TRAVELING TO EUROPE WITHOUT A SCHENGEN VISA IN 2025: REQUIREMENTS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Since 2015 and 2016, citizens of Colombia and Peru, as well as other Latin American countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Chile, among others, **do not need to obtain a Schengen visa to travel to Europe**. In this article, you will find answers to the most common questions to ensure your trip to Europe goes as smoothly as possible. If you need to obtain a visa for other countries, you can check our visa finder. With this exemption, **it is possible to travel to the Schengen area** for temporary cases: tourism, visiting family or friends, and short stays of up to 90 days in duration, thanks to agreements made between the aforementioned Latin American countries (not all) and the current European Union.

What is the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area is a zone of free movement and circulation of people between member countries, thanks to the treaty of the same name. As of 2023, this area comprises 27 European countries. This means you can travel for up to 90 days to any country without needing to obtain a visa for each one (which would be quite a hassle, right?). For example: if you wish to enter Spain first, a popular destination among Latin American countries (especially due to the language and historical reasons), you will go through immigration control only once upon entering European soil. Upon leaving the Schengen Area, you can do so through the entry point you used (e.g., Madrid Barajas or Barcelona airport) or through another airport in the country from which you want to depart (e.g., Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, etc.). Sounds simple? It is indeed in practice. As mentioned before, these trips are for short stays: tourism, family visits, personal or business trips, short-term studies, seminars, or similar situations. The 90 days are counted within a 180-day period and are not extendable initially. If you decide to stay or plan a stay longer than 90 days in Spain, MigraVisas can assist you with this process, so we invite you to contact us or schedule an appointment directly with us.

Latin American Countries That Do NOT Need to Obtain a Schengen Visa

Now let’s see who does not need a Schengen visa. The people and citizens of the following countries:

Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

How long can a person stay in the Schengen Area?

This data is clear and direct: 90 days in a 180-day period, which starts from the day you enter Madrid. For example: if you enter Europe on June 1, 2022, the latest day to leave is August 29, 2022 (30 days of June + 31 days of July + 29 days of August). These days total 90 days including the day of entry and the day of exit from the Schengen Area. If you travel for only 30 days, and then travel for 20 days to Morocco or to another country outside the Schengen Area, you have 60 more days to travel back within the Schengen Area within the 180-day period. The total of days (90) does not reset to 0, unless 180 days (semester) have already passed. In summary: the 90 days reset to 0 if 180 days have already passed. If we take a calendar year (for example) from January to December, you can only travel 90 + 90 days per year to Schengen Area because each year has 2 semesters (two periods of 180 days: 90 + 90 days in each period).

¿A qué países viajar sin necesidad de obtener la Visa Schengen?

The countries you can travel to without needing to obtain a Schengen visa are the following:

Germany.
Austria.
Belgium.
Croatia.
Denmark.
Slovakia.
Slovenia.
Spain.
Estonia.
Finland.
France.
Greece.
Hungary.
Iceland.
Italy.
Latvia.
Liechtenstein.
Lithuania.
Luxembourg.
Malta.
Norway.
Netherlands.
Poland.
Portugal.
Czech Republic.
Sweden.
Switzerland.

The visa exemption Schengen also applies to three (3) EU member countries that as of 2023 are still not part of the Schengen Agreement: Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania. You could even travel to Andorra. If you want to travel to the United Kingdom, which is no longer an EU member (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland) or Ireland (an EU member country), you will still need to apply for a short-term visa at the respective consulates or embassies – until further notice. Remember you can use our visa finder.

Requirements to Travel to Europe Without a Schengen Visa

Although you do not need to obtain a visa at the corresponding consulate before your trip, here are some practical recommendations on the documents or requirements that are essential to avoid inconveniences at the airport or upon arrival in Schengen territory.

Valid passport

Have a valid passport that is valid for at least three months after the date of return. If the validity is longer, which we recommend 100%, it would be ideal if you want to travel longer in the northern hemisphere. In case you are a Peruvian person, and you still have a mechanised passport, it is not necessary to change the current mechanical passports, and you will be able to use them until the expiry date and/or expiry date. However, by 2022, most if not all mechanised passports will have expired. In any case, we leave you information on how to obtain the new Peruvian passport or how to block it if necessary.

Return transport ticket (ticket)

We recommend that you do not attempt to travel to Europe without a return ticket because you may be deported or refused entry. Unless you have a European passport with dual nationality.

The return trip or flight does not have to be to the same place in Latin America.

For example: it can be to any third country outside the Schengen zone: United Kingdom, Asia, Morocco or another European country that is not in the Schengen zone.

Booking of accommodation or Letter of Invitation from a relative or friend

These documents may be requested from you by the airline or upon entering Europe.

Even if they don’t ask you directly, they may ask you questions about it. Do you have accommodation in Spain? Where are you going to stay during your days in the Schengen area? These are some of the questions they have asked clients, relatives, and friends.

If you have an Invitation Letter, they almost always ask for it to prove accommodation and also ask ‘how many days are you going to stay in Europe’.

In case you need it, you can book your accommodation here at no additional cost.

Do not travel to Europe without proof of your accommodation. Have your hotel reservations or Invitation Letter at hand.

Justification of economic means

This requirement will depend on whether you have an invitation letter or hotel reservations.

According to the information, to stay as a tourist in the Schengen Area, there is a certain requirement for economic solvency and also demonstrate a minimum of 108 euros per day for the year 2023, which is equivalent to 10% of the Minimum Interprofessional Salary (SMI – 1080 euros in 2023).

These amounts can be evidenced in cash, bank account statements, credit or debit cards. Keep in mind that having an invitation letter reduces the daily amount by half.

Schengen Travel Insurance

To enter the Schengen Area it is necessary that the travel insurance has medical coverage of at least 30,000 euros, and that it covers eventualities for the entire stay in the State or Member States to be visited.

Do not travel around the world without travel insurance, especially in times of pandemic and similar situations. From this space, you can obtain travel insurance with a discount.

Also remember that, according to our experience, with the entry into force of the Schengen visa exemption, border agents reserve the right of admission. Therefore, they may request any of the described documents when traveling without a Schengen visa.

MigraVisas is an experienced team with the skills to help you with visa, immigration, and nationality requirements in Spain. We are trained to provide support in a wide range of visa applications, passports, government processes, and registrations. Additionally, we complete and submit official documents, appeal denied requests, and handle complex cases. Contact us to assess your needs and find out how we can help you.