What is ACH payment?
What is Holding Reserve?
What is Risk Reserve?
What or Who is the ODFI?
What or Who is the RDFI?
What is a Return?
The Flow of Funds
How does ACH payment work within the Netbilling Gateway?
How to Apply for ACH payment
How does the ACH payment application approval process work?
How long does the ACH payment application process take?
What are my ACH payment processing limits and who sets them?
Testing Check Processing
How to Process a Check through the Virtual Terminal
Messages for ACH payment transactions
How can I check whether an ACH transaction has gone through?
How to Read Your ACH Reserves Report
How long does it take for an ACH transaction to process and settle?
How often do ACH transactions settle?
What is the holding period for ACH batch settlement funds?
Does the principal name on my service application have to match the principle name on my account?
Can an ACH credit or refund be processed?
Do I have to receive an authorization from the customer to debit their bank account?
How do I find a listing of returned transactions?
Are Recurring Billing and Membership options available for ACH transactions?
How do I request ACH processing limits increase?
How is my billing statement descriptor established?
How do I cancel my ACH payment service?

A Return is an ACH transaction that cannot be completely processed. There are three types of returns:

Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) - occurs when the customer's bank account does not have sufficient funds to cover a particular transaction.
Chargebacks - occurs when the customer claims he or she did not authorize the ACH transaction or had revoked his or her authorization (this may also happen when the 'customer' and the actual account holder are not the same person, i.e., identity theft); or if the transaction was for a different dollar amount than was originally authorized; or if the transaction was settled prior to the date of the customer's authorization. The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) grants a sixty (60) calendar day window during which a customer may challenge and return a charge item.
Administrative Returns or Returned Items - includes all other reasons for a return: account closed, account number invalid, non-transaction account, account frozen, etc.

The following represents a partial list of typical message definitions as may apply to ACH transactions.

ACH/ISSUED : The transaction has gone through Fraud Defense for Checks and is waiting to be submitted to the bank in the daily settlement.
ACH/PENDING : The transaction has been submitted to the bank and is waiting to be processed after a series of checks.
ACH/OK : The transaction has gone through the appropriate channels and has settled.
ACH/FAIL : The transaction has failed through the bank.
ACH/RETURN : The transaction has been returned from the bank for any number of reasons including: cannot locate the account, non-sufficient funds, invalid account number, etc.
?/DECLINED : The transaction has been declined through Fraud Defense. You can view the specific authorization messages by viewing the Help Files, Authorization Messages.
?/QUOTA EXCEEDED : The transaction was declined for exceeding some form of traffic limits. Also refer to the Help Files, Authorization Messages for further information.

How can I check whether an ACH transaction has gone through?

To search for a specific transaction click on Browse/Find > Find > Transactions and do a search for ACH Transactions. All ACH transactions will appear in a list. Alternately, a search can be made by Customer Name, Email Address, Account Number, etc.

Do I have to receive an authorization from the customer to debit their bank account?

Yes, you must have proper authorization from your customer prior to initiating an ACH transaction. Customer authorization is required by NACHA, as well as Federal Regulation
How long will it take to get the funds?
- Standard funding time is 4 days. ACH Processing is very different from credit cards in this respect. The ACH transaction proceeds as if the customer has the funds in their bank account but the customer bank has to "report" to us the money was actually in the account and that is has officially been transferred. This can take 3 days.

How to Send Money Online With an ACH Transfer
What is a ACH account transfer?
What is the difference between EFT and ACH money transfers??
What is a bank ach transfer?
What does the ACH stand for in money transfers?
What does ACH TRANSFER mean?
Why does it take so long for ACH transfers??

Why does it take so long for ACH transfers?

Presumably the transactions are all electronic and should be instant, so why does it take 3-5 days for a bank to bank ACH transfer to go through? Do the banks purposely delay it to avoid paying interest for those 3-5 days?

It should only take 2 business days. For instance, if a payroll company runs your payroll - 1 day to go from payroll to the feds and 1 day to go from the feds to the receiving bank

Other Offshore Services.

1. Service possibilities in the Russian banks-partners on individual conditions on directions: opening of accounts, settlement-cash service, crediting, placings of means, documentary operations, bank guarantees and use of other bank services.

