Definitions
What is the Schengen Area?
Answer:
A zone of European countries with no internal border checks.
What is the maximum validity of a short-stay Schengen visa?
Answer: 90 days in any 180-day period.
Which type of border has no routine checks: internal or external?
Answer: Internal borders.
A traveler is nervous and does not speak the local language. What duty does the border guard still have in this situation?
Answer: To treat the traveler with respect and dignity, and communicate in a clear, professional way.
Can a Schengen state bring back border checks inside the area in special situations?
Answer: Yes, but only temporarily and for serious threats.
What is an external border?
The border between a Schengen country and a non-Schengen country
How long must a passport be valid after the planned stay?
At least 3 months beyond the planned stay.
What information is registered when stamping a third-country national’s passport?
Answer: Date and place of entry/exit.
A third-country national complains: “You checked me more carefully because of my nationality.”
What principle of the Schengen Borders Code explains why this is not allowed?
Answer:
Non-discrimination — checks must not be based only on nationality, race, religion, or similar grounds.
Are international airports part of the Schengen external borders?
Answer: Yes, airports with flights from outside Schengen are external borders.
What is the difference between a border check and border surveillance?
A border check happens at border crossing points; surveillance is monitoring between crossing points.
What is checked in a passport at the border? (name 2 things)
Answer: Validity, authenticity, visa (if required), and possible stamps.
What system is consulted to check alerts on persons and objects?
Answer: The Schengen Information System (SIS).
An EU citizen shows a driving licence at the border and refuses to show a passport. What should the border guard do?
Answer: Refuse entry until the person presents a valid passport or national ID card, because those are the only accepted documents for free movement.
If a child is travelling alone, what may border guards need to verify?
Answer: That the child has parental consent and proper documents.
Answer: That the child has parental consent and proper documents.
What is a border crossing point (BCP)?
Answer: A place officially designated for crossing the external border.
Who is exempt from visa requirements for short stays?
Answer: Citizens of certain non-EU countries listed in the visa-free regime.
What are the steps a border guard must follow when refusing entry at the external border?
Answer: Stamp passport, give refusal form with reasons, and inform about appeal rights.
A traveler is refused entry but says: “I never received a written explanation, so the refusal is invalid.” Is he right? Justify your answer.
Yes. The Schengen Borders Code requires a written refusal form with reasons and information on appeal rights. Without it, the refusal procedure is not properly completed.
If a Schengen state reintroduces internal border checks for a limited time, what must it do to stay in line with the Schengen Borders Code?
Answer: It must notify the EU institutions and other Schengen states, explaining the reasons, scope, and expected duration of the checks.
Besides validity, what other requirements must a travel document meet to be accepted at the external border?
It must be genuine (not forged), unaltered, and allow the holder to cross the border legally.
Name three entry conditions (besides a valid passport) that third-country nationals must meet.
Valid visa (if required), purpose of stay and means of subsistence, not a threat to public policy / security / health.
What kind of check is carried out on all travelers at external borders, regardless of nationality?
Minimum check (identity verification with travel document).
A family with two young children arrives at the airport. The parents have valid passports and visas, but the children only have birth certificates. According to the Schengen Borders Code, can the children enter?
Answer: No. Each child must have their own valid travel document (passport or recognized equivalent).
In what situations can internal border controls be reintroduced for up to 6 months (extendable)?
Answer:
In case of serious threat to public policy or internal security.