Everything about Schengen

The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 that restrict or eliminate immigration controls at the borders between member countries. Countries that ratify the treaty agree to uniform visa or unify granting short term visas. All of the Schengen member States have the right to issue short-term visas valid for all Schengen member States.
State which is a longtime member of the Schengen agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Danish, Finnish, French, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden (15 countries).
Effective start date of December 21, 2007, the new state will also join as a member of the Schengen countries are: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will start to improve itself to implement the Schengen agreement within a period of seven months the transition to the schedule:Effective date of new rules will apply:21/12/2007: All embassies nine new member countries will start issuing Schengen visas for their respective national visas.21/12/2007: Control of customs between the old member states and nine new countries will be abolished.30/04/2008: Control of air traffic between the old state members and nine new Schengen countries will be abolished.30/06/2008: All short-term national visas issued by the nine new members prior to the date of ratification of the Schengen agreement, entered into force for travel to other Schengen member states.
Basically there are several types of Schengen visas. The most famous is the short-term visa type "C" or also known as the Schengen visa is valid for a residence permit for three months total in the period of six months.
Schengen visa applications must be submitted to and issued by:Travel Needs: Transit or visiting just one Schengen country; Authorised Officer: consulate or embassy of the countryTravel Needs: Transit or visits to several countries, with one main destination countries in which the longest stay; Authorised Officer: consulate or embassy of the country the main destinationTravel Needs: Transit and visits to several Schengen member state without a major destination country; Authorised Officer: consulate or embassy of the Schengen member countries of the first places of transit or the first visit