2. Opening of credit and debit payment cards Visa and MasterCard: corporate both personal. Exclusive and VIP-cards.

3. Anonymous debit not personalized cards MasterCard of bank of Belize at cooperation with Lloyds Bank (UK) without a binding to the account.
4. Services of Private Banking (Private Banking) and Managements of Actives (Wealth Management) for preservation and augmentation of private and corporate capitals and for investment decisions.
5. Fiduciary services.
6. Services in reception and improvement of a credit rating for the offshore companies.
7. Lines of the commodity credit from foreign suppliers
8. Financing reception through the international holding
9. A bank guarantee of trading financing through the Russian banks
10. Registration abroad trusts, funds, holdings, branches and representations.
11. Registration of branches of the foreign companies in Russia.
12. Real estate acquisition in EU and Residence permit reception in EU, investments into foreign real estate
13. Services in work permit reception in Cyprus for your company in Cyprus.
14. The help in reception of bank, broker and other kinds of the licenses necessary for work of the company in Cyprus.

15. Reception of the visa and the license for business dealing in the United Arab Emirates.
16. Services in registration of trademarks and patents in Cyprus and in Singapore.

17. Legal, administrative and financial services in Switzerland

18. VAT-number reception for the European companies.

19. Registration of the company and opening of the bank account for work in Forex market, not demanding special license.

20. Service «Virtual office» in various offshore and European jurisdictions

21. Registration and drawing up of the international contracts and agreements for conducting activity and carrying out of payments

22. Registration, the account and support of the Russian companies. The ready companies. Changes

23. Reception of various licenses for the Russian companies

24. Apostille putting down on notarial certified documents and-or notarial certified transfers.

25. Services in translation of texts Russian-English, English-Russian.

Offshore Banking Services

CONDITIONAL LETTER OF CREDIT

The conditional letter of credit can be up to 180 days.
a) Your bank shall open the letter of credit with payment at sight to the supplier;
b) For the cost and our commission the customer has to send you a deposit via swift MT103 or irrevocable pay order saying that payment will be made within 24/48 hours from receiving the LC at supplier’s bank;
c) Once ready, goods will leave towards customer destination;
d) All the original documents must be sent to your credit institute together with customer’s personal (of the company) promissory note/s as guarantee for the total amount of the LC;
e) Before goods come to destination port the customer must pay the total LC via swift through his bank;
f) The customer will receive original documents and promissory notes will be given back;
g) The cost for this letter of credit is of 3%;

UNCONDITIONAL LETTER OF CREDIT
Your Bank shall open this kind of letter of credit or standby letter of credit with payment at sight to the supplier.
a) The customer can pay the LC back in 360 days;
b) For the cost of the LC the customer has to send you a deposit via swift MT103 or irrevocable pay order saying that payment will be made within 24/48 hours from receiving the LC at supplier’s bank;
c) a Bank Guarantee from the customer’s bank or bank-endorsed promissory note/s are deposited at your bank in order to guarantee the LC payment;
a) Once you open the Letter of Credit with payment at sight to the supplier the deposit and the guarantee can become earned;
b) The cost of this facility is of 5%

BANK GUARANTEE
Your Bank provides the customer a Bank Guarantee with a duration of one year and one day for the following purposes:
• Credit line
• Upfront/Advanced payments on contract work
• Tender (Bid Bond – Performance Bond)
• Hotel and Holiday Villages (e.g. room booking)
• Airlines (Tickets + IATA)
• Any other purpose accepted by you
For the cost and our commission the customer has to send you a deposit via swift MT103 or irrevocable pay order saying that payment will be made within 24/48 hours from receiving the bank guarantee
The cost of this instrument is of 4%

FINANCIAL PROJECTS
Financial projects can be either of governmental or of private company and in different industrial fields or tourism, infrastrucuture, facilities.
The possibility is that your bank endorses the customer’s promissory notes through a bank guarantee and according to following expiring dates:
a) 5 years including 1 year grace period
b) 7 years including 2 years grace period
c) 10 years including 2 years grace period
* The customer pays the PN every six months
* The cost for this guarantee is
- 4% on the total amount during the grace period
- 4% after grace period on the remaining amount and decreasing
* The customer will sign a notarised declaration saying that the guarantee will be automatically cancelled in case he doesn’t pay the cost of premium in advance every year or in case he fails to pay a promissory note to the beneficiary.

How to open offshore bank Account?

You will not need to plan a trip to open an offshore bank account for your offshore company. Offshore bank accounts can be open online, or through an agent who will provide the necessary documentation and in some cases the required bank introductions. Generally the requirements to open offshore bank account are:

For Offshore Company Accounts

A certified copy of passport for all documented officers, director and shareholders, and assigned signatories if they are different from the officers.
A form of verification of residential address such as a recent utility bill or a bank statement or a credit card statement with home address.
A personal bank reference from a bank where you currently hold and account and have held an account for over 2 years.
A full set of Company documents, including the Certificate of Incorporation, the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The offshore bank may also ask for more specific details on the company, nature of business, location of business, expected financial activity over a year etc.

