As of 21 December 2007, the Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, M alta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia , Spain and Sweden.

In Beirut, Denmark and Iceland are being represented by the French Consulate-General, Finland by the Austrian Embassy, Luxembourg by the Belgian Embassy, Sweden by the Italian Embassy and Portugal by the Spanish Embassy. For general information regarding Schengen see also: www.eurovisa.inf o .

The free application form can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Czech Republic ( www.mzv.cz/visaform or www.mfa.cz/visaform ).

This sheet contains information regarding the visa for short stay (maximum 3 months within the 6 month period).

Information regarding the national visa for longer stay (more than 3 months) is available in a separate article.

Main destination

The visa application should be submitted at the Embassy/ Consulate of the country of your main destination (main purpose of the trip/ longest stay). You are kindly requested to indicate each Schengen country that you intend to visit. Should the consulate have to refer you to another consulate, there will be considerable delay.

Application procedure + visa costs

The issuing of the visa takes a minimum of 15 days.

Visa for certain purposes may take more time, information can be obtained at the consulate.

A handling fee of 60 Euros will be charged upon submitting the application (payable in L.L.).

The handling fee will not be reimbursed in case the visa is refused.

Travel insurance

All travelers to Schengen (excluding Schengen transit passengers) are obliged to have an adequate travel insurance, covering the costs of repatriation, urgent medical treatment and emergency admission to hospital (assistance on the spot) covering a minimum of € 30.000,--.

The insurance should be valid for all Schengen countries for the complete period of the journey (in case of long term visa evidence of travel medical insurance has to be submitted for the first journey only. However, in case of a long term visa for all trips, travel medical insurance has to be ensured for possible examination upon entry into the Schengen area).

Departure

In case you are being given a Schengen visa, it is important to read the following information before your departure. A Schengen visa does not give you an automatic right to enter the Schengen territory. Upon arrival you may be asked by border authorities to provide, in addition to your valid passport and visa, information or supporting documents concerning the purpose of your visit, the length of stay, your financial means and travel insurance. To avoid any delay or inconvenience at the border, we advise you to take with you a copy or original of the documents which you enclosed with the visa application. If the prerequisites for entry or transit do no longer apply, or if you are unable to provide the relevant evidence, you may be refused entry by the border authorities although you possess a valid visa.

Please be aware that a granted visa is valid only for a short stay for the duration as mentioned on the visa sticker, not for longer than 90 days per 6 months (counted as of the first day of entry). The consulate might oblige you to report back after your trip.

Refusal

Please be informed that the refusal of a visa application does not have legal consequence for future applications in the same or any other Schengen Embassy/ Consulate: such new application will be considered with all its new aspects.