52008XC0320(01)

EUR-Lex

Access to European Union law

This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website

EUROPA
EUR-Lex home
EUR-Lex - 52008XC0320(01) - EN

Help

Search tips

Need more search options? Use the Advanced search

Document 52008XC0320(01)

Information pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement

OJ C 74, 20.3.2008, p. 40–61 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

HTML

PDF

Official Journal

20.3.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74/40

(2008/C 74/12)

This publication is based on information communicated by the Member States to the Commission in accordance with Article 5 of the Regulation as at 5 February 2008 (2).

In addition to the information published in the Official Journal, a regular update is available on the website of the Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security (3).

1. Exemptions from the visa requirement by virtue of Article 4(1)

1.1. The visa requirement is waived for the following categories of persons originating in the countries indicated in the left-hand column

D	=	Holders of diplomatic passports (4)
S	=	Holders of service passports/official passports
SP	=	Holders of special passports

BNL (5)

AFGHANISTAN

ALBANIA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (8)

ALGERIA

ANGOLA

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

ARMENIA

AZERBAIJAN

BAHAMAS

BAHRAIN

BANGLADESH

BARBADOS

BELARUS

D (6)

DS (6)

BELIZE

BENIN

BHUTAN

BOLIVIA

DS + SP

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S (6)

D (7)S

D (7)

BOTSWANA

BURKINA FASO

BURUNDI

CAMBODIA

DS + SP

CAMEROON

CAPE VERDE

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CHAD

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

DS (7)

DS + SP

COLOMBIA

COMOROS

CONGO

CONGO (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF)

CÔTE D'IVOIRE

CUBA

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ECUADOR

DS + SP

EGYPT

DS + SP

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

ERITREA

ETHIOPIA

FIJI

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

GABON

GAMBIA

GEORGIA

GHANA

GRENADA

GUINEA

GUINEA-BISSAU

GUYANA

HAITI

INDIA

INDONESIA

IRAN

DS (6)

D (6)

IRAQ

JAMAICA

JORDAN

KAZAKHSTAN

KENYA

KIRIBATI

KOREA (NORTH)

KUWAIT

KYRGYZSTAN

LAOS

DS + SP

LEBANON

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

LIBYA

MADAGASCAR

MALAWI

MALDIVES

MALI

MARSHALL ISLANDS

MAURITANIA

MAURITIUS

MICRONESIA

MOLDOVA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

MONGOLIA

DS (6)

MONTENEGRO

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

MOROCCO

DS + SP

MOZAMBIQUE

MYANMAR

NAMIBIA

NAURU

NEPAL

NIGER

NIGERIA

NORTHERN MARIANA

OMAN

PAKISTAN

DS (6)

PALAU

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PERU

D + SP

DS + SP

PHILIPPINES

DS + SP

QATAR

RUSSIA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (8)

RWANDA

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

SAINT LUCIA

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

SAMOA

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

SAUDI ARABIA

SENEGAL

SERBIA

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

SEYCHELLES

SIERRA LEONE

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOMALIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SRI LANKA

SUDAN

SURINAME

SWAZILAND

SYRIA

TAJIKISTAN

TANZANIA

THAILAND

TIMOR-LESTE

TOGO

TONGA

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TUNISIA

DS + SP

TURKEY

DS (6)

DS + SP

TURKMENISTAN

TUVALU

UGANDA

UKRAINE

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

D (7)S

D (7)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

D + SP

UZBEKISTAN

VANUATU

VIETNAM

YEMEN

DS + SP

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

ENTITIES AND TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES THAT ARE NOT RECOGNISED AS STATES BY AT LEAST ONE MEMBER STATE

BNL (5)

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

TAIWAN

1.2. Visa exemption for other categories mentioned in Article 4(1)

—

Civilian air crew members:

Civilian air crew members are, in principle, exempted from the visa requirement by the Member States if they hold licences and certificates within the meaning of Annexes 1 to 9 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

However, the visa requirement is maintained:

—	by France for crew members who are nationals of countries who are non-signatories of the Chicago Convention.

