How do I read a Schengen Visa sticker and number?
If you have been granted a Schengen Visa, you will obtain a visa sticker to be put into your passport. The visa sticker information is provided in three languages: English, French, and German.
You need to know how to read your visa carefully, as it will allow you to keep track of important information such as the countries you are able to enter, your dates of validity, and the visa types.
Your Schengen Visa number
This is found in the top right corner of your visa sticker.
Countries the Schengen Visa Holder is permitted to enter
A visa sticker always contains information on the countries you are permitted to enter. The phrases «VALID FOR», «VALABLE POUR» and «GULTIG FUR» are set before the name of the countries your visa allows you to visit.
If the words next to this are «ETATS SCHENGEN» or «SCHENGEN STATES», then it means that the visa is valid in all Schengen countries, and you can travel throughout the Schengen Area.
If restricted to certain countries, the letters A, B, CH, CZE, D, DK, E, EST, F, FIN, GR, H, I, IS, LI, L, LT, LVA, M, N, NL, P, PL, S, SK, SVN, stand for the Schengen states you can visit:
The list of initials is as follows:
- A – Austria
- B – Belgium
- CH – Switzerland
- CZE – Czech Republic
- D – Germany
- DK – Denmark
- E – Spain
- EST – Estonia
- F – France
- FIN – Finland
- GR – Greece
- H – Hungary
- I – Italy
- IS – Iceland
- L – Luxembourg
- LT – Lithuania
- LVA – Latvia
- M – Malta
- N – Norway
- NL – Netherlands
- P – Portugal
- PL – Poland
- S – Sweden
- SK – Slovakia
- SVN – Slovenia
If there are listed just some of the acronyms of the names of these countries i.e. «S, M, N, NL, SK, PL» then this means you are permitted to enter only Sweden, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Slovakia and Poland.
Alternatively, a visa may contain the following label: «ETATS SCHENGEN (-country initial)» – meaning the visa is valid for all Schengen countries, except for that country after the dash. For example, if the label is «ETATS SCHENGEN (-SK)». You will be able to enter each Schengen country except Slovakia.
A label that just has, «name of country», means the visa is valid only for the respective territory listed — and you will not be able to enter any other states other than the one listed.
Schengen Visa sticker validity
You will also see the labels «FROM», «DU» and «VOM» followed by the first day you are permitted to enter the Schengen Area, and the labels «UNTIL», «AU», and «BIS», stipulating the date by which you must leave the Schengen Area.
Number of entries label
The labels «NUMBER OF ENTRIES», «NOMBRE D’ENTREES» and «ANZAHL DER EINREISEN» tell you the number of times you are allowed to enter the Schengen Area on that particular visa.
The label «MULT» –means that the holder is authorized to enter the Schengen Area as often as they wish, during the period for which the visa is valid.
The label «1» means that the holder is authorized to enter the Schengen Area once.
The label «2» – means that the holder is authorized to enter twice.
Duration of stay label
The label «DURATION OF STAY» «DUREE DE SEJOUR» and «DAUER DES AUFENTHALTS» and the one immediately next to it with the words «DAYS», «JOURS» and «TAGE» tell you the number of days you can remain in the Schengen Zone on each visit while your visa is valid.
Visa Type
The labels «TYPE OF VISA», «TYPE DE VISA» and «VISA TYP» stand to tell the type of visa you have obtained which may be:
Label «A» stands for the A type visa, an Airport Visa, that does not permit the holder to travel past the international airport zone.
Label «C» – stands for the C type visa, or the standard short-stay visa, allowing you to stay up to three months in the Schengen Area.
Label «D» – stands for the D type visa, or long-term visa, which permits your to stay for longer than three months
Details about the issue of the visa
The label «ISSUED IN», «DELIVRE A» and «SUGESTELLT IN» is followed by the name of the city where the embassy or consulate that issued the visa is based.
The label «ON», «LE» and «AM» – is followed by the date when the visa was issued.
Details about the Visa Holder
The labels «NUMBER OF PASSPORT», «NUMERO DE PASSEPORT» and «NUMMER DES PASSES» are followed by your passport number.
The labels «SURNAME, NAME», «NOM, PRENOM» and «NAME, VORNAME» are followed by your first and your family name.
