Clarification on early-disembarkation on with a Schengen visa in alternate country
I'm a Nigerian with a 3 month Schengen visa to Athens, Greece double entry. My flight is Air France route Lagos-France-Greece. Can I be stamped in at France at a port of entry before my connecting flight to Greece? Secondly, can I be allowed to shop in France in an hour time to meet my connecting flight whereas I have 2 hours awaiting on transit before my connecting flight to Athens? Finally, can I have a stop over in France to continue via local air to Greece the next day as I want to see a friend before leaving France?
Best Answer
When flying into the Schengen zone, the first airport you visit is where you will clear immigration (have your Passport stamped). Your checked luggage continues to your final destination where you clear customs. Your luggage is differentiated from local Schengen traffic by the lack of green stripes on the bag tags (green stripes are printed on the tags only for trips originating in the EU, so customs agents know to look for them).
During your layover at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport, you can certainly shop inside the airport. However, you probably cannot purchase from the duty free shops. If you only have a 2 hour connection in Paris, you don't have enough time to leave the airport to shop elsewhere.
Most airlines will allow you to add a stopover to your trip based on the ticket's fare rules; in some cases, a stopover may require an additional fee, which is rolled into the ticket price. Just talk to the airline to request a stopover!
Safe travels!
Edited 7/2/2016 to reflect updated green-strip printing information from comments.
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Can I exit from any Schengen country?
A Schengen Visa allows you to enter and exit the Schengen area through any port of entry. It does not have to be in the country where you applied for your visa. So if you got your Visa from Italy you can arrive eg. in Germany and leave from France.What happens if you stay abroad more than 90 days in Europe?
The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area.Can I leaving Schengen area and returning?
Once you leave, you cannot return to Spain (or Schengen) without a visa until a further 90 days have gone by. For example, if you have spent 90 days in total in Spain and leave on June 29th, you cannot go back without a visa until at least September 28th.Can you transit through 2 Schengen countries?
No. Long stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen Agreement State allows you to travel or stay in other countries of Schengen area during the maximum period of \u201cshort stay visit\u201d (staying not more than 90 days within a period of 180 days).REASONS WHY SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATIONS GET REJECTED (Highly requested)
More answers regarding clarification on early-disembarkation on with a Schengen visa in alternate country
Answer 2
With a Schengen visa, you can enter/exit any country within the Schengen area, no restrictions. It does not matter which country issued the visa.
With a longer-stay national visa (e.g. a Greek student visa), rules might be different.
Answer 3
You should check if a Nigerian citizens need a visa to transit France on their way to Greece. Or for that matter, does a Nigerian citizen need a visa to visit France. You can check this at http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm.
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