Common Consular Instructions on visas for the diplomatic missions and consular posts
Date: 2003-12-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU visa policy, Schengen Agreement, consulate, diplomatic representation, harmonisation of standards

19.12.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

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I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COMMON CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS ON VISAS FOR THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND
CONSULAR POSTS

(2003/C 310/01)

CONTENTS

I.

General provisions

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1.

Scope

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2. Definition and types of visa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.1. Uniform visas

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2.1.1. Airport transit visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.1.2. Transit visas

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2.1.3. Short-term or travel visas. Multiple entry visas

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2.1.4. Group visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.2.

Long-term visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.3. Visas with limited territorial validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.4. Visas issued at the border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.5. Documents having the same value as a visa, authorising the crossing of external borders:

FTD/FRTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II.

Diplomatic mission or consular post responsible

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1. Determining the State responsible

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1.1.

State responsible for deciding on an application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.2.

State representing the State responsible

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2. Visa applications requiring consultation with the national central authority or the authority of one or

more other Contracting Parties in accordance with Article 17(2)

2.1. Consultation with the national central authority

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2.2. Consultation with the central authority of one or more Contracting Parties

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2.3. Consultation procedure in the framework of representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Visa applications lodged by non-residents

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4. Authorisation to issue uniform visas

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III.

Receipt of the application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. Visa application forms. Number of application forms

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2. Documents to be enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Guarantees of means of return and means of subsistence

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4.

Personal interviews with the applicant

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IV.

Legal basis

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V.

Examination of applications and decisions taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Basic criteria for examining applications

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1.

Examination of visa applications

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1.1. Verification of the visa application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.2. Verification of the applicant's identity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.3. Verification of the travel document

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1.4. Verification of other documents depending on the application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

— supporting documents regarding the purpose of the journey

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— supporting documents regarding means of transport and return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

— supporting documents regarding means of subsistence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

— supporting documents regarding accommodation

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— other documents which may be required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.5. Assessment of the applicant's good faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Decision-making procedure for visa applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.1. Choice of type of visa and number of entries

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2.2. Administrative responsibility of the intervening authority

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2.3.

Procedure to be followed in cases requiring prior consultation with the central authorities of
the other Contracting Parties

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(a) procedure

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(b) transmission of applications to the national central authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) information transmitted to the central authority

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(d) transmission of applications between central authorities

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(e) deadline for replies: Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f) decision based on the outcome of the consultation

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(g) transmission of specific documents

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2.4. Refusal to examine an application, to issue a visa

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3. Visas with limited territorial validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VI. How to fill in visa stickers

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1. Common entries section (section 8)

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1.1.

‘VALID FOR' heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.2.

‘FROM … TO' heading

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1.3.

‘NUMBER OF ENTRIES' heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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1.4.

‘DURATION OF VISIT … DAYS' heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.5.

‘ISSUED IN … ON' … heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.6.

‘PASSPORT NUMBER' heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.7.

‘TYPE OF VISA' heading

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1.8.

‘NAME AND FIRST NAME' heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. National entries section (comments) (section 9)

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3.

4.

Section for the photograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section to be electronically scanned (section 5)

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5. Other aspects relating to the issue of visas

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5.1.

Signing visas

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5.2.

Invalidating completed visa-stickers

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5.3. Affixing visa-stickers to passports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.4.

Passports and travel documents to which uniform visas may be affixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.5.

Stamp of the issuing diplomatic mission or consular post

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VII. Administrative management and organisation

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1. Organisation of visa departments

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2.

Filing

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3. Visa registers

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4.

Fees to be charged for the issue of visas

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VIII. Consular cooperation at local level

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1. Outline of consular cooperation at local level

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2. How to avoid multiple applications or applications which are lodged after a recent refusal to issue . .

3. Assessment of the applicant's good faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.

Exchange of statistics

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5. Visa applications processed by private administrative agencies, travel agencies and tour operators

. . .

5.1. Types of intermediary

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5.2. Harmonisation of cooperation with private administrative agencies, travel agencies, tour

operators and their retailers

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ANNEXES TO THE COMMON CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS ON VISAS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

— Joint list of third countries whose citizens are required to have a visa by Member States bound by
amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/02001 and
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Regulation (EC) No 539/2001,
Regulation (EC) No 453/2003

as

— Joint list of third countries whose citizens are exempted from the visa requirement by Member States
bound by Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/02001 and
Regulation (EC) No 453/2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regulations governing the movement of holders of diplomatic, official and service passports and holders
. . . .
of laissez-passers issued by certain International Intergovernmental Organisations to their officials

List of States whose nationals are subject to the airport transit visa requirement, where holders of travel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
documents issued by these States are also subject to this visa requirement

List of documents entitling holders to entry without a visa

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List of visa applications requiring prior consultation with the central authorities, in accordance with
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Article 17(2).

List of honorary consuls authorised, in exceptional cases and on a temporary basis, to issue uniform
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
visas

Reference amounts determined annually by the national authorities for the crossing of borders

. . . . . .

Uniform format for visa-stickers and information on their technical specifications and security features

Entries to be written, where appropriate, by the Contracting Parties in the ‘comments' section . . . . . . .

10.

Instructions on writing entries in the section to be electronically scanned

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11.

Criteria for determining whether a travel document may bear a visa

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12.

Fees to be charged, in euro, corresponding to the administrative costs of processing the visa application

13.

Guidelines on how to fill in visa stickers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14.

15.

Rules and procedures governing information to be sent by Contracting Parties when visas with limited
territorial validity are issued, when the period of validity of uniform visas is cancelled, revoked or
reduced, when national residence permits are issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Specimen harmonised forms providing proof of invitation, sponsorship and accommodation drafted by
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the Contracting Parties

16.

Specimen harmonised uniform visa application form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17.

Facilitated transit document (FTD) and facilitated rail transit document (FRTD)

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COMMON CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS

on visas for the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Contracting Parties to the
Schengen Convention

SUBJECT: Conditions governing the issue of uniform visas, valid for the territory of all the Contracting Parties

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.

Scope

transit or entry conditions have been met. Mere
possession of a uniform visa does not confer automatic
right of entry.

The following common provisions, which are based on
the provisions of Chapter 3 (sections 1 and 2) of the
Convention applying the Schengen Agreement of 14
June 1985 between the Governments of the States of
the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of
Germany and the French Republic on the gradual
abolition of
common borders
(hereinafter referred to as the Convention) signed in
Schengen on 19 June 1990, and which Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Greece and Austria have since acceded to,
apply to the examination of visa applications for a visit
not exceeding three months,
including transit visas,
valid for the territory of all the Contracting Parties (1).

checks

their

at

Visas for visits exceeding three months remain subject
to national procedures and only authorise the holder
to stay in the one national territory. Nevertheless, such
visas shall enable their holders to transit through the
territories of the other Contracting Parties in order to
the Contracting Party which
reach the territory of
issued the visa, unless they fail
the entry
to fulfil
conditions referred to in Article 5(1)(a), (d) and (e) or
they are on the national list of alerts of the Contracting
Party through whose territory they seek to transit.

2.1.1. Airport transit visas

This visa entitles aliens who are required to have such
a visa to pass through the international transit area of
airports without actually entering the national territory
of
the country concerned, during a stop-over or
transfer between two stages of an international flight.
The requirement to have this visa is an exception to
the general right to transit without a visa through the
abovementioned international transit area.

Nationals from the countries listed in Annex 3 and
persons who are not necessarily nationals of
those
countries but who possess travel documents issued by
their authorities are required to possess this type of
visa.

Exceptions to the airport transit visa requirement are
laid down in Section III of Annex 3.

2.

Definition and types of visa

2.1.2. Transit visas

2.1.

Uniform visas

Uniform visas are the authorisation or decision granted
in the form of a sticker affixed by a Contracting Party
to a passport,
travel document or other document
which entitles the holder to cross the border. It enables
aliens
to present
themselves at the external border of the Contracting
Party which issued the visa or
that of another
Contracting Party and request, depending on the type
of visa, transit or residence, provided that the other

to the visa requirement

subject

This visa entitles aliens who are travelling from one
Third State to another Third State to pass through the
territories of the Contracting Parties.

This visa may be issued for one, two or exceptionally
several transits, provided that the duration in each case
does not exceed five days.

2.1.3. Short-stay or travel visas: multiple-entry visas

(1) Pursuant to Article 138 of the Convention, these provisions shall
only apply to the European territory of the French Republic and
the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

the
This visa entitles aliens who seek to enter
territories of the Contracting Parties, for reasons other

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than immigration, to pay a continuous visit or several
visits, the duration of which does not exceed three
months in any half-year from the date of first entry. As
a general rule,
this visa may be issued for one or
several entries.

several Schengen States,

In the case of aliens who need to travel frequently to
for example on
one or
business, short-stay visas may be issued for several
visits, provided that the total length of these visits does
not exceed three months in any half-year. This multiple
entry visa may be valid for one year,
and in
for more than a year for certain
exceptional cases,
categories of persons (see part V(2), (2.1)).

2.1.4. Group visas

This is a transit visa or a visa limited to a maximum of
30 days, which may be affixed to a group passport,
except where national
legislation provides otherwise,
issued to a group of aliens formed prior to the decision
to travel, provided that
the group
enter the territory, stay there and leave the territory as
a group.

the members of

Group visas may be issued to groups of between five
and 50 people. The person in charge of the group shall
possess an individual passport and, where necessary, an
individual visa.

By way of derogation from the foregoing, group transit
visas may be issued to seamen in accordance with the
provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 415/2003 of
27 February 2003 on the issue of visas at the border,
including the issue of
to seamen in
transit (1).

such visas

2.2.

Long-stay visas

for visits exceeding three months

Visas
shall be
national visas issued by one of the Member States in
accordance with its national legislation.

However, such visas shall, for a period of not more
than three months from their initial date of validity, be
valid concurrently as uniform short-stay visas, provided
that they were issued in accordance with the common
conditions and criteria adopted under or pursuant to
the relevant provisions of Chapter 3, section I of the
aforementioned Convention and their holders fulfil the
entry conditions referred to in Article 5(1)(a), (c), (d)
and (e) of the Convention and contained in Part IV of
these Instructions. Otherwise, such visas shall enable
their holders merely to transit through the territories
of the other Contracting Parties in order to reach the
territory of the Member State which issued the visa,
unless the holders do not fulfil the entry conditions
referred to in Article 5(1)(a), (d) and (e) or are on the
national
list of alerts of the Member State through
whose territory they seek to transit.

2.3.

Visas with limited territorial validity

This visa is affixed in exceptional cases to a passport,
travel document or other document which entitles the
holder to cross the border, where the visit is authorised
only in the national
territory of one or more
Contracting Parties, provided that both entry and exit
are through the territory of this or these Contracting
Parties (see point V(3) of these Instructions).

2.4.

Visas issued at the border (2)

2.5.

Documents having the same value as a visa, authorising the
crossing of external borders: FTD/FRTD

For facilitated transit, an FTD or an FRTD can be
issued in accordance with Council Regulation (EC)
No 693/2003 (3) and (EC) No 694/2003 (4)
(see
Annex 17).

(1) OJ L 64, 7.3.2003, p. 1.

(2) In exceptional cases, short-stay or transit visas may be issued at the
border, pursuant to the conditions defined in part II, point 5 of the
Common Manual on external borders.

(3) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 8.
(4) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 15.

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II. DIPLOMATIC MISSION OR CONSULAR POST RESPONSIBLE

Aliens who are subject to the visa requirement (see Annex 1),
and who seek to enter the territory of a Contracting Party, are
obliged to apply to the visa section in the diplomatic mission
or consular post responsible.

subject to the consent of the person concerned
— the responsibility is transferred to the first
Contracting Party of destination or of transit
which requires a visa,

1.

Determining the State responsible

1.1.

State responsible for deciding on an application

following

The
applications for short-stay or transit uniform visas:

responsible

are

for

examining

(a) — the Contracting Party in whose territory the
sole or main destination of the visit is situated.
transit
circumstances may
Under
Contracting Party be considered the country of
main destination.

no

a

The diplomatic mission or consular post with
which the application is lodged shall decide, on
a case-by-case basis, which is the Contracting
Party of main destination, bearing in mind, in
its assessment, all the facts and, in particular,
the purpose of the visit, the route and duration
of visit or visits. When assessing these factors,
the mission or post will focus mainly on the
supporting
the
applicant,

documents

submitted

by

— it shall focus, in particular, on the main reason
for or the purpose of the visit when one or
more destinations are the direct result of or
additional to another destination,

— it shall focus, in particular on the longest visit
when no destination is the direct result or
to another destination; where the
additional
visits are of equal
length, the first destination
will be the determining factor;

(c)

— the examination of applications and the issue
of visas with limited territorial validity (limited
to the territory of one Contracting Party or to
the territory of the Benelux States) shall be the
responsibility of
the Contracting Party or
Parties concerned.

1.2.

State representing the State responsible

(a)

If the State responsible has no diplomatic mission or
in a given country, the uniform visa
consular post
may be issued by the mission or post of
the
Contracting Party which represents the interests of
the State responsible. The visa is issued on behalf
of the Contracting Party that is being represented,
to its prior authorisation, and where
subject
necessary,
central
the Benelux States has a
authorities.
mission or post, it shall automatically represent the
other Benelux States.

consultation
If one of

between

the

(b) If

and

the State responsible has a diplomatic mission or
consular post in the capital city of a country, but not in
the area where the application is lodged, and if one or
more of the other Contracting Parties do have a
mission or post there, the visa may, in exceptional
are
cases
geographically very large, be issued by another
State
Contracting
responsible, provided that
specific
agreement on representation between the two
Contracting Parties concerned and such action is in
accordance with the terms of the said agreement.

representing
there

countries which

the
is a

Party

only

in

it shall

in any event be for

In accordance with the provisions contained in (a)
and (b),
the visa
applicant to decide whether to contact either the
diplomatic mission or the consular post which is
representing the State responsible or that of the
State responsible.

(b) — the Contracting Party of first entry, when the
Contracting Party of main destination cannot
be determined.

first entry shall be the
Contracting Party of
State whose external border
the applicant
crosses in order to enter the Schengen area
after having had his/her documents checked,

(d) The subgroup on visas shall draft a summary of the
adopted rules on representation which it shall
update regularly.

for

in
(e) The procedure
non-member
all
Schengen States are represented shall be based on
the following principles:

issuing Schengen visas
in which

countries

not

— when the Contracting Party of first entry does
not require a visa, it is not obliged to issue a
visa and — unless it issues the visa voluntarily,

— the rules on representation shall apply to the
processing of applications for uniform airport

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transit visas, transit visas and short-stay visas
issued pursuant
to the Schengen Convention
and in accordance with the Common Consular
Instructions. The representing State is obliged
to comply with the provisions of the Common
Consular Instructions as quickly as it issues its
own visas of the same category and with the
same period of validity,

— except where expressly provided in bilateral
agreements,
the rules on representation shall
not apply to visas issued for the purpose of
paid employment or an activity which requires
prior permission from the State in which it is
to be carried out. The applicant must contact
the accredited consular post of the State where
the activity is to be carried out,

that

they are

— the Schengen States shall not be obliged to
ensure
represented for visa
purposes in every non-member country. They
may decide
in certain non-member
countries visa applications or applications for a
particular kind of visa must be made at a
permanent consular post or diplomatic mission
the applicant's main
of
destination,

the State that

that

is

— the diplomatic missions and consular posts
shall bear full responsibility for assessing the
risk of
visa
application is lodged,

immigration when a

illegal

— the

shall

States

represented

assume
responsibility for asylum applications made by
holders of a visa which has been issued by
representing States on their behalf and which
states that it has been issued in the framework
of representation,

represented State

— in exceptional cases, bilateral agreements may
stipulate that visa applications from certain
categories of aliens are either to be submitted
by the representing State to the authorities of
the
in which the main
destination is located or to be forwarded to a
permanent
that
State. The categories in question must be laid
each
down in writing
diplomatic mission or consular post). It shall
therefore be assumed that the visa has been
issued on the authorisation of the represented
State pursuant
the
Schengen Convention,

to Article 30(1) of

representation of

(if necessary

consular

for

in

the

visas

issued

framework

level concerning asylum applications
national
lodged within a set period of time by holders
of
of
representation and other information relevant
to the issue of visas. Based on the outcome, it
may also be decided to waive the rules on
representation for certain diplomatic missions
and consular posts (and possibly for certain
nationalities),

— representation shall apply solely to the issue of
visas. Aliens who are unable to apply for a visa
because they cannot
furnish sufficient proof
that they fulfil the relevant conditions must be
informed that they can apply for a visa at a
permanent consular post or diplomatic mission
of
the Schengen State in which their main
destination lies,

— the rules on representation may be refined by
extension of the consultation network resulting
development
from software
enables
that
diplomatic missions
and
posts
consular
undertaking
the
central authorities of the represented State in a
simple fashion,

representation to consult

countries

— the list containing rules on representation with
in
regard to the issue of Schengen visas
non-member
all
in which not
represented shall be
Schengen States
annexed to this document. The Central Group
shall take note of the amendments made to it
by agreement between the Schengen States
concerned.

are

2.

Visa applications requiring consultation with the
national central authority or the authority of one
or more other Contracting Parties in accordance
with Article 17(2)

2.1.

Consultation with the national central authority

The diplomatic mission or
consular post which
examines the application shall seek authorisation from
its central authority, consult it or inform it of
the
decision it plans
to take in accordance with the
arrangements and time limits laid down by national
law and practice. Cases requiring internal consultation
are listed in Annex 5A.

2.2.

Consultation with the central authority of one or more
Contracting Parties

— bilateral agreements may be amended in the
course of time in the light of decisions taken at

the consular post with
The diplomatic mission or
which an application is lodged shall seek authorisation

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for its part, shall
from its central authority, which,
forward the application to the competent central
authorities of one or more other Contracting Parties
list of cases of
(see part V(2),
(2.3)). Until the final
mutual
the
annexed to these
Executive Committee,
Common
apply
Consular
(see Annex 5B).

consultation has been approved by

list
the
Instructions

shall

(c) The current provisions of the Common Consular
Instructions on visas shall apply to the time limits,
their extension and the form of the reply.

(d) The consultation provided for in Annex 5B shall be

undertaken by the represented State.

3.

Visa applications lodged by non-residents

2.3.

Consultation procedure in the framework of representation

(a) When visa applications are lodged by nationals of
the countries listed in Annex 5C at a diplomatic
mission or consular representation of a Schengen
State representing another Schengen State,
the
represented State shall be consulted.

(b) The information exchanged in respect of these visa
applications shall be the same as that currently
exchanged in the framework of the consultation
under Annex 5B. A compulsory heading shall,
the
however, be provided on the
references to the territory of the represented State.

form for

When an application is lodged with a State which is
not the applicant's State of residence and there are
doubts concerning the person's intentions (in particular
where
illegal
there
the visa shall be issued only after
immigration),
consultation with the diplomatic mission or consular
post of the applicant's State of residence and/or its
central authority.

evidence

pointing

to

is

4.

Authorisation to issue uniform visas

Only the diplomatic mission or consular posts of the
Contracting Parties shall be entitled to issue uniform
visas, except in the cases listed in Annex 6.

III. RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION

1.

Visa application forms — number of application
forms

3.

Guarantees of means of return and means of
subsistence

Aliens shall also be required to fill in the uniform visa
form. Applications for a uniform visa must be made
using the harmonised form a specimen of which is
given in Annex 16.

At least one copy of the application form must be
filled in so that it may be used during consultation
with the central authorities. The Contracting Parties
may,
insofar as national administrative procedures so
require, request several copies of the application.

2.

Documents to be enclosed

Aliens shall enclose the following documents with the
application:

(a) a valid travel document to which a visa may be

affixed (see Annex 11);

(b) where

appropriate, documents

supporting the

purpose and the conditions of the planned visit.

Aliens must ultimately be able
the
diplomatic mission or consular post with which they
lodge their application that they have adequate means
to ensure their subsistence and their return.

to convince

4.

Personal interview with the applicant

in person in order

As a general rule, the applicant shall be called on to
to explain verbally the
appear
reasons for the application, especially where there are
doubts concerning the actual purpose of the visit or
the applicant's intention to return to the country of
departure.

This requirement may be waived in cases where the
applicant is well-known or where the distance from
the diplomatic mission or consular post is too great,
provided that there is no doubt as to the good faith of
the applicant and,
in the case of group trips, a
reputable and trustworthy body is able to vouch for
the good faith of those persons concerned.

If the information supplied is sufficient to enable
the diplomatic mission or
to
ascertain that the applicant is acting in good faith,
issuing the visas may
the staff responsible for
the
from submitting
applicant
exempt
abovementioned supporting documents.

consular post

the

Part VIII(5) contains more detailed rules on visa
applications
administrative
by
agencies, travel agencies and tour operators and their
retailers.

processed

private

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IV. LEGAL BASIS

Uniform visas may be issued only once the entry conditions laid
down in Articles 15 and 5 of the Convention have been met.
These Articles read as follows:

Article 15

it necessary to
Parties unless a Contracting Party considers
from that principle on humanitarian grounds, on
derogate
international
of national
grounds
obligations. In such cases authorisation to enter will be restricted
to the territory of the Contracting Party concerned, which must
inform the other Contracting Parties accordingly.

or because

interest

of

In principle, the visa referred to in Article 10 may be issued only
if an alien fulfils the entry conditions laid down in Article
5(1)(a), (c), (d) and (e).

These rules shall not preclude the application of special provisions
concerning the right of asylum or of the provisions laid down in
Article 18.