The labels «REMARKS», «REMARQUES» and «BEMERKUNGEN» state the purpose of your travel to the Schengen Area, such as work, tourism, or medical reasons.
Related topics on Schengen visa
Frequently asked questions about visa stickers
What will happen if I overstay the number of days listed on my visa sticker?
You could face deportation and sanctions- including a ban from the Schengen Area or a fine. It will also mean future applications take longer to process.
What will happen if I try and enter a country I am not permitted to enter?
You may be refused entry or deported from the country if you are not permitted to enter.
Do I have to stick to the purpose of visit stated on my visa sticker?
Generally speaking — yes. Although in practice you will not be pulled up for visiting family if traveling as a tourist — there are penalties for working on a tourist visa — so it is best to be truthful on your application.
How to Read a Schengen Visa Sticker?
Labels attached to a Schengen visa have their meaning and you can learn how to read the Schengen visa sticker in this article.
In this article
In order to enjoy hassle-free travel, it is important to read and understand your Schengen Visa Sticker correctly. This article outlines the ins and outs of the Schengen Visa Sticker and helps you understand its content in detail.
What Is a Schengen Visa Sticker?
A Schengen Visa sticker is the label that will be attached to your passport if you are granted a Schengen visa. It contains your personal information, states the country or countries you are allowed to enter, the duration of your permitted stay, and the number of times you are allowed to cross its borders to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
The visa sticker must be presented at the Schengen port of entry in the first Member State you enter. Applicants are required to have at least one blank page in their passports when applying for a Schengen Visa, so the visa sticker can be be attached to your passport/travel document. The Visa Sticker contains information in three languages: English, French, and German.
You will receive your visa sticker when you collect your passport/travel document from the embassy, consulate, or VAC (visa application center) where you applied for your Schengen visa.
Schengen Visa Number
The Schengen visa number, also known as the visa reference number or visa sticker number, is a unique identification number assigned to each Schengen visa. It is usually printed on the upper right corner of the visa sticker.
Countries You Can Visit
The VALID FOR section of the visa sticker lists the countries or areas you can visit. For example, if it says “ETATS SCHENGEN” or “SCHENGEN STATES”, this means that your visa is valid in all countries part of the Schengen Zone. If you have a uniform Schengen visa, that is what will be written on your visa sticker.
If you have a Limited Territorial Visa (LTV), this means that your visa permits you to enter only a specific country or countries part of the Schengen Zone. In this case, your visa sticker will display abbreviated names of the state or states which you are allowed to enter. For example, if your Schengen visa sticker lists the acronyms of the names of these countries, ‘F, FIN, GR, H, I, IS, L, LT’, that means you are only allowed to enter France, Finland, Greece, Hungary. Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Lithuania.
On the other hand, if your Schengen visa sticker says ‘ETATS SCHENGEN (-NL), this means you are allowed to enter all Schengen countries except for, e.g., The Netherlands. The minus is placed before the Schengen Member State you are not permitted to enter.
Find the abbreviations for the Schengen states on the list below:
| Acronym: | Country: |
| A | Austria |
| B | Belgium |
| CH | Switzerland |
| CZE | Czech Republic |
| D | Germany |
| DK | Denmark |
| E | Spain |
| EST | Estonia |
| F | France |
| FIN | Finland |
| GR | Greece |
| H | Hungary |
| I | Italy |
| IS | Iceland |
| L | Luxembourg |
| LT | Lithuania |
| LVA | Latvia |
| M | Malta |
| N | Norway |
| NL | Netherlands |
| P | Portugal |
| PL | Poland |
| S | Sweden |
| SK | Slovakia |
| SVN | Slovenia |
The Validity of the Schengen Visa
One of the first things you will notice on your visa is the validity of your visa.
- From. This is the date you can officially enter the Schengen Area or the Schengen state.
- Until. This is the date that you must officially leave the Schengen Area or the Schengen State.
For example, if your visa says: Valid: “FROM 28 – 04 – 2023”, “UNTIL 28 – 09 – 2023”, your visa is valid from April 28th, 2023, until September 28th, 2023. You can enter on the 28th of April or any following day, but you cannot enter before this date. Likewise, you can leave the Schengen Zone before September 28th, but you must not leave after. Otherwise, you would have overstayed.
