A Schengen Visa is one of the best keys to travel the world, especially those holders of a passport from a third world country like the Philippine Passport. Besides the 26 countries who are Schengen members, you can enter or can get an E-visa to more than 30 countries or Territories with a valid multiple entry visa. Though it’s going to be a bit challenging, this is a guide on how to get a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa.

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A Schengen visa allows you to enter the Schengen area depending on what is granted for you or a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. If you want to apply for a Schengen Visa, check out our Visa Application Guides. But you can read this article, too!

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Schengen Visa Overview

A Schengen Visa allows you free movement within the Schengen Zone. There are 3 types of Schengen Visa:

Type A - for Airport Transit
Type C - Short Stay Visa, what is mostly applied for and valid for 3 months (90 days) on a 180 day period
Type D - Long-Term Visa; valid for more than 3 months (but can Travel to other Schengen areas for 90/180 days)

There are also 3 types of Entries for Type C Schengen Visa

Single Entry <<1>> - you can only enter the Schengen area once if you ever leave the Schengen Zone you are not allowed to come back even though the validity hasn’t expired nor all the days are spent. This doesn’t mean you can only enter one country, you can go as many as you want as long as it is a Schengen State. If want to go to the Balkans or other countries, not in the Schengen Zone, you may not be allowed to go back.
Double Entry <<2>> - you can only enter the Schengen area twice during the visa’s validity and for whatever days is granted to you (maximum is 90 days on a 180 day period), you can exit the Schengen zone once and come back again
Multiple Entry <<MULT>> - you can only enter the Schengen area as many as you can during the visa’s validity and for what is granted to you (maximum of a total of 90 days in a 180 day period)

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Where to Apply for Schengen Visa and the Schengen Zone

You need to consider this when you apply for a Schengen Visa, because applying for the wrong one may get you denied. Apply at:

1. The country where you’re solely visiting;

2. If you’re visiting several countries in the Schengen Area, apply at the country where you’ll be staying in the longest; or

3. If you’re visiting several countries in the Schengen Area in equal duration, apply in the first country you are arriving.

You can apply as early as 6 months before your flight. This will also ensure that you have time for remonstrance if all else fails.

This is the list of the Schengen Zones and their codes:

Additional microstates that are not Members but part of the Zone, by defacto Agreement:

Monaco
San Marino
Vatican

Though Andorra is a microstate and is between France and Spain, you need a double or multiple entry Schengen visa to enter in this area.

Please also note Schengen visas also have restrictions. If you want to visit all countries it must say “The Schengen States” or the equivalent in another language. If it only states a few letters like “A, B, CZE,” then you can only enter Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.

If it states “Schengen States - A, B, CZE’” then you can enter all of the Schengen States except for Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.

Getting a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa

1 Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa

You have obtained and used lawfully (no violations) three Schengen Visas within the previous two years
Please show proof of your previous visas and trips
You can enter and exit the zone for as many times as you want for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period

2 Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa

You have used a one-year multiple entry visa within the previous two years
Please show proof of your previous visas and trips
You can enter and exit the zone for as many times as you want for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period

5 Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa

You have used a multiple entry visa valid for at least 2 years within the previous three years
Please show proof of your previous visas and trips
You can enter and exit the zone for as many times as you want for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period

The 90 days over 180-day rule

As you have noticed, there are visas that you can stay at the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period. You can also use this calculator.

The Computation

Day 1 Starts when you Arrive and the date of exit is your last day - So if you arrived on January 1 and leave on January 5 - it is 5 days or if January 1 - March 31, 90 days

Straight Stay

If you want to stay for 90 days straight - Day 1 will be January 1 and last day is March 31, if you exit on April 1, then you have an excess of a day and might have problems with border control as you stayed for more than what is given. You can do this with a single entry visa, provided you are granted 90 days

Multiple Entry

You can also stay and exit any day that you like as long as it equals to 90 days within 6 months, for example on January you will stay for 30 days, then exit on January 31, on March you will come back and stay for 30 days, exit again and go back on May and stay for 30 days, the total will be 90, so it’s okay.

180 day period

If your first entry is January 1, then the 180 day period expires on June 29 or 28 (if leap year). You can have another 90 days stay between June 30 until December 26, provided you enter on June 30.

180 day period start

It will start on the first day when you use the visa and not the calendar year, so If you enter on May 14, then the 180 day expires on November 9.

Granted less than 90 days

If you are only granted 15 days, you are not allowed to stay here for 90 days in a 180 day period, only what is granted, so January 1 - 15

Schengen Type D Visa

If you have a Type D Visa for a particular country, Germany for example, you count your first day for the 90/180 day period when you exit Germany

That’s it! You can get easily a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa if you have been using your Schengen Visas properly and you apply always. It’s really a reward for those who always visit this zone. What’s also great is that you can enter other countries and territories too!