—

Civilian sea crew members:

Civilian sea crew members may be exempted from the visa requirement by the Member States if they hold seafarer's identity documents issued in accordance with the International Labour Organisation Conventions (No 108 of 1958 and No 185 of 2003) or the IMO London Convention of 9 April 1965 (FAL) on the facilitation of international maritime traffic.

In practice:

—	in the case of shore leave: the exemption is applied to crew members with the exception of Sweden and Germany,

—	in the case of transit: the visa requirement is maintained for crew members by all States with the exception of Norway.

Comment by Norway: Holders of a Philippine ‘Seafarer's Identification and Record Book’ and/or a Philippine national passport are exempted from the visa requirement (see the shipping agreement of October 1999 between the Philippines and Norway). The holder must produce written confirmation from the shipowner or the shipowner's representative that the holder is to take up a post on a ship in a Norwegian port.

—

Civilian crew members on international inland waterways:

—

The Rhine:

Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands exempt civilian crew members on the Rhine from the visa requirement provided they hold a travel document containing a trilingual stamp or comment identifying them as Rhine boatmen in accordance with the resolutions of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine.

—

The Danube:

Germany and Austria exempt civilian crew members on the Danube from the visa requirement provided they hold a document identifying them as Danube boatmen and they are on the crew list.

In the case of Austria, the exemption from the visa requirement is valid only for the duration of the transit, provided the company owning the ship is based abroad and the ship's crew do not leave the ship or the port.

—	Flight crew and attendants on emergency or rescue flights and other helpers in the event of a disaster or accident: Hungary exempts persons in this category from the visa requirement.

—

Laissez-passer issued by international organisations to their officials:

General comments:

Portugal: holders of such laissez-passer do not qualify for any visa exemption.

Austria: beneficiaries of privileges and immunities who have been issued with a specific identity document are exempted from the visa requirement.

Comments relating to particular organisations:

—

Exemption from the visa requirement for officials of particular organisations:

Y	=	Yes
N	=	No

BNL

NO (9)

United Nations

Y (11)

Y (10)

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Customs Cooperation Council

Council of Europe

Y (12)

2. Exemption from the visa requirement by virtue of Article 4(2)

2.1. Visa exemption granted to school pupils who are nationals of a third country indicated in the left-hand column, reside in a third country listed in Annex II to the Regulation or in Switzerland or in Liechtenstein and are travelling in the context of a school excursion as members of a group of school pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question:

School pupils

BNL

CY (13)

SE (14)

AFGHANISTAN

ALBANIA

ALGERIA

ANGOLA

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

ARMENIA

AZERBAIJAN

BAHAMAS

BAHRAIN

BANGLADESH

BARBADOS

BELARUS

BELIZE

BENIN

BHUTAN

BOLIVIA

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

BOTSWANA

BURKINA FASO

BURUNDI

CAMBODIA

CAMEROON

CAPE VERDE

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CHAD

CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF)

COLOMBIA

COMOROS

CONGO

CONGO (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF)

CÔTE D'IVOIRE

CUBA

DJIBOUTI

DOMINICA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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

KOREA (NORTH)

KUWAIT

KYRGYZSTAN

LAOS

LEBANON

LESOTHO

LIBERIA

LIBYA

MADAGASCAR

MALAWI

MALDIVES

MALI

MARSHALL ISLANDS

MAURITANIA

MAURITIUS

MICRONESIA

MOLDOVA

MONGOLIA

MONTENEGRO

MOROCCO

MOZAMBIQUE

MYANMAR

NAMIBIA

NAURU

NEPAL

NIGER

NIGERIA

NORTHERN MARIANA

OMAN

PAKISTAN

PALAU

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

PERU

PHILIPPINES

QATAR

RUSSIA

RWANDA

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

SAINT LUCIA

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

SAMOA

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

SAUDI ARABIA

SENEGAL

SERBIA

SEYCHELLES

SIERRA LEONE

SOLOMON ISLANDS

SOMALIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SRI LANKA

SUDAN

SURINAME

SWAZILAND

SYRIA

TAJIKISTAN

TANZANIA

THAILAND

TIMOR-LESTE

TOGO

TONGA

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TUNISIA

TURKEY

TURKMENISTAN

TUVALU

UGANDA

UKRAINE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UZBEKISTAN

VANUATU

VIETNAM

YEMEN

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

2.2. Visa exemption for refugees and stateless persons who are legally resident in one of the countries indicated in the left-hand column and are in possession of a travel document issued by the competent authorities of that country