It is important that you carefully read this part of the visa sticker, as overstaying has serious consequences and reflects badly on your travel history. Moreover, you must be mindful of the 90/180-day rule at all times.
Number of Entries and Duration of Stay
The number of entries on your Schengen Visa Sticker is the number of times you can leave and re-enter the Schengen Area. This is because a Schengen Visa allows you to choose either a single-entry , double-entry , or multiple-entry visa . So, each visa allows a specific number of times for exit and entry to the Schengen Zone.
- One entry. If you have applied for a single entry Schengen visa, your visa sticker will say ‘01’. This means that you can only enter the Schengen Area once. After you officially leave, you are not allowed to enter again even if you have not stayed the maximum number of days the visa allows, which is 90 days.
- Two entries. If you have applied for a double entry visa, your visa sticker will say ‘02’. This means that you can enter the Schengen Area twice. For example, you may enter, leave, and enter once again. In total, you are allowed to enter two times.
- MULT (multiple entry). If you have applied for a multiple entry visa, your visa sticker will say ‘MULT’. This means that you can enter the Schengen Area as many times as you wish, as long as your visa is valid. However, you must not exceed the permitted duration of stay, which is 90 days every 6 months.
Visa Type
Depending on the purpose of your stay, you will be issued one of the three types of visa: Type “A”, Type “C”, and Type “D”. Visa type is labeled as “TYPE OF VISA”, “TYPE DE VISA,” and “VISA TYP” on the Schengen visa sticker. On your visa sticker, you will find one of the following:
- Label “A”. If you are simply transiting through or you must wait for a connecting flight in the international zone of an airport in a Schengen Member State, you will be issued a Type A transit visa. You are not permitted to enter any country in the Schengen Zone.
- Label “C”. If you wish to enter the Schengen Area for a short period of time, you will be issued a Type C Schengen visa . This visa allows you to stay or travel in the Schengen Member States for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The short-stay category, then, can be: single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry. You will find this next to ‘Number of Entries’ on the visa sticker.
- Label “D”. If you wish to enter the Schengen Area for a longer period of time, you will be issued a Type D visa. This visa allows you to enter or travel in the Schengen Member States for longer than 90 days (up to one year).
Details About the Visa Issuer & Date of Issuance
The country where your visa was issued will be displayed on your visa sticker. For example, if you have applied for a Schengen Visa in Abuja, your visa will say ISSUED IN: Abuja. The date when your visa was issued will show on your visa sticker as well.
Details About the Visa Holder
On the Schengen Visa Sticker, you will find your passport number. You can find this next to ‘NUMBER OF PASSPORT’, ‘NUMERO DE PASSEPORT’ and ‘NUMMER DES PASSES’.
Second, next to ‘SURNAME, NAME’, ‘NOM, PRENOM’, and ‘NAME, VORNAME’, you will find your name and surname.
Lastly, ‘REMARKS’, ‘REMARQUES’, and ‘BEMERKUNGEN’ is used by the issuing authority to write down any further information. Usually, your purpose of travel will be specified. For example, ‘Tourism’, ‘Family Visit’, etc.
The Schengen Visa Sticker is generally easy to read and understand if you pay attention to each section. Remember, you must be careful and check your visa sticker for any errors or incorrect information before you decide to travel.
What Is Visa Sticker Number?
This is the number of your passport/ travel document containing your visa sticker. This number may also reflect that of the parental authority, legal guardian, or spouse of the person who was issued the visa, in the event he or she is included in the passport of one of those persons.
What do the labels on a visa sticker mean?
The visa sticker information is provided in three languages: English, French and German. Please read carefully the following article to understand better the meaning of the labels attached into a Schengen visa. A visa sticker always contains information on the countries that its holder is permitted to visit.
Where can I find the information on my visa sticker?
This is found in the top right corner of your visa sticker. A visa sticker always contains information on the countries you are permitted to enter. The phrases «VALID FOR», « VALABLE POUR » and « GULTIG FUR » are set before the name of the countries your visa allows you to visit.
How to read a Schengen visa sticker?
