Monday, June 16, 2014 - After several years of work by the UK Government, the European Union Council has agreed that, with effect from 9 June 2014, British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTC) will have visa-free access for visits to the Schengen Area. The duration of the visits will be a maximum of 90 days.
Background
The Schengen Agreement led to the creation of Europe’s borderless area in 1995, and is named after the town where it was signed in Luxembourg. The Schengen Area currently consists of 26 European countries, including four that are not members of the European Union. The full list of countries is: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The visa concession will also apply to Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus.
Is visa-free access only for those holding a full British passport, or will it also be for those holding a BOTC passport?
Citizens who hold either a full British passport or a BOTC passport will have visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
Even if I do not need a visa, are there any other requirements?
On arrival, you may be asked to confirm that you have sufficient funds available for the duration of your stay. You may also be asked to show a return or onward ticket.
Can I study and work in the Schengen Area without a visa?
The visa concession covers visits only. The maximum duration is 90 days in a period of 180 days. The visa concession does not cover employment or study, where the appropriate visa must be obtained prior to travelling.
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