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Having family in Europe does not mean one single visa route. Three questions decide which rules apply to you: what passport you hold, what status your relative has in the country where they live, and how long you plan to stay. This page helps you answer them in a few minutes, then sends you to the detailed guide for your route. If you only want the document list for an ordinary family visit, go to the Schengen family visit visa guide. If your relative is an EU citizen who lives in a different EU country from their own, read the guide to Schengen visas for family members of EU citizens.
Start here: three questions that decide your route
| Question | Why it matters | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What passport do you hold? | Citizens of some countries, such as the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, can visit the Schengen area for short stays without a visa | Whether you need a visa at all for a visit of up to 90 days |
| 2. What is your relative’s status? | An EU citizen who lives in another EU country is treated differently from a resident with a permit, or a citizen living in their own country | Whether the ordinary rules and fee apply, or the easier free-movement rules |
| 3. How long will you stay? | A short-stay visa or visa-free entry covers up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area | Whether you are in the visit route or need a longer-stay permit from one country |
Route finder by your relative’s status
| Your relative is | You are | Route that usually applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| An EU citizen living in a different EU country from their own | Their spouse, child, dependent descendant, or dependent parent or grandparent | EU free-movement rules, with an accelerated procedure if your nationality needs a visa | Should be free |
| An EU citizen living in their own country | Any non-EU family member | That country’s national family rules, so ask its embassy which route applies | Set by national rules |
| A non-EU resident with a permit in a Schengen country | A parent, sibling, child or other relative visiting | Ordinary short-stay Schengen visa, if your passport needs one | €90 for adults |
| A citizen of the country they live in | A visiting relative who is not an EU citizen | Ordinary short-stay Schengen visa, if your passport needs one | €90 for adults |
| A sibling, cousin or other extended relative of an EU citizen | Not automatically covered | Countries are expected to look at these cases favourably, but approval is not automatic | Depends on the route |
| Anyone, when you plan to live there | Moving rather than visiting | A national visa or residence permit from that country, not a short-stay visa | Set by that country |
A non-EU family member who already holds a residence card issued under the EU free-movement rules does not need a visa to travel to other EU countries. Switzerland and Ireland have their own arrangements, so check the destination’s rules before you book.
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Your passport comes first
| Your situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| UK, US, Canada or Australian passport, visit of up to 90 days | No visa is needed. Keep a host letter, your return ticket and insurance details to hand in case a border officer asks about your stay |
| A passport that needs a visa, relative is a resident or citizen | Apply for an ordinary short-stay visa, and expect to show your own funds and ties to home |
| A passport that needs a visa, relative is an EU citizen using free movement | Apply as a family member. The visa should be free and decided quickly, and the embassy should focus on proof of the family tie |
| A visa-exempt passport and a stay of more than 90 days | The visa-free allowance does not stretch. You need a residence route from the country you will live in |
At the border, the Entry/Exit System registers a facial image and, for most adults, fingerprints when non-EU visitors cross for a short stay. A separate online travel authorisation called ETIAS, for visitors who do not need a visa, is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026. It is an authorisation, not a visa, and it does not change the family rules above. Check the official EU travel pages for its start date before you book.
What it costs
| Item | Cost or rule |
|---|---|
| Adult short-stay visa | €90 |
| Child aged 6 to 11 | €45 |
| Child under 6 | No visa fee |
| Family member of an EU citizen using free movement | The visa should be free of charge |
| Visa application centre service charge | Extra, and set by the centre |
| Medical insurance | Cover of at least €30,000 valid across the Schengen area, including emergency care, hospital treatment and repatriation |
| Translations and legalisation | Extra, if your certificates are not in English or the destination language |
The visa fee is not refunded after a refusal, so fix the file before you reapply rather than resubmitting the same papers. The fee is set in euros, so if you pay in pounds or dollars, check the converted amount on the day you pay.
A family cost example
Example (figures are illustrative): two adults and two children, aged 8 and 4, need ordinary visas to visit a relative who is a resident of Spain. The visa fees are €90 plus €90 plus €45 for the 8-year-old and nothing for the 4-year-old, which makes €225 before service charges, insurance and any translations. If the relative were instead an EU citizen living in Spain and the parents and children qualified as family members under free movement, the visas should be free.
