen country”.
Syrian passport holders require a visa for Morocco. But a Morocco visa is quite easy to obtain. You can apply for a Morocco visa at the embassy of Morocco in Sweden.
saheed says
I am a Gambian with a valid Schengen visa. Do I need a visa to go to Russia?
Thirumal says
Hi Saheed! You cannot use your Schengen visa to enter Russia. You require a visa from Russia.
Mickey says
Hi Thirumal –
I think you should do an article about Georgia – the internet is full of stories of Indian travellers being deported back from Tbilisi Airport even with valid visas.
Regards!
Thirumal says
Hi Mickey! For sure, I will do an article on that. But in my opinion, this is due to a few exploiting the liberal visa requirements of Georgia. The result is the price we all (genuine travelers) have to pay. Because of this, the immigration officials have become extremely strict and started scrutizing every traveler for any potential illegal immigration intent.
Mickey says
Hi – for Macedonia –
You can enter and exit the country only from or to another Schengen country. The visa ‘C’ must be validated before you enter and you have to fly back to a Schengen country only – This from TripAdvisor
Some other countries like Bulgaria and Romania also have a similar condition – visa must be validated.
Thirumal – my Question to you is can you check regarding Romania and Bulgaria? Do you have to fly in and out of a Schengen country only when you are using the ‘C’ multiple entry?
Thirumal says
Hi Mickey! The Macedonia ministry of foreign affairs website does not mention anything about using the Schengen visa first to enter a Schengen country. Macedonia is not part of EU or Schengen and therefore it may not be necessary to use the Schengen visa first to enter a Schengen country. Can you share the link to the TripAdvisor discussion? Let me check.
Bulgaria and Romania are in the process to join Schengen. They are technically in the Schengen zone but cannot issue Schengen visas yet. That means you will have to get a Schengen visa from any of the 26 current Schengen countries. And the requirement for a Schengen visa is to enter the visa issuing country first before entering any other country. So, it’s wise to enter the Schengen country that issued the visa before entering Bulgaria or Romania. You don’t have to fly in and out of Schengen country but using the visa first would be better. That is why both Bulgaria and Romania ask for a double or multiple-entry visa with at least one entry still exiting on the visa.
Ishaque says
Hello Thirumal, can I apply for Schengen multiple visa on a fresh Pakistani ordinary passport?
Thirumal says
Hi Ishaque! Yes, you can. If you have an old passport with visas or stamps, make sure to submit a copy of that to show your travel history.
Tarek says
I have a single-entry Schengen visa for the duration of a week. Can I use that to enter Serbia without taking a separate Serbian visa?
Thirumal says
Hi Tarek! I cannot give you a confirmed answer since your visa is valid for only one week and that too single-entry. Most countries on this list require a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa.
If you have already used your visa to enter Schengen zone, then it’s not valid anymore since your visa is single-entry only. But if you haven’t used it, then you may be able to use it for Serbia. I suggest contacting your nearest Serbia embassy to confirm.
Meh says
Hi! Do I have to enter a Schengen country first that issued the visa before entering Macedonia? I’ve contacted the Embassy and they said I don’t have to as long as it’s valid multiple entry type c and valid at least 5 days after my planned stay. I checked IATA and there’s no mention of using the Schengen visa once to enter Macedonia. But anyone experienced traveling first to Macedonia with a Schengen visa and not having problems? Thanks!
Thirumal says
Hi Meh! Your Schengen visa can be “unused” to enter Macedonia. As long as your Schengen visa is type C and valid at least 5 days beyond your stay in Macedonia, you are fine. I don’t have first-hand experience using my Schengen visa to enter Macedonia. So, I will let other readers with similar experiences chime in and share their experience. You can also ask your question on the Visa Travel Support Facebook Group. There are quite a few travelers on the group who have been to Macedonia using different visas.
Sanjay Dhar says
I entered North Macedonia on an Indian passport with a French Schengen Visa without entering France yet. However, I entered Finland with the Schengen Visa first but departed Poland to enter Romania where immigration check in both airports were done. By bus from Romania to Bulgaria with no Romanian exit check but only Bulgarian entry check and stamp. The officer goes to each seat on the bus, collect the passport and after stamping return it to the driver. Then again one exit check and entry check and stamp when crossing from Bulgaria to North Macedonia. This information is valid as on 12/01/2020. Thanks.
Thirumal says
Hi Sanjay! Thanks for sharing your personal experience and valuable information. This will be very helpful to all of our readers. Thanks again!
kanthiranga says
I have a temporary residence permit in Serbia. Can I visit Schengen countries without visa?
Thirumal says
Hi Kanthiranga! No. Serbia is not part of the Schengen zone. Therefore, you cannot use your Serbia visa/residence permit to enter Schengen countries. You REQUIRE a Schengen visa.