Article 5

1.
For stays not exceeding three months, aliens fulfilling the
following conditions may be granted entry into the territories of
the Contracting Parties:

(a)

that the aliens possess a valid document or documents, as
defined by the Executive Committee, authorising them to
cross the border;

(b)

that the aliens are in possession of a valid visa if required;

(c)

that the aliens produce, if necessary, documents justifying the
purpose and conditions of the intended stay and that they
have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the period of
the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin
into which they are
or transit to a non-member country,
certain to be admitted, or are in a position to acquire such
means lawfully;

Visas with limited territorial validity may be issued subject to the
conditions laid down in Articles 11(2), 14(1) and 16 in
conjunction with Article 5(2) (see part V(3)).

Article 11(2)

2.
Paragraph 1 shall not preclude a Contracting Party from
issuing a new visa, the validity of which is limited to its own
territory, within the half-year in question if necessary.

Article 14(1)

1.
No visa shall be affixed to a travel document if that travel
document is not valid for any of the Contracting Parties. If a
travel document is only valid for one Contracting Party or for a
number of Contracting Parties, the visa to be affixed shall be
limited to the Contracting Party or Parties in question.

(d)

that the aliens shall not be persons for whom an alert has
been issued for the purposes of refusing entry;

Article 16

(e)

that the aliens shall not be considered to be a threat to
public policy, national security or the international relations
of any of the Contracting Parties.

2.
must be refused entry into the territories of

An alien who does not fulfil all the above conditions
the Contracting

If a Contracting Party considers it necessary to derogate on one
of the grounds listed in Article 5(2) from the principle laid down
in Article 15, by issuing a visa to an alien who does not fulfil
all the entry conditions referred to in Article 5(1), the validity of
this visa shall be restricted to the territory of that Contracting
Party, which must
other Contracting Parties
accordingly.

inform the

V. EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS AND DECISIONS TAKEN

The diplomatic mission or consular post shall first check the
documents submitted (1) and shall
then base its decision
regarding the visa application on these documents (2):

relating to international relations. Depending on the country
concerned, one of these aspects may take precedence over the
other, but at no stage should any of them be lost sight of.

Basic criteria for examining applications

The main issues to be borne in mind when examining visa
applications are: the security of the Contracting Parties and the
immigration, as well as other aspects
fight against

illegal

As far as security is concerned, it is advisable to check that the
necessary controls have been carried out: a search of the entry
refusal files (alerts for the purpose of refusing entry) in the
Schengen Information System and consultation of the central
authorities of the countries subject to this procedure.

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The diplomatic mission or consular post shall assume full
responsibility for assessing whether there is an immigration
risk. The purpose of examining applications is to detect those
applicants who are seeking to immigrate to the territory of the
Contracting Parties and settle there, using tourism, studies,
business or family visits as a pretext. It is therefore necessary
to be particularly vigilant when dealing with ‘risk categories',
in other words unemployed persons, and those with no regular
income, etc. If there is any doubt concerning the authenticity
of
the
diplomatic mission or consular post shall refrain from issuing
the visa.

the papers and supporting documents

submitted,

Conversely, checks shall be reduced where the applicant
is
known to be a bona fide person, this information having been
exchanged through consular cooperation.

— Verification of the length of previous stays in the

territory of the Contracting Parties.

1.4.

Verification of other documents depending on the application

and type of

supporting documents
The number
required depend on the possible
illegal
risk of
immigration and the local situation (for example, the
convertibility of the currency) and may vary from one
country to another. As
the
supporting documents,
the diplomatic missions or
consular posts of the Contracting Parties may agree on
local
practical
circumstances.

regards evaluation of

arrangements

adapted

suit

to

1.

Examination of visa applications

1.1.

Verification of the visa application

The supporting documents shall cover the purpose of
the journey, means of transport and return, means of
subsistence and accommodation:

— The length of visit requested shall correspond to

— supporting documents regarding the purpose of

the purpose of the visit.

the journey shall mean, for example:

— The replies to the questions on the form shall be
include an
full and consistent. The form shall
identity photograph of the visa applicant and shall
indicate, as far as possible, the main destination to
which he is travelling.

1.2.

Verification of the applicant's identity and verification as to
whether an alert has been issued on the applicant in
the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purpose
of refusing entry or verification as to whether the
applicant poses any other threat (to security) which
would constitute grounds for refusal to issue the visa
or whether, from an immigration point of view, the
applicant poses a risk in that on a previous visit he/she
overstayed the authorised length of stay.

1.3.

Verification of the travel document:

— Verification as to whether the document is in order
or not: it should be complete and should not be
amended, falsified or counterfeited.

— Verification of the territorial validity of the travel
it should be valid for entry into the

document:
territory of the Contracting Parties.

— Verification of the period of validity of the travel
document:
the travel
the period of validity of
document should exceed that of the visa by three
months (Article 13(2) of the Convention).

interest or

— However, on urgent humanitarian grounds,
because

for
reasons of national
of
international obligations, visas may, in exceptional
cases, be affixed to travel documents the period of
validity of which is less than that specified in the
previous paragraph (three months), provided that
the period of validity exceeds that of the visa and
that the guarantee of return is not compromised.

— a letter of invitation,

— a summons,

— an organised trip,

— supporting

regarding means
transport and return shall mean, for example:

documents

of

— a return ticket,

— currency for petrol or car insurance,

— supporting
subsistence:

documents

regarding means

of

subsistence:

the following may be accepted as proof of means
of
currency,
travellers cheques, cheque books
for a foreign
currency account, credit cards or any other means
that guarantees funds in hard currency.

cash in convertible

subsistence

level of means of

The
shall be
proportionate to the length and purpose of the
stay, and to the cost of living in the Schengen State
reference
or States to be visited. To this end,
amounts
shall be
the crossing of borders
determined each year by the national authorities of
the Contracting Parties (see Annex 7) (1),

for

(1) These reference amounts shall be determined according to the
the Common Manual on

I of

arrangements laid down in part
external borders.

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— supporting documents regarding accommodation:

following documents,

the
accepted as proof of accommodation:

inter

alia, may be

(a) hotel reservation or reservation for a similar

establishment;

(b) documents proving the existence of a lease or a
to a

title-deed,
property situated in the country to be visited;

applicant's name,

in the

(c) Where an alien states that he/she shall stay at a
person's home or
the
diplomatic missions and consular posts shall
verify whether
actually be
the
accommodated there:

in an institution,

alien will

— either by

checking with the national
are

checks

such

authorities, where
necessary,

— or by requiring that

which

a
vouches

certificate be
presented
the
for
commitment to accommodate, in the form
of a harmonised form filled in by the
the
host/institution
by
the Contracting
competent authority of
Party, according to the provisions
laid
down in its national legislation. A model of
the form may be adopted by the Executive
Committee,

stamped

and

These checks are aimed at avoiding any invitations
of convenience, fraudulent invitations or invitations
from illegal aliens or aliens whose
is
insecure.

status

provide

documents

supporting

Applicants may be exempted from the requirement
to
regarding
accommodation before applying for a uniform visa
if they are able to prove that they have sufficient
their subsistence and
financial means to cover
accommodation costs in the Schengen State or
States that they plan to visit.

— Other documents which may be required:

— proof of place of residence and proof of ties

with the country of residence,

— parental authorisation in the case of minors,

— proof of the social and professional status of

the applicant.

Where the national laws of the Schengen States require
invitations from private individuals or for
proof of
business trips, sponsorship declarations or proof of
accommodation, a harmonised form shall be used.

1.5.

Assessment of the applicant's good faith

to assess the applicant's good faith,

In order
the
mission or post shall check whether the applicant is
recognised as a person of good faith in the framework
of local consular cooperation.

— or by requiring that a certificate or an
official or public document be presented
which vouches
to
formalised and verified in
accommodate,
accordance with the internal
the
Contracting Party concerned.

the commitment

law of

for

Furthermore,
exchanged as
Instructions.

shall

consult
they
referred to in part VIII(3) of

information
these

the

The presentation of documents relating to the
commitment to accommodate referred to in the
previous two paragraphs is not a new condition for
the issue of visas. These documents have a practical
purpose, aimed at confirming the availability of
accommodation and, where appropriate, means of
subsistence. If a Contracting Party uses this type of
document, it should always specify the identity of
the host and of the guest or guests, the address of
the accommodation, the length and purpose of the
stay, any family ties, and indicate whether the host
is residing lawfully in the country.

2.

Decision-making procedure for visa applications

2.1.

Choice of type of visa and number of entries

A uniform visa pursuant to Article 11 may be:

— a travel visa valid for one or more entries, provided
that neither the length of a continuous stay nor the
three
total
months in any half-year,
first
entry,

successive stays exceeds

from the date of

length of

After issuing the visa, the diplomatic mission or
consular post shall affix its stamp and write the
visa number on the document in order to prevent
it from being reused.

— a visa valid for one year, entitling a three month
stay during any half-year and several entries; this
visa may be issued to persons providing the
necessary guarantees and persons in whom the

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Parties have

shown a particular
Contracting
interest. In exceptional cases, a visa valid for more
than one year, but for no more than five years,
may be issued to certain categories of person for
several entries,

— a transit visa authorising its holder

to transit
through the territories of the Contracting Parties
once, twice or exceptionally several times en route
to the territory of a non-member country, provided
that no transit exceeds five days and provided that
the entry of
the
destination non-member country is guaranteed and
that
transit
the route taken normally requires
through the territories of the Contracting Parties.

the alien into the territory of

the Ministry of
consultation of a central authority,
Foreign Affairs or another body, (Article 17(2) of the
Convention), uniform visas and long-stay visas valid
concurrently
issued
according to the procedure outlined below.

short-stay

shall be

visas

as

The diplomatic mission or consular post with which an
application has been lodged by a person from one of
these categories shall
in the first instance check, by
carrying out a search in the Schengen Information
System, whether an alert has been issued on the
applicant for the purpose of refusing entry.

It shall then follow the procedure outlined below:

2.2.

Administrative responsibility of the intervening authority

(a) Procedure

The diplomatic representative or
the
consular section shall assume, in accordance with their
national powers,
full responsibility for the practical
arrangements for the issue of visas by their missions or
posts and shall consult with one another.

the head of

The diplomatic mission or consular post shall take its
decision on the basis of all the information available to
it and bearing in mind the specific situation of each
applicant.

2.3.

Procedure to be followed in cases of prior consultation with
the central authorities of the other Contracting Parties

The Contracting Parties have decided to set up a
system for the purpose of carrying out consultation
with the central authorities.
the
technical system for consultation fails, the following
measures may be applied temporarily on a case-by-case
basis:

In the event

that

— limitation of the number of cases of consultation
to those where consultation is deemed essential,

— use of

the

local network of

and
consulates of the Contracting Parties concerned in
order to channel consultation,

embassies

— use of the network of embassies of the Contracting
Parties located: (a) in the country carrying out the
consultation; and (b) in the country which is to be
consulted,

— use of conventional means of communication

between contact points: fax, telephone, etc.,

— exercise of greater vigilance

in the

common

interest.

The procedure under (b) shall not apply when the
visa applicant
in the
Schengen Information System for the purpose of
refusing entry.

is the subject of an alert

(b) Transmission of applications to the national central

authority

The diplomatic mission or consular post, with
which an application has been lodged by a person
from one of the categories subject to consultation,
shall transmit this application immediately to the
central authority in its country.

— If

the central authority decides to refuse an
application for which the Contracting Party
it
shall not be
applied to is
to
a
continue
necessary
to
central
procedure with
the
consultation
authorities of
the Contracting Parties which
asked to be consulted.

responsible,
or
begin

the State responsible,

— In the case of an application examined by the
representative of
the
central authority of the Contracting Party with
which the application has been lodged shall
transmit it to the central authority of the State
the
responsible.
represented State, or the central authority of
the representing State, where so provided in
the representation agreement, decides to reject
the visa application, it shall not be necessary to
begin or to continue a consultation procedure
with the central authorities of the Contracting
Parties which asked to be consulted.

the central authority of

If

(c)

Information transmitted to the central authority

As part of consultation with the central authorities,
the diplomatic missions or consular posts with
which an application has been lodged shall
transmit the following information to their central
authority:

In cases where
categories listed in Annex 5B which are subject

come under

applicants

the

the
to

1. diplomatic mission or

consular post with

which the application has been lodged;

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2.

surname and first names, date and place of
birth and,
the
applicant's parents;

the names of

if known,

3. nationality of the applicant(s) and,

if known,

any previous nationalities;

4.

and number of
their date of

type
submitted,
expiry;

travel
document(s)
issue and date of

5.

length and purpose of the intended stay;

6. planned dates of travel;

7.

8.

residence, profession, employer of
applicant;

the visa

references
in
from the Member
particular, any previous applications or visits to
the Signatory States;

States,

9. border which the applicant intends to cross in

order to enter Schengen territory;

10. any other names (maiden name, or where
appropriate, married name,
to
complete the identification in accordance with
the requirements under the national law of the
Contracting Parties and the national law of the
State of which the applicant is a national);

in order

11. any other information deemed necessary by the
diplomatic missions
posts,
concerning, for example, the spouse or minor
children accompanying the person concerned,
any visas previously issued to the applicant and
visa applications for the same destination.

consular

or

This information shall be taken from the visa
application form, in the order in which it appears
on the aforementioned form.

The above headings shall form the basis for the
information to be transmitted in the framework of
authorities. The
consultation between central
Contracting Party carrying out
the consultation
shall as a rule be responsible for the mode of
transmission, on the understanding that the date
and time of transmission and its receipt by the
recipient central authorities are clearly marked.

(d) Transmission of

applications

between central

authorities

The central authority of
the Contracting Party
whose mission or post has received an application
the central authority or
shall consult,

in turn,

authorities of the Contracting Party or Parties who
have asked to be consulted. To this end,
the
authorities designated by the Contracting Parties
shall be considered central authorities.

the relevant

these
After carrying out
authorities shall transmit their assessment of the
visa application to the central authority which
consulted them.

checks,

(e) Deadline for replies: extension

The central authorities consulted shall have a
maximum deadline of 7 calendar days for sending
a reply to the central authority which asked for the
consultation. The initial deadline commences at the
date on which the application is transmitted by the
central authority which has
the
consultation.

to carry out

If during the seven days one of
central authorities asks for
extended, this may be increased by seven days.

the consulted
the deadline to be

In exceptional cases, the consulted central authority
may submit a justified request for an extension of
more than seven days, stating reasons.

The authorities consulted shall ensure that
in
urgent cases, the reply is transmitted as quickly as
possible.

Where no reply is received by the end of the initial
deadline or, where appropriate, by the end of the
extended deadline, the absence of a reply shall be
the equivalent of an authorisation and shall mean
that there are, as far as the Contracting Party or
Parties consulted are concerned, no grounds for
objecting to the issue of a visa.

(f) Decision based on the outcome of the consultation

Once the initial or extended deadline has expired,
the central authority of the Contracting Party with
which the
application has been lodged may
authorise the diplomatic mission or consular post
to issue the uniform visa.

authority,

Where there is no clear decision on the part of the
central
the diplomatic mission or
consular post with which the application has been
lodged may issue the visa after a period of 14 days
has elapsed from the time at which the application
was sent by the central authority carrying out the
consultation. It is the responsibility of each central
authority to inform its missions and posts at the
start of each consultation period.

an exceptional

In cases where the central authority receives a
extension to the
for
request
deadline,
it shall notify the mission or post with
which the application has been lodged accordingly:
shall not decide on the application before
it
central
receiving
authority.

instructions

from its

clear

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(g) Transmission of specific documents

In exceptional cases, the embassy where the visa
application is lodged may, at the request of the
consular mission of the consulted State, transmit
the visa application form (with a space for a
photograph) pursuant
the
Schengen Convention.

to Article 17 of

This procedure shall apply only in cities where
there are diplomatic missions or consular posts of
both the consulting State and consulted State and
only in respect of
listed in
Annex 5B.

the nationalities

locally,

the
Under no circumstances may the reply or
request to extend the deadline for consultation be
transmitted
of
except
consultation at local level in accordance with the
current provisions of Annex 5B of the Common
the
Consular Instructions on visas.
consultation network shall be used for exchanges
between the central authorities.

In principle,

case

the

in

2.4.

Refusal to examine an application, to issue a visa

The procedure and the possible channels of appeal in
cases where the diplomatic mission or consular post of
a Contracting Party refuses to examine an application
that
issue a visa are governed by the law of
or
Contracting Party.

If a visa is refused and national law provides for the
grounds for such a refusal to be given, this must be
done on the basis of the following text:

‘Your request for a visa has been refused pursuant
to Article 15 in conjunction with Article 5 of the
Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement
of 19 June 1990 because you do not satisfy the
(indicate
conditions of Article 5(1)(a),
relevant
said Convention,
which stipulates … (quote relevant condition(s)).'

condition(s)) of

(d), (e)

the

(c),

If necessary, the above grounds may be supplemented
with more detailed information or contain other
information in accordance with the requirements in
this area laid down in the national law of the Schengen
States.

When a diplomatic or consular mission which is
forced to
representing another Schengen State is
discontinue its examination of a visa application, the
applicant should be notified thereof and informed that
he/she may go to the nearest diplomatic or consular

mission of
application.

the State

competent

to examine his

3.

Visas with limited territorial validity

A visa the validity of which is limited to the national
territory of one or several Contracting Parties may be
issued:

1.

laid

in cases where a diplomatic mission or consular
post considers it necessary to derogate from the
principle
the
Convention (Article 16) on one of
the grounds
listed in Article 5(2) (on humanitarian grounds, for
reasons
of
international obligations);

down in Article 15 of

of national

because

interest

or

2.

in cases provided for
Convention, according to which:

in Article 14 of

the

is not valid for any of

‘1.
No visa may be affixed to a travel document if
that
the
travel document
Contracting Parties. If a travel document is only valid for
one Contracting Party or for a number of Contracting
Parties, the visa to be affixed shall be limited to the
Contracting Party or Parties in question.

3.

4.

2.
If a travel document is not recognised as valid by
one or more of the Contracting Parties, an authorisation
may be issued in place of a visa.';

(on
in cases where, on account of urgency,
humanitarian grounds,
reasons of national
interest or because of international obligations), a
mission or post does not consult
the central
authorities or where this procedure gives rise to
objections;

for

in cases where a mission or post issues, out of
necessity, a new visa for a stay during the same
half-year to an applicant who, over a six-month
period, has already used a visa with a validity of
three months.

territory of one
limited to the
The validity is
Contracting Party, the Benelux or two Benelux States
for cases 1, 3 and 4 above, and to the territory of one
or several Contracting Parties,
two
Benelux States for case 2.

the Benelux or

The missions or posts of the other Contracting Parties
must be informed of cases where these visas are issued.

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VI. HOW TO FILL IN VISA-STICKERS

Annexes 8 and 13 contain the following: 8 — a description of
the sticker's security features; 13 — examples of specimen
visa-stickers that have already been filled in.

1.

Common entries section (section 8)

1.1.

‘VALID FOR' heading

This heading indicates the territory in which the visa
holder is entitled to travel.

— pursuant to Article 14 of the Convention, limited
territorial validity may cover the territory of several
in that case, according to the
Member States;
Member State codes to be entered under
this
heading, the following options are available:

(a) entry of

the codes for

the Member States

concerned;

(b) entry of

in the
the words ‘Schengen States'
language of the issuing Member State, followed
in brackets by the minus sign and the codes of
the Member States for the territories of which
the visa is not valid,

This heading may be completed in one of the following
four ways only:

— limited territorial validity may not apply to just

part of the territory of a Contracting Party.

(a) Schengen States;

1.2.

‘FROM … TO' heading

(b) Schengen State or Schengen States

to whose
territory the validity of the visa is limited (in this
case the following abbreviations are used: F for
France, D for Germany, E for Spain, GR for Greece,
P for Portugal, I for Italy, L for Luxembourg, NL for
the Netherlands, B for Belgium);

(c) Benelux;

(d) Schengen State (using the abbreviations in (b))
long-stay visa and

which issued the national
Schengen States,

— when the sticker is used to issue the uniform visa
pursuant to Articles 10 and 11 of the Convention,
or to issue a visa whose validity is not limited to
the territory of the Contracting Party which issued
the visa, the heading ‘valid for' is filled in using the
words ‘Schengen States',
the
Contracting Party which issued the visa,

in the language of

— when the sticker

is used to issue visas which
restrict entry, stay and exit to just one territory,
this heading shall be filled in,
in the national
language, with the name of the Contracting Party
to which the visa holder's entry, stay and exit are
limited,

This heading indicates the period of the holder's stay as
authorised by the visa.

The date from which the visa holder may enter the territory
for which the visa is valid is written as below, following
the word ‘FROM':

— the day is written using two digits, the first of
which is a zero if the day in question is a single
digit,

— horizontal dash,

— the month is written using two digits, the first of
which is a zero if the month in question is a single
digit,

— horizontal dash,

— the year

is written using two digits, which

correspond with the last two digits of the year,

— for example: 15–04–94 = 15 April 1994.

— when the sticker

is used to issue a national
long-stay visa valid concurrently as a uniform
short-stay visa for a maximum period of
three
months from its initial date of validity, this heading
is to be filled in with the Member State which
followed by
issued the national
‘Schengen States',

long-stay visa,

the last day of

The date of
the visa
holder's authorised stay is entered after the word ‘TO'.
The visa holder must have left the territory for which
the visa is valid by midnight on this date.

the period of

This date is written in the same way as the first date
above.

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1.3.

‘NUMBER OF ENTRIES' heading

1.6.

‘PASSPORT NUMBER' heading

This heading shows the number of
times the visa
holder may enter the territory for which the visa is
valid; in other words, it refers to the number of periods of
stay which may be spread over the entire period of validity,
see 1.4.

is written to the right-hand side of

The number of entries may be one, two or more. This
number
the
pre-printed part, using ‘01',
‘02' or the abbreviation
‘MULT', where the visa authorises more than two
entries.

For a transit visa, only one or two entries may be
authorised (‘01' or ‘02'
is entered). More than two
entries (‘MULT') shall be authorised only in exceptional
cases.

The visa shall expire when the total number of exits
made by the holder equals the number of authorised
entries, even if the holder has not used up the number
of days authorised by the visa.

1.4.

‘DURATION OF VISIT … DAYS' heading

This heading indicates the number of days during which
the holder may stay in the territory for which the visa is
valid (1). This stay may be continuous or, depending
on the number of days authorised, spread over several
periods between the dates mentioned under 1.2,
bearing in mind the number of entries authorised
under 1.3.

The number of days authorised is written in the blank
space between ‘DURATION OF VISIT' and ‘DAYS', in
the form of two digits, the first of which is a zero if
the number of days is less than 10.

The maximum number of days that can be entered
under this heading is 90 in any half-year.

This heading indicates the number of the passport to
which the visa-sticker is affixed. This number shall be
followed by a reference to the children and the spouse
accompanying the holder if their names are entered in
the passport (a letter ‘X' for children preceded by the
number thereof (for example 3X = three children) and
a letter ‘Y' for the spouse).

Where, because the holder's travel document is not
recognised, the uniform format for forms is used for
the visa, the issuing diplomatic mission or consular
post may opt to use the same form to extend the
validity of
the visa to the holder's spouse and to
accompanying minors dependent on the holder of the
form who accompany the holder or to issue separate
the holder, his spouse and each person
forms for
dependent on him, affixing the corresponding visa on
each form separately.

The passport number is the series number which is
pre-printed or perforated on all or almost all of the
pages of the passport.

The number to be entered under this heading, in the
case of a visa to be affixed to the uniform format form,
is not the passport number but the same typographical
number as appears on the form, made up of six digits,
which may be accompanied by the letter or letters
assigned to the Member State or group of Member
States which issued the visa.

1.7.

‘TYPE OF VISA' heading

In order to facilitate matters for the control authorities,
this heading shall specify the type of visa using the
letters A, B, C and D as follows:

1.5.

‘ISSUED IN … ON …' heading

A:

airport transit visa

This heading gives the name of the town in which the
diplomatic mission or consular post which is issuing
the visa is situated; in the language of the Contracting
Party issuing the visa this name is entered between ‘IN'
and ‘ON'. The date of issue is indicated after ‘ON'.

B:

transit visa

C:

short-stay visa

The date of issue is written in the same way as the date
referred to in 1.2.

D:

long-stay national visa

The authority which issued the visa may be identified
by the reference which appears in the stamp affixed to
section 4.

D+C: national

long-stay visa valid concurrently as a

short-stay visa.

(1) In the case of transit visas, the length of transit may not exceed five

days.

For visas with limited territorial validity and group
visas, the letters A, B or C shall be used as required.

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1.8.

‘SURNAME AND FIRST NAME' heading

5.

Other aspects relating to the issue of visas

The first word in the ‘surname' box followed by the
first word in the ‘first name' box of the visa holder's
passport or travel document shall be written in that
order. The diplomatic mission or consular post shall
verify that the name and first name which appear in
the passport or travel document and which are to be
entered under this heading and in the section to be
electronically scanned are the same as those appearing
in the visa application.

2.

National entries section ‘COMMENTS' (section 9)

Contrary to section 8 (joint and obligatory entries), this
section is
relating to
reserved for any comments
national provisions. Although the Contracting Parties
shall be free to include any comments which they
deem relevant, they shall be obliged to inform their
partners thereof for the purpose of interpretation (see
Annex 9).

3.

Section for the photograph

The visa-holder's photograph,
shall be
integrated in the space reserved for that purpose as
shown in Annex 8. The following rules
shall be
observed with respect
to the photograph to be
integrated into the visa sticker.

in colour,

The size of
the head from chin to crown shall be
between 70 % and 80 % of the vertical dimension of
the surface of the photograph.

The minimum resolution requirements shall be:

— 300 pixels per

inch (ppi), uncompressed,

for

scanning,

— 720 dots per inch (dpi)

for colour printing of

photos.

In the absence of a photograph, it shall be obligatory
to enter the words ‘valid without photograph' in this
section in two or three languages (the language of the
Member State issuing the visa, English and French).
in principle, be entered using a
These words shall,
printer and, exceptionally, a specific stamp, in which
case the stamp shall also cover part of the rotogravure
section whose left or right-hand side delimits the space
for integrating the photograph.

5.1.

Signing visas

In cases where the law or practice of a Contracting
Party requires a hand-written signature,
the sticker
affixed to the page of the passport shall be signed by
the competent official.

The signature is placed at the right-hand side of the
heading ‘COMMENTS'; part of
the signature should
extend onto the page of the passport or the travel
document, but it must not cover the section to be
electronically scanned.

5.2.

Invalidating completed visa-stickers

No changes shall be made to the visa sticker. If an
error is made when the visa is issued, the sticker shall
be invalidated.

— If the error is detected on a sticker which has not
yet been affixed to the passport, the sticker shall be
destroyed or cut diagonally in half.

— If the error is detected after the sticker has been
affixed to the passport, a red cross shall be drawn
on the sticker and a new sticker affixed.

5.3.

Affixing visa-stickers to passports

The sticker shall be filled in before being affixed to the
passport. The stamp and the signature shall be placed
on the sticker once it has been affixed to the passport
or travel document.

stamps, other

Once the visa-sticker has been correctly filled in,
it
shall be affixed to the first page of the passport that
contains no entries or
than the
identification stamp of the application. Passports which
do not have space free for affixing the sticker,
passports which have expired and passports which do
not authorise exit from the territory before the visa
expires, or the alien's return to his/her country of
origin or entry into a third country (see Article 13 of
the Convention), shall be refused.

5.4.

Passports and travel documents to which uniform visas may
be affixed

4.

Section to be electronically scanned (section 5)

Both the format of the visa-sticker and that of the
electronically-scanned section were adopted by the
ICAO on the basis of a proposal put forward by the
Schengen States. This section is made up of two lines
of 36 characters (OCR B-10 cpi). Annex 10 explains
how this section is to be filled in.

The criteria for deciding which travel documents may
bear a visa in accordance with the provision of Article
17(3) (a) of the Convention are listed in Annex 11.

Under Article 14, no visa may be affixed to a travel
document if that travel document is not valid for any

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of the Contracting Parties. If a travel document is valid
only for one Contracting Party or for a number of
Contracting Parties,
the visa to be affixed shall be
limited to the Contracting Party or Parties in question.

If the travel document is not recognised as valid by
one or more Member States, the visa shall have only
limited territorial validity. The diplomatic mission or
consular post of a Member State must use the uniform
format form to affix a visa issued to holders of a travel
document not recognised by the Member State that
issues the form. Such a visa shall have only limited
territorial validity.

section, with special care to ensure that it does not
prevent data from being read, and shall extend beyond
the sticker on to the page of the passport or travel
is necessary to
document. Only in cases where it
dispense with the completion of
the section to be
electronically scanned may the stamp be placed in this
section to render it unusable. The size and content of
the stamp and the ink to be used shall be determined
by the national provisions of the Member State.

5.5.

Stamp of the issuing diplomatic mission or consular post

The stamp of the diplomatic mission or consular post
issuing the visa shall be affixed in the ‘COMMENTS'

To prevent reuse of a visa sticker affixed to a uniform
format form, the seal of the issuing consular office
shall be stamped to the right, straddling the sticker and
the form, in such a way as neither to impede reading
of the headings and completion data nor to enter the
electronic scanning area if completed.

VII. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION

1.

Organisation of visa sections

Each Contracting Party
organising its visa sections.

shall be

responsible

for

The heads of missions or posts shall ensure that the
section responsible for issuing visas is organised in
such a way as to avoid any kind of negligent behaviour
that could facilitate theft and falsifications.

— The staff responsible for issuing visas shall in no

way be exposed to local pressure.

— In order to prevent the formation of ‘habits' which
could lead to a decline in the level of vigilance,
officers responsible shall be rotated on a regular
basis.

— The storage and use of visa-stickers shall be the
to those
require

documents which

security measures

similar

other

subject of
applied
to
protection.

2.

Filing

In order to make it easier to locate an application, the
file and archive references shall be mentioned during
consultation and in replies to consultation.

3.

Visa registers

Each Contracting Party shall register visas which have
been issued in accordance with national practice.
Visa-stickers shall be registered as such.

4.

Fees
be
to
administrative
applications (1)

charged
costs

corresponding
of

processing

to

the
visa

fees

to be

The
to the
administrative costs of processing the visa application
are listed in Annex 12.

charged corresponding

However, no fees are to be charged for administrative
costs for visa applications lodged by nationals of third
countries who are members of the family of a Union
citizen or of a national of a State party to the EEA
Agreement, and who are exercising their right to free
movement.

Each Contracting Party shall be responsible for filing
visa applications and in cases where visas are subject
to central consultation, photographs of applicants.

Visa applications shall be kept for at least one year
where the visa has been issued and at least five years
where the visa has been refused.

(1) In accordance with Article 3 of Council Decision 2002/44/EC of

20 December 2001 (OJ L 20, 23.1.2002, p. 5):
‘1. This Decision shall apply as from 1 July 2004 at the latest.
2. Member States may apply this Decision before 1 July 2004,
provided that they notify the General Secretariat of the Council of
the date from which they are in a position to do so.
3. If all the Member States apply this Decision before 1 July 2004,
the General Secretariat of the Council shall publish in the Official
Journal of the European Communities the date from which the last
Member State applied the Decision.'

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VIII. CONSULAR COOPERATION AT LOCAL LEVEL

1.

Framework of consular cooperation at local level

In general, consular cooperation in situ will concern
the assessment of immigration risks. It shall be aimed
mainly at determining common criteria for examining
files, exchanging information on the use of
false
documents, on possible illegal immigration routes and
on refusing visas where applications are manifestly
ill-founded or fraudulent.
the
exchange of information on bona fide applicants and
the joint finalisation of information for the public on
the conditions governing Schengen visa applications.

It should also permit

Consular cooperation shall also take account of the
socioeconomic
local
structure.

situation and

administrative

The missions and posts shall organise meetings on a
regular basis depending on circumstances and as often
as they deem suitable: they shall submit reports on
these meetings to the central authorities. At the request
of
general
half-yearly report.

Presidency

submit

shall

they

the

a

2.

How to avoid multiple applications or applications
which are lodged after a recent refusal to issue

The exchange of
information between missions and
posts and the identification of applications by means of
a stamp or otherwise are aimed at preventing the same
person from presenting multiple or successive visa
applications, either whilst an application is being
examined, or after an application has been refused, to
the same mission or post or to a different mission or
post.

and posts

Without prejudice to the consultation which may take
place between the missions
and the
exchanges of information which they may undertake,
the mission or post with which an application is
lodged shall affix a stamp to each applicant's passport
stating ‘Visa applied for on … at …'. The space
following ‘on' shall be filled in with six digits (two for
the day, two for the month and two for the year); the
second space shall be reserved for
the diplomatic
mission or consular post concerned. The code for the
visa that has been applied for must be added.

When a Schengen State
representing another
Schengen State, the stamp shall show, after the code of
the type of visa requested, the indication ‘R' followed
by the code of the represented State.

is

Where the visa is issued,
possible, be affixed on the identification stamp.

the sticker shall, where

it

exceptional

cases where

In
is manifestly
impracticable to affix a stamp, the mission or post of
inform the competent
the Presidency in office shall
its approval an
Schengen group and submit
for
instance the exchange of
alternative proposal,
photocopies of passports or
rejected visa
applications giving grounds for the refusal.

lists of

for

The heads of the diplomatic missions or posts shall
decide, either at the initiative of the Presidency or at
their own initiative, whether alternative or additional
preventive measures are necessary.

3.

Assessment of the applicant's good faith

In order to facilitate assessment of the applicant's good
in
faith, diplomatic missions or consular posts may,
accordance with
exchange
national
information on the basis of arrangements concluded at
local
their cooperation
in the framework of
pursuant to point 1 of this chapter.

legislation,

level

Information on the following may be exchanged from
time to time: persons whose applications have been
refused because stolen, lost or falsified documents have
been used, or because the exit date on the previous
visa was not observed or because there is a risk to
security and,
in particular, there is reason to believe
that an attempt is being made to immigrate illegally to
the territory of the Contracting Parties.

as

serve

a working instrument

The information which is exchanged and produced
for
jointly shall
assessing visa applications.
shall not, however,
replace the actual examination of the visa application,
nor the search in the Schengen Information System,
nor
central
authorities.

consultation with

requesting

the

It

The mission or post which receives the application
to affix a stamp to
shall decide whether or not
diplomatic and service passports.

4.

Exchange of statistics

The stamp may also be affixed in the case of
applications for long-stay visas.

4.1.

Statistics on short-stay visas, transit visas and airport
transit visas that have been issued and on applications
for such visas that have been formally rejected shall be
exchanged every three months.

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4.2.

5.

Notwithstanding the obligations laid down in Article
16 of
the Schengen Convention, which are clearly
formulated in Annex 14 to the Common Consular
Instructions and which require the Schengen States to
forward within 72 hours details concerning the issue
of visas with limited territorial validity, the diplomatic
missions and consular representations of the Schengen
States shall be instructed to exchange their statistics on
visas with limited territorial validity issued the previous
month and transmit them to their respective central
authorities.

applications

Visa
private
administrative agencies, travel agencies and tour
operators

processed

by

The basic rule for visa applications is that there should
be the possibility of a personal interview. However, this
may be dispensed in so far as, where there is no
reasonable doubt as to the good faith of the applicant,
the purpose of the journey or the applicant's actual
intention of returning to the country of origin, a
reputable and solvent entity, organising trips
for
groups, supplies the diplomatic mission or consular
post with the necessary documentation and vouches,
with reasonable reliability,
the applicant's good
faith, the purpose of the journey and the applicant's
actual intention of returning (see part III(4)).

for

It is both common and useful, particularly in countries
with a large surface area,
for private administrative
agencies, travel agencies, and tour operators and their
retailers to act as authorised intermediaries of
the
applicant. These commercial
intermediaries are not
uniform in nature as they do not enter into the same
degree of commitment in relation to clients entrusting
them with the processing of a visa; so that, the degree
of solvency and reliability expected of them will,
in
principle, be directly proportional to their degree of
involvement in the overall planning of the journey,
insurance, and
accommodation, medical and travel
their
return to the
the client's
country of origin.

responsibility for

5.1.

Types of intermediary

(a) The simplest

type of

intermediary are private
administrative agencies, where the assistance given
to the client involves only the supply of identity
and other supporting documents on the client's
behalf.

are flag carriers, involved in scheduled or charter
passenger transport. Their assistance to the client
includes the supply of supporting documents as
well as, where appropriate, ticket sales and hotel
reservations.

tours

organising

package
(preparation

(c) A third type of intermediary is constituted by tour
legal
organisers or operators, being natural or
a
persons
basis
non-occasional
travel
documentation,
transport, accommodation, other
tourist services not ancillary to these elements,
medical and travel
transfers,
insurance,
etc.) which sell such package tours, or offer them
for sale directly or via a retailer or travel agency
contractually linked to the tour operator.

internal

on

of

This

For the tour operator and the agency retailing the
package trip, the visa applicant is no more than
the consumer of the arranged trip, with the offer
to process the visa application being part of the
arrangement.
of
third,
intermediary service comprises several phases and
facets which
objective
monitoring: business documentation, management,
the actual completion and destination of the trip,
accommodation and scheduled group entries and
exits.

complex

subject

type

can

be

to

5.2.

Harmonisation of cooperation with private administrative
agencies, travel agencies, tour operators and their retailers

local

level of

(a) All diplomatic missions and consular posts located
to achieve
in the same city should endeavour
harmonised application at
the
guidelines set out below, based on the type of
intermediary role performed by the
agencies
for each diplomatic
concerned. Although it
mission or consular post to decide whether or not
to work with agencies, they must retain the option
of withdrawing accreditation at
if
experience and the interests of a common visa
If a diplomatic mission or
policy so dictate.
consular post decides to work with an agency, it
must
and
procedures set out in this section.

to the working practices

adhere

time

any

is

(b) A second type of commercial entity is that of
transport agencies or local travel agencies, in some
cases linked to air carriers, whether or not these

— The consular posts of the Member States must
be particularly vigilant and will cooperate

C 310/22

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

evaluation and exceptional
closely in the
accreditation of private administrative agencies.
The processing of their visa applications will be
subject to meticulous examination, with checks
being
on the
supporting documents of the visa holder and
on those relating to the licence and entry in
the commercial register of the private agency.

conducted

in every

case

of

the

applicant
the

— For the evaluation of visa applications lodged
by transport agencies or local travel agencies,
attention must be paid to the
particular
circumstances
the
case-by-case verification of
supporting
documents. The consular posts must cooperate
closely, reinforcing their respective mechanisms
for detecting irregularities in the agencies and
in the carriers themselves, and, in support of
those mechanisms, irregularities committed by
agencies must be notified at the level of local
and regional consular cooperation.

and

— The criteria governing the accreditation of
travel agencies (tour operators and retailers)
will,
inter alia, take into account: the current
licence, the commercial register, the company
statutes, contracts with the banks which they
contracts with Community
use, up-to-date
tourism services, which must
recipients of
include all the elements of
the package trip
(accommodation and tour package services),
contracts with airlines, which must
include
outward and guaranteed, fixed return journeys,
as well as the required medical and travel
insurance. Visa applications lodged by these
travel agencies must be carefully scrutinised.

(b) In the context of

local consular cooperation,
diplomatic missions and consular posts will also
to harmonise working practices and
endeavour

procedures as well as the criteria for monitoring
the proper functioning of private administrative
agencies, travel agencies and tour organisers (tour
operators and retailers). Such monitoring must at
least comprise checks at any time on accreditation
documentation, spot checks involving personal or
telephone interviews with applicants, verification of
trips and accommodation, and, wherever possible,
verification of
the documents relating to group
return.

of

on

operation

(tour
of

operators
irregularities

(c) There must be an intensive exchange of relevant
information
the
private
administrative agencies,
travel agencies and tour
organisers
retailers):
notification
regular
exchanges
visas,
communication of
travel
document
fraud and failure to effect scheduled
administrative
trips. Cooperation with private
agencies, travel agencies and tour organisers (tour
operators and retailers) must be discussed at the
regular meetings organised within the framework
of common consular cooperation.

and
detected,
refused
forms

concerning

detected

of

(d) At

the level of

exchanged of private

local consular cooperation,

lists
must be
administrative
agencies, travel agencies and tour organisers (tour
operators and retailers) to which accreditation has
been given by each diplomatic mission or consular
post or
from which accreditation has been
withdrawn, together with the reasons for any such
withdrawal.

(e) Private administrative agencies, travel agencies and
tour organisers (tour operators and retailers) must
submit
to the diplomatic missions and consular
posts to which they are accredited the names of
one or two staff authorised as intermediaries to
lodge visa applications.

19.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/23

ANNEX 1

I.

II.

I.

Joint list of third countries whose citizens are required to have a visa by Member States bound by
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 (1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/2001 (2) and Regulation (EC) No
453/2003 (3).

Joint list of third countries whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement by Member States
bound by Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/2001 and
Regulation (EC) No 453/2003.

Joint list of third countries whose citizens are required to have a visa by Member States bound by Regulation (EC) No
539/2001, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/02001 and Regulation (EC) No 453/2003.

1.

States

AFGHANISTAN

ALBANIA

ALGERIA

ANGOLA

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

ARMENIA

AZERBAIJAN

BAHAMAS

BAHRAIN

BANGLADESH

BARBADOS

BELARUS

BELIZE

BENIN

BHUTAN

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

BOTSWANA

BURKINA FASO

BURMA/MYANMAR

BURUNDI

CAMBODIA

CAMEROON

CAPE VERDE

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CHAD

CHINA

COLOMBIA

COMOROS

CONGO

COTE D'IVOIRE

CUBA

(1) OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 327, 12.12.2001, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 69, 13.3.2003, p. 10.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

EAST TIMOR

ECUADOR

EGYPT

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

ERITREA

ETHIOPIA

FIJI

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

GABON

GAMBIA

GEORGIA

GHANA

GRENADA

GUINEA

GUINEA-BISSAU

GUYANA

HAITI

INDIA

INDONESIA

IRAN

IRAQ

JAMAICA

JORDAN

KAZAKHSTAN

KENYA

KIRIBATI

KUWAIT

C 310/24

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

KYRGYZSTAN

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

LAOS

LEBANON

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

LIBYA

MADAGASCAR

MALAWI

MALDIVES

MALI

MARSHALL ISLANDS

MAURITANIA

MAURITIUS

MICRONESIA

MOLDOVA

MONGOLIA

MOROCCO

MOZAMBIQUE

NAMIBIA

NAURU

NEPAL

NIGER

NIGERIA

NORTH KOREA

NORTHERN MARIANAS (ISLANDS)

OMAN

PAKISTAN

PALAU

SAUDI ARABIA

SENEGAL

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

SEYCHELLES

SIERRA LEONE

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOMALIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SRI LANKA

ST KITTS AND NEVIS

ST LUCIA

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

SUDAN

SURINAME

SWAZILAND

SYRIA

TAJIKISTAN

TANZANIA

THAILAND

TOGO

TONGA

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TUNISIA

TURKEY

TURKMENISTAN

TUVALU

UGANDA

UKRAINE

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

PERU

PHILIPPINES

QATAR

RUSSIA

RWANDA

SAMOA

UZBEKISTAN

VANUATU

VIETNAM

YEMEN

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

19.12.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/25

2.

Entities and territorial authorities not recognised as States by at least one Member State

TAIWAN

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

II.

Joint list of third countries whose citizens are exempted from the visa requirement by Member States bound by Regulation (EC)
No 539/2001, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2414/02001 and Regulation (EC) No 453/2003.

1.