R	=	Visa-exempted refugees
A	=	Visa-exempted stateless persons

BNL

DE (15)

ANDORRA

R (16)A (16)

ARGENTINA

AUSTRALIA

BRAZIL

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

R (16)A (16)

CANADA

RA (16)

CHILE

RA (16)

COSTA RICA

CROATIA

EL SALVADOR

RA (16)

GUATEMALA

HOLY SEE

—

RA (16)

—

HONDURAS

RA (16)

ISRAEL

JAPAN

RA (16)

KOREA (SOUTH)

MALAYSIA

R (16)A (16)

MEXICO

MONACO

RA (16)

NEW ZEALAND

RA (16)

NICARAGUA

RA (16)

PANAMA

RA (16)

PARAGUAY

RA (16)

SAN MARINO

R (16)A (16)

SINGAPORE

R (16)A (16)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

RA (16)

URUGUAY

RA (16)

VENEZUELA

R (16)A (16)

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

BNL

DE (15)

HONG KONG S.A.R.

R (16)A

MACAO S.A.R.

R (16)A

2.3. Visa exemption granted by Member States to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business and holders of identification and movement orders provided for by the Agreement of 19 June 1951 between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation regarding the status of their forces

Visa exemption

BNL

Members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business and holders of identification and movement orders provided for by the Agreement of 19 June 1951

X (17)

X (18)

3. Exceptions to the exemption from the visa requirement by virtue of Article 4(1)

A visa obligation is applied to the following categories of persons originating in the countries indicated in the left-hand column

D	=	Holders of diplomatic passports
A	=	Civilian aircrew
S	=	Holders of service passports/official passports
C	=	Civilian sea crew

BNL

AUSTRALIA

DSAC

DS (24)

ISRAEL

SA (19)C (20) (23)

DSAC

MEXICO

DSAC

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

DS (21) (23)

DS (22)A (19)C (20) (23)

DSAC

DS (25)

DS (22)

4. Exceptions to the exemption from the visa requirement by virtue of Article 4(3)

Persons originating in the countries indicated in the left-hand column are subject to the visa requirement when carrying out a paid activity during their stay

Paid activity

BNL

BG (30)

DE (29)

EE (28)

CY (33)

LT (31)

MT (34)

AT (35)

FI (32)

ANDORRA

E (26)

ARGENTINA

AUSTRALIA

BRAZIL

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

CANADA

E (27)

CHILE

COSTA RICA

CROATIA

EL SALVADOR

GUATEMALA

HOLY SEE

HONDURAS

ISRAEL

JAPAN

KOREA (SOUTH)

MALAYSIA

MEXICO

MONACO

NEW ZEALAND

NICARAGUA

PANAMA

PARAGUAY

SAN MARINO

SINGAPORE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

URUGUAY

VENEZUELA

BNL

BG (30)

DE (29)

EE (28)

CY (33)

LT (31)

MT (34)

AT (35)

FI (32)

HONG KONG S.A.R.

MACAO S.A.R.

(1) OJ L 81, 21.3.2001, p. 1.

(2) In accordance with Article 1 of the protocol on the position of Ireland and the United Kingdom annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and to the European Community Treaty and without prejudice to Article 4 thereof, the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 are not applied by Ireland or the United Kingdom.

(3) http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/doc_centre/freetravel/visa/doc_freetravel_visa_en.htm

(4) The exemption from the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports indicated in the table refers to diplomats travelling on official business for short stays, without prejudice to the rules applying to diplomats travelling to the Member States where they are or will be accredited.

(5) Benelux: In application of the Convention of 11 April 1960, and in particular Article 3 thereof, the Benelux countries have a harmonised policy on short-stay visas for third countries.

