The National visa (type D) is the visa type you need if you are planning on working, studying, or living in a Schengen country. This visa allows you to enter the Schengen State of your choice so you can later apply for a residence permit and settle there temporarily or permanently.
The rules and conditions for a National visa are decided by the respective Schengen country—as opposed to a Schengen visa, which is a uniform visa issued jointly by all the Schengen Member States.
Types of National Visas (Type D)
National D-type visas are typically categorized into the following types:
Work Visa
You have to apply for a work visa if you have a job offer from a company in a Schengen country. In most Schengen countries, you are eligible for a work visa if you are a skilled worker or specialist in a profession that’s in shortage in that country (e.g., medical professional, engineer, scientist, IT specialist, etc). Typically, a type-D work visa allows you to enter the Schengen country with the intention of obtaining a work and residence permit—just the visa is not enough to let you work.
Student Visa
If you are accepted into a long-term study program in a Schengen country, such as undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral studies, you can apply for a student visa. Student visas must be accompanied by a residence permit, which allows you to live in the Schengen country where you are studying for the duration of your program.
Family Reunification Visa
If you are an immediate family member (spouse, partner, dependent child, or parent) of an EU citizen or legal resident and you wish to live in the Schengen Area with that family member, you can apply for a family reunification visa.
Visas for Working Holiday Programs
With a working holiday program, you can get a visa that allows you to live in a Schengen country for a specific period of time (typically one year), during which time you can work or travel around. If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 and from certain eligible countries, you can usually apply for a working holiday program.
Retirement Visa
Many Schengen countries offer visa programs which provide visas and residence permits to foreign nationals who are retired. This means that as a retiree, you do not need to have a job or another strong reason to live in the Schengen Area—as long as you can prove that you can financially support yourself.
Investment Visa (Golden Visa)
If you plan to invest in a Schengen country (for example, start a business, purchase real estate, or otherwise contribute to the economic development of the host country), you can apply for an investment visa. These residency programs are commonly referred to as “Golden Visas”.
Digital Nomad Visa
If you are a digital nomad, you can apply for a visa to live in a Schengen country while you work for a company abroad. You have to be able to financially support yourself, but specific conditions differ in each Schengen country.
Visa for Other Long-Term Needs
This category covers other purposes that necessitate a long-term stay in a certain Schengen country. It can include different reasons, such as long-term medical treatments, research projects, or other professional and personal reasons.
How Long Can I Stay in the Schengen Area on a National Visa?
National visas are typically issued for a maximum period of one (1) year, and allow multiple entries in the Schengen Area. The advantage is that once you enter the Schengen country that granted your D visa, you can apply for a residence permit. A residence permit is generally issued for a minimum of one year and can be renewed continually as long as you still meet the requirements.
Why Do I Need a Residence Permit If I Have a National Visa?
This is why you need both a residence permit and a visa: If you want to move to a Schengen country, you typically have to apply for a national D-type visa at a Schengen embassy or consulate abroad. Once the visa is granted, you will then travel to the specific Schengen country, where you have a set period of time to get a residence permit. It is the residence permit which allows you to live abroad—the national D visa allows you to travel there with the purpose of obtaining a residence permit.
This is not always the case—sometimes, you can skip the visa application and apply directly for the residence permit. For example, US citizens do not need to apply for a work visa before entering Germany; they can just travel to Germany and apply for a residence permit directly at the immigration office in the area in which they want to live.
Does That Mean I Can Apply For a Residence Permit if I Enter the Country With a Schengen (C) Visa?
No, you cannot. The only way you can obtain a residence permit in the Member State you choose is by entering that country with a national (D) visa.
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