Traveling to Europe- Important Things to Know
Are you planning to travel to Europe? Or, do you intend to make a trip across the European countries? Then you should familiarize yourself with the Schengen Agreement’s requirements. This agreement refers to a treaty that created the Schengen Area in Europe. This area comprises of 26 countries in Europe that do not have internal border checks for business travelers, short term tourists and transits to non-Schengen destinations. The assumption of most Schengen countries is that travelers stay for the allowed 3 months of the visa-free visit. It’s therefore recommended that you consider your passport and visa status and condition carefully.
Passport
Make sure that your passport has a validity of at least six months before you travel. Therefore, check the visa expiration date especially kids passports that have a validity period of five years. Also have a passport when traveling from one country to another within the Schengen area. Remember that though there may be no border checks, officials can reinstate them without notice.
If you have a passport that does not meet Schengen requirements, there will be unpleasant consequences. For instance, the authority might not allow you to board the airline at your origin point or when transferring planes. You may also not be allowed entry upon your arrival in a Schengen area country no matter how long you intend to stay.
The immigration officials in this area determine whether travelers qualify to enter when they cross external borders in Schengen areas after presenting their passports. Thus, these officials are allowed to bar unqualified travelers.
Visa
If you stay in the Schengen area for three months during the allowed six-month period, you should wait for another 3 months from your last departure date from this area before you apply to enter this area again without a visa. If you don’t meet these conditions or when you intend to stay in this area longer than 3 months, talk to your embassy about the place where you intend to spend much of your time then apply for another visa.
Countries in the Schengen area can reinstate temporary external and internal border control without issuing an advance notice. It’s therefore important that you carry a passport every time you travel to or from as well as within this area.