States

ANDORRA

ARGENTINA

AUSTRALIA

BOLIVIA

BRAZIL

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

BULGARIA

CANADA

CHILE

COSTA RICA

CROATIA

CYPRUS

CZECH REPUBLIC

EL SALVADOR

ESTONIA

GUATEMALA

HOLY SEE (STATE OF THE VATICAN)

HONDURAS

HUNGARY

ISRAEL

JAPAN

LATVIA

LITHUANIA

MALAYSIA

MALTA

MEXICO

MONACO

NEW ZEALAND

NICARAGUA

PANAMA

PARAGUAY

POLAND

ROMANIA

SAN MARINO

SINGAPORE

SLOVAKIA

SLOVENIA

SOUTH KOREA

UNITED STATES

URUGUAY

VENEZUELA

2.

Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China
HONG KONG S.A.R. (1)
MACAO S.A.R. (2)

(1) The visa exemption applies only to holders of a ‘Hong Kong Special Administrative Region' passport.
(2) The visa exemption applies only to holders of a ‘Região Administrativa Especial de Macau' passport.

C 310/26

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

Regulations governing the movement of holders of diplomatic, official and service passports and holders of
laissez-passers issued by certain International Intergovernmental Organisations to their officials

ANNEX 2

I.

Regulations governing movements at external borders

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Movements of holders of diplomatic, official and service passports are not governed by the common list of
visa requirements. The Contracting States undertake, however, to keep their partners informed in advance of
any changes that they intend to make to the regulations governing the movements of holders of the
abovementioned passports and to take into account the interests of their partners.

Given the aim of increased flexibility in the run-up to harmonisation of the rules applied to holders of the
abovementioned passports, a schedule of countries whose nationals are not subject to a visa requirement
when they hold the abovementioned passports, although this visa requirement applies to ordinary passport
holders of the same nationality, is annexed to the Common Consular Instructions for information purposes.
A schedule of States to which the obverse applies shall also be drawn up if necessary. The Executive
Committee shall assume responsibility for updating these schedules.

The regulations governing movements mentioned in this document shall not apply to holders of ordinary
passports travelling on public business nor to holders of service, official or special passports, etc., where issue
by third countries does not conform to the international practice applied by the Schengen States.
Accordingly, the Executive Committee, acting on a proposal from a Group of Experts, could draw up a
schedule of passports other than ordinary passports, to holders of which the Schengen States do not plan to
accord preferential treatment.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 18 of the Schengen Convention, persons to whom a visa is issued to
enable them to reach the territory of the Schengen State for the purpose of their accreditation may at least
transit through the other States on their way to the State which issued the visa.

Persons who have already been accredited by a diplomatic or consular representation and members of their
families who hold an identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may cross the external border of
the Schengen area on production of the said identity card, and, where necessary, the travel document.

In general, the holders of diplomatic, official or service passports, even though they remain subject to a visa
requirement, where such a requirement exists, do not have to prove that they have sufficient means of
subsistence at their disposal. However, if they are travelling in a personal capacity, they may, where necessary,
be asked to produce the same supporting documents that are required from ordinary passport holders
applying for visas.

A note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from a diplomatic mission (if the visa application is
lodged in a third country) should accompany each application for a visa for a diplomatic, official or service
passport when the applicant is on mission. A note verbale may also be requested where the journey is for
private purposes.

8.1. The arrangement for prior consultation with the central authorities of the other Contracting States shall
apply to requests for visas made by holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. Prior consultation
shall not involve any State which has concluded an agreement removing the visa requirement for holders of
diplomatic and/or service passports with the country whose nationals are concerned by the consultation (in
the cases contained in Annex 5 to these Instructions).

Should one of
application for a visa can issue a visa with limited territorial validity.

the Contracting States raise objections, the Schengen State which is to decide on the

8.2. The Schengen States undertake not to conclude at a future date, without the prior agreement of the other
Member States, agreements on the lifting of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official or service
passports with States whose nationals are subject to prior consultation for a visa to be issued by another
Schengen State.

8.3.

If the visa in question is to be issued for accrediting an alien who is the subject of an alert for the purpose of
refusing entry and the arrangement for prior consultation applies, the consultation should be carried out in
accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Schengen Convention.

9.

If a Contracting State invokes the exceptions provided for under Article 5(2) of the Schengen Convention,
entry granted to holders of diplomatic, official or service passports will also be limited to the national
territory of the State in question, which should inform the other Member States accordingly.

19.12.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/27

II. Regulations governing movements at internal borders

In general, the arrangement under Articles 19 et seq. shall apply, except for the issue of a visa with limited
territorial validity.

The holders of diplomatic, official and service passports may move within the territory of the Contracting States
for three months from the date of entry (if they are not subject to the visa requirements) or for the period
provided for by the visa.

Persons accredited by a diplomatic or consular representation and members of their families who hold the card
issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs may move within the territory of the Contracting States for a maximum
period of three months upon production of this card and, if required, the travel document.

III. Regulations governing movements outlined in this document shall apply to laissez-passers issued by the
Intergovernmental
those
organisations who, pursuant to the Treaties establishing those Organisations, are exempted from registering with
the Immigration Office and from holding a residence permit (see page 66 of the Common Manual).

the Schengen States belong to officials of

International Organisations to which all

Regulations governing movement of holders of diplomatic, official and service passports

Countries whose nationals are NOT subject to a visa requirement in one or more Schengen States when they are
holders of diplomatic, official or service passports, but who are subject to this requirement when they are holders of
ordinary passports.

Schedule A

BNL

DK

D

GR

E

F

I

A

P

FIN

S

ISL

N

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Bahamas

Barbados

Benin

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Cape Verde

Chad

Colombia

Côte d'Ivoire

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

Fiji

DS

DS

D

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia

D

DS

DS

D

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

DS

D

DS

DS

C 310/28

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

BNL

DK

D

GR

E

F

I

A

P

FIN

S

ISL

N

D

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guyana

India

Jamaica

Kenya

Kuwait

Lesotho

Malawi

Maldives

Morocco

Mauritania

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Pakistan

Peru

Philippines

Samoa

São Tomé and Príncipe

Senegal

DS

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

DS

D

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

Serbia and Montenegro

DS

Seychelles

South Africa

Swaziland

Thailand

Togo

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Uganda

Zimbabwe

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

DS

DS

D

DS

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS: Holders of diplomatic and service passports are exempt from visa requirements.
D: Only holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from a visa requirement.

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

DS

D

DS

DS

DS

DS

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/29

Countries whose nationals are subject to visas in one or more Schengen States, when they are holders of diplomatic,
official or service passports, but who are NOT subject to this requirement when they are holders of ordinary passports

Schedule B

BNL

DK

D

GR

E

F

I

A

P

FIN

S

ISL

N

Israel

Mexico

United States of America

(1) If travelling on official business.

X

X

X (1)

X (1)

X

C 310/30

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

ANNEX 3

Joint list of third countries whose nationals are subject to the airport transit visa requirement, where holders
of travel documents issued by these third countries are also subject to this visa requirement (1)

The Schengen States undertake not to amend Part I of Annex 3 without the prior consent of the other Member States.

If a Member State intends to amend Part II of this Annex, it undertakes to inform its partners and to take account of
their interests.

Joint list of third countries whose nationals are subject to the airport visa requirement (ATV) by all Schengen
States where holders of travel documents issued by these third countries are also subject to this requirement (2) (3)

Part I

AFGHANISTAN

BANGLADESH

CONGO (Democratic Republic)

ERITREA (4)

ETHIOPIA

GHANA

IRAN (5)

IRAQ

NIGERIA

PAKISTAN

SOMALIA

SRI LANKA

These persons shall not be subject to the visa requirement if they hold one of the residence permits of an EEA Member
State listed in Part III(A) of this Annex or one of the residence permits of Andorra, Japan, Canada, Monaco, San
Marino, Switzerland or the United States of America guaranteeing an unqualified right of return and listed in Part III
(B).

This list of residence permits shall be drawn up by mutual agreement within Working Group II's subgroup on visas and
verified regularly. Should problems arise, the Schengen States may suspend these measures until such time as the
problems in question have been resolved by mutual agreement. The Contracting States may exclude certain residence
permits from this exemption if indicated in Part III.

Exemptions from the airport transit visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service or other official passports shall
be decided by each Member State individually.

(1) It is not necessary to consult the central authorities for the issue of an airport transit visa (ATV).
(2) For all the Schengen States:

the following persons shall be exempt from the ATV requirement:
— flight crew who are nationals of a Contracting Party to the Chicago Convention.

(3) For the Benelux countries, France and Spain:

the following persons shall be exempt from the ATV requirement:
— holders of diplomatic and service passports.

(4) For Germany and Italy:

only where the nationals are not in possession of a valid visa or residence permit for a Member State of the EU or a State party to
the Agreement on the European Economic Area of 2 May 1992, Canada, Switzerland or the United States of America.

(5) For Germany:

the following persons shall be exempt from the ATV requirement:
— holders of diplomatic and service passports.

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/31

Joint list of third countries whose nationals are subject to the airport transit visa requirement by some Schengen States only, where with holders
of travel documents issued by these third countries are also subject to this requirement

BNL (1)

DK

D

E (2)

GR

F (3)

I (4)

A (5)

P

FIN

S

ISL

N

Part II

Albania

Angola

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Côte d'Ivoire

Cuba

Egypt

Gambia

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Haiti

India

Indonesia

Jordan

Lebanon

Liberia

Libya

Mali

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Sudan

Syria

Togo

Turkey

X

X

X (6)

X (6)

X (6)

X (7)

X (6)

X (6)

X

X (6)

X (7)

X

X

X (6)

X (6)

X

X

X (6) (9)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X (8)

X (6)

X

X

X

X

X

X (6)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

(1) Only when nationals are not in possession of a valid residence permit for the Member States of the EEA, the United States or Canada. Holders of diplomatic, service or

special passports shall also be exempt.

(2) Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports shall not be subject to the ATV requirement. The same shall apply to holders of ordinary passports residing in a

Member State of the EEA, the United States or Canada, or holders of an entry visa valid for one of these countries.

(3) The following persons shall be exempt from the ATV requirement:

— holders of diplomatic and service passports,
— holders of one of the residence permits listed in Part III,
— flight crew who are nationals of a Contracting Party to the Chicago Convention.

(4) Only when nationals are not in possession of a valid residence permit for the Member States of the EEA, Canada or the United States.
(5) Third-country nationals subject to transit visa obligations shall not require an airport transit visa (ATV) for transit via an Austrian airport provided they hold one of

the following documents that is valid for the duration of the transit:
— a residence permit issued by Andorra, Japan, Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, the Vatican City State or the USA which guarantees the right to return,
— a visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State for which the Accession Agreement has been brought into force,
— a residence permit issued by a Member State of the EEA.

(6) Only when nationals are not in possession of a valid visa or residence permit for a Member State of the EU or a State party to the Agreement on the European

Economic Area of 2 May 1992, Canada, Switzerland or the United States.

(7) Only for holders of the travel document for Palestinian refugees.
(8) Indian nationals shall not be subject to the ATV requirement if they are holders of a diplomatic or service passport.

Indian nationals shall moreover not be subject to the ATV requirement if they are in possession of a valid visa or residence permit for a country of the EU or the EEA
or for Canada, Switzerland or the United States. Nor shall they be subject to the ATV requirement if they are in possession of a valid residence permit for Andorra,
Japan, Monaco or San Marino and a re-entry permit for their country of residence valid for three months following their airport transit.
It should be noted that the exception concerning Indian nationals in possession of a valid residence permit for Andorra, Japan, Monaco or San Marino enters into
force on the date of Denmark's integration into Schengen cooperation, i.e. on 25 March 2001.

(9) Also for holders of the travel document for Palestinian refugees.

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

A. List of residence permits of EEA States for which the holders are exempt from the airport transit visa requirement:

Part III

IRELAND

— Residence permit only in conjunction with a re-entry visa

LIECHTENSTEIN:

— Livret pour étranger B (Alien's card B)
one-year validity has not expired) (1)

(residence permit, guaranteeing the holder's return provided the

— Livret pour étranger C (Alien's card C) (settlement permit, guaranteeing the holder's return provided the five-

or ten-year validity has not expired)

UNITED KINGDOM

— Leave to remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period (this document guarantees return only if the

duration of stay outside the United Kingdom is not more than two years)

— Certificate of entitlement to the right of abode

B.

List of residence permits with unlimited right of return on presentation of which the holders are exempt from the
airport transit visa requirement:

ANDORRA

— Tarjeta provisional de estancia y de trabajo (provisional residence and work permit) (white). These are issued to
seasonal workers; the period of validity depends on the duration of employment, but never exceeds six
months. This permit is not renewable (1)

— Tarjeta de estancia y de trabajo (residence and work permit) (white). This permit is issued for six months and

may be renewed for another year (1)

— Tarjeta de estancia (residence permit) (white). This permit is issued for six months and may be renewed for

another year (1)

— Tarjeta temporal de residencia (temporary residence permit) (pink). This permit is issued for one year and may

be renewed twice, each time for another year (1)

— Tarjeta ordinaria de residencia (ordinary residence permit) (yellow). This permit is issued for three years and

may be renewed for another three years (1)

— Tarjeta privilegiada de residencia (special residence permit) (green). This permit is issued for five years and is

renewable, each time for another five years

— Autorización de residencia (residence authorisation)

(green). This permit

is issued for one year and is

renewable, each time for another three years (1)

— Autorización temporal de residencia y de trabajo (temporary residence and work authorisation) (pink). This

permit is issued for two years and may be renewed for another two years (1)

— Autorización ordinaria de residencia y de trabajo (ordinary residence and work authorisation) (yellow). This

permit is issued for five years

— Autorización privilegiada de residencia y de trabajo (special residence and work authorisation) (green). This

permit is issued for 10 years and is renewable, each time for another then years

JAPAN

— Returning Resident Permit (loose-leaf in passport)

CANADA

— Re-entry permit to Japan (1)

(1) This residence permit does not exempt the holder from the airport transit visa requirement in Germany.

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MONACO

— Carte de séjour de résident temporaire de Monaco (temporary resident's permit) (1)

— Carte de séjour de résident ordinaire de Monaco (ordinary resident's permit)

— Carte de séjour de résident privilégié de Monaco (privileged resident's permit)

— Carte de séjour de conjoint de ressortissant monégasque (residence permit for the spouse of a Monegasque

national)

SAN MARINO

— Permesso di soggiorno ordinario (validità illimitata) (ordinary residence permit (no expiry date))

— Permesso di soggiorno continuativo speciale (validità illimitata) (special permanent residence permit (no expiry

date))

— Carta d'identità di San Marino (validità illimitata) (San Marino identity card (no expiry date))

SWITZERLAND

— Livret pour étranger B (Alien's card B)
one-year validity has not expired) (1)

(residence permit, guaranteeing the holder's return provided the

— Livret pour étranger C (Alien's card C) (settlement permit, guaranteeing the holder's return provided the five-

or ten-year validity has not expired)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

— Form I-551 Permanent resident card (valid for two (1) to 10 years)

— Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card (valid for two (1) to 10 years)

— Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card (no expiry date)

— Form I-327 Re-entry document (valid for two years — issued to holders of a I-551) (1)

— Resident alien card (valid for two (1) or 10 years or no expiry date. This document guarantees the holder's

return only if his or her stay outside the USA has not exceeded one year.)

— Permit to re-enter (valid for two years. This document guarantees the holder's return only if his or her stay

outside the USA has not exceeded two years.) (1)

— Valid temporary residence stamp in a valid passport (valid for one year from the date of issue) (1)

(1) This residence permit does not exempt the holder from the airport transit visa requirement in Germany.

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ANNEX 4

List of documents entitling holders to entry without a visa

BELGIUM

— Carte d'identité d'étranger

Identiteitskaart voor vreemdelingen

Personalausweis für Ausländer

(Aliens Identity Card)

— Certificat d'inscription au registre des étrangers

Bewijs van inschrijving in het vreemdelingenregister

Bescheinigung der Eintragung im Ausländerregister

(Certificate of entry in aliens' register)

— Special residence permits issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

— Carte d'identité diplomatique

Diplomatieke identiteitskaart

Diplomatischer Personalausweis

(Diplomat's Identity Card)

— Carte d'identité consulaire

Consulaire identiteitskaart

Konsularer Personalausweis

(Consular Identity Card)

— Carte d'identité spéciale — couleur bleue

Bijzondere identiteitskaart — blauw

Besonderer Personalausweis — blau

(Special Identity Card — blue in colour)

— Carte d'identité spéciale — couleur rouge

Bijzondere identiteitskaart — rood

Besonderer Personalausweis — rot

(Special Identity Card — red in colour)

— Certificat d'identité pour les enfants âgés de moins de cinq ans des étrangers privilégiés titulaires d'une carte
d'identité diplomatique, d'une carte d'identité consulaire, d'une carte d'identité spéciale — couleur bleue ou
d'une carte d'identité — couleur rouge

Identiteitsbewijs voor kinderen, die de leeftijd van vijf jaar nog niet hebben bereikt, van een bevoorrecht
vreemdeling dewelke houder is van een diplomatieke identiteitskaart, consulaire identiteitskaart, bijzondere
identiteitskaart — blauw of bijzondere identiteitskaart — rood

Identitätsnachweis für Kinder unter fünf Jahren, für privilegierte Ausländer, die Inhaber eines diplomatischen
Personalausweises sind, konsularer Personalausweis, besonderer Personalausweis — rot oder besonderer
Personalausweis — blau

(Identity card for children, under the age of five, of aliens who are holders of diplomatic identity cards,
consular identity cards, blue special identity cards or red special identity cards)

— Certificat d'identité avec photographie délivré par une administration communale belge à un enfant de moins de

douze ans

Door een Belgisch gemeentebestuur aan een kind beneden de 12 jaar afgegeven identiteitsbewijs met foto

Von einer belgischen Gemeindeverwaltung einem Kind unter dem 12. Lebensjahr ausgestellter Personalausweis mit
Lichtbild

(Certificate of identity with photograph issued by Belgian communes to children under twelve)

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

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DENMARK

Residence cards

EF/EØS — opholdskort opholdskort (EU/EEA residence card) (title on card)

— Kort A. Tidsbegrænset EF/EØS-opholdsbevis (anvendes til EF/EØS-statsborgere)

(Card A. Temporary EU/EEA residence permit used for EU/EEA nationals)

— Kort B. Tidsubegrænset EF/EØS-opholdsbevis (anvendes til EF/EØS-statsborgere)

(Card B. EU/EEA residence permit of unlimited duration used for EU/EEA nationals)

— Kort Karte K. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til

tredjelandsstatsborgere, der meddeles opholdstilladelse efter

EF/EØS-reglerne)

(Card K. Temporary residence permit for nationals of third countries who have been granted a residence permit
under EU/EEA rules)

— Kort L. Tidsubegrænset opholdstilladelse

til

tredjelandsstatsborgere, der meddeles opholdstilladelse

efter

EF/EØS-reglerne)

(Card L. Residence permit of unlimited duration for nationals of third countries who have been granted a residence
permit under EU/EEA rules)

Residence permits (title on card)

— Kort C. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til udlændinge, der er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Card C. Temporary residence permit for aliens who are not required to have a work permit)

— Kort D. Tidsubegrænset opholdstilladelse til udlændinge, der er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Card D. Residence permit of unlimited duration for aliens who are not required to have a work permit)

— Kort E. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til udlændinge, der ikke har ret til arbejde

(Card E. Temporary residence permit for aliens who do not have the right to work)

— Kort F. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til flygtninge — er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Card F. Temporary residence permit for refugees — not required to have a work permit)

— Kort G. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til EF/EØS-statsborgere, som har andet opholdsgrundlag end efter EF-

reglerne — er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Card G. Temporary residence permit for EU/EEA nationals who have a basis for residence other than that deriving
from EU rules — not required to have a work permit)

— Kort H. Tidsubegrænset opholdstilladelse til EF/EØS-statsborgere, som har andet opholdsgrundlag end efter

EF-reglerne — er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Card H. Residence permit of unlimited duration for EU/EEA nationals who have a basis for residence other than
that deriving from EU rules — not required to have a work permit)

— Kort J. Tidsbegrænset opholds- og arbejdstilladelse til udlændinge

(Card J. Temporary residence and work permit for aliens).

Since 14 September 1998 Denmark has issued new residence pemits in credit-card format.

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There are still some valid residence permits of types B, D and H in circulation which were issued in another format.
These cards are made of laminated paper, measure approximately 9 cm x 13 cm and bear a pattern of the Danish coat
of arms in white. For Card B, the background colour is beige, for Card D it is light pink and for Card H light mauve.

Stickers to be affixed to passports, bearing the following wording

— Sticker B. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til udlændinge, der ikke har ret til arbejde

(Sticker B. Temporary residence permit for aliens who do not have the right to work)

— Sticker C. Tidsbegrænset opholds- og arbejdstilladelse

(Sticker C. Temporary residence and work permit)

— Sticker D. Medfølgende slægtninge (opholdstilladelse til børn, der er optaget i forældres pas)

(Sticker D. Accompanying relatives (residence permit for children who are included in their parents' passport)

— Sticker H. Tidsbegrænset opholdstilladelse til udlændinge, der er fritaget for arbejdstilladelse

(Sticker H. Temporary residence permit for aliens who are not required to have a work permit).

Stickers issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

— Sticker E. — Diplomatisk visering

(Sticker E — diplomatic visa)

Issued to diplomats and the members of their family who appear on the diplomatic lists, and to staff of equivalent
rank at the international organisations in Denmark. Valid for residence and for multiple entry for as long as the
person concerned is on the diplomatic lists in Copenhagen)

— Sticker F. Opholdstilladelse

(Sticker F — residence permit)

Issued to seconded technical or administrative staff and members of their family and to domestic servants of
diplomats on secondment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of origin with a service passport. Also
issued to staff of equivalent rank at the international organisation in Denmark. Valid for residence and multiple
entry for the duration of the mission.