For the personal offshore bank account

A certified copy of passport for all assigned signatories.
A form of verification of residential address such as a recent utility bill or a bank statement or a credit card statement with home address.
A personal bank reference from a bank where you currently hold an account

Before you choose you offshore banking company contact us, we will provide you a variety of options to choose offshore banking institution.

The Privacy and Confidentiality of offshore accounts

The process for to open an offshore bank account varies with jurisdiction and institutions

Beware of offshore banks which have little or no due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

The cost to open an offshore bank account

The retail offshore banks feature both offshore corporate banking services and offshore personal banking services. The banking services may include:

Deposit facilities – short and long term
Lending and overdraft facilities
Credit facilities
A wide range of offshore bank account (savings, checking)
Corporate offshore accounts
Personal offshore accounts (single or joint)
Offshore Merchant accounts
Offshore brokerage accounts
Wealth and asset management services to include investment and fund management
Letter of credits and Trade finance services
Brokerage services
24 hour Online banking services
Debit and credit cards
Wire transfers, international money orders, electronic fund transfer

The cost to open an offshore bank account
The cost for offshore banking varies on the type of bank, the level of service offered, the jurisdiction
Offshore accounts can be opened in some offshore banks, with an initial deposit of as little as US$500. Some European banks require a deposit of US$5,000 to open a private personal offshore account.

Offshore Banking - Offshore Bank Accounts

Is Offshore Banking For You?
Banking offshore is no longer restricted to individuals or corporations with high net worth. Offshore banking is actually recognized as a necessary tool of the trade for international business and is a very big part of the international financial system.

If you wish to access tax free banking facilities, enhanced privacy in banking, and want to protect your assets from political and economic stability, open an offshore bank account today.

Why Offshore Banking?

greater privacy and confidentiality;
no tax regimes or low tax;
no currency or foreign exchange tariffs;
protection from economic or political instability;
competitive interest rates and affordable service fees;
customized international banking services;
24 hour internet /online banking;
Remote/Online bank account opening processes

Is it possible to get a Residence Permit in Europe without a job lined up?

Can an American Citizen get a permanent residence permit in an EU country without a job already lined up?

Unless you have a means of supporting yourself WITHOUT working, the odds of getting a residence permit are nearly zero.

Is it possible to get a Residence Permit in Europe without a job lined up?

Can an American Citizen get a permanent residence permit in an EU country without a job already lined up?

Unless you have a means of supporting yourself WITHOUT working, the odds of getting a residence permit are nearly zero.

Residence Permit and Citizenship in Latvia - Riga, Latvia Guide

Residence permits

A residence permit is a document providing a foreigner the rights to reside in the Republic of Latvia for a definite period of time (a temporary residence permit) or permanently (a permanent residence permit).
A residence permit is necessary if a foreigner is willing to reside in the Republic of Latvia for a period of time exceeding 90 days within half a year counting from the first day of entrance.

A residence permit is required for those planning to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days over 6 months from the date of entry; for those engaged in commercial activities; and for those who are self-employed in Latvia.
First, you must apply for your residence permit at your appropriate consular institution outside of Latvia. Permits are provided for a period of 1 to 5 years, depending on the circumstances outlined in your application. Permits also provide the possibility for extension when and if necessary, and you may apply to obtain a permanent residence permit after 5 years.
A residence permit provides the right to enter Latvia without a visa, to live and work within the territory of Latvia, and to use the medical and other services guaranteed by the state.
Residence permits in Latvia are provided to those who meet one of the following criteria:

Work (either employment or self-employment);
Rendering or using services;
Studies;
Family reunion;
For EU citizens, a stable monthly income of 93,54 Ls is required.

EU Permanent Resident Status
Possession of a residence permit in Latvia does not automatically provide the right to enter other EU countries. To gain this privilege, you must first obtain the status of "EU Permanent Resident". To do so, you must provide proof of a stable income, sufficient for you and your family’s maintenance. Further, you must have resided in an EU country for a minimum of 5 years, with annual leaves totalling less than 10 months. The "EU Permanent Resident" status is regulated by special directives, which Latvia must introduce into National Legislation before 23 January, 2006.

