We aim to make the Biketour as inclusive to everyone as possible. We are aware that the massive border restrictions of Europe make it very difficult for a lot of people to join the Biketour just because they were born in certain places. This page should give you an overview over the border restrictions of the countries that we travel though in 2014. If you need to apply for a visa, we will find a way to (also financially) support you in the process. Please contact us in this case or if you have any questions.
Summary
Citizens of EU or Schengen countries will be able to do the whole 2014 Biketour without requiring any visas. You will need a passport or a biometric EU ID card. With a non-biometric ID card (such as the old German one), you will not be able to enter Kosovo.
Citizens of the Annex II countries (green on this map) will be able to do the whole Biketour without requiring a visa, unless you exceed your maximum number of days during the tour. See below for more information.
Citizens of other countries will require to apply for a Schengen visa (for all the countries except Serbia) and for a Serbia visa. Please contact us in this case, so that we can support you with your application.
Your passport/ID card have to be valid until 6 months after the Biketour. Else you will not be able to enter Macedonia or Kosovo (for Kosovo 3 months are enough).
There are Wikipedia articles about the Visa regulations of all the countries: Schengen (Bulgaria/Greece), Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia. See below for a summary.
Schengen Area/Greece/Bulgaria
The Schengen Area is a number of countries in Europe that have very little border controls going on. The Biketour 2014 will pass through only one Schengen country, Greece, but with an entry permit for the Schengen Area it is possible to enter all the other countries of this year’s Biketour as well. For Bulgaria, the same regulations as for the Schengen Area apply.
On Wikipedia, there is an article that describes the regulations for a Schengen visa. There are the so-called Annex II countries (green on this map) that can enter the Schengen Area for 90 days within a period of 180 days without a visa. Citizens from other countries need to apply for a visa. If you need to apply for a visa, please contact us, and we will do our best to assist you with your application.
Serbia
Serbia has regulations very similar to those of the Schengen Area. If you are an EU, Schengen or Annex II citizen, you are allowed to enter Serbia for 90 days within a period of 180 days without a visa. EU citizens can enter the country using an ID card.
If you are not entitled to enter Serbia without a visa, please contact us, and we will assist you with your application for a visa.
More information: official, Wikipedia.
Kosovo
Kosovo used to be a part of Serbia, and its independence is not recognised by some countries, including Serbia itself. This has the following consequences:
- Serbian border police will cross out all Kosovan stamps from your passport. You can ask the Kosovan border police to not give you any stamps to avoid any trouble with this.
- On the border between Serbia and Kosovo, you will not get any Serbian entry or exit stamps.
- You will not be allowed to enter Serbia from Kosovo without having a valid Serbia entry stamp. To cross a border from Kosovo to Serbia, you have to have entered Kosovo from Serbia.
- If you travel from Serbia to Kosovo and then leave Kosovo to another country, you will not have a valid Serbia exit stamp. This should not be a problem, as the Serbian border police frequently forget to give exit stamps.
- If you have a (biometric-only!) European ID card, you can avoid all this, as it does not need to be stamped.
If you are a citizen of EU or Schengen states, you are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa. It is possible to cross the borders with a biometric EU ID card. Note that not all EU ID cards are biometric, for example the old German ID cards are not biometric!
Holders of a Schengen visa are allowed to enter Kosovo for 15 days without a visa. This is enough for the Biketour.
Travel documents have to be valid for at least 3 months after your entry to Kosovo.
More information: official, Wikipedia, Wikitravel.
Macedonia
Macedonia has a policy similar to the one of the Schengen Area. EU/Schengen/Annex II citizens can enter Macedonia without a visa for up to 90 days. Also, holders of a Schengen entry permit can enter visa-free for 15 days.
EU citizens can enter Macedonia with an ID card.
Travel documents need to be valid for 6 months after the entry.
More information: Wikipedia