— Sticker S (i kombination med sticker E eller F)

(Sticker S (in combination with Sticker E or F)

Residence permit for accompanying close relatives, where they are included in the passport.

It should be noted that identity cards for foreign diplomats, technical or administrative staff, domestic servants etc.
issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do not give the holder the right to enter the territory without a visa, since
such identity cards are not proof of permission to reside in Denmark.

Other documents

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union

— Readmission permit in the form of a visa-sticker with national code DK.

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GERMANY

— Aufenthaltserlaubnis für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

(Residence permit for the Federal Republic of Germany)

— Aufenthaltserlaubnis für Angehörige eines Mitgliedstaates der EG

(Residence permit for EC nationals)

— Aufenthaltsberechtigung für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

(Residence permit for the Federal Republic of Germany)

— Aufenthaltsbewilligung für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

(Residence authorisation for the Federal Republic of Germany)

— Aufenthaltsbefugnis für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

(Residence permit for the Federal Republic of Germany)

These residence permits entitle the holder to enter without a visa only when they are inserted in a passport or
issued in connection with a passport as an authorisation replacing a visa. They do not entitle the holder to enter
without a visa if they are issued instead of a national identity document.

The document for a deferred expulsion measure ‘Aussetzung der Abschiebung (Duldung)' (exceptional
leave to
remain and the temporary residence authorisation for asylum seekers ‘Aufenthaltsgestattung für Asylbewerber' does
not entitle entry without a visa either.

— Special residence permits issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

— Diplomatenausweis

(Diplomat's pass) (red in colour)

— Ausweis für bevorrechtigte Personen

(VIP pass) (blue in colour)

— Ausweis

(Pass) (yellow in colour)

— Ausweis

(Pass) (dark red in colour)

— Personalausweis

(Identity Card) (green in colour)

— Special residence permits issued by the Länder:

— Ausweis für Mitglieder des Konsularkorps

(Pass for members of the consular corps) (white in colour)

— Ausweis

(Pass) (grey in colour)

— Ausweis für Mitglieder des Konsularkorps

(Pass for members of the consular corps) (white with green stripes)

— Ausweis

(Pass) (yellow in colour)

— Ausweis

(Pass) (green in colour)

— New residence permits in card format (ID card format) issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

— Diplomatenausweis (diplomatic ID card) and — Diplomatenausweis Artikel 38 WÜD (diplomatic ID card

pursuant to Article 38 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations)

— These documents are equivalent to the old red diplomat's passes and bear the letter ‘D' on the back.

— Protokollausweis für Verwaltungspersonal (protocol pass for administrative staff)

— This document is equivalent to the old blue pass for seconded members of the administrative and technical

staff of missions and bears the letters ‘VB' on the back.

— Protokollausweis für dienstliches Hauspersonal (protocol pass for service staff)

— This document is equivalent to the old blue pass for seconded members of the service staff of the mission

and bears the letters ‘DP' on the back.

— Protokollausweis für Ortskräfte (protocol pass for local staff)

— This document is equivalent to the old yellow pass for locally hired employees of the missions and bears

the letters ‘OK' on the back.

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— Protokollausweis für privates Hauspersonal (protocol pass for private domestic staff)

— This document is equivalent to the old green pass for private servants for seconded members of the

missions and bears the letters ‘PP' on the back.

— Sonderausweis für Mitarbeiter internationaler Organisationen (Special card issued to members of staff of

international organisations)

— This document is equivalent to the old dark red special pass for members of staff of international

organisations and bears the letters ‘IO' on the back.

The respective privileges are indicated on the back of the pass.

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

GREECE

— Άδεια παραµονής αλλοδαπού για εργασία

(Work permit)

— Άδεια παραµονής µελών οικογενείας αλλοδαπού

(Residence permit issued for family reunification)

— Άδεια παραµονής αλλοδαπού για σπουδές

(Residence permit for study purposes)

— Άδεια παραµονής αλλοδαπού

(Alien's residence permit) (white)

(This document is issued to aliens who are married to Greek nationals; it is valid for one year and can be extended
for as long as the marriage lasts)

— Άδεια παραµονής αλλοδαπού

(Alien's residence permit) (beige-yellow)

(This document is issued to all aliens who are legally resident in Greece. It is valid for between one and five years)

— Άδεια παραµονής αλλοδαπού

(Alien's residence permit) (white)

(This document is issued to persons recognised as refugees under the 1951 Geneva Convention)

— ∆ελτίο ταυτότητας αλλοδαπού

(Alien's identity card) (green)

(This document is issued only to aliens of Greek descent; it may be valid for either two or five years)

— Ειδικό δελτίο ταυτότητας οµογενούς

(Special identity card for aliens of Greek descent) (beige)

(This document is issued to Albanian nationals of Greek descent; it is valid for three years. The card is also issued
to their spouses and descendants of Greek origin, regardless of nationality, provided there is official documentation
of some kind to prove their family ties)

— Ειδικό δελτίο ταυτότητας οµογενούς

(Special identity card for aliens of Greek descent) (pink)

(This document is issued to aliens of Greek descent from the former USSR. It is valid indefinitely)

— ∆ελτίο ταυτότητας διπλωµατικού υπαλλήλου

(Identity card for diplomatic officials) (white)

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— ∆ελτίο ταυτότητας προξενικού υπαλλήλου

(Identity card for consular officials) (white)

— ∆ελτίο ταυτότητας υπαλλήλου διεθνούς οργανισµού

(Identity card for officials of international organisations) (white)

— ∆ελτίο ταυτότητας διοικητικού υπαλλήλου διπλωµατικής αρχής

(Identity card for administrative officials of diplomatic authorities) (blue)

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

NB: The first four categories of document will remain valid until their expiry date. They ceased to be issued on 2 June

2001.

SPAIN

Holders of a valid re-entry authorisation will be allowed entry without a visa.

Currently valid residence permits entitling aliens who, because of their nationality, would normally be subject to a visa
requirement to enter Spanish territory without a visa are as follows:

— Permiso de residencia inicial

(Initial residence permit)

— Permiso de residencia ordinario

(Ordinary residence permit)

— Permiso de residencia especial

(Special residence permit)

— Tarjeta de estudiante

(Student card)

— Permiso de residencia tipo A

(Type A residence permit)

— Permiso de residencia tipo b

(Type b residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y de residencia tipo B

(Type B work and residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y de residencia tipo C

(Type C work and residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y de residencia tipo d

(Type d work and residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y de residencia tipo D

(Type D work and residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y de residencia tipo E

(Type E work and residence permit)

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— Permiso de trabajo fronterizo tipo F

(Type F border work permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y residencia tipo P

(Type P work and residence permit)

— Permiso de trabajo y residencia tipo Ex

(Type Ex work and residence permit)

— Tarjeta de reconocimiento de la excepción a la necesidad de obtener permiso de trabajo y permiso de residencia

(articulo 16 de la Ley no 7/85)

(Pass acknowledging exemption from the requirement to obtain a work and residence permit — Article 16 Law
No 7/85)

— Permiso de residencia para refugiados

(Residence permit for refugees)

— Lista de personas que participan en un viaje escolar dentro de la Unión Europea

(List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union)

— Tarjeta de familiar residente comunitario

(Pass for relatives of a Community resident)

— Tarjeta temporal de familiar de residente comunitario

(Temporary pass for relatives of a Community resident).

The holders of the following valid accreditation cards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may enter without a
visa:

— Tarjeta especial (Special pass, red in colour), on the cover it reads ‘Cuerpo diplomático. Embajador. Documento de

identidad' (Diplomatic corps. Ambassador. Identity document), issued to accredited ambassadors

— Tarjeta especial (Special pass, red in colour), on the cover it reads ‘Cuerpo diplomático. Documento de identidad'
(Diplomatic corps. Identity document), issued to staff accredited to diplomatic missions who have diplomatic status.
An F is added to the document when issued to spouses or children

— Tarjeta especial

(Special pass, yellow in colour), on the cover

‘Misiones diplomáticas. Personal
administrativo y técnico. Documento de identidad' (Diplomatic missions. Administrative and technical staff. Identity
document), issued to administrative officials at accredited diplomatic missions. An F is added to the document
when issued to spouses or children

reads

it

— Tarjeta especial (Special pass, red in colour), on the cover it reads ‘Tarjeta diplomática de identidad' (Diplomatic
identity card), issued to staff with diplomatic status at the office of the League of Arab States and to staff accredited
to the office of the Palestinian General Delegation (Oficina de la Delegación General). An F is added to the
document when issued to spouses or children

— Tarjeta especial

(Special pass, red in colour), on the cover

it reads ‘Organismos internacionales. Estatuto
diplomático. Documento de Identidad' (International organisations. Diplomatic status. Identity document), issued to
staff with diplomatic status accredited to International Organisations. An F is added to the document when issued
to spouses or children

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— Tarjeta especial

(Special pass, blue in colour), on the cover it reads ‘Organismos internacionales. Personal
administrativo y técnico. Documento de identidad' (International Organisations. Administrative and technical staff.
Identity document), issued to administrative officials accredited to International Organisations. An F is added to the
document when issued to spouses or children

— Tarjeta especial (Special pass, green in colour), on the cover it reads ‘Funcionario consular de carrera. Documento
de identidad' (Career Consular Official. Identity document), issued to career consular officials accredited in Spain.
An F is added to the document when issued to spouses or children

— Tarjeta especial (Special pass, green in colour), entitled ‘Empleado Consular. Emitido a … Documento de identidad'
(Consular employee. Issued on behalf of … Identity document), issued to consular administrative officials accredited
in Spain. An F is added to the document when issued to spouses or children

— Tarjeta especial

(Special pass, grey in colour), entitled ‘Personal de servicio. Missiones diplomáticas, oficinas
consulares y organismos internacionales. Emitido a … Documento de identidad' (Service staff. Diplomatic missions,
consular posts and international organisations. Issued on behalf of … Identity document). This is issued to staff
working in the domestic service of diplomatic missions, consular posts and international organisations (service
duty staff) and staff with career diplomatic or consular status (special servants). An F is added to the document
when issued to spouses or children.

FRANCE

1. Adult aliens should be in possession of the following documents:

— Carte de séjour temporaire comportant une mention particulière qui varie selon le motif du séjour autorisé

(A temporary Residence Permit containing particular details which will vary in accordance with the grounds
for the authorised stay)

— Carte de résident

(Resident's card)

— Certificat de résidence d'Algérien comportant une mention particulière qui varie selon le motif du séjour

autorisé (1 an, 10 ans)

(Algerian Residence Certificate containing a particular reference depending on grounds for the authorised stay)
(one year, 10 years)

— Certificat de résidence d'Algérien portant la mention ‘membre d'un organisme officiel' (2 ans)

(Algerian Residence Certificate bearing the words ‘member of an official organisation') (two years)

— Carte de séjour des Communautés européennes (1 an, 5 ans, 10 ans)

(European Communities Residence Permit) (one year, five/10 years)

— Carte de séjour de l'Espace économique européen

(European Economic Area Residence Permit)

— Cartes officielles valant de titre de séjour, délivrées par le ministère des affaires étrangères

(Official permits with the same status as residence permits issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

— Titres de séjour spéciaux (special residence permits)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CMD/A délivrée aux chefs de mission diplomatique

(special residence permit marked ‘CMD/A' issued to heads of diplomatic missions)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CMD/M délivré aux chefs de mission d'une organisation

internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘CMD/M' issued to heads of mission of international organisations)

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— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CMD/D délivré aux chefs d'une délégation permanente

auprès d'une organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘CMD/D' issued to heads of permanent delegations to international
organisations)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CD/A délivré aux agents du corps diplomatique

(special residence permit marked ‘CD/A' issued to diplomatic officials)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CD/M délivré aux hauts fonctionnaires d'une organisation

internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘CD/M' issued to senior officials of an international organisation)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CD/D délivré aux assimilés diplomatiques membres d'une

délégation permanente auprès d'une organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘CD/D' issued to officials comparable to diplomatic officials who are
members of permanent delegations to international organisations)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention CC/C délivré aux fonctionnaires consulaires

(special residence permit marked ‘CC/C' issued to consular officials)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention AT/A délivré au personnel administratif ou technique d'une

ambassade

(special residence permit marked ‘AT/A' issued to administrative or technical staff of an embassy)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention AT/C délivré au personnel administratif ou technique d'un

consulat

(special residence permit marked ‘AT/C' issued to administrative or technical staff of a consulate)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention AT/M délivré au personnel administratif ou technique d'une

organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘AT/M' issued to administrative or technical staff of an international
organisation)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention AT/D délivré au personnel administratif ou technique d'une

délégation auprès d'une organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘AT/D' issued to administrative or technical staff of a delegation to an
international organisation)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention SE/A délivré au personnel de service d'une ambassade

(special residence permit marked ‘SE/A' issued to service staff of an embassy)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention SE/C délivré au personnel de service d'un consulat

(special residence permit marked ‘SE/C' issued to service staff of a consulate)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention SE/M délivré au personnel de service d'une organisation

internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘SE/M' issued to service staff of an international organisation)

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— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention SE/D délivré au personnel de service d'une délégation

auprès d'une organisation Internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘SE/D'
organisation)

issued to service staff of a delegation to an international

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention PP/A délivré au personnel privé d'un diplomate

(special residence permit marked ‘PP/A' issued to private staff of a diplomat)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant

la mention PP/C délivré au personnel privé d'un fonctionnaire

consulaire

(special residence permit marked ‘PP/C' issued to private staff of a consular official)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention PP/M délivré au personnel privé d'un membre d'une

organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘PP/M'
organisation)

issued to private staff of a member of an international

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention PP/D délivré au personnel privé d'un membre d'une

délégation permanente auprès d'une organisation internationale

(special residence permit marked ‘PP/D' issued to private staff of a member of a permanent delegation
at an international organisation)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention EM/A délivré aux enseignants ou militaires à statut spécial

attachés auprès d'une ambassade

(special residence permit marked ‘EM/A' issued to teachers or military staff with special status attached
to an embassy)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention EM/C délivré aux enseignants ou militaires à statut spécial

attachés auprès d'un consulat

(special residence permit marked ‘EM/C' issued to teachers or military staff with special status attached
to a consulate)

— Titre de séjour spécial portant la mention EF/M délivré aux fonctionnaires internationaux domiciliés

à l'étranger

(special residence permit marked ‘EF/M' issued to international officials domiciled abroad)

— Monegasque permits

— Carte de séjour de résident temporaire de Monaco

(temporary resident's permit)

— Carte de séjour de résident ordinaire de Monaco

(ordinary resident's permit)

— Carte de séjour de résident privilégié de Monaco

(privileged resident's permit)

— Carte de séjour de conjoint de ressortissant monégasque

(residence permit for the spouse of a person of Monegasque nationality).

2. Aliens who are minors should be in possession of the following documents:

— Document de circulation pour étrangers mineurs

(Travel document for alien minors)

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— Titre d'identité républicain

(French Republic identity document)

— Visa de retour (sans condition de nationalité et sans présentation du titre de séjour, auquel ne sont pas soumis

les enfants mineurs)

(Return visas) (alien minors are not subject to nationality conditions or to production of residence permits)

— Passeport diplomatique/de service/ordinaire des enfants mineurs des titulaires d'une carte spéciale du ministère

des affaires étrangères revêtu d'un visa de circulation

(Diplomatic/service/ordinary passports for minors who are children of holders of a Special Pass issued by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs containing a travel visa).

3.

List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

Note 1:
It should be noted that acknowledgements of first-time applications for residence permits do not give entitlement to
entry without a visa. In contrast, acknowledgements of requests to renew residence permits, or to amend permits are
considered valid, when these are accompanied by the old permit.

Note 2:
The ‘attestation de fonctions' (certificate of appointment) issued by the protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs does not constitute a replacement for a residence permit. Holders must also be in possession of one of the
standard residence permits.

ITALY

— Carta di soggiorno (validità illimitata)

(Residence Permit) (unlimited validity)

— Permesso di soggiorno con esclusione delle sottoelencate tipologie:

(Residence permit with the exception of the following:)

1.

Permesso di soggiorno provvisorio per richiesta asilo politico ai sensi della Convenzione di Dublino

(Provisional residence permit for political asylum seekers pursuant to the Dublin Convention)

2.

Permesso di soggiorno per cure mediche

(Residence permit for medical purposes)

3.

Permesso di soggiorno per motivi di giustizia

(Residence permit for legal purposes)

— Carta d'identità MAE

(Identity Card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

— Mod. 1 (blu) Corpo diplomatico accreditato e consorti titolari di passaporto diplomatico

(Model 1 (blue) Accredited members of the diplomatic corps and their spouses who hold a diplomatic
passport)

— Mod. 2 (verde) Corpo consolare titolare di passaporto diplomatico

(Model 2 (green) Members of the consular corps who hold a diplomatic passport)

— Mod. 3 (arancione) Funzionari II FAO titolari di passaporto diplomatico, di servizio o ordinario

(Model 3 (orange) Category II FAO officials who hold a diplomatic, service or ordinary passport)

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— Mod. 4 (arancione) Impiegati tecnico-ammistrativi presso rappresentanze diplomatiche titolari di passaporto di

servizio

(Model 4 (orange) Technical and administrative staff of diplomatic representations who hold a service passport)

— Mod. 5 (arancione) Impiegati consolari titolari di passaporto di servizio

(Model 5 (orange) Consular staff who hold a service passport)

— Mod. 7 (grigio) Personnale di servizio presso rappresentanze diplomatiche titolare di passaporto di servizio

(Model 7 (grey) Domestic staff of diplomatic representations who hold a service passport)

— Mod. 8 (grigio) Personale di servizio presso rappresentanze consolari titolare di passaporto di servizio

(Model 8 (grey) Domestic staff of consular representations who hold a service passport)

— Mod. 11 (beige) Funzionari delle organizzazioni internazionali, consoli onorari, impiegati locali, personale di
internazionali

servizio assunto all'estero e venuto al seguito, familiari corpo diplomatico e organizzazioni
titolari di passaporto ordinario

(Model 11 (beige) Officials of international organisations, honorary consuls, local employees, domestic staff
the diplomatic corps and
recruited abroad who have followed their employer,
international organisations who hold an ordinary passport)

families of members of

NB: Models 6 (orange) and 9 (green) for, respectively, staff of international organisations who have no immunity
and foreign honorary consuls, are no longer issued and have been replaced by model 11. However,
these
documents remain valid until the expiry date stated on them.

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

LUXEMBOURG

— Carte d'identité d'étranger

(Alien's identity card)

— Autorisation de séjour provisoire apposée dans le passeport national

(Provisional residence authorisation affixed in national passports)

— Carte diplomatique délivrée par le ministère des affaires étrangères

(Diplomat's pass issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

— Titre de légitimation délivré par le ministère des affaires étrangères au personnel administratif et technique des

ambassades

(Certificate issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs embassy administrative and technical staff)

— Titre de légitimation délivré par

le ministère de la justice au personnel des institutions et organisations

internationales établies au Luxembourg

(Certificate issued by the Ministry for Justice to the staff of institutions and international organisations based in
Luxembourg)

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

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THE NETHERLANDS

1. The following types of aliens document:

— I

(Regulier bepaalde tijd)

(Regular fixed-term)

— II

(Regulier onbepaalde tijd)

(Regular indefinite)

— III

(Asiel bepaalde tijd)

(Asylum fixed-term)

— IV

(Asiel onbepaalde tijd)

(Asylum indefinite)

— EU/EER (Gemeenschapsonderdanen)

(EU nationals).

2. Het Geprivilegeerdendocument

(Privileged persons document)

Document issued to a group of ‘privileged persons' comprising members of the diplomatic corps, the consular
corps and certain international organisations, and members of their family.

— Visum voor terugkeer

(Return visa)

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

AUSTRIA

— Aufenthaltstitel in Form der Vignette entsprechend der Gemeinsamen Maßnahme der Europäischen Union vom

16. Dezember 1996 zur einheitlichen Gestaltung der Aufenthaltstitel

(Residence permit in the form of a sticker in accordance with the EU Joint Action of 16 December 1996
concerning a uniform format for residence permits)

(As from 1 January 1998 residence permits will be issued and extended in this form only. The following will be
entered under ‘Type of Permit':

Niederlassungsbewilligung
Aufenthaltsrecht' (Temporary residence permit).

(Permanent

residence

permit); Aufenthaltserlaubnis

(Residence

permit)

‘Befr.

— Vor dem 1.

Januar 1998 erteilte Aufenthaltstitel

im Rahmen der — auch ‘unbefristet' eingetragenen —

Gültigkeitsdauer:

Residence permits issued before 1 January 1998 remain valid for the period mentioned, some having been issued
for an indefinite period:

‘Wiedereinreise — Sichtvermerk' oder
Inlandsbehörden, aber auch von Vertretungsbehörden in Form eines Stempels ausgestellt;

‘Einreise — Sichtvermerk'; wurden bis 31. Dezember 1992 von

Re-entry visas or entry visas issued by the Austrian authorities until 31.12.1992, and in the form of a stamp by the
representing authorities;

‘Gewöhnlicher Sichtvermerk'; wurde vom 1.
ab 1. September 1996 entsprechend der Verordnung (EG) 1683/95 — ausgestellt;

Januar 1993 bis 31. Dezember 1997 in Form einer Vignette —

(Ordinary visa:
September 1996 in accordance with EU Regulation 1683/95)

issued between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 1997 in the form of a sticker – as from 1

‘Aufenthaltsbewilligung'; wurde vom 1. Januar 1993 bis 31. Dezember 1997 in Form einer speziellen Vignette
ausgestellt.

