Here's Why You Should Avoid 'Visa Shopping' While Planning A European Vacation

Europe is on many travelers' bucket lists, whether it's Paris for its gorgeous iconic monuments or Prague for the largest ancient castle in the world. The only problem is that some visitors need a visa to enter parts of Europe, including the Schengen area. Schengen consists of a whopping 29 countries — including tourist hotspots like Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and Greece — and travelers from certain countries need a Schengen visa to enter any destination within the zone. Unfortunately, Schengen visas can be hard to obtain for certain destinations, which has led some people to turn to "visa shopping" before their European vacation.

If you aren't familiar with the practice, visa shopping is the act of applying for a visa in a country other than the intended destination. For example, if a traveler needs a Schengen visa to enter Switzerland but runs into long application processing times or even a rejection from the Swiss embassy, they can apply for a Schengen visa in Poland instead — even if they don't plan to spend most or any of their trip in Poland.

Visa shopping might seem like a harmless shortcut, but it's considered an act of fraud by immigration authorities. Travelers who use visa shopping to enter Europe could be denied entry at the airport and sent back home. Moreover, people who are suspected of visa shopping may be given shorter Schengen visa stays during future trips, if their applications are accepted at all.

If you need a visa to visit a European country, there's really no way around it: Apply directly through that country's embassy, not a different one. If you're visiting multiple countries in the Schengen zone, you'll only need one visa, but you shouldn't apply via the country with the least restrictions or shortest waiting period. Rather, apply for your Schengen visa in the country associated with the main purpose of your trip. For instance, business travelers adding a leisurely getaway to a scheduled work trip should get a visa from the country in which they'll do business. If the purpose of your trip is the same across countries, go for the destination you plan to spend the most time in. If you'll spend roughly the same number of days in multiple countries, apply for your visa through your first destination instead.

If you know you want to visit Europe but aren't sure where to go (might we suggest Rick Steves' advice for matching your European vacation destination to your interests?), you could opt for a destination with the lowest visa rejection rate — as long as you actually plan on spending a chunk of your trip in that country. According to 2023 data from the European Commission, Iceland, Switzerland, Latvia, and Italy are among the least likely countries to reject applications. Keep in mind, however, that waiting times can vary, so you may need to plan far in advance.

Not everyone traveling to Europe will need a special visa to enter. The Schengen Visa covers the countries within the Schengen zone, not all European nations, and is required for some non-EU citizens. Currently, travelers from over 100 countries must have a visa, including tourists from China, India, South Africa, Turkey, Morocco, and Russia.

Note that a Schengen visa doesn't take the place of a residence or work permit. The visa only grants stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period and applies to all Schengen countries. In other words, your total stay in the zone can't exceed 90 days (or the number of days listed on your approved visa sticker), regardless of how many destinations you visit.

If you already hold a long-term visa, such as the EU Blue Card, you generally won't need a Schengen visa to travel across the continent. Still, you must follow any rules associated with your residence permit. For instance, foreign residents of one Schengen country are typically only allowed to stay as a tourist in another Schengen country for up to 90 days without applying for a new permit.