Travellers exempted from the Schengen visa requirement

Are exempted from the visa requirement to enter or to transit in the Schengen area:

the nationals of European Economic Area: the EEA includes the 25 Member States of the European Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom) as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

the nationals of the following countries:

Hong Kong: the visa exemption applies only to holders of a "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport".
Macao: the visa exemption applies only to holders of a "Região Administrativa Especial de Macau passport".
British Nationals Overseas are exempted from the Schengen Visa Requirement.

Holders of a residence permit

Holders of a valid residence permit in one the Schengen States do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area.

Holders of certain residence permits issued by Switzerland or Liechtenstein do not require a visa to transit through the Schengen area for a maximum of 5 days. The validity of the residence permits in question must cover the duration of the transit. The visa exemption only applies to transit to a country outside the Schengen area. The visa requirement is maintained if the trip has another purpose than transit (tourism, visit, business,...).

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports are not subject to a unified regime. Depending on their country of origin and the type of passport they hold, they will or will not be visa exempt. A schedule of visa exemptions has been laid down by each Schengen State. In addition, from 1 November 2006, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands exempt holders of Indonesian diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements. In general, holders of diplomatic, official or service passports, when subject to the visa requirement, do not have to show proof of funds when travelling in their professional capacity.

Moroccan residents of Tetuan or Nador

Moroccan nationals who reside in the provinces of Tetuan or Nador and who exclusively wish to visit Ceuta or Melilla (the two Spanish enclaves in Moroccan territory) are exempted from the visa requirement. However, Spain maintains checks on identity and documents on sea and air connections departing from Ceuta and Melilla and having as their destination another location in Spanish territory or another Schengen country.