How to Read Schengen Visa Sticker When Schengen visa is approved, a visa sticker will be stuck to one of the pages of your passport. It takes an entire page of the passport. The information in the visa sticker is provided in English, German, and French.
What do the numbers on a Visa card mean?
Label “NUMBER OF PASSPORT”, “NUMERO DE PASSEPORT” and “NUMMER DES PASSES” – is for the passport number of the visa holder. Label “SURNAME, NAME”, “NOM, PRENOM” and “NAME, VORNAME” – is for the name and surname of the visa holder.
Where is the visa sticker number?
This is found in the top right corner of your visa sticker.
What is a visa sticker?
A visa, or visa stamp, is a physical stamp or sticker in your passport that is issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U.S. It indicates that you are eligible to apply for entry to the U.S. in a specific immigration category such as F-1 or J-1 student.
How do I find my visa number on my visa?
The visa number, also called a visa foil number, is a red number that is generally printed on the bottom right side of newer visa documents. In most cases, the U.S. visa number contains eight numeric characters. In some cases, the number contains one letter followed by seven numeric characters.
Is VAF number the visa number?
PBS immigration history – Student only version
The reference number is your ‘VAF number’ which you will have been notified of when your application was made. When you were issued with visa/entry clearance, a vignette or ‘sticker’ should have been placed in your passport/travel document.
What is the difference between e visa and sticker visa?
The e-visa has several benefits compared to the passport sticker: itʼs easier to apply for, itʼs cheaper, and itʼs granted much faster. There are, however, several requirements to the e-visa Turkey, which do not apply to the passport sticker.
Where is the visa number on UK visa?
What is my visa number? Your visa number is listed under your date of birth.
What is the visa number on Canada visa?
It goes on a blank visa page in the book It’s called a document number and it starts with E and is below the date of issue and expiry which are at the top it’s 9 numbers long. This is a visa for Canada it’s called a vignette and the back of it is self adhesive.
What is visa reference number UK?
Your Home Office or UKBA reference number: If you made a UK visa application in the UK, UKBA will have sent you a letter and it will state a case reference number. Other reference numbers might be reference numbers on your entry clearance sticker (VAF no) or your biometric card number.
How do you read a German visa sticker?
A visa sticker always contains information on the countries that its holder is permitted to visit. The phrases «VALID FOR», «VALABLE PUR» and «GULTIG FUR» are set before the name of the territory you are permitted to enter with the visa you have obtained.
What is visa number in UAE?
The last part of file number on visa page is the UAE visa number (residence number) of resident. If you are looking or asked to enter your visa number, you should write this number. This number also has some secret information in it.
Is my Schengen visa biometric?
Applicants who submit their first application for a Schengen Visa will have their biometric data recorded in person, including fingerprints and a required passport-style photo.
Where is non immigrant visa number on passport?
This is usually printed in red and located in the bottom right corner of the visa document. The nonimmigrant visa number is also sometimes referred to as a visa foil number.
How to read a Schengen
visa sticker
Currently, there is a list of 107 non-EU countries whose citizens require a visa if they wish to travel to the EU. Each year, millions of tourists and business trippers from these countries are able to travel freely across multiple European countries on a single permit, by applying for a Schengen visa.
A Schengen visa takes the form of a sticker affixed to the travel document, and allows its holder to enter, freely travel within and leave the Schengen zone from any of the 26 Schengen member countries.
There are several different types of Schengen visa available, each with slightly different validity periods and permissions granted. Key information such as the validity period of your visa and which countries you are permitted to enter on your visa type are indicated on the visa sticker by certain codes or abbreviations.
It is important that you know how to read your visa, as this will allow you to keep track of your permissions and ensure you do not overstay in the Schengen area. In this article, we examine the information you may find on your Schengen visa sticker and what it means.
Your Schengen visa number
This is found in the top right corner of your visa sticker.
How long you can stay in the Schengen area
The precise length of validity of your visa is indicated on the visa sticker. The label “DURATION OF STAY”, “DUREE DE SEJOUR” and “DAUER DES AUFENTHALTS” and the one immediately next to it with the words “DAYS”, “JOURS” and “TAGE” tell you the number of days you can remain in the Schengen Zone on each visit while your visa is valid.