(Residence permit: issued between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 1997, in the form of a special sticker)

— Konventionsreisepass, ausgestellt ab 1. Januar 1993

(Travel document, issued as of 1 January 1993)

— Lichtbildausweis für Träger von Privilegien und Immunitäten in den Farben rot, gelb und blau, ausgestellt vom

Bundesministerium für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

(Identity card with photograph for the bearers of privileges and immunities in red, yellow and blue, issued by the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs)

— Lichtbildausweis im Kartenformat für Träger von Privilegien und Immunitäten in den Farben rot, gelb, blau, grün,

braun, grau und orange, ausgestellt vom Bundesministerium für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

(Identity card (in card format) with photograph for the bearers of privileges and immunities in red, yellow, blue,
greenish brown, grey and orange issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

— List of pupils participating in school trips within the European Union.

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The following are not valid as residence permits and therefore do not entitle the holder to visa-free entry into Austria:

— Lichtbildausweis für Fremde gemäß § 85 Fremdengesetz 1997

(Alien's identity card with photograph pursuant to paragraph 85 of the 1997 Aliens Act)

— Durchsetzungsaufschub und Abschiebungsaufschub nach Aufenthaltsverbot oder Ausweisung

(Deferral of enforcement and deferral of removal following refusal of a residence permit or expulsion)

— Bewilligung zur Wiedereinreise trotz bestehenden Aufenthaltsverbots, in Form eines Visums erteilt, jedoch als eine

solche Bewilligung gekennzeichnet

(Authorisation to re-enter, despite refusal of a residence permit, issued in the form of a visa indicating that it is an
authorisation of this kind)

— Vorläufige Aufenthaltsberechtigung gemäß § 19 Asylgesetz 1997 bzw. § 7 AsylG 1991

(Provisional residence permit pursuant to paragraph 19 of the 1997 Asylum Act or paragraph 7 of the 1991
Asylum Act)

— Befristete Aufenthaltsberechtigung gemäß § 15 Asylgesetz 1997 bzw. § 8 AsylG 1991, als Duldung des Aufenthalts

trotz abgelehnten Asylantrags

(Temporary residence permit pursuant
1991 Asylum Act, granting exceptional leave to remain despite rejection of the application for asylum).

the 1997 Asylum Act or paragraph 8 of

to paragraph 15 of

the

PORTUGAL

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity Card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Corpo consular, chefe de missão

(Consular corps, Head of mission)

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity Card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Corpo consular, funcionário de missão

(Consular corps, mission official)

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity Card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Pessoal auxiliar de missão estrangeira

(Auxiliary staff working in a foreign mission)

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Funcionário administrativo de missão estrangeira

(Administrative officer working in a foreign mission)

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Corpo diplomático, chefe de missão

(Diplomatic Corps, Head of mission)

— Cartão de Identidade (emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros)

(Identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Corpo diplomático, funcionário de missão

(Diplomatic Corps, mission official)

— Título de residência

(Residence permit)

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— Autorização de residência temporária

(Temporary residence authorisation)

— Autorizaçåo de residência permanente

(Permanent residence authorisation)

— Autorização de residência vitalícia

(Residence authorisation valid for life)

— Cartão de identidade de refugiado

(Refugee identity card)

— Autorização de residência por razões humanitárias

(Residence authorisation on humanitarian grounds)

— Cartão de residência de nacional de um estado-membro da Comunidade Europeia

(Residence permit of a national of an EC Member State)

— Cartão de residência temporária

(Temporary residence permit)

— Cartâo de residência

(Residence permit).

FINLAND

— Pysyvä oleskelulupa

(Permanent residence permit) in the form of a sticker

— Oleskelulupa tai oleskelulupa ja työlupa

(Temporary residence permit or temporary residence and work permit) in the form of a sticker clearly indicating
the expiry date and bearing one of the following codes:

A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, A.5

E.A.1, E.A.2, E.A.4, E.A.5 or

B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4

E.B.1, E.B.2, E.B.3, E.B.4 or

D.1 and D.2

— Oleskelulupa uppehållstillstånd

(Residence permit) in the form of a card issued to nationals of the Member States of the EU or the EEA and to
members of their families

— Henkilökortti A, B, C and D

(Identity card) — issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomatic, administrative and technical staff,
including members of their families

— Oleskelulupa diplomaattileimaus tai oleskelulupa virkaleimaus

(Residence permit)
‘diplomatic' (diplomaattileimaus) or ‘service' (virkaleimaus)

in the form of a sticker issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bearing the indication

— List of persons participating in a school trip within the European Union.

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SWEDEN

— Permanent

residence permit

in the form of a sticker bearing the words

‘Sverige bevis om permanent

uppehållstillstånd' (Sweden certificate of permanent residence) affixed to the passport

— Temporary residence permit in the form of a sticker bearing the words ‘Sverige uppehållstillstånd'

(Sweden

temporary residence permit) affixed to the passport

Sweden does not issue cards/documents for diplomats, but places a stamp in their passport (see 6693/01 VISA 25
COMIX 178).

ICELAND

— Tímabundið atvinnu- og dvalarleyfi

(Temporary work and residence permit)

— Dvalarleyfi með rétti til atvinnuþátttöku

(Residence permit giving the right to work)

— Óbundið dvalarleyfi

(Permanent residence permit)

— Leyfi til vistráðningar

(Au-pair's permit)

— Atvinnu- og dvalarleyfi námsmanns

(Student's work and residence permit)

— Óbundið atvinnu- og dvalarleyfi

(Permanent work and residence permit)

— Special residence permits issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

— Diplómatískt Persónuskilríki

(Diplomatic identity card)

— Persónuskilríki

(Identity card)

— Takmarkað dvalarleyfi fyrir varnarliðsmann, sbr. lög nr. 110/1951 og lög nr. 82/2000

(Temporary residence permit for civilian or military members of
dependants, in accordance with Law No 110/1951 and Law No 82/2000)

the United States' armed forces and their

— Takmarkað dvalarleyfi

(Temporary residence permit).

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NORWAY

— Oppholdstillatelse

(Residence permit)

— Arbeidstillatelse

(Work permit)

— Bosettingstillatelse

(Settlement permit/Permanent work and residence permit)

Residence permits issued before 25 March 2000 are distinguished by the presence of stamps (not stickers) in the
bearers' travel documents. For foreign nationals subject to a visa requirement, these stamps are accompanied by a
Norwegian visa sticker for the period of validity of the residence permit. Residence permits issued after Schengen is
brought into force on 25 March 2001 will have a sticker. If a foreign national's travel document has an old stamp in it,
this will remain valid until such time as the Norwegian authorities have to replace the stamps with the new sticker to
be affixed to the residence permit.

The abovementioned permits are not valid as travel documents. In cases where the foreign national needs a travel
document, one of the two following documents may be used as a supplement to the work, residence or settlement
permit:

— A refugee's travel document (Reisebevis — blue)

— An immigrant's passport (Utlendingspass — green).

The holder of one of these travel documents is guaranteed to be permitted to re-enter Norway while the document
remains valid.

— EEA card

issued to EEA nationals and members of their families who are third-country nationals. These cards are always
laminated.

— Identitetskort for diplomater

(Identity card for diplomats — red)

— Identitetskort for hjelpepersonale ved diplomatisk stasjon

(Identity card for auxiliary staff — brown)

— Identitetskort for administrativt og teknisk personale ved diplomatisk stasjon

(Identity card for administrative and technical staff — blue)

— Identitetskort for utsendte konsuler

(Identity card for consuls — green)

— Residence/Visa-sticker

issued to holders of diplomatic, service and official passports who are subject to the visa requirement and staff of
foreign missions who hold a national passport.

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ANNEX 5

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX 6

List of honorary consuls authorised to issue uniform visas in exceptional cases and on a temporary basis

In accordance with the decision taken by the Ministers and Secretaries of State at the meeting of 15 December 1992, all
the Schengen States accepted that the following honorary consul would be authorised to issue uniform visas for the
period specified below:

The current Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Nassau (Bahamas), until one of the Schengen States sets up a
Representation with career diplomats (1).

(1) The Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Nassau (Bahamas) is no longer authorised to issue uniform visas from 1 September

2003.

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Reference amounts determined annually by the national authorities for the crossing of borders.

ANNEX 7

BELGIUM

Belgian law lays down general provisions for the verification of adequate means of subsistence, without specifying any
mandatory rules.

The administrative practice is as follows:

— Aliens staying with a private individual

Proof of means of subsistence may be furnished by means of a letter of guarantee signed by the person
accommodating the alien in Belgium and authenticated by the municipal administration of his place of residence.

The declaration of liability covers the costs of the alien's stay, health care, accommodation and repatriation in the
event that the alien is unable to pay, so as to ensure that the public authorities do not have to bear them. The
declaration must be signed by a person who is solvent and, if this person is an alien, is in possession of a residence
permit or establishment permit.

If necessary, the alien may also be required to furnish proof of personal resources.

If he is without any financial credit at all, he must have access to approximately EUR 38 for each day of the
planned stay.

— Aliens staying at a hotel

If the alien is unable to furnish proof of any credit at all, he must have access to approximately EUR 50 for each
day of the planned stay.

In most cases, the person concerned must in addition produce a ticket (air ticket) enabling him to return to his
country of origin or residence.

DENMARK

Under the Danish Aliens Law, an alien entering Danish territory must have means adequate for his subsistence and for
the return journey.

In each case it is for the border control services at the point of entry to determine whether this is the case by
conducting a specific appraisal of the economic situation of the alien, taking account of information on his or her
possibilities with regard to accommodation and the return journey.

For the purpose of determining whether the alien has adequate means of subsistence, the administration has,
principle, set a figure of DKK 300 per 24 hours. This is the sum which the alien must have at his disposal.

in

In addition, the alien must be able to prove that he or she has adequate means for the return journey, for example in
the form of a return ticket.

GERMANY

Pursuant to Article 60(2) of the Aliens Act of 9 July 1990 (AuslG), an alien may be refused entry at the border if there
are grounds for removal.

This is the case if an alien is obliged to claim or claims social security benefit from the German State for himself, for
members of his family staying on German territory or for his dependants (Article 46(6) of the Aliens Act).

Reference amounts have not been set for use by border control officials. In practice, an amount of EUR 25 per day is
generally used as a basic reference. The alien must also have a return ticket or corresponding financial means.

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Nevertheless, prior to the decision to refuse entry to the alien, he must be granted the opportunity to produce, in a
timely and lawful fashion, the financial means necessary to provide for his stay on German territory, notably by
presenting:

— a legal guarantee from a German bank,

— a letter of guarantee from the host,

— a telegraphic money order,

— a guarantee deposited with the immigration authorities responsible for the stay.

GREECE

Ministerial decree No 3011/2/1f of 11 January 1992 fixes the amount for the means of subsistence which foreign
nationals, with the exception of nationals of the Member States of the European Community, must have at their
disposal if they wish to enter Greek territory.

Pursuant to the abovementioned ministerial decree, the amount of foreign currency enabling foreign nationals of
non-member countries of the European Community to enter Greece is fixed at the equivalent of EUR 20 in foreign
currency per person per day, and a minimum total amount of EUR 100.

The amount of foreign currency required per day is reduced by 50 % for minors who are members of the alien's family.

Nationals of non-Community countries which oblige Greek nationals to change currency at the borders are also subject
to this obligation in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.

SPAIN

Aliens must prove that they have the necessary means of subsistence. The minimum amount is given below:

(a)

for the costs of their stay in Spain:

EUR 30, or the equivalent in foreign currency, multiplied by the planned number of days of the stay in Spain and
by the number of family members travelling with the person concerned. Regardless of the planned duration of the
stay, the minimum amount for which he must provide proof must always be EUR 300 per person.

(b)

for their return to the state of origin or for transit via third states: the nontransferable and fixed-date ticket or
tickets, bearing the name, for the intended mode of transport.

Aliens must prove that they have the above means of subsistence either by producing them if they are in cash, or by
producing certified cheques, traveller's cheques, receipts, letters of credit or a bank certificate confirming the existence
of these means. In the absence of these documents, any other supporting documents recognised by the Spanish border
police authorities may be produced.

FRANCE

The reference amount for adequate means of subsistence for the planned duration of an alien's stay or for his transit via
France to a destination in a third state is equal to the amount of the guaranteed minimum wage in France (SMIC)
calculated daily on the basis of the rate fixed on 1 January of the current year.

This amount is regularly reassessed on the basis of the French cost of living index:

— automatically whenever the retail price index rises more than 2 %,

— by a government decision, after consultation with the national commission for collective bargaining, to grant a rise

higher than the rise in the retail price index.

As of 1 July 2002, the daily amount of the SMIC (minimum wage) is EUR 47,80.

Persons holding proof of accommodation (‘attestation d'accueil') must possess a minimum amount of money, equivalent
to half the SMIC, in order to stay in France. This amount is therefore EUR 23,90 per day.

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ITALY

Article 4(3) of the ‘Consolidated text of provisions governing immigration and the status of aliens' No 286 of
28 July 1998 states that Italy, in accordance with the obligations entered into by adherence to specific international
agreements, shall allow entry into its territory to aliens who can prove that they possess suitable documentation to
confirm the purpose and conditions of their residence and that they have sufficient means of subsistence for the
duration of their stay and, except in the case of residence permits for work purposes, for their return to the country of
origin. Means of subsistence are defined in the relevant directive issued by the Minister for the Interior. Aliens who do
not satisfy these requirements or who are considered a threat to national security or public order of the State or of one
of the countries with which Italy has signed agreements for the abolition of internal border controls and the free
movement of persons may not enter Italy, subject to the limits and derogations laid down in those agreements. The
directive in question, which was issued on 1 March 2000 and has the title ‘Definition of means of support for entry
and residence of aliens in the national territory', lays down that:

— the availability of means of support may be demonstrated by producing currency or equivalent bills of exchange or
bank guarantees or insurance policies guaranteeing payment, by means of documents attesting to prepaid services
or documents proving the availability of sources of income in the national territory,

— the monetary amounts laid down in the directive are to be reviewed annually, after application of the parameters
relating to average annual variation produced by ISTAT and calculated on the basis of the general consumer price
index for foodstuffs, drinks, transport and accommodation services,

— the alien must indicate that he has suitable accommodation in Italian territory and that he possesses the sum

needed for repatriation; he may also present a return ticket,

— the minimum means of support needed per person for the issue of a visa and for entry to Italian territory for the

purpose of tourism are defined in accordance with Table A below.

Table A

Table for determining the means of support required for entry to Italian territory for the purpose of
tourism

Duration of trip

Number of participants in trip

One participant

Two or more participants

(in EUR)

1 to 5 days

overall fixed sum

6 to 10 days

daily sum per person

11 to 20 days

fixed sum

plus

daily sum per person

more than 20 days

fixed sum

plus

daily sum per person

LUXEMBOURG

269,60

212,81

44,93

51,64

36,67

206,58

27,89

26,33

25,82

22,21

118,79

17,04

The law of Luxembourg does not provide for any reference amount for border controls. The official conducting the
check decides on a case-by-case basis whether an alien arriving at the border has adequate means of subsistence. In this
regard the official takes particular account of the purpose of the stay and the type of accommodation.

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THE NETHERLANDS

The amount which border control officials take as the basis when checking means of subsistence is currently EUR 34
per person per day.

This criterion is applied flexibly, since the required amount of the means of subsistence is determined on the basis of
the planned duration of the stay, the reason for the visit and the personal circumstances of the person concerned.

AUSTRIA

Pursuant to Article 52(2) Z 4 of the Aliens Act, aliens shall be refused entry at the border if they have no place of
residence in Austria and do not have sufficient means of subsistence to meet the costs of their stay and return.

However, there are no reference amounts for the above. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the
purpose, type and duration of the stay. Cash and, depending on individual circumstances, traveller's cheques, credit
cards, bank guarantees or letters of guarantee from solvent persons living in Austria may be accepted as proof.

PORTUGAL

Aliens must be in possession of the following amounts if they wish to enter or stay in Portugal:

— EUR 75 — for each entry

— EUR 40 — for each day spent on the territory

Aliens who are able to prove that their board and lodging are guaranteed for the duration of their stay may be
exempted from paying the above amounts.

FINLAND

The amount which border control officers take as the basis when checking means of subsistence is at present EUR 40
per person per day.

SWEDEN

Swedish law does not lay down a reference amount for the crossing of borders. The border control officer decides on a
case-by-case basis whether the alien has adequate means of subsistence.

ICELAND

Under Icelandic law, aliens must prove that they have enough money to meet their needs in Iceland and to make the
return journey. In practice, the reference amount is ISK 4 000 per person. If the expenses connected with the stay are
borne by a third party, the amount is halved. The total minimum amount is ISK 20 000 for each entry.

NORWAY

Under Article 27(d) of the Norwegian Immigration Law, any foreign national who is unable to prove that he or she has
adequate funds for his or her stay in the Kingdom and for the return journey, or that he or she can count on such
funds, may be refused entry at the border.

The amounts deemed necessary are fixed individually and decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis. Account is taken
of the length of stay, whether the foreign national will be staying with family or friends, whether he or she has a ticket
for the return journey and whether a guarantee has been given for the stay (as an indication, an amount of NOK 500
per day is deemed to be adequate for visitors who are not staying with relations or friends).

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COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1683/95

of 29 May 1995

laying down a uniform format for visas

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, in particular Article 100c(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas Article 100c(3) of the Treaty requires the Council to
adopt measures relating to a uniform format for visas before
1 January 1996;

Whereas the introduction of a uniform format for visas is an
important step towards the harmonisation of visa policy;
whereas Article 7a of the Treaty stipulates that the internal
market shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in
which the free movement of persons is ensured in accordance
with the provisions of the Treaty; whereas this step is also to
be regarded as forming a coherent whole with measures falling
within Title VI of the Treaty on European Union;

standards, notably as

Whereas it is essential that the uniform format for visas should
the necessary information and meet very high
contain all
technical
safeguards against
regards
counterfeiting and falsification; whereas it must also be suited
to use by all
the Member States and bear universally
recognisable security features which are clearly visible to the
naked eye;

secret; whereas

Whereas this Regulation only lays down such specifications as
these specifications need to be
are not
supplemented by further specifications which must remain
secret in order to prevent counterfeiting and falsification and
which may not include personal data or references to such
data; whereas powers to adopt further specifications should be
conferred on the Commission;

to ensure that the information referred to is not
Whereas,
made available to more persons than necessary,
is also
essential that each Member State should designate not more
than one body having responsibility for printing the uniform
format for visas, with Member States remaining free to change
for security reasons, each
the body,
Member State must communicate the name of the competent
body to the Commission and the other Member States;

if need be; whereas,

it

Whereas, to be effective, this Regulation should apply to all
visas covered by Article 5; whereas Member States should be
free also to use the uniform visa format for visas which can be
used for purposes other than those covered by Article 5
provided differences visible to the naked eye are incorporated
to make confusion with the uniform visa impossible;

Whereas, with regard to the personal data to be entered on the
uniform format for visas in accordance with the Annex hereto,
States'
compliance
data-protection provisions
relevant
Community legislation,

ensured with Member
as with the
as well

should

be

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Visas issued by the Member States in conformity with Article 5
shall be produced in the form of a uniform format (sticker).
They shall conform to the specifications set out in the Annex.

Article 2

Further technical specifications which render the visa difficult
to counterfeit or falsify shall be laid down in accordance with
the procedure set out in Article 6.

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Article 3

1.
The specifications referred to in Article 2 shall be secret
and not be published. They shall be made available only to
bodies designated by the Member States as responsible for
printing and to persons duly authorised by a Member State or
the Commission.

2.
Each Member State shall designate one body having
responsibility for printing visas. It shall communicate the name
of that body to the Commission and the other Member States.
The same body may be designated by two or more Member
States for this purpose. Each Member State shall be entitled to
change its designated body. It shall
inform the Commission
and the other Member States accordingly.

Article 4

extensive
to the
1. Without prejudice
provisions concerning data protection, an individual to whom
a visa is issued shall have the right to verify the personal
particulars entered on the visa and, where appropriate, to ask
for any corrections or deletions to be made.

relevant more

2.
No information in machine-readable form shall be given
on the uniform format for visas unless it also appears in the
boxes described in points 6 to 12 of the Annex, or unless it is
mentioned in the relevant travel document.

Article 5

For the purposes of this Regulation a ‘visa' shall mean an
authorisation given by or a decision taken by a Member State
which is required for entry into its territory with a view to:

— an intended stay in that Member State or

in several

Member States of no more than three months in all,

— transit through the territory or airport transit zone of that

Member State or several Member States.

Article 6

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee
2.
composed of the representatives of the Member States and
chaired by the representative of the Commission.

the Commission shall submit

The representative of
to the
committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee
shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which
the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the
matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid
down in Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions
which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the
Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member
States within the committee shall be weighted in the manner
set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.

3.

(a) The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged
if they are in accordance with the opinion of the
committee.

(b)

the measures envisaged are not

in accordance
If
with the opinion of the committee, or if no opinion
is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay,
submit to the Council a proposal relating to the
measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a
qualified majority.

If, on the expiry of a period of two months, the
Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall
be adopted by the Commission, save where the
Council has decided against the said measures by a
simple majority.

Article 7

Where Member States use the uniform visa format
for
purposes other than those covered by Article 5, appropriate
measures must be taken to ensure that confusion with the visa
referred to in Article 5 is not possible.

Article 8

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.

1. Where reference is made to the procedure defined in this
Article, the following provisions shall apply.

Article 1 shall become applicable six months after
adoption of the measures referred to in Article 2.

the

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 May 1995.

For the Council

The President

H. de CHARETTE

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ANNEX

1. A sign consisting of nine ellipses in a fan-shape shall appear in this space.

Security features

2. An optically variable mark (‘kinegram' or equivalent) shall appear in this space. Depending on the angle of view, 12

stars, the letter ‘E' and a globe become visible in various sizes and colours.

