Schengen visa - does the country of first entry matter?

[fitfalang]

Once you have obtained a Schengen visa, does it matter which Schengen country you enter first?

So for instance if a person applies for a Schengen visa, traveling to "country A", at the embassy of "country A" in Bangkok. The person then notices that flights are a lot cheaper to neighbouring "country B".. so can the person fly to and enter via country B instead of the original A? (assuming both are Schengen countries)

Thanks!

Edited January 28, 2015 by fