How to Read a Schengen Visa Sticker and Number?

If you’ve received a Schengen visa, it will be in the form of a visa sticker placed in your passport. This sticker contains essential information in English, French, and German, which you need to understand for smooth travel within the Schengen area.

Knowing how to interpret your visa sticker is crucial as it contains vital details about where you can travel, the validity of your visa, and other key data.

Schengen Visa Number

Located in the top right corner of the visa sticker, this number is your unique Schengen Visa number.

Countries You Can Enter

Your Schengen visa specifies the countries you are allowed to visit. You’ll see the phrases VALID FOR, VALABLE POUR, or GÜLTIG FÜR followed by the countries or regions your visa permits entry into.

• If your visa says ETATS SCHENGEN or SCHENGEN STATES, it means the visa is valid in all Schengen Area countries, allowing travel throughout the entire zone.
• If the visa lists initials like A, B, CH, CZE, D, DK, E, EST, etc., it indicates the specific countries you can enter. For example, “S, M, N, NL, SK, PL” would mean you are allowed to visit Sweden, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Poland.
• If the visa says ETATS SCHENGEN (-country initial), your visa is valid for all Schengen countries except the one listed after the dash. For instance, ETATS SCHENGEN (-SK) means you cannot enter Slovakia.
• If only one country is listed, such as France, your visa is valid only for that specific country, and you cannot travel to other Schengen states.

Validity Dates

You’ll see labels like FROM/DU/VOM (the start date) and UNTIL/AU/BIS (the end date). These indicate when your visa is valid and the dates between which you must enter and leave the Schengen Area.

Number of Entries

The NUMBER OF ENTRIES, NOMBRE D’ENTREES, or ANZAHL DER EINREISEN field tells you how many times you are allowed to enter the Schengen Area with this visa.

• MULT means unlimited entries during the visa’s validity period.
• 1 means a single entry only.
• 2 allows for two entries.

Duration of Stay

The DURATION OF STAY, DUREE DE SEJOUR, or DAUER DES AUFENTHALTS indicates the maximum number of days you can stay in the Schengen Area during each visit. This will be displayed next to the words DAYS, JOURS, or TAGE.

Visa Type

Your visa type is identified under TYPE OF VISA, TYPE DE VISA, or VISA TYP. Common types include:

• Type A: Airport transit visa (does not allow you to leave the airport’s international zone).
• Type C: Short-stay visa, allowing stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• Type D: Long-term visa for stays exceeding 90 days.

Issue Details

• ISSUED IN/DELIVRE A/SUGESTELLT IN refers to the city where the embassy or consulate issued your visa.
• ON/LE/AM is the date your visa was issued.

Passport and Personal Information

• NUMBER OF PASSPORT, NUMERO DE PASSEPORT, or NUMMER DES PASSES shows your passport number.
• SURNAME, NAME, NOM, PRENOM, or NAME, VORNAME lists your surname and first name.

Remarks

Under REMARKS, REMARQUES, or BEMERKUNGEN, you’ll find the reason for your visit, such as tourism, work, or medical purposes.

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