“DURATION OF STAY…DAYS” indicates the number of days you may stay in the Schengen area. The days should be counted from the date you enter the Schengen area (the entry stamp) to the date you exit the Schengen area (the exit stamp), i.e. both days included.
How long your Schengen visa is valid for
You will also see the labels “FROM”, “DU” and “VOM” followed by the first day you are permitted to enter the Schengen Area, and the labels “UNTIL”, “AU”, and “BIS”, stipulating the date by which you must leave the Schengen Area.
The period between “FROM …UNTIL” is usually longer than the number of days printed in the “DURATION OF STAY” field. The difference in period is meant to give you flexibility to plan your entry into and exit from the Schengen area, but your stay in the Schengen area must never exceed the exact number of days in the “DURATION OF STAY …DAYS” field.
No matter how many days you have stayed in the Schengen area, you must leave no later than the date printed in the “UNTIL” field.”
Which countries you may enter
A Schengen visa sticker always contains information on the countries the visa holder is permitted to enter. This information can be identified on the sticker by the phrases “VALID FOR”, “VALABLE POUR” and “GULTIG FUR”.
If the words next to this are “ETATS SCHENGEN” or “SCHENGEN STATES”, then it means you can travel within all the countries in the Schengen Area. If your visa only permits you to enter certain countries within the zone, the letters A, B, CH, CZE, D, DK, E, EST, F, FIN, GR, H, I, IS, LI, L, LT, LVA, M, N, NL, P, PL, S, SK, SVN, stand for the Schengen states you are permitted to visit.
The full list of initials and their corresponding countries is as follows:
- A – Austria
- B – Belgium
- CH – Switzerland
- CZE – Czech Republic
- D – Germany
- DK – Denmark
- E – Spain
- EST – Estonia
- F – France
- FIN – Finland
- GR – Greece
- H – Hungary
- I – Italy
- IS – Iceland
- L – Luxembourg
- LT – Lithuania
- LVA – Latvia
- M – Malta
- N – Norway
- NL – Netherlands
- P – Portugal
- PL – Poland
- S – Sweden
- SK – Slovakia
- SVN – Slovenia
If just one or some of these acronyms are listed on your sticker i.e. S, M, N, NL, SK, PL, this means you are permitted to enter only the countries indicated, in this case Sweden, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Slovakia and Poland. Your visa will only be valid for the respective territories listed, and you will not be able to enter any other states.
Alternatively, your Schengen visa may contain the following label: “ETATS SCHENGEN (-country initial)”. This means the visa is valid for all Schengen countries, except for the country after the dash. For example, if the label reads “ETATS SCHENGEN (-SVN)”. You will be able to enter all of the Schengen countries except Slovenia.
Number of entries permitted
The number of times you are permitted to enter the Schengen zone depends on the type of visa you hold. Some Schengen visas allow for only a single entry, whereas others allow the holder to enter the zone twice or several times during the validity period of the visa. The number of entries permitted under your visa will also be indicated on the sticker.
With a single-entry visa, you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Number of entries” by “1”. A double-entry or a multiple-entry visa allows for two or several entries during the validity period of the visa. This is indicated on the visa sticker by “02” or “MULT” under the heading “Number of entries”.
The type of visa
The labels “TYPE OF VISA”, “TYPE DE VISA” and “VISA TYP” indicate the type of visa you have obtained which may be:
- Label A – An A type visa, an Airport Visa, does not permit the holder to travel past the international airport zone.
- Label C – A C type visa, or the standard short-stay visa, allows the holder to stay up to three months in the Schengen Area.
- Label D – A D type visa, or long-term visa, permits the holder to stay for longer than three months.
Details about the visa holder
A Schengen visa will also include details about the visa holder, including your passport number, surname, name, and any other remarks relating to the purpose of your travel such as work, tourism, or medical reasons.
Help with your Schengen application
If you require support in filing a Schengen application and compiling the necessary supporting documentation, Smith Stone Walters can help. We also offer a bespoke, twinned service for Skilled Worker and Schengen applications, which is growing in popularity with our clients.
By partnering with us, we will work with you to ensure both your Skilled Worker and Schengen applications are prepared for your overseas employees simultaneously, securing a fast-tracked decision to provide your business with the fastest and most effective delivery possible.