3. The logo consisting of a letter or letters indicating the issuing Member State (or ‘BNL' in the case of the Benelux
countries, namely Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) with a latent image effect shall appear in this space.
This logo shall appear light when held flat and dark when turned by 90°. The following logos shall be used: A for
Austria, BNL for Benelux, D for Germany, DK for Denmark, E for Spain, F for France, FIN for Finland, GR for
Greece, I for Italy, IRL for Ireland, P for Portugal, S for Sweden, UK for the United Kingdom.

4. The word ‘VISA' in capital letters shall appear in the middle of this space in optically variable colouring. Depending

on the angle of view, it shall appear green or red.

5. This box shall contain the number of the visa, which shall be pre-printed and shall begin with the letter or letters

indicating the issuing country as described in point 3 above. A special type shall be used.

Sections to be completed

6. This box shall begin with the words ‘valid for'. The issuing authority shall indicate the territory or territories for

which the visa is valid.

7. This box shall begin with the word ‘from' and the word ‘until' shall appear further along the line. The issuing

authority shall indicate here the period of validity of the visa.

8. This box shall begin with the words number of entries and further along the line the words ‘duration of stay' (i.e.

duration of applicants' intended stay) and again ‘days' shall appear.

9. This box shall begin with the words ‘issued in' and shall be used to indicate the place of issue.

10. This box shall begin with the word ‘on' (after which the date of issue shall be filled in by the issuing authority) and
further along the line the words ‘number of passport' shall appear (after which the holder's passport number shall
appear).

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11. This box shall begin with the words ‘type of visa'. The issuing authority shall indicate the category of visa in

conformity with Articles 5 and 7 of this Regulation.

12. This box shall begin with the word ‘remarks'. It shall be used by the issuing authority to indicate any further
information which is considered necessary, provided that it complies with Article 4 of this Regulation. The
following two and a half lines shall be left empty for such remarks.

13. This box shall contain the relevant machine-readable information to facilitate external border controls.

The paper shall be pastel green with red and blue markings.

The words designating the boxes shall appear in English and French. The issuing State may add a third official
Community language. However, the word ‘visa'
language of the
Community.

in the top line may appear in any one official

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COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 334/2002

of 18 February 2002

amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 62(2)(b)(iii) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

(7)

(8)

Whereas:

Common standards relating to the implementation of
the uniform format for visas are essential to meet high
technical standards and to facilitate detection of forged
or falsified visa stickers.

The powers to adopt such common standards should be
conferred on the Committee set up by Article 6 of
Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 which should be adapted
to take account of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28
June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise
of
the
Commission (4).

implementing

conferred

powers

on

Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (3)
uniform format for visas.

laid down a

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 should therefore be
amended.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Measure No 38 of the Vienna Action Plan, adopted by
the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 3 December
states that attention must be given to new
1998,
technical developments
to ensure, where
in order
appropriate, greater security in the uniform format for
visas.

Conclusion No 22 of the Tampere European Council of
15 and 16 October 1999 states that a common active
policy on visas and false documents should be further
developed.

The establishment of a uniform visa format
essential element in the harmonisation of visa policy.

is an

It is necessary to make provision for the establishment
of common standards relating to the implementation of
the uniform format
in particular common
rules on the technical methods and standards to be used
for filling in the form.

for visas,

The integration of a photograph produced according to
high security standards is a first step towards the use of
elements establishing a more reliable link between the
uniform format visa and the holder as an important
contribution to ensuring that the uniform format for
visas is protected even against
fraudulent use. The
specifications
in ICAO (International Civil
Aviation Organisation) document 9303 on machine
readable visas will be taken into account.

set out

(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 310.
(2) Opinion delivered on 12 December 2001 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(3) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p.1.

(10)

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation to make
the uniform format for visas more secure do not affect
the rules currently governing recognition of the validity
of travel documents.

The conditions governing entry into the territory of the
Member States or the issue of visas do not affect the
rules currently governing recognition of the validity of
travel documents.

(12) As regards the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of
Norway, this Regulation constitutes a development of
the provisions of the Schengen acquis falling within the
area referred to in Article 1, point B, of Council
Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on certain
arrangements for
the Agreement
the application of
concluded by the Council of the European Union and
the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway
concerning the association of those two States with the
the
implementation, application and development of
Schengen acquis (5).

(13)

In accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to
the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty
establishing the European Community,
the United
Kingdom gave notice, by letter of 4 December 2001, of
its wish to take part in the adoption and application of
this Regulation.

(4) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(5) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.

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(14)

In accordance with Article 1 of the Protocol on the
position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to
the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty
establishing the European Community,
Ireland is not
participating in the adoption of this Regulation. As a
result, and without prejudice to Article 4 of the said
Protocol, the provisions of this Regulation do not apply
to Ireland,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 is hereby amended as follows:

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

(*) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.'

3. The following subparagraph shall be added to Article 8:

‘The integration of the photograph provided for in point
2a of the Annex shall be implemented at the latest five
years after the adoption of the technical measures provided
for the adoption of this measure in Article 2.'

4. The following point shall be inserted in the Annex:

‘2 a. An integrated photograph produced according to

high security standards.'

1. Article 2 shall be replaced by the following:

Article 2

‘Article 2

Further

technical

the uniform
1.
format
following shall be
relating to the
established in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 6(2):

specifications

for visas

for

(a) additional

elements

requirements
and
including enhanced anti-forgery, counterfeiting and
falsification standards;

security

(b) technical standards and methods to be used for the

filling in of the uniform visa.

The colours of the visa sticker may be changed in

2.
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 6(2).'

2. Article 6 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

the
The first sentence of Annex 8 of
Common Consular Instructions and Annex 6 of
the final
version of the Common Manual as they stand following the
Decision of the Schengen Executive Committee of 28 April
1999 (1) shall be replaced by the following:

the final version of

‘The technical and security features for the visa sticker
format are contained in, or adopted on the basis of,
Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 of 29 May 1995
laying down a uniform format for visas (*) as last amended
by Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 (**).

(*) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1.
(**) OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 7.'

Article 3

This Regulation shall not affect the powers of the Member
States regarding recognition of States and territorial entities
and passports, identity documents and travel documents issued
by their authorities.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC (*) shall apply.

Article 4

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision
1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.

This Regulation shall enter
into force on the 20th day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States
in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2002.

For the Council

The President

J. PIQUÉ I CAMPS

(1) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 317.

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ANNEX 9

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX 10

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX 11

Criteria for determining whether a travel document may bear a visa

The travel documents described below shall be considered valid for the purpose of Article 17(3a) of the Convention
implementing the Schengen Agreement, provided that they confirm the holder's identity and, in the cases mentioned
under (a) and (b) below, the holder's nationality or citizenship and provided that they fulfil the conditions in Articles 13
and 14.

(a) Travel documents issued in accordance with international rules applied by countries or regional and local bodies

recognised by all Member States.

(b) Passports or travel documents which, although issued by countries or international bodies not recognised by all
Member States, guarantee the alien's return, provided that the Executive Committee recognises them as valid
documents to which to affix a joint visa (which may alternatively be affixed to a separate sheet). The unanimous
approval of the Executive Committee shall be required for:

— the list of these passports or travel documents,

— the list of countries or entities which are not recognised and which have issued these documents.

These lists, if compiled, shall serve only to meet the requirements for implementing the Schengen Convention and
shall not preclude Member States from recognising countries or regional and local entities that are not recognised.

(c) Travel documents for refugees issued in accordance with the Convention of 1951 on the Status of Refugees.

(d) Travel documents for stateless persons issued in accordance with the Convention of 1954 on the Status of Stateless

Persons (1).

(1) Portugal and Austria, although not Contracting Parties to this Convention, accept that travel documents issued in accordance with

this Convention may bear the uniform visa issued by the Schengen States.

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Fees to be charged, corresponding to the administrative costs of processing the visa application (1)

ANNEX 12

Type of visa

Fees to be charged (in EUR)

Airport transit visa (Category A)

Transit visa (Category B)

Short-stay visa (one to 90 days) (Category C)

Multiple entry visa, valid for one to five years (Category C)

Visa with limited territorial validity
(Categories B and C)

Visa issued at the border
(Categories B and C)

Group visa (Categories A, B and C)

National long-stay visa (Category D)

35 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)
This visa may be issued free of charge.

EUR 35 + EUR 1 per person (1)

The amount shall be fixed by the Member States, who
may decide to issue these visas free of charge (1).

National long-stay visa valid concurrently as a short-stay
visa (Category D+C)

The amount shall be fixed by the Member States, who
may decide to issue these visas free of charge (1).

(1) In accordance with Article 2 of Council Decision 2003/454/EC of 13 June 2003 (OJ L 152, 20.6.2003, p. 83).

‘This Decision shall apply from 1 July 2005 at the latest.
Member States may apply this Decision before 1 July 2005, provided that they notify the General Secretariat of the Council of the
date from which they are in a position to do so.'

These fees are to be charged in Euro,
application is made.

Rules:

in US dollars or in the national currency of the third country where the

I.

II.

These fees shall be paid in a convertible currency or in the national currency on the basis of the official exchange
rates in force.

In individual cases, the amount of fees to be charged may be reduced or waived in accordance with national law
when this measure serves to protect cultural interests, in the field of foreign policy, development policy or other
areas of vital public interest.

III. Group visas are issued in accordance with national law for a maximum of 30 days.

(1) In accordance with Article 3 of Council Decision 2002/44/EC of 20 December 2001 (OJ L 20, 23.1.2002, p. 5):

This Decision shall apply as from 1 July 2004 at the latest.

‘1.
2. Member States may apply this Decision before 1 July 2004, provided that they notify the General Secretariat of the Council

3.

of the date from which they are in a position to do so.
If all the Member States apply this Decision before 1 July 2004, the General Secretariat of the Council shall publish in the
Official Journal of the European Communities the date from which the last Member State applied the Decision.'

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ANNEX 13

Filling in visa-stickers

Note: Note: as a general rule, visas can be issued at the earliest three months before they are first used.

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AIRPORT TRANSIT VISAS (ATVs)

It is pointed out that only nationals of certain ‘sensitive' countries (see Annex 3) are subject to an ATV. ATV holders
may not leave the international section of the airport through which they travel in transit.

Example 1

SINGLE-ENTRY AIRPORT TRANSIT VISA

— Type of visa: ATVs bear the identification code A.

— The single-entry ATV gives access to one country only (France in this example).

— The duration of validity is calculated from the date of departure (e.g. 01.02.00); the term is fixed by adding a

period of grace of 7 days in case the visa holder postpones departure.

— ATVs do not confer the right to stay, the heading ‘duration of stay' should be deleted with XXX.

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Example 2a

DUAL ATV

(valid for one country)

— The dual ATV authorises airport transit for both outward and return journeys.

— The duration of the visa's validity is calculated as follows: date of the return journey plus 7 days (in the example

shown: Return date 15.02.00).

— If the intention is to transit through one airport only, the name of the country concerned is entered under the
heading ‘valid for' (Example 2a). If transit is made by way of exception via two different Schengen countries on the
outward and return journeys, the visa is marked ‘Schengen States' (see Example 2b below).

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Example 2b

DUAL ATV

(valid for several countries)

— ‘Schengen States' should be entered under the heading ‘valid for' to allow transit via two airports situated in two

different countries.

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Example 3

MULTIPLE ATV

(should only be issued in exceptional cases)

— In the case of multiple ATVs (allowing several transits) the term of the visa's validity is calculated as follows: date

of first departure plus three months.

— For the entry under ‘valid for', the same rule applies as to dual ATVs.

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TRANSIT VISAS

Example 4

SINGLE-ENTRY TRANSIT VISA

— Type of visa:

the transit visa bears the identification code B. It is advisable to add the word ‘TRANSIT'.

— The duration of validity is calculated from the date of departure (e.g. 01.02.00). The term is fixed as follows: date
of departure plus (five days maximum) plus seven days (period of grace in case the visa holder postpones
departure).

— The duration of the transit may not exceed five days.

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Example 5

DUAL-ENTRY TRANSIT VISA

— The duration of validity: when the date of different transit journeys is not known, which is generally the case, the

period of validity is calculated as follows: date of departure plus six months.

— The duration of the transit may not exceed five days.

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Example 6

MULTIPLE-ENTRY TRANSIT VISA

— The duration of validity is calculated in the same way as for dual entry transit visas (see Example 5).

— The duration of the stay may not exceed five days in transit.

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SHORT-STAY VISAS

Example 7

SINGLE-ENTRY SHORT-STAY VISA

— Type of visa: the short-stay visa bears the identification code C.

— The duration of the visa's validity is calculated as follows: from the date of departure (e.g. 01.02.00). The period is

fixed as follows: date of departure plus duration of stay plus period of grace of 15 days.

— The duration of the stay may not exceed 90 days in any six-month period (30 days in the example shown here).

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Example 8

MULTIPLE-ENTRY SHORT-STAY VISA

— The duration of validity is calculated from the date of departure plus six months maximum on the basis of the

documentary evidence provided.

— The duration of the stay may not exceed 90 days in any six-month period (in the example shown here, but the
duration may also be less). The duration of the stay is that of the cumulative total of successive stays. This is also
based on the documentary evidence provided.

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Example 9

SHORT-STAY TRAVEL VISA

— This is a multiple-entry short-stay visa which is valid for over six months, one, two, three or five years in

exceptional cases (e.g.VIPs). In the example shown here the validity is three years.

— Same rules apply to the duration of the stay as in Example 8 (90 days maximum).

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VISAS WITH LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY (LTV VISAS)

The LTV visa can be either a short-stay visa or a transit visa.

The limitation of validity may apply to one or to several States.

Example 10

SHORT-STAY LTV VISA, A SINGLE COUNTRY ONLY.

— In this example, the territorial validity is limited to a single country, i.e. France.

— The short-stay LTV visa bears the identification code C (in the same way as Example 7).

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Example 11

SHORT-STAY LTV VISA, VALIDITY LIMITED TO SEVERAL COUNTRIES

In this case, the ‘valid for' heading shall be filled in:

— either by the codes indicating the countries for which the visa is valid (Belgium: B, Denmark: DK, Germany: D,
Greece: GR, Spain: E, France: F, Italy: I, Luxembourg: L, Netherlands: NL, Austria: A, Portugal: P, Finland: FIN,
Sweden: S, Iceland: IS, Norway: N. In the case of the Benelux countries: BNL). In the example shown, the territorial
validity is limited to France and Spain.

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— or by the words ‘Schengen States' followed in brackets by the minus sign and the codes of the Member States for
the territories of which the visa is not valid. In the example shown, the visa is valid for the territory of all the
Member States applying the Schengen acquis except France and Spain.

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Example 12

TRANSIT LTV VISA, ONE COUNTRY

— The transit visa bears the identification code B under the heading for the type of visa.

— In the example shown, the visa is limited to French territory.

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ACCOMPANYING PERSONS

Example 13

— In this case, one or more children and in exceptional circumstances, a spouse travel on one passport.

— If one or more children travelling on the travel document are covered by the visa the heading ‘passport number' is
followed by + nX indicating the number of children, and if a spouse is travelling on the passport, by + Y. In the
example shown here (single-entry, short-stay visa, with a duration of stay 30 days), the visa is issued for the
passport holder, three children and the passport holder's spouse.

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VISA ISSUED BY REPRESENTATION

Example 14

The above visa was issued by a consular post of a Schengen State representing another Schengen State.

In this case, under the heading ‘Remarks', the letter ‘R' must be entered, followed by the country code of the country on
whose behalf the visa was issued.

The country codes to be used are as follows:

Belgium:
Denmark:
Germany:
Greece:
Spain:
France:
Italy:
Luxembourg:
The Netherlands:
Austria:
Portugal:
Finland:
Sweden:
Iceland:
Norway:

B
DK
D
GR
E
F
I
L
NL
A
P
FIN
S
IS
N

In the above example, the Belgian Embassy in Brazzaville issued a visa on behalf of Spain.

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NATIONAL LONG-STAY VISA VALID CONCURRENTLY AS A SHORT-STAY VISA

Example 15

— In this case, the code of the country which issued the long-stay visa plus the words ‘Schengen States' are to be

entered after the ‘VALID FOR' heading.

— This example shows a national long-stay visa issued by Greece and valid concurrently as a uniform short-stay visa.

— A long-stay visa valid concurrently as a short-stay visa bears the identification code D + C.

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SUMMARY

‘VALID FOR'

‘TYPE'

‘NUMBER OF
ENTRIES'

‘FROM … TO'

‘MAXIMUM
DURATION
OF EACH
STAY'
(in days)

Airport tran-
sit visa
(ATV)

SCHENGEN
STATES
or
FRANCE
(for example)

Transit visa

Short-stay
visa

SCHENGEN
STATES
or
FRANCE
(for example)

SCHENGEN
STATES
or
FRANCE
(for example)

A

B

01

02

Date of departure

Date of departure

MULT (1)

Date of first departure

Date of departure plus seven
days

XXX

Date of return plus seven
days

Date of first departure plus
number of months
authorised (maximum three
months)

01

02

Date of departure

Date of first departure

MULT (1)

Date of first departure

Date of departure plus
duration of stay plus seven
days

from one to
five

Date of first departure plus
number of months
authorised (maximum six
months)

C

01

Date of departure

Date of departure plus
duration of stay plus 15 days

from one to
90

MULT (2)

Date of first departure

Date of first departure plus
number of months
authorised (maximum five
years)

Long-stay
valid concur-
rently as a
short-stay
visa

HELLAS
(for example)
+ SCHENGEN
STATES

D + C

01

MULT (2)

(1) MULT indicates multiple journeys, i.e. more than two entries.
(2) MULT indicates multiple journeys, i.e. more than one entry.

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ANNEX 14

Rules and procedures governing information to be sent by Contracting Parties when visas with limited
territorial validity are issued, when the period of validity of uniform visas is cancelled, revoked or reduced
and when national residence permits are issued

1.

INFORMATION WHEN ISSUING VISAS WITH LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY

1.1.

General conditions

In order to obtain authorisation to enter the national territory of Schengen Contracting Parties, third-country
nationals should in principle fulfil the conditions laid down in Article 5(1) of the Convention implementing the
Schengen Agreement (hereinafter: the Schengen Convention).

If a third-country national does not fulfil all these conditions, entry or the issue of a visa shall be refused except
where a Contracting Party considers it necessary to derogate from this rule on humanitarian grounds, on
grounds of national
In such cases, the Contracting Party
concerned may issue a visa with limited territorial validity (LTV) only and must inform the other Contracting
Parties (Articles 5(2) and 16 of the Schengen Convention).

interest, or because of international obligations.

In principle, short-stay LTVs issued in accordance with the Schengen Convention and the Common Consular
Instructions on visas, Chapter V(3) are subject to the following conditions:

(a) LTVs are issued by way of exception. The conditions under which this type of visa is issued must be

carefully examined on a case-by-case basis;

(b)

it should not be expected that the Schengen Contracting Parties will use and abuse the possibility to issue
LTVs; this would not be in keeping with the purpose and objectives of Schengen. Given that the number of
LTVs being issued will most probably be small, it is not necessary to provide for an automated procedure
for informing the other Contracting Parties.

1.2.

Rules of procedure

When drawing up rules of procedure governing the information to be sent by Contracting Parties when issuing
LTVs, a distinction should be made between visas issued by diplomatic and consular representations and visas
issued by the border authorities. The rules of procedure in force are as follows:

1.2.1.

Issue of visas by diplomatic and consular representations

In general, the rules laid down for the provisional arrangements for consultation with the central authorities
(Article 17(2) of the Schengen Convention shall apply mutatis mutandis to the information procedure used by
the other Contracting Parties (see Doc. SCH/II-Visa (94) 7). Where different rules are used, these shall be notified
by the Contracting Parties concerned. In general, information shall be sent within 72 hours.

1.2.2.

Issue of visas by the border authorities

In this case, information shall be sent within 72 hours to the central authorities of the other Contracting Parties.

1.2.3. The Contracting Parties must designate which contact points should receive this information.

1.2.4. When setting up an automated procedure to enable consultation between the central authorities (Article 17(2),
of the Schengen Convention), this shall include a provision ensuring that other Contracting Parties are informed
of the issue of an LTV where the LTV is issued as a result of an objection to the issue of a Schengen visa on the
part of one (or more) Contracting Party/Parties), in the framework of consultation. Where LTVs are issued in
other circumstances, this procedure cannot be used for sending information between States.

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1.2.5. The following information shall be sent to the Contracting Parties:

Surname, first name, and date of birth of visa holder

Nationality of visa holder

Date and place of issue of LTV

Reasons for issuing visas with limited territorial validity:

— humanitarian grounds,

— grounds of national interest,

— international obligations,

— travel document which is not valid in all Contracting Parties,

— second issue of a visa within a six-month period,

— in emergencies, there was no consultation with the central authorities,

— the central authorities of a Contracting Party raised objections during consultation.

2.

CANCELLING, REVOKING AND REDUCING THE DURATION OF VALIDITY OF A UNIFORM VISA

In accordance with the principles adopted by the Committee Executive when cancelling, revoking and reducing
the duration of a uniform visa's validity (SCH/Com-ex (93) 24), the following information must be sent to the
other Contracting Parties:

2.1.

Cancelling visas

The aim in cancelling a Schengen visa is to prevent persons from entering the territory of the Contracting
Parties when it becomes evident after a visa has been issued that these persons do not fulfil the conditions
warranting the issue of a visa.

Contracting Parties which cancel a visa issued by another Contracting Party shall in principle inform the central
authorities of the issuing State within 72 hours.

This notification shall contain the following information:

Surname, first name, and date of birth of visa holder

Nationality of visa holder

Type and number of travel document

Number of the visa sticker

Category of visa

Date and place of visa issue

Date and reasons for cancellation.

2.2.

Revoking visas

Revoking a visa permits cancellation of the remaining duration of its validity after entry to the territory.

A Contracting Party which revokes a uniform visa shall inform the issuing Contracting Party in principle within
72 hours. This notification shall contain the same information as mentioned under point 2.1.

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2.3.