What your relative in Europe can do
Your host cannot guarantee a visa, but a clear set of host papers makes your file easier to read. The host-side documents are the same for most ordinary family visits.
| Host paper | What it should show |
|---|---|
| Invitation letter | Your full name as in your passport, how you are related, the dates of your visit, the address where you will stay and who pays for what |
| Proof of status | A copy of their passport or ID, plus their residence permit or proof of citizenship |
| Proof of address | A tenancy agreement, property document or utility bill that matches the address in the letter |
| Proof of means | Recent payslips or bank statements, if the host is helping to pay for your stay |
| Local registration | For family of an EU citizen, proof that the citizen lives in the country, such as a registration certificate or work contract |
What your host cannot do is replace your own file. Officers still look at your income, your job or studies at home and your travel plan. A cover letter that explains the purpose clearly helps, and the visa cover letter guide shows how to write one.
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Planning the timing
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Earliest you can apply | 6 months before travel |
| Latest you should apply | At least 15 days before travel |
| Normal decision time | 15 days |
| When more checks are needed | Up to 45 days |
| Sensible target | Start gathering documents about 3 months ahead, and book the appointment as soon as dates open |
Use refundable bookings until the visa is issued. The application timeline guide has a longer planning schedule.
Travelling with children
- Carry each child’s birth certificate, so that the link between the child and the adult is easy to show.
- If a child travels with only one parent, or with another adult such as a grandparent, some consulates and border officers may ask for written consent from the parent or parents who are not travelling. Check your destination’s guidance.
- Make sure the child’s name and date of birth match across the passport, the form and the certificate.
- Children aged 6 to 11 pay the lower fee, and children under 6 pay no visa fee on an ordinary application.
Visit or stay: where each route ends
| Plan | Route | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| A holiday or family visit | Short-stay visa, or visa-free entry if your passport allows it | 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area |
| Joining an EU citizen relative for a short time | Free-movement visa if you need one, or visa-free entry | Up to 3 months in each EU country visited, under the free-movement rules |
| Settling with an EU citizen relative | Residence card applied for in the host country after you arrive | Under the free-movement rules |
| Settling with a resident or citizen relative | National family or residence route of that country | Set by that country’s law |
A short-stay visa cannot be converted into a long stay from inside the Schengen area just because you have family there. Plan the long-stay application before you travel, and check the country’s own immigration pages for the rules, income tests and waiting times that apply to you.
Tips for a stronger family file
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Match every date and name | Different spellings or dates between the form, invitation and tickets are a common cause of refusals |
| Show a clear return plan | Consulates must be satisfied you will leave before your visa ends |
| Explain who pays | Say whether you or your host covers costs, and attach proof either way |
| Keep translations certified | Certificates in another language often need an official translation, as explained in the translation guide |
| Do not buy non-refundable tickets early | Use refundable bookings until the visa is issued |
| Apply to the right country | Use the country where you will spend the longest time, or the first country you enter if the time is equal |
If your application is refused
- Read the refusal form. It lists the grounds and says how to appeal.
- Match each ground to a missing document or a weak part of the file.
- Decide between an appeal and a fresh application. A new application only helps if you can add new evidence.
- Reapply with a corrected file, using the refusal-proof checklist as a final check.
The 11 refusal grounds explain what each one means, and the approval rates guide shows why where you apply from matters as much as the country you choose.
Where to go next
- Schengen family visit visa: rules, documents and steps for the full document list and application steps.
- Schengen visa for family members of EU citizens for the free-movement route and residence cards.
- Understanding the Schengen visa for the basics that apply to every route.
- Multiple-entry visas and the five-year Schengen visa if you expect to visit family often.
- Key factors that affect your visa application for what decides most outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit my family in Europe?
It depends on your passport. Citizens of countries such as the UK, the US, Canada and Australia can enter the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Citizens of other countries must apply for a visa unless they hold a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen.
Is the visa free for family of EU citizens?
For family members who are covered by EU free-movement rules, the visa should be free of charge and issued under an accelerated procedure. For an ordinary visit to a relative who is not using free movement, the standard fee applies.
Which relatives count as family members?
Spouses, children, dependent descendants, and dependent parents or grandparents are covered. Other relatives may qualify for a facilitated procedure, but countries are not required to approve them automatically.
How long can I stay?
A standard short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Family members travelling with or joining an EU citizen can stay up to 3 months in each EU country visited, outside the 90-in-180 limit. Longer stays need a residence route.
Does an invitation letter guarantee approval?
No. It supports your application, but the officer still decides on your funds, ties and travel plan.
Which country do I apply to?
The country where you will spend the longest time. If your time is equal, apply to the country you enter first. For a family visit, that is usually the country where your relative lives.
What if my application is refused?
The refusal form lists the grounds and any appeal route. Fix the specific problems with new evidence before you reapply, because the visa fee is not refunded.
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