30

I’m going to Germany for a semester exchange and I have a long-stay visa from Germany. Can I travel to the other Schengen states during this period with this visa or do I have to apply for a separate short stay Schengen visa?

My visa is German national visa type D. It is for a duration of 4 months, i.e., longer than 90 days. It says on the visa that the long stay visa is valid in Deutschland, which is different from my earlier visa, which I had when I visited Germany earlier; that one was a short stay visa and said it was valid in Schengen Staten.

Perhaps my current visa means that I can stay in Germany for a period of longer that 90 days can visit the other Schengen states if I don’t exceed the 90 day period.

JonathanReez
  • 82,178
  • 90
  • 394
  • 764
Yashaswini Prasad
  • 303
  • 1
  • 3
  • 4

3 Answers3

30

When it comes to traveling within the Schengen area, a type D visa is equivalent to a regular residential permit. You are basically allowed to visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

There are some caveats - you must carry your passport or equivalent travel documents, be able to document the purpose of your visit (going on holiday should be enough), document your ability to finance the trip, be of no danger to national security or public health and not have been specifically expelled from the country you are traveling to. Since there is no immigration control on the borders between Schengen states, these requirements are in most cases rather theoretical. If however you should be checked, you probably save a lot of hassle if you have the required documentation handy.

Tor-Einar Jarnbjo
  • 59,426
  • 5
  • 162
  • 221
7

As per German visa regulations published by the German Foreign Office (scroll down the link):

As a result of Regulation 265/2010 it is now possible for anyone in possession of a national visa (D visa) and a valid travel document to move freely in the Schengen area up to three months in any six‑month period.

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/visabestimmungen-node

Norrius
  • 175
  • 1
  • 12
pbu
  • 3,176
  • 2
  • 19
  • 25
7

As others suggested, you are allowed to travel in other Schengen states while complying with the 90/180 rule. This is also stated on the site of Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The national D-type visa entitles the holder to:

  • stay in the territory of Poland throughout the period of its validity;
  • additionally move within the territory of other Schengen states for up to three months within a half-year period.
Roman Bodnarchuk
  • 421
  • 3
  • 4