Can visiting scholars in the UK travel and visit other European countries?

You can enter Switzerland visa-free with a British visa

But not other countries, because the UK is not a Schengen member country

It is recommended to apply for a visa in a SHENGEN country, as long as it can be done Once you get out, you can go to other SHENGEN countries

Introduction to Schengen Agreement and Schengen Visa

1. Concept of Schengen Agreement and Schengen Visa:

June 24, 1985 , France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg signed the Schengen Agreement in the Luxembourg border town (SCHENGSN). The agreement stipulates that its member states issue a uniform format of visa to short-term visitors, namely a Schengen visa. Once the applicant obtains a visa from a certain country, he or she can travel freely within all Schengen member states within the validity period and period of stay of the visa, but starting from the first Starting from the second country, you need to report to the relevant local departments within 3 days. The Schengen Agreement also contains the following principles:

1. Schengen Agreement countries should adopt unified policies and regulations on all aspects of personnel movement, especially visas;

2. The Schengen Agreement countries decide to issue a unified visa that is generally valid within the Schengen area;

3. A prerequisite for a short-term travel visa that allows one or two entries is that the total number of days of stay cannot exceed 3 months within six months of the first entry;

4. Before the Schengen visa is used, the national visas of each country should be recognized;

5. According to the provisions of the Schengen Agreement, travelers holding a valid residence permit from any Schengen Agreement member state can travel freely within the Schengen area without a visa within 3 months. Travelers outside the Schengen area can travel to a Schengen country without applying for a visa as long as they hold a valid residence permit and passport from that Schengen country. For stays exceeding 90 days, applicants should apply for a national visa in accordance with relevant laws and the purpose of their stay;

6. The unified Schengen visa should be issued by the diplomatic and consular departments of the agreement countries;

7. In principle, the country that issues a Schengen visa should be the main destination country of the visa holder, or the first Schengen country the visa holder enters;

8. The validity period of the travel document must be longer than the validity period of the visa, and the travel document must ensure that foreigners outside the Schengen countries can smoothly return to their own country or enter countries outside the Schengen area;

9. Each country has the right to decide whether a person has the right to enter the country, or is refused entry. Schengen visas issued by other countries will be restricted when used in another Schengen country, but the country must notify other agreement countries of the relevant situation; < /p>

10. On March 26, 1995, the Schengen Agreement first came into effect in seven countries: Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and the seven countries began to implement Schengen visas; at the end of 1997, Italy, Greece, and Austria The three countries have implemented Schengen visas one after another; starting from March 25, 2001, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Denmark began to issue Schengen visas. Schengen visa member states have grown to 15 countries so far, namely Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Austria, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Denmark.

2. Types of Schengen visas and application methods:

1. Schengen visas are divided into two categories: entry and transit.

1) There are two types of entry visas: single-entry and multiple-entry. Visa holders can stay for 90 consecutive days at one time or for multiple stays every six months for a total of no more than 3 months. If you need to stay for a long time, you can apply to a certain member country for a country visa that is only used in that country;

2) Transit visa refers to a visa for transit to a country other than the agreement country. Generally, there are two types of transit visas: one-time and two-time. Under special circumstances, multiple transit visas can be issued. Each transit time is generally 3 days, and the longest is 5 days;

2. There are several types of Schengen visa applications:

1) If you only go to a certain member country, you should apply for a visa for that country, that is, a "country visa". "Country visa" is only valid for entry and exit from the issuing country. It cannot transit from other Schengen countries and enter the issuing country. Otherwise, you should apply for a "Schengen visa". The number of days of stay on the visa is only valid within the validity period of the visa;

2) If you are transiting through one member country or several member states to go to another member country, you should apply for a visa from the other member country (country of entry);

3) When traveling to several member states, you should apply for a visa for the member state you are mainly visiting or the member state where you will stay the longest. If you cannot determine the country of primary visit, apply for a visa for the first country you visit;

4) Those traveling to overseas territories or trusteeships in France, the Netherlands, Portugal and other countries should still apply for a visa from the country where they belong;

5) Traveling through or visiting multiple Schengen countries requires Fill in the itinerary, that is, the countries visited, route details and stay schedule, and provide invitation letters from the countries visited. For which country to apply for a visa, use the visa application form of that country. If necessary, the receiving country may require additional materials.

Schengen countries sometimes also issue national visas, which can only be used to travel to that country and not to other Schengen countries; the number of days of stay on the visa is only valid within the validity period of the visa;

6) Long-term stays exceeding 90 days Visas are still issued by the country where they are located. Those who already hold a long-term residence permit from a member country do not need to apply for a visa with valid international travel documents and can freely enter any member country. The stay period shall not exceed 3 months;

7) You can only apply for a "Schengen visa" that is valid for one entry. You can only travel within the Schengen country within the validity period. You cannot transfer to a non-Schengen country and then return to a Schengen country;

8)" The Schengen Agreement "does not have clear provisions on permanent diplomatic and public servants, and it is up to each country to handle it themselves."

3. About the positive, gray and negative lists in the Schengen Agreement

The Schengen Agreement divides countries other than Schengen member states into three categories: positive list, gray list and negative list:

1. The main list refers to all Schengen member states and other visa-free developed countries, up to 30 countries;

2. The gray list refers to the requirements of some member states, while others Some member states do not require visas, including 20 countries. It is up to each member state to decide whether gray list countries require visa applications;

3. Negative list countries refer to countries that must apply for visas , ***130; including China.