Travelling within the Schengen Area with a residence permit or visa

Last update: 11 March 2024

You want to travel within the Schengen Area. Find out which countries belong to the Schengen Area and with which document you are allowed to travel within it. Also find out how long you are allowed to travel within the Schengen Area with that document.

Schengen countries

The Netherlands is part of the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area consists of different European countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area consists of the following countries:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark (without the Faeroes and Greenland)
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (without French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, RĂ©union)
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway (without Spitsbergen)
  • Poland
  • Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira)
  • Slovenia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands)
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not Schengen countries.

Map of Schengen Area

Documents required to travel within the Schengen Area

Do you want to travel within the Schengen Area? Then you need specific documents. Find out with which document you are allowed to travel within the Schengen Area and how long you are allowed to travel with that document.

Passport or other travel document always required

You always need a passport or other travel document for a journey abroad. This is also the case for a journey within the Schengen Area. Your passport or travel document must not have been issued more than 10 years ago. The passport or other travel document must also be valid for at least another 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area.

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  • Travellers with the nationality of a Schengen country

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  • Travellers with residence permits

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  • Travellers with a provisional residence permit (mvv)

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  • Other travellers

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