Question and Answer about Schengen Enlargement for Non-EU Nationals

New rules as of 21 December 2007 following Schengen enlargement

1. Which new EU member states can issue Schengen visas as from 21 December 2007?

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

2. Will someone with a Schengen visa issued by an "old" Schengen state (e.g. Germany) before 21 December 2007 and which is still valid be able to enter all 24 Schengen states as from 21 December ?

Yes, that is correct. Wherever it is issued, a Schengen visa remains a Schengen visa and entitles its holders as from 21 December 2007 also to enter the "new" Schengen states.

3. What about the other EU member states Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria?

They will not be fully applying the Schengen acquis until later. So as of 21 December 2007 they will not be issuing Schengen visas.

4. Will someone with a visa issued by a "new" Schengen state (e.g. Poland) before 21 December 2007 and which is still valid also be able to enter all 24 Schengen states as from 21 December ?

No, that is not possible. Only from 21 December 2007 onwards can Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta, Slovenia and the Czech Republic issue Schengen visas with which people can travel freely throughout the Schengen area. Visas issued by these countries prior to 21 December 2007 do not count as Schengen visas, they are valid only for the territory of the issuing state. Exceptions are possible only as regards transit traffic between new Schengen states fully applying the Schengen acquis. For further details on this please contact these countries' embassies or consulates-general.

5. What about non-nationals with a national residence permit?

As from 21 December 2007 holders of a residence permit issued by one of the nine "new" Schengen states can spend up to three months in any other Schengen state. That goes also for residence permits issued before 21 December 2007. By the same token, holders of a residence permit issued by one of the "old" Schengen states do not need a visa to enter any of the "new" Schengen states.

List of Hungarian Residence Permits without Visa to Schengen States

1. Humanitárius tartózkodási engedély

(humanitarian residence permit) (card form) - accompanied by a national passport

2. Tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit (card form) - accompanied by a national passport

3. Tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit (sticker form) - affixed to a national passport

4. Bevándoroltak részére kiadott személyazonosító igazolvány

(Identity card issued for immigrants) - accompanied by a national passport which indicates

issue of the immigration permit

5. Letelepedési engedély

(permanent residence permit) - accompanied by a national passport which indicates issue of

the authorization for permanent residence

6. Letelepedettek részére kiadott tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit issued for permanently residing people) (sticker form) - affixed to a national

passport

7. Diáklista

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

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8. Igazolvány diplomáciai képviselők és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for diplomats and their family members) (diplomat’s identity card) -

together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

9. Igazolvány konzuli képviselet tagjai és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for members of consular posts and their family members) (consular

identity card) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

10. Igazolvány képviselet igazgatási és műszaki személyzete és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for the members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic

missions and their family members) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

11. Igazolvány képviselet kisegítő személyzete, háztartási alkalmazottak és családtagjaik részére -

(special certificate for the service staff of the diplomatic missions, private servants and their

family members) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

Old Members of Schengen States include: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.