Residence Permit Procedures
A simplified residence permit application procedure is available for the citizens of EU and EEA countries. This procedure requires the following:

Life and health insurance policy;
A blank, officially-formatted residence permit request form;
A photograph; and
Documentation proving your basis for application (This may be an employment or education contract, a copy of a marriage certificate, etc).

For citizens of non EU/EEA countries that DO NOT require a visa to enter Latvia there are additional requirements:

Documentation confirming your place of residence in Latvia;
A doctor’s statement that you have been tested for tuberculosis, or lung x-ray results; and
Documentation confirming payment of the state fee; and
Two photographs.

For citizens of countries that DO require a visa to enter Latvia, including Russia and CIS countries, there are the additional requirements:

A punishability statement issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or host country for any ex-patriot over 14 years old; and
Documentation confirming the necessary subsistence.

For more information, visit the State Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Website at http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/

Residence Permit and Citizenship in Latvia - Riga, Latvia Guide

Residence permits

Work (either employment or self-employment);
Rendering or using services;
Studies;
Family reunion;
For EU citizens, a stable monthly income of 93,54 Ls is required.

Life and health insurance policy;
A blank, officially-formatted residence permit request form;
A photograph; and
Documentation proving your basis for application (This may be an employment or education contract, a copy of a marriage certificate, etc).

For citizens of non EU/EEA countries that DO NOT require a visa to enter Latvia there are additional requirements:

Documentation confirming your place of residence in Latvia;
A doctor’s statement that you have been tested for tuberculosis, or lung x-ray results; and
Documentation confirming payment of the state fee; and
Two photographs.

For citizens of countries that DO require a visa to enter Latvia, including Russia and CIS countries, there are the additional requirements:

A punishability statement issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or host country for any ex-patriot over 14 years old; and
Documentation confirming the necessary subsistence.

For more information, visit the State Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs Website at http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/

List of Banks in Latvia - Contact us to recommend you best offshore bank 2012

1.ABLV Bank
Elizabetes street 23, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67775222, fax 67775200,
2.Aktsiaselts Eesti Krediidipank Latvia Branch
Kr. Valdemara street 21-8, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67775888, fax: 67775849,
3.Allied Irish Banks p.l.c. Latvia Branch
Antonijas street 7, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67201700, fax 67201720,
4.Baltic International Bank
Kaleju street 43, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 67222789, 67210172, fax 67220330,
5.Baltikums Bank
M.Pils street 13, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 67031311, 67031333, fax 67031300,
6.Citadele banka
Republikas laukums 2A, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67010000, fax 67010001,
7.Danske Bank Latvia Branch
Cesu street 31/8, Riga, LV-1012,
tel. 67959599, fax 67959103,
8.DNB banka
Skanstes street 12, Riga, LV-1013,
tel. 67171880, fax 67323449,
9.GE MoneyBank
13.janvara street 3, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 1878 (+371 67001878), fax 67024761,
10.Latvijas Hipotēku un zemes banka
Doma laukuma 4, Riga, LV-1977,
tel. 67228866, 67222945, fax 67820143,
11.Latvijas pasta banka
Katlakalna street 1, Riga, LV-1073,
tel: 67772999, epasts:
12.LTB Bank
Grecinieku street 22, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 67043510, fax 67043511,
13.Nordea Bank Finland Latvia Branch
K.Valdemara street 62, Riga, LV-1013,
tel./fax 67096096,
14.NORVIK BANKA
E.Birznieka-Upisa street 21, Riga, LV-1011,
tel. 67041100, fax 67041111,
15.Parex banka
Republikas laukums 2a, Riga, LV-1522,
tel. 67010000, fax 67010001,
16.PrivatBank
Terbatas street 4, Riga, LV-1134,
tel. 67041300, 67041302, fax 67282981,
17.Regionala investiciju banka
J.Alunana street 2, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67508989, fax 67508988,
18.Rietumu banka
Vesetas street 7, Riga, LV-1013,
tel. 67025555, fax 67025588,
19.Rigensis Bank
Duntes street 6, Riga, LV-1013,
tel. 67555551, fax 67333303,
20.SEB banka
SEB finansu centrs, Meistaru 1, Valdlauci, Kekavas pagasts, Rigas rajons, LV-1076,
tel. 67212808, 67215535, fax 67215335, 67820332,
21.SMP Bank
Elizabetes street 57, Riga, LV-1772,
tel. 67019100, 67019153, fax 67019125,
22.Swedbank
Balasta dambis 1a, Riga, LV-1048,
tel. 67444444, fax 67444501,
23.TRASTA KOMERCBANKA
Miesnieku street 9, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 67027777, fax 67027700, 67027729
24.UniCredit Bank
Elizabetes street 63, Riga, LV-1050,
tel. 67085500, fax 67085507
25.Latvijas Biznesa Banka
Antonijas street 3, Riga, LV-1010,
tel. 67081034, fax 67081042, e-mail: info@lbbank.lv
Source http://latviabankaccount.com/list-of-banks.html