(6) Up to 30 days' stay.

(7) In compliance with the Agreements between the European Community and the following countries on the facilitation of the issuance of visas:

—	The Russian Federation (OJ L 129, 17.5.2007, p. 27). The agreement entered into force on 1 June 2007.

—	The Republic of Albania (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 85). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	Bosnia and Herzegovina (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 97). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 125). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	The Republic of Montenegro (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 109). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	The Republic of Serbia (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 137). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	The Republic of Moldova (OJ L 334, 19.12.2007, p. 169). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

—	Ukraine (OJ L 332, 18.12.2007, p. 68). The agreement entered into force on 1 January 2008.

(8) The accredited ambassador and the ambassador's family are exempted from the visa requirement.

—

Holy See (Vatican City State)

Holders of Vatican passports, irrespective of their nationality, are exempted from the visa requirement by Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Denmark, Slovakia, Poland, France, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Finland.

Holders of valid identity cards issued by the authorities of the Vatican City State are exempted from the visa requirement by Denmark and Slovakia.

Holders of valid ordinary, diplomatic or service passports issued by the competent authorities of the Vatican City State may enter the Benelux countries without a visa.

Holders of diplomatic and service passports of the Vatican City State are exempted from the visa requirement by Austria.

—

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Holders of diplomatic and service passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are exempted from the visa requirement by Poland.

Holders of diplomatic passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are exempted from the visa requirement by Austria.

Holders of passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are exempted from the visa requirement by Slovenia.

(9) Norway: Norway waives the visa requirement for the following persons and their spouse/cohabitant and dependent children:

(a)	representatives to the UN;

(b)	civil servants with a permanent post with the UN or in a UN special organisation;

(c)	judges at the International Court or civil servants in the Court's secretariat;

(d)	other persons acting for a special organisation of the UN or the Court;

(e)	foreigners with a UN laissez-passer (issued in accordance with the special agreement with the UN).

United Nations: The exemption from the visa requirement indicated in the table by Member States applies to holders of UN laissez-passer.

(10) Sweden: The exemption from the visa requirement for the United Nations applies to employees of the UN who are on duty and who hold a certificate issued by the UN to certify this.

(11) The Republic of Cyprus requires no visa for holders of sky-blue and red UN laissez-passer. For holders of the white laissez-passer (refugees), a visa is required.

In addition, holders of the SHIRBRIG, Planning Element Official, identification card issued by the Chief of Defence in Denmark are exempted from the visa requirement by Denmark.

Customs Cooperation Council: The exemption from the visa requirement by Benelux indicated in the table applies to holders of laissez-passer issued by the Secretary-General of the Customs Cooperation Council.

(12) Council of Europe: The exemption from the visa requirement by Benelux indicated in the table applies to holders of laissez-passer issued by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

(13) Cyprus: A national collective visa is required.

(14) Sweden: School pupils under 18 years old.

(15) The general requirement is that the person must hold a valid travel document issued in accordance with the rules in the Agreement of 15 October 1946 regarding the issue of travel documents to refugees, the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951 or the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 28 September 1954. The travel document must contain an authorisation to return which has a sufficiently long period of validity.

(16) For Germany: Applies in each case from the date of entry into force of the agreements and conventions referred to in footnote (1) on the issue of travel documents to refugees and stateless persons.

(17) Comment by Bulgaria: The exemption from the visa requirement for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation applies to holders of a valid travel document or a travel order issued by NATO headquarters, when they are on duty visits for a maximum of ninety (90) days during any half-year.

(18) Comment by Norway: Norway waives the visa requirement for military personnel from a NATO Member State and for military personnel attached to an allied headquarters on an official mission with a travel order issued by the relevant authority in the sender State or in NATO. Please note that for these categories Norway also exempts their family members (spouses/cohabitant and dependent children).

Norway also waives the visa requirement for members of US, Canadian or British troops stationed in Europe and for military personnel who are going to be stationed or going to participate in exercises on Norwegian territory in accordance with the Treaty of Partnership for Peace. The exemption from the visa requirement in these categories does not include spouses and children.