Reducing the duration of a visa's validity

When a Schengen State reduces the duration of validity of a visa issued by another Contracting Party, it shall
inform this Contracting Party's central authorities in principle within 72 hours. This notification shall contain
the same information as mentioned under point 2.1.

2.4.

Procedure

The information sent to the Contracting Party which issued the visa when the duration of its validity is
cancelled, revoked or reduced shall in principle be sent to the central authority designated by this Contracting
Party.

3.

INFORMATION ON NATIONAL RESIDENCE PERMITS (ARTICLE 25)

Article 25(1) lays down that where a Contracting Party considers issuing a residence permit to an alien for
whom an alert has been issued for the purposes of refusing entry, it shall first consult the issuing Contracting
Party and shall take account of its interests: the residence permit shall be issued for substantive reasons only,
notably on humanitarian grounds or by reason of international commitments.

The second subparagraph in Article 25(1) provides that the Contracting Party issuing the alert shall withdraw
the alert, but may put the alien concerned on its national list of alerts.

The application of the provisions mentioned above therefore involves two instances of information transmission
between the Contracting Party intending to issue the residence permit and the Contracting Party issuing the
alert:

— prior consultation with the Contracting Party issuing the alert to take account of its interests, and

— information on the issue of the residence permit, so that the Contracting Party issuing the alert can

withdraw it.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 25(2) of the Schengen Convention, consultation of the issuing
Contracting Party is also necessary if it becomes evident only a posteriori, i.e. after the residence permit has
been issued, that an alert on the holder of the permit has been issued for the purpose of refusing entry.

the underlying principles of

In view of
the Schengen Convention, the issue of a residence permit to a
third-country national for whom an alert has been issued for the purpose of refusing entry by one of the
Contracting Parties shall also be limited to exceptional circumstances.

With regard to the communication referred to in Article 25 of the Convention, such a procedure is closely
connected with the functioning of the Schengen Information System (SIS). The possibility of transmitting
information via the forthcoming SIRENE procedure should be examined.

The rules of procedure set out in this note shall be re-examined from the point of view of their practical
applicability at the latest twelve months after the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement has been
brought into force.

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Specimen harmonised forms providing proof of invitation, sponsorship and accommodation drafted by the
Contracting Parties

ANNEX 15

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ANNEX 16

Specimen harmonised uniform visa application form

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COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 693/2003

of 14 April 2003

establishing a specific Facilitated Transit Document (FTD), a Facilitated Rail Transit Document
(FRTD) and amending the Common Consular Instructions and the Common Manual

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 62(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In order to prepare accession of new Member States, the
Community should take into account specific situations,
which may occur as a result of the enlargement and set
legislation in order to avoid future
out
problems in relation with the crossing of the external
border.

the relevant

of

third

The Community should address in particular the new
situation
nationals who must
necessarily cross the territory of one or several Member
States in order to travel between two parts of their own
country which are not geographically contiguous.

country

A Facilitated Transit Document (FTD) and a Facilitated
Rail Transit Document (FRTD) should be established for
this specific case of transit by land.

(1) Not yet published in the Official Journal.
(2) Opinion delivered on 8 April 2003 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

The FTD/FRTD are to constitute documents having the
value of transit visas authorising their holders to enter
in order to pass through the territories of Member
the
States
Schengen acquis concerning the crossing of external
borders.

in accordance with the provisions of

The conditions and the procedures for obtaining these
documents
facilitated in line with the
provisions of the Schengen acquis.

should be

Penalties, as provided for in national
law, should be
imposed on the holder of the FTD/FRTD in case of
misuse of the scheme.

Since the objective of the proposed action, namely the
recognition of FTD/FRTD, issued by one Member State,
by the other Member States bound by the provisions of
the Schengen acquis concerning the crossing of external
borders cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member
States and can therefore by reason of the scale of the
action be better achieved at Community level,
the
Community may adopt measures,
in accordance with
the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of
the Treaty.
In accordance with the principle of
this
proportionality,
Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in
order to achieve this objective.

in that Article,

set out

as

(8)

A uniform format for FTD and FRTD is established in
Regulation (EC) No 694/2003 (3).

(3) See page 102 of this Official Journal.

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The Common Consular
Common Manual (2) should be amended accordingly.

Instructions (1)

and

the

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(9)

(10)

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on
the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and to the Treaty establishing the
European Community, Denmark is not taking part in
the adoption of this Regulation, and is not bound by it
or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation
builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of
the Treaty establishing the
Title IV of Part Three of
European Community, Denmark shall,
in accordance
with Article 5 of the said Protocol, decide within a
period of six months after the Council has adopted this
Regulation whether it will implement it in its national
law.

(11) As

regards

Iceland and Norway,

this Regulation
constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen
acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded
by the Council of the European Union and the Republic
of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the
association of those two States with the implementation,
application and development of the Schengen acquis (3),
which fall within the area referred to in Article 1(B) of
Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on
that
certain arrangements
Agreement (4).

application of

the

for

(12)

(13)

This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions
of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom
does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision
2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the
Schengen acquis (5); the United Kingdom is therefore not
taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or
subject to its application.

This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions
of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take
part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC
of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to
take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen
acquis (6);
in its
taking part
Ireland is therefore not
adoption and is not bound by it or subject
to its
application.

(14)

This Regulation constitutes an act building on the
Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the
meaning of Article 3(2) of the Act of Accession and will
therefore only become applicable after the lifting of the
internal border controls,

(1) OJ C 313, 16.12.2002, p. 1. Instructions amended by Regulation

(EC) No 415/2003 (OJ L 64, 7.3.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ C 313, 16.12.2002, p. 97.
(3) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
(4) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.
(5) OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.
(6) OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20.

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Definition

1.
This
Document
(FRTD) for the purpose of facilitated transit.

Regulation
Transit
(FTD) and a Facilitated Rail Transit Document

establishes

Facilitated

a

2.
Facilitated transit shall mean the specific and direct
transit by land of a third country national who must
necessarily cross the territory of one or several Member States
in order to travel between two parts of his own country which
are not geographically contiguous.

Article 2

Specific authorisation (FTD/FRTD)

1.
The FTD is a specific authorisation allowing for a
facilitated transit, which may be issued by Member States for
multiple entries by whatever means of land transport.

2.
The FRTD is a specific authorisation allowing for
facilitated transit, which may be issued by Member States for a
single entry and return by rail.

The FTD/FRTD shall be issued in the form of uniform

3.
formats in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 694/2003.

Article 3

Scope and validity

1.
The FTD and the FRTD have the same value as transit
visas and are territorially valid for the issuing Member State
and other Member States through which the facilitated transit
takes place.

2.
The FTD shall be valid for a maximum period of up to
three years. A transit based on the FTD shall not exceed 24
hours.

3.
The FRTD shall be valid for a maximum period of up to
three months. A transit based on the FRTD shall not exceed six
hours.

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CHAPTER II

ISSUING AN FTD/FRTD

Article 4

Conditions

In order to obtain an FTD/FRTD, the applicant shall:

the affixing of the FRTD, and in any event before the entry
into the territory of the Member State through which the train
passes, on condition that the basic personal data, as set out in
Annex II, are transmitted electronically to the authorities of the
competent Member State at the moment when the request to
purchase the railway ticket is made.

Article 6

Issuing procedure

(a) possess a valid document, authorising him to cross
external borders as defined pursuant to Article 17(3)(a) of
the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of
14 June 1985, signed at Schengen on 19 June 1990 (1);

1.
The FTD/FRTD shall be issued by the consular offices of
the Member State and shall not be issued at the border. The
decision on issuing the FRTD shall be taken by the competent
consular authorities at the latest 24 hours after the electronic
transmission provided for in Article 5(4).

(b) not be a person for whom an alert has been issued for the

purposes of refusing entry;

No FTD/FRTD shall be affixed in a travel document that

2.
has expired.

the international

(c) not be considered to be a threat to public policy, national
the
relations of any of
security or
in relation to the FRTD, prior
Member States. However,
consultation in accordance with Article 17(2) of
the
Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement shall
not apply;

(d) for the FTD, have valid reasons for frequent

travelling

between the two parts of the territory of his country.

Article 5

Application procedure

of

authorities

State which
the

communicated its decision to issue

The application for an FTD shall be presented to the
1.
consular
has
a Member
communicated its decision to issue
FTD/FRTD in
accordance with Article 12. If more than one Member State
has
the
application shall be submitted to the consular authorities of
the first entry. This procedure shall
the Member State of
of
submission when
for
provide
documentation demonstrating the need for frequent travel, in
particular documents
social,
economic or other motives.

concerning family links or

appropriate

FTD,

the

the

2.
In the case of an FRTD, a Member State may, as a rule,
accept applications transmitted via other authorities or third
parties.

The application for an FTD shall be presented on the

3.
standard form as set out in Annex I.

The period of validity of the travel document in which
the

3.
the FTD/FRTD is affixed shall be longer than that of
FTD/FRTD.

4.
No FTD/FRTD shall be affixed in a travel document if
that travel document is not valid for any of the Member States.
In this case it shall be affixed by the consular offices on the
uniform format for forms for affixing the visa in accordance
with Regulation (EC) No 333/2002 (2). If a travel document is
only valid for one Member State or for a number of Member
States, the FTD/FRTD shall be limited to the Member State or
Member States in question.

Article 7

Administrative costs of an FTD/FRTD

The fee corresponding to the administrative costs of

1.
processing the application for an FTD shall be EUR 5.

2.

The FRTD shall be issued free of charge.

CHAPTER III

COMMON PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE FTD/FRTD

Article 8

Refusal

The personal data for an FRTD shall be supplied on the
4.
basis of the Personal Data Sheet set out in Annex II. This
Personal Data Sheet may be filled in on board the train before

The procedures, and appeal in cases where the consular
1.
post refuses to examine an application or issue an FTD/FRTD
shall be governed by national law of the respective Member
States.

(1) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 19. Convention as last amended by

Decision 2003/170/JHA (OJ L 67, 12.3.2003, p. 27).

(2) OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 4.

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If an FTD/FRTD is refused and national law requires the
2.
grounds for such a refusal to be given, the reason shall be
communicated to the applicant.

2.

The Common Manual shall be amended as follows:

(a) The following point shall be added to Part I:

Article 9

Penalties

Penalties, as provided for in national law, should be imposed
the
on the holder of
scheme.

the FTD/FRTD in case of misuse of

Such penalties shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive,
and shall include the possibility of cancelling or revoking the
FTD/FRTD.

CHAPTER IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 10

Subject to the specific rules set out in this Regulation, the
provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to visas shall also
apply to the FTD/FRTD.

Article 11

The Common Consular Instructions are hereby amended

1.
as follows:

(a) The following point shall be added to part I:

‘3.4. DOCUMENTS HAVING THE SAME VALUE AS A
CROSSING OF

AUTHORISING
VISA,
EXTERNAL BORDERS: FTD/FRTD

THE

For facilitated transit, an FTD or an FRTD can be
issued in accordance with Council Regulations (EC)
(See
No 693/2003 (*) and (EC) No 694/2003 (**)
Annex 15).

(*) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 8.
(**) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 15.'

(b) The text of this Regulation and of Regulation (EC) No

694/2003 shall be added as Annex 15.

Article 12

Implementation

1. Member States deciding to issue the FTD and the FRTD
shall communicate such decision to the Council and the
Commission. The
the
Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall
enter into force on the date of its publication.

decision shall be published by

2.
If Member States decide no longer to issue the FTD and
the FRTD they shall communicate that decision to the Council
and the Commission. The decision shall be published by the
Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall
enter into force on the thirtieth day following its publication.

‘2.5. Documents having the

same value

authorising
FTD/FRTD

the

crossing

of

as
external

a visa,
borders:

Article 13

Report

For facilitated transit, an FTD or an FRTD can be
issued in accordance with Council Regulations (EC)
(see
No 693/2003 (*) and (EC) No 694/2003 (**)
Annex 17).

The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and
the Council on the functioning of the facilitated transit scheme
at the latest three years after the entry into force of the first
decision as set out in Article 12(1).

(*) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 8.
(**) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 15.'

Article 14

Entry into force

(b) The text of this Regulation and of Regulation (EC) No

694/2003 shall be added as Annex 17.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States
in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2003.

For the Council

The President

A. GIANNITSIS

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ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 694/2003

of 14 April 2003

on uniform formats for Facilitated Transit Documents (FTD) and Facilitated Rail Transit
Documents (FRTD) provided for in Regulation (EC) No 693/2003

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 62(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

In order to prepare accession of new Member States, the
Community should take into account specific situations,
which may occur as a result of the enlargement and set
out
legislation in order to avoid future
problems in relation with the crossing of the external
border.

the relevant

(FRTD)

Council Regulation (EC) No 693/2003 (3) establishes a
Facilitated Transit Document (FTD) and Facilitated Rail
Transit Document
for the case of a specific
transit by land of third country nationals who must
necessarily cross the territory of one or several Member
States in order to travel between two parts of their own
country which are not geographically contiguous.
should be
Uniform formats
established.

these documents

for

These uniform formats should contain all the necessary
in
information and meet high technical
particular as regards safeguards against counterfeiting
and falsification. The formats should also be suited to
use by
and bear universally
States
recognisable harmonised security features which are
clearly visible to the naked eye.

all Member

standards,

Powers to adopt such common standards should be
conferred on the Commission, which should be assisted
by the Committee established by Article 6 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 of 29 May 1995 laying
down a uniform format for visas (4).

(1) Not yet published in the Official Journal.
(2) Opinion delivered on 8 April 2003 (not yet published in the

Official Journal).

it

the information in question is not
To ensure that
divulged more widely than is necessary,
is also
essential that each Member State issuing the FTD/FRTD
designate a single body for printing the uniform format
the possibility of
for
changing that body,
if necessary. For security reasons,
each such Member State should communicate the name
of the competent body to the Commission and to the
other Member States.

FTD/FRTD, while

retaining

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Regulation should be adopted in accordance with
Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying
down the procedures for the exercise of implementing
powers conferred to the Commission (5).

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on
the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and to the Treaty establishing the
European Community, Denmark is not taking part in
the adoption of this Regulation, and is not bound by it
or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation
builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of
the Treaty establishing the
Title IV of Part Three of
in accordance
European Community, Denmark shall,
with Article 5 of the said Protocol, decide within a
period of six months after the Council has adopted this
Regulation whether it will implement it in its national
law.

regards

Iceland and Norway,

As
this Regulation
constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen
acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded
by the Council of the European Union and the Republic
of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the
association of those two States with the implementation,
application and development of the Schengen acquis (6),
which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point
B of Council Decision 1999/437/EC of 17 May 1999 on
certain arrangements
that
Agreement (7).

application of

the

for

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions
of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom
does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision
2000/365/EC of 29 May 2000 concerning the request

(3) See page 95 of this Official Journal.
(4) OJ L 164, 14.7.1995, p. 1. Regulation as

last amended by

Regulation (EC) No 334/2002 (OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 23).

(5) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(6) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
(7) OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 31.

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of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland to take part in some of the provisions of the
Schengen acquis (1); the United Kingdom is therefore not
taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or
subject to its application.

(10)

This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions
of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take
part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC
of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland's request to
take part in some of the provisions of the Schengen
acquis (2);
in its
taking part
Ireland is therefore not
adoption and is not bound by it or subject
to its
application.

(11)

This Regulation constitutes an act building on the
Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the
meaning of Article 3(1) of the Act of Accession,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

(FTD)

Facilitated Transit Documents

1.
issued by the
Member States as referred to in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC)
No 693/2003 shall be produced in the form of a uniform
format (sticker) and shall have the same value as transit visas.
They shall conform to the specifications set out in Annex I to
this Regulation.

2.
Facilitated Rail Transit Documents (FRTD) issued by the
Member States as referred to in Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC)
No 693/2003 shall be produced in the form of a uniform
format (sticker) and shall have the same value as transit visas.
They shall conform to the specifications set out in Annex II to
this Regulation.

Article 2

1.
Further technical specifications for the uniform format
for FTD and FRTD relating to the following shall be established
in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 4(2):

(a) additional security features and requirements

enhanced anti-forgery,
standards;

counterfeiting

including
and falsification

(b) technical processes and rules for

the filling in of

the

uniform FTD/FRTD;

Article 3

1.
The specifications referred to in Article 2 shall be secret
and not be published. They shall be made available only to the
bodies designated by the Member States as responsible for
printing and to the persons duly authorised by a Member State
or the Commission.

2.
Each Member State which has decided to issue the
FTD/FRTD shall designate one body having responsibility for
printing them. It shall communicate the name of that body to
the Commission and the other Member States. The same body
may be designated by two or more Member States for this
purpose. Each Member State shall be entitled to change its
designated body. It shall inform the Commission and the other
Member States accordingly.

Article 4

The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set

1.
up by Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5
and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be two months.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Article 5

Without prejudice to data protection rules, persons to whom
the FTD and FRTD is issued shall have the right to verify the
personal particulars contained in the FTD/FRTD and, where
appropriate,
deleted. No
information in machine-readable form shall be included in the
FTD and FRTD, unless provided for in the Annexes to this
Regulation or unless it is mentioned in the relevant travel
document.

them corrected

to have

or

Article 6

issue the
Member States which have decided to do so shall
uniform format for FTD and FRTD as referred to in Article 1
no later than one year after the adoption of the additional
security features and requirements referred to in Article 2(1)(a).

(c) other rules to be observed for the filling in of the uniform

FTD/FRTD.

The need for the incorporation of the photograph referred to
in point 2 of Annex I and point 2 of Annex II may be
determined by the end of 2005.

The colours of

the uniform FTD and FRTD may be
2.
changed in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 4(2).

Article 7

(1) OJ L 131, 1.6.2000, p. 43.
(2) OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States
in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2003.

For the Council

The President

A. GIANNITSIS

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EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 310/105

ANNEX I

FACILITATED TRANSIT DOCUMENT (FTD)

Security features

1. An optically variable device (OVD), which provides a quality of identification and a level of security not less than
the device used in the current uniform format for visas, shall appear in this space. Depending on the angle of view,
12 stars, the letter ‘E' and a globe become visible in various sizes and colours.

2. An integrated photograph produced according to high security standards.

3. The logo consisting of a letter or letters indicating the issuing Member State with a latent image effect shall appear
in this space. This logo shall appear light when held flat and dark when turned by 90°. The logos shall be used
following Regulation (EC) No 1683/95.

4. The word ‘FTD' in capital letters shall appear in the middle of this space in optically variable colouring. Depending

on the angle of view, it shall appear in green or red.

5. This box shall contain the number of the FTD, which shall be pre-printed and shall begin with the letter or letters

indicating the issuing country as described in point 3. A special type shall be used.

Sections to be completed

6. This box shall begin with the words ‘valid for'. The issuing authority shall indicate the territory or territories for

which the FTD is valid.

7. This box shall begin with the word ‘from' and the word ‘until' shall appear further along the line. The issuing

authority shall indicate here the period of validity of the FTD.

8. This box shall begin with the words ‘number of entries' and further along the line the words ‘duration of transit'

and again ‘days' shall appear.

9. This box shall begin with the words ‘issued in' and shall be used to indicate the place of issue.

10. This box shall begin with the word ‘on' (after which the date of issue shall be filled in by the issuing authority) and
further along the line the words ‘number of passport' shall appear (after which the holder's passport number shall
appear).

11. This box shall indicate the name and the forename of the holder.

12. This box shall begin with the word ‘remarks'. It shall be used by the issuing authority to indicate any further
information, which is considered necessary, provided that it complies with Article 5 of this Regulation. The
following two-and-a-half lines shall be left empty for such remarks.

13. This box shall contain the relevant machine-readable information to facilitate external border controls.

The paper shall not be coloured (basic white shade).

The words designating the boxes shall appear in English, French and in the language of the issuing State.

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

Model of the FTD

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EN

Official Journal of the European Union

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ANNEX II

FACILITATED RAIL TRANSIT DOCUMENT (FRTD)

Security features

1. An optically variable device (OVD), which provides a quality of identification and a level of security not less than
the device used in the current uniform format for visas, shall appear in this space. Depending on the angle of view,
12 stars, the letter ‘E' and a globe become visible in various sizes and colours.

2. An integrated photograph produced according to high security standards.

3. The logo consisting of a letter or letters indicating the issuing Member State with a latent image effect shall appear
in this space. This logo shall appear light when held flat and dark when turned by 90°. The logos shall be used
following Regulation (EC) 1683/95.

4. The word ‘FRTD'

in capital

letters shall appear in the middle of this space in optically variable colouring.

Depending on the angle of view, it shall appear in green or red.

5. This box shall contain the number of the FRTD, which shall be pre-printed and shall begin with the letter or letters

indicating the issuing country as described in point 3 above. A special type shall be used.

Sections to be completed

6. This box shall begin with the words ‘valid for'. The issuing authority shall indicate the territory or territories for

which the FRTD is valid.

7. This box shall begin with the word ‘from' and the word ‘until' shall appear further along the line. The issuing

authority shall indicate here the period of validity of the FRTD.

8.

In this box shall be stated ‘single entry and return' and further along the line the word ‘hours'.

9. This box shall begin with the words ‘issued in' and shall be used to indicate the place of issue.

10. This box shall begin with the word ‘on' (after which the date of issue shall be filled in by the issuing authority) and
further along the line the words ‘number of passport' shall appear (after which the holder's passport number shall
appear).

11. This box shall indicate the name and the forename of the holder.

12. This box shall begin with the word ‘remarks'. It shall be used by the issuing authority to indicate any further
information, which is considered necessary, provided that it complies with Article 5 of this Regulation. The
following two-and-a-half lines shall be left empty for such remarks.

13. This box shall contain the relevant machine-readable information to facilitate external border controls.

The paper shall not be coloured (basic white shade).

The words designating the boxes shall appear in English, French and in the language of the issuing State.

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Official Journal of the European Union

19.12.2003

Model of the FRTD