Banking in Latvia

After Latvia regained independence in 1991, the Bank of Latvia, which was founded in 1991, started to issue new licenses. The first foreign bank opened its representative office in Riga in the year 1994, it was Dresdner Bank AG (Germany).

The Central Bank of Latvia was founded in August of 1990. Bank of Latvia is independent of the Latvian government and is the institution controlling the commercial banking sector. The banking system in Latvia is almost fully private, major part of its control and ownership is with foreign institutions.
After the Bank of Latvia had to cancel licences for several banks in 1994, it became clear that more effective bank supervision is necessary, and relevant amendments to the legislation were introduced in 1995. Along with the introduction of international bank supervision standards, a new law on Credit Institutions was adopted, and banks were subjected to international audit. As a consequence, the Bank of Latvia cancelled licences of 15 banks in 1995 and of additional seven banks in 1996. Four of the top ten banks, including the country’s largest bank, Banka Baltija, were closed.
Since its beginning in 1988, with the establishment of the first commercial banks, the banking system of Latvia has gone through two crises. The first crisis, in 1995, made the banking system to lose about 40 percent of its assets and liabilities, and was connected to the large reduction in the number of banks. The second crisis of 1998 was provoked by the Russian economic collapse. In 1999, Latvian banking sector overcame the negative influence of the Russian financial crisis, and 19 of 24 banks ended the financial year with profit. One bank decided on self-liquidation, another one went on bankruptcy. At the same period, in 1998, two new laws came into force — ‘On the Prevention of Legalisation of Money Received from Crime’, and ‘On Guarantees for Deposits of Natural Persons.’
In 2000, there were structural changes in some of the major banks of Latvia, due to the mergers the number of banks reduced from 24 to 22. The acceptance of the Law on Financial and Capital market Commission was the step to the stabilization of the Latvian banking system. 2001 was very successful year in the banking sector of Latvia. An essential event of that year was the introduction of the united supervision in Latvia, resulting in the Financial and Capital Market Commission uniting the Credit Institutions Supervision Department of the Banking in Latvia, Latvia Insurance Supervision Inspectorate and Securities Market Commission of Latvia.
The principle of banking secrecy is established in many countries, and Latvia is not exception. The Latvian Credit Institutions Law was recently amended with the rules of provision the information by the credit institutions to state institutions, state officials and other institutions. The amendments were also affected by the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism and developing court practice.
From February 2010, the credit institutions are obliged to give information on the existence of a bank account and transactions performed in the bank account to the State Revenue Service, upon their written request, if the tax payer does not file with the State Revenue Service the declarations or tax calculations, or does not make tax payments pursuant to the law requirements. For opening an account we recommend you to contact an agent at http://latviabankaccount.com/

Kantonalbanken wiki

Die 24 Kantonalbanken sind moderne, eigenständige Institute mit einer betriebswirtschaftlichen Grundsätzen verpflichteten Unternehmensführung. Eigentümer – teils vollständig, teils als Mehrheitsträger – sind die Kantone. Dementsprechend unterscheiden sie sich bezüglich ihrer rechtlichen und organisatorischen Ausgestaltung.
Die Geschichte der Kantonalbanken beginnt vor über hundert Jahren. Seit dem 19. Jahrhundert sind sie mit zinsgünstigen Darlehen und sicheren Anlagen im Markt tätig. Die einzelnen Kantonalbanken sind in erster Linie im Wirtschaftsraum ihres Heimatkantons tätig, viele von ihnen sind dort Marktleader.
Die Kantonalbanken berücksichtigen bewusst ihre soziale und volkswirtschaftliche Verantwortung gegenüber den Kundinnen und Kunden, den Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern sowie den Trägerkantonen. Alle Kantonalbanken zusammen betreiben etwa 30 Prozent des Bankengeschäftes in der Schweiz und haben eine Bilanzsumme von rund 420 Milliarden Franken.
Kantonalbank Appenzeller Kantonalbank Banca dello Stato del Cantone TicinoBanque Cantonale de FribourgBanque Cantonale de GenèveBanque Cantonale du JuraBanque Cantonale du ValaisBanque Cantonale NeuchâteloiseBanque Cantonale Vaudoise Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank Basler Kantonalbank BEKB / BCBEGlarner Kantonalbank Graubündner Kantonalbank Luzerner Kantonalbank Nidwaldner Kantonalbank Obwaldner Kantonalbank Schaffhauser Kantonalbank Schwyzer Kantonalbank St. Galler Kantonalbank Thurgauer Kantonalbank Urner Kantonalbank Zuger Kantonalbank Zürcher Kantonalbank

Entry conditions for third-country nationals to the Schengen Area

A Schengen visa or a visa exemption does not, in and of itself, entitle a traveller to enter the Schengen Area. The Schengen Borders Code lists requirements which third-country nationals must meet to be allowed into the Schengen Area. For this purpose, a third-country national is a person who does not enjoy the right of free movement (i.e. a person who is not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a family member of such a person who is in possession of a residence permit with the indication "family member of an EU citizen" or "family member of an EEA or CH citizen").

The requirements for entry are as follows:

The third-country national is in possession of a valid travel document or documents authorising them to cross the border; the acceptance of travel documents for this purpose remains within the domain of the member states;

The traveller either possesses a valid visa (if required) or a valid residence permit;
The traveller can justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay and has sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his or her country of origin or transit to a third country into which the traveller is certain to be admitted, or is in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
The Schengen Information System does not contain an alert for refusal of entry concerning the traveller, and
The traveller is not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen states.
However, even if the third-country national does not fulfil the criteria for entry, admission may still be granted:

On humanitarian grounds
On grounds of national interests
On grounds of international obligations

If the person is not in possession of a visa, but fulfils the criteria for being issued a visa at the border
If the person holds a residence permit or a re-entry visa issued by a Schengen state
Border guards are required to stamp the travel documents of third-country nationals when they cross external borders at all times, even in extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, including when checks are relaxed. However, nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino are exempt from this requirement, as are heads of state, whose visits were announced through diplomatic channels, and those enjoying the benefit of a local border traffic regime. Certain exemptions also apply to the crews of ships and aircraft. Third-country nationals who otherwise fulfil all the criteria for admission into the Schengen area must not be denied entry for the sole reason that there is no remaining empty space in their travel document to affix a stamp; instead, the stamp should be affixed on a separate sheet of paper.
For stays in the Schengen Area as a whole which exceed three months, a third-country national will need to hold either a long-stay visa for a period no longer than a year, or a residence permit for longer periods. A long-stay visa is a national visa but is issued in accordance with a uniform format. It entitles the holder to enter the Schengen Area and remain in the issuing state for a period longer than three months but no more than one year. If a Schengen state wishes to allow the holder of a long-stay visa remain there for longer than a year, the state must issue him or her with a residence permit.
The holder of a long-stay visa or a residence permit is entitled to move freely within other states which comprise the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in any half year. Third-country nationals who are long-term residents in a Schengen state may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another Schengen state without losing their legal status and social benefits.
However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. Article 20(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows for this 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements concluded by individual signatory states with other countries before the Convention entered into force to remain applicable. As a result, for example, New Zealand citizens are permitted to stay for up to 90 days in each of the Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) which had already concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with the New Zealand Government prior to the Convention entering into force without the need to apply for long-stay visas but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180 day period time limit applies.

Entry conditions for third-country nationals to the Schengen Area

Schengen Area

The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-six European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985. The Schengen Area operates very much like a single state for international travel with border controls for those travelling in and out of the area, but with no internal border controls.
The Schengen rules were absorbed into European Union law by the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999, although the area officially includes four non-EU member states—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland—and de facto includes three European micro-states—Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican. All but two EU member states—Ireland and the United Kingdom—are required to implement Schengen and, with the exceptions of Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, have already done so. The area currently covers a population of over 400 million people and an area of 4,312,099 square kilometres (1,664,911 sq mi).[1]
Implementing the Schengen rules involves eliminating border controls with other Schengen members while simultaneously strengthening border controls with non-member states. The rules include provisions on a common policy on the temporary entry of persons (including the Schengen visa), the harmonisation of external border controls, and cross-border police and judicial co-operation.
Whether a passport or an EU approved national identity card is required for identity checks done at airports, hotels, or by police, depends on national rules and varies between countries. Occasionally, regular border controls are used between Schengen countries.

