Visas: third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when they are crossing external borders

Council Regulation (EC) No 2317/95 establishes a common list of non-member countries (98 States and 3 entities not recognized as States by all EU Members) whose nationals require a visa to cross the external borders of the Member States. The visas in question are those issued for the purpose of a proposed stay in one or several Member States for a maximum period of three months. Member States have the right to keep national lists which also include countries which are not entered on the common list annexed to the regulation and shall determine whether or not stateless persons and statutory refugees are required to hold a visa. Exceptions to the visa requirement are possible, notably for civilian crews of aircraft and ships, crew members and accompanying personnel on rescue aircraft, disaster relief personnel and holders of diplomatic passports. In order to ensure transparency and to see that the persons concerned are kept informed, Member States shall provide other Member States and the Commission with information on the measures which they have adopted within the framework of the regulation; this information shall be published in the Official Journal. The regulation shall not stand in the way of greater harmonisation, whose scope would extend beyond the current list. - ENTRY INTO FORCE: 03.04.1996. �