(19) France: Although the United States of America and Israel are signatories to the Chicago Convention, the visa requirement is nevertheless maintained for crew members who are nationals of those two countries.

(20) France: Although the United States of America and Israel are signatories to the 1965 London Convention, the visa requirement is nevertheless maintained for crew members who are nationals of those two countries.

(21) Spain: For the United States of America, holders of diplomatic or service/official passports on official missions or official visits are subject to the visa requirement. The visa is not necessary when they enter in application of the Hispanic-North American Convention of 1 May 1988.

(22) France and Portugal: Only when the holders of diplomatic or official duty passports are on mission.

(23) If travelling on official business.

(24) Poland: For holders of D/S passports on mission.

(25) Poland: For holders of D/S passports on mission (visas valid for not longer than 4 years).

(26) Comment by Spain: Andorran nationals are exempted from the visa requirement when carrying out an economic activity during their stay, except if they exercise an independent profession.

(27) Comment by France: For Canada, the visa requirement applies only to young Canadians coming to France under the Agreement of 3 October 2003 between the government of Canada and the government of the French Republic concerning youth exchanges.

(28) Comment by Estonia: In order to work in Estonia, aliens must hold a work permit/residence permit for employment. Registration of short-term employment is needed for aliens who arrive/stay in Estonia either on the basis of a visa (D-type) or on a visa-free basis (unless any international agreement stipulates otherwise) and this cannot exceed a period of six months a year.

(29) Comments by Germany: The following groups of employees are not considered as carrying out a paid activity and are therefore exempted from the visa requirement under the specified conditions:

—	seamen holding a German seaman's book (‘Seefahrtbuch’) and a national passport issued by the authorities listed in Annex II only if they are crew members of a ship which is authorised to fly the flag of Germany or staying on the territory of Germany,

—	pilots for sea and coastal navigation exercising their profession,

—

in navigation on the Rhine and Danube, including the Main-Danube canal, for entry in order to transport persons or goods: third-country nationals working on a ship registered in a foreign country for an enterprise with its seat in a foreign country, who have a recognised passport or, in lieu, a passport certifying their status as engaged in navigation on the Rhine or holders of a special passport recognised in lieu, for example a ‘Donauschifferausweis’ or seaman's book (‘Seefahrtbuch’) and who are on the crew list. The stay must be directly related to the aims of the navigating profession.

Self-employed professions are also understood as paid activity. Some special activities are not regarded as paid activity (§ 17.2 of the ordinance on residence in conjunction with § 16 of the ordinance on employment; for example, special drivers). These persons may enter visa-free under the conditions specifically set out.

(30) Comment by Bulgaria: In order to work in Bulgaria, aliens must hold a work permit and a long-term visa for first entry. After they have entered Bulgaria, the competent immigration authorities issue a residence permit entitling aliens to stay, leave and re-enter the territory of Bulgaria without any other visa authorisation.

(31) Comment by Lithuania: In order to work in Lithuania, aliens must hold a work permit (with the exceptions indicated in Order No A1-179 of the Minister of Social Security and Labour of 16 July 2004) and a residence permit, which can be obtained on the territory of Lithuania.

(32) Comment by Finland: A residence permit for an employed person is required in order to work.

(33) Comment by Cyprus: In order to work in Cyprus, aliens must hold a work permit and a residence permit, in accordance with the Aliens & Immigration Law (Chapter 105) and the relevant Regulation No 242/72.

(34) Comment by Malta: In order to work in Malta, aliens must hold a work permit/residence permit for employment.

(35) Comment by Austria: In Austria, the following special provisions apply to issuing visas for gainful activities:

Visa-free seasonal and harvest workers may enter Austria without a ‘D + C’ visa and obtain a work permit after a clearance certificate has been issued by the competent aliens police authority.

For other, merely temporary, independent or dependent employment, aliens who are exempt from the visa requirement may take up their activities only after a residence travel visa (‘D + C’ visa) has been issued.

Top

Choose the experimental features you want to try