The Schengen Area came in existence on 26 March 1995 when the Schengen Agreement along with its implementing convention was implemented by seven EU member states.[2] During the negotiations which led up to the signing of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, EU leaders agreed to bring the Schengen Agreement, Convention and the rules created under them into the main body of EU law, the acquis communautaire; thus bringing a project which had developed outside the framework of the EU into the EU mainstream. This duly happened with the entrance into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1999.

The Schengen Area currently consists of twenty-six states, all but four of which are members of the European Union (EU). Two of the non-EU members, Iceland and Norway, are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as states associated with the Schengen activities of the EU.[3] The third, Switzerland was subsequently allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008. The fourth, Liechtenstein joined on 19 December 2011, becoming the newest member of the Schengen Area.[4] De facto, the Schengen Area also includes several microstates that maintain open or semi-open borders with Schengen countries.[5] Two EU members—Ireland and the United Kingdom—negotiated opt-outs from Schengen and continue to operate systematic border controls between themselves and other EU member states.
Before fully implementing the Schengen rules, each state needs to have its preparedness assessed in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation, and personal data protection. This evaluation process involves a questionnaire and visits by EU experts to selected institutions and workplaces in the country under assessment

Schengen Area

Internal Market (European Union)

The European Union's (EU) Internal Market (sometimes known as the Single Market, formerly the Common Market) seeks to guarantee the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people – the EU's four freedoms – within the EU's 27 member states.
The Internal Market is intended to be conducive to increased competition, increased specialisation, larger economies of scale, allows goods and factors of production to move to the area where they are most valued, thus improving the efficiency of the allocation of resources.
It is also intended to drive economic integration whereby the once separate economies of the member states become integrated within a single EU wide economy. Half of the trade in goods within the EU is covered by legislation harmonised by the EU.
The creation of the internal market as a seamless, single market is an ongoing process, with the integration of the service industry still containing gaps.[3] It also has an increasing international element, with the market represented as one in international trade negotiations. Notably, the internal market is open to three non-EU states via the European Economic Area.

Internal Market (European Union)

European citizens' consultations

The European Citizens’ Consultations are the first pan-European participatory project to involve citizens from all 27 Member States of the European Union into the debate about the Future of Europe. Between October 2006 and May 2007, more than 1,800 citizens deliberated on the subject in 27 countries speaking 23 official languages. They were selected at random by professional recruitment agencies or universities according to a set of criteria that ensured that they reflected the diversity of the EU’s population. In European- and national-level debates the citizens were choosing and discussing three topics they considered most important to their lives, identified common ground and made recommendations to policy-makers responsible for making the decisions on Europe’s future.
The European Citizens' Consultations were organised by a group of independent, non-for-profit organisations led by the King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium) in collaboration with European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation (NEF). They were supported by Compagnia di San Paolo, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Robert Bosch Stiftung and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The European network of partners and donors included organisations from all Member States. The project was co-financed by the European Commission and linked to DG Communication’s Plan D.

Project Phases
The European Citizens’ Consultations were divided into three main phases: the agenda setting event in October 2006, the National Consultations from February until March 2007 and the Synthesis Event in May 2007. The last event kicked off a follow-up process consisting of numerous deliberation and information events at national level.

In October 2006, two hundred randomly selected citizens from all EU-Member States were invited to present their opinions on the influence Europe has had on their lives, and what direction they would like to see Europe take in the future. In a 2-days event, citizens identified the topics that lie at their heart, shared perspectives and experiences with each other. They were assisted by table facilitators and interpreters. Three topics out of the list were selected by electronic vote:
Energy & Environment: The environmental and economic impact of Europe’s energy use
Family & Social Welfare: The social and economic conditions for Europe’s families
EU’s Global Role & Immigration: The EU’s role in the world and the management of immigration
During February and March 2007, these three prioritised topics were debated at 27 national consultations, each attended by between 30 and 200 randomly selected citizens of the respective Member States. 5 to 10 of these events took place simultaneously, following the same schedule and exchanging live impressions and results at key points in time. After 6 weekends of consultations, a map of European public opinion on the three topics emerged.
In a final step, on the 9th and 10 May 2007, 27 citizen representatives engaged into a European-level synthesis exercise highlighting the common ground and the areas of divergence between the national outcomes. On the basis of the 27 national reports, they worked on their "European Citizens' Perspectives on the Future of Europe". These were handed over at a press conference in the European Parliament to policy-makers, including Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström who discussed with them the implications of their results in a subsequent European Citizens' Roundtable.
Follow-up events took place since May 2007. The policy debate at the European Policy Centre (EPC) officially kicked off the follow-up process at European level. A discussion about citizen participation takes place on the premises of the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) in autumn 2007. In the Member States, follow-up activities include, for instance, 39 local debates in Belgium, 15 local citizen fora in Germany, debating cafés in Slovenia, a school competition in Ireland, press conferences with EU Commissioners in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and many more. At the European policy event three citizen represented a report they created on be behalf of the more than 1800 who took part in the process, three of them then presented the key recommendations made in each of the three areas discussed: the family and social welfare; environment and energy; and immigration and Europe's global role.

