ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Visa policy of the Schengen Area

The Schengen area is a group of countries in Europe that have agreed to make it easier for people to travel between them. To travel to these countries, you usually need a special document called a visa. A visa is like a passport sticker that allows you to enter a specific country for a certain period of time.

But the Schengen area is different! Once you have a visa from one Schengen country, you can travel to any other Schengen country without needing another visa. It's like having a special ticket that lets you visit lots of countries without buying separate tickets for each one.

So let's say you are going on a vacation and want to visit France, Italy, and Germany. If you have a visa from one Schengen country, like France, you can enter France and then travel freely to Italy and Germany without needing any more visas. It's like having a magic pass to travel around multiple countries!

But here's the important part: you need to apply for a Schengen visa before your trip. This means you need to go to the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you want to visit first (let's say France) and fill out some forms. You might need to show them your passport, photos, and provide information about your travel plans like where you will stay and how long you will be there.

Once France approves your visa application, they will give you a special visa sticker in your passport. This visa will have certain rules, like how long you are allowed to stay in France (for example, 30 days). But remember, with this visa, you can also visit other Schengen countries like Italy and Germany during that time!

Just remember, the Schengen area is a group of countries that have made it easier to travel between them. With a Schengen visa from one country, you can visit other Schengen countries without needing another visa. But you need to apply for the visa before your trip and follow the rules of the country that issued the visa. Happy travels!