From the romance of Paris and Rome to the canals of Amsterdam and the architecture of Barcelona, Europe rewards every type of traveller. The best part: one Schengen visa unlocks 29 countries at once. Before you book your flights, here is everything you need to know about applying for a Schengen visa in 2026, including the major border system change that took effect in April 2026.

A Schengen Type C visa is a short-stay visa that allows you to stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

With a single Schengen visa, you can cross internal borders between member states freely, without repeated immigration checks. Vietnamese citizens are not visa-exempt for the Schengen zone and must apply before departure.

This is one of the most common points of confusion for first-time Schengen applicants. The rule is straightforward:

In Vietnam, applications are submitted through authorised visa application centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Each embassy designates its own centre, so confirm which centre handles your chosen country before booking an appointment.

Book your hotels in Europe in advance so you have confirmed reservation documents ready to attach to your visa application.

The standard document requirements apply across most Schengen embassies:

Individual embassies may request additional documents such as proof of property ownership or family ties in Vietnam to strengthen your application.

While waiting for your visa, start planning the activities and attractions you want to experience across Europe.

Visa fees are set centrally by the EU and apply uniformly across all Schengen embassies:

All fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. Standard processing takes 15 working days, but can extend to 30-60 days during peak travel season (April to August). You may submit your application up to 6 months before your travel date. Applying at least 6-8 weeks before departure is strongly recommended to allow buffer time.

Since 10 April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational at all Schengen border crossings. This is the most significant change to European border management in decades and directly affects every Vietnamese traveller visiting Europe.

EES replaces the traditional passport stamp system. Each time you enter or exit the Schengen zone, your facial image and four fingerprints are registered electronically alongside your passport details and travel dates. The system automatically tracks your 90-day allowance within any 180-day window.

What this means for your trip:

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With your Schengen visa secured, it is time to bring your European adventure to life. Traveloka, Southeast Asia's leading travel platform trusted by over 100 million users, lets you book everything your Europe trip needs in one app.

Search and compare hundreds of flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona and across the Schengen zone, browse thousands of hotels from budget stays to five-star city-centre properties with verified guest reviews, and pre-book tickets to iconic attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Vatican Museums and Schönbrunn Palace. Traveloka also offers international travel insurance valid in Europe and eSIM plans to keep you connected throughout your journey, all with transparent pricing and payment options that work for Vietnamese travellers. Download the Traveloka app today, rated the top travel app on Google Play and the Apple App Store in Southeast Asia, and start planning the European trip you have always dreamed of.