European Union visa lists

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The European Union has unified visa policy as part of the Schengen acquis. A number of EU member states do not participate in this policy, notably including Ireland and the United Kingdom, consequentially maintaining independent immigration policies with respect to non-EU states. There are two lists:

negative visa list of countries (annex I of the Council regulation) from whose citizens a visa is required to enter the territory of the EU member states
positive visa list of countries (annex II) from whose citizens no visa is required to enter the territory of the EU member states for a period of maximum 90 days.

EU visa lists EU member states Special visa-free provisions (Schengen treaty, OCT or other) Visa required to enter the EU - annex I countries Visa-free access to the EU for 90 days - annex II countries Visa-status unknown

Additional annex I citizens:
- British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTC) who do not have the right of abode in the UK
- British Overseas citizens (residual category British citizens)
- current British subjects who do not have the right of abode in the UK (residual category British citizens)
- British protected persons (residual category British citizens)

Additional annex II citizens:
- British National (Overseas) (residual category British citizens)

Territories of annex I/II states that fall into different category
- Northern Mariana Islands - annex I in contrast to the United States that is annex II.
- Hong Kong - annex II in contrast to the PR China that is annex I
- Macau - annex II in contrast to the PR China that is annex I

Countries and territories missing from both annex I and II lists
- Sahrawi Republic / Western Sahara territory - most probably it is practicaly annex I like all african states (including Morocco) and all entities, not recognised as independent states by the EU.
- Puerto Rico of the United States - other Caribbean territories are annex I
- U.S. Virgin Islands - other Caribbean territories are annex I
- Guam of the United States - other Pacific territories are annex I
- American Samoa of the United States - other Pacific territories are annex I

Reciprocity is sought for all countries of the visa-free list. That means that the EU expects that these countries offer visa-free access to all EU citizens. When the situation is the opposite the affected member state is expected to notify the European Commission, so that the EC takes an appropriate action - negotiate with the annex II state or remove it from the annex II list. The most notable example here is the United States that does not offer visa-free travel to 12 of the EU members.