Europe for Citizens

Europe for Citizens (formerly Citizens for Europe) is a European Union programme designed to help bridge the gap between citizens and the European Union. Ending in 2006, the European Commission on 6 April 2005 adopted a proposal for a new programme to run from 2007 to 2013. The programme will provide the Union with instruments to promote active European citizenship, put citizens in the centre and offers them the opportunity to fully assume their responsibility as European citizens. The Commission has determined that citizens should also be aware of their duties as citizen and become actively involved in the process of European integration, developing a sense of belonging and a European identity.
The global aim of the proposed programme is to contribute to:
Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity;
Forging a European identity, based on recognised common values, history and culture;
Enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and celebrating cultural diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.
The proposal affirms that Union citizenship should be the fundamental status of nationals of the Member States.
The budget for the new program is €235 million.

Europe for Citizens

European citizens' consultations

European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) is one of the major innovations of the Treaty of Lisbon, aimed at increasing direct democracy in the European Union. The initiative enables one million EU citizens, who are nationals of at least one quarter of the Member States, to call directly on the European Commission to propose a legal act in an area where the Member States have conferred powers onto the EU level. This right to request the Commission to initiate a legislative proposal puts citizens on the same footing as the EP and the Council, who enjoy this right according to Art. 225 and 241 TFEU, respectively. The Commission holds the right of initiative in the EU.

European Citizens' Initiative

Passports of the European Union

The European Union itself does not issue passports, but the passports issued by its 27 member states share certain design features.[1] These include the burgundy coloured cover, the use of the words "European Union" (before 1997: "European Community") in the country's official language(s) on the cover, as well as common security features and biometrics.

Some EU states also issue non-EU passports to certain people who have a nationality which does not render them citizens of the European Union (e.g., British Overseas Territories Citizens except those with a connection to Gibraltar, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Citizens, British Protected Persons and British Subjects).[3] Although the European Union does not issue its own passports, it does issue European Union Laissez-Passers to the members and certain civil servants of its institutions.

Since the 1980s, European Union member states have started to harmonise the following aspects of the designs of their passports:
Overall formatPaper size B7 (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3, 88 mm × 125 mm)
32 pages (passports with more pages can be issued to frequent travellers)
Colour of cover: burgundy red
CoverInformation on the cover, in this order, in the language(s) of the issuing state:
The words "EUROPEAN UNION" (before 1997: "EUROPEAN COMMUNITY")
Name of the issuing state (similar typeface as "EUROPEAN UNION")
Emblem of the state
The word "PASSPORT"
First pageInformation on the first page, in one or more of the languages of the European Union:
The words "EUROPEAN UNION"
Name of the issuing state (similar typeface to that of "European Union")
The word "PASSPORT"
Serial number (may also be repeated on the other pages)
Identification pageInformation on the (possibly laminated) identification page, in the languages of the issuing state plus English and French, accompanied by numbers that refer to an index that lists the meaning of these fields in all official EU languages:
1. Surname 2. Forename(s)
3. Nationality 4. Date of birth
5. Sex 6. Place of birth
7. Date of issue 8. Date of expiry
9. Authority 10. Signature of holder
Following pageOptional information on the following page:
11. Residence 12. Height
13. Colour of eyes 14. Extension of the passport
15. Name at birth (if now using married name or have legally changed names)
Remaining pagesThe following page is reserved for:
Details concerning the spouse of the holder of the passport (where a family passport is issued)
Details concerning children accompanying the holder (name, first name, date of birth, sex)
Photographs of the faces of spouse and children
The following page is reserved for use by the issuing authorities
The following page carries the index that translates the field numbers into the official languages of the EU
The remaining pages are reserved for visa
The inside back cover is reserved for additional information or recommendations by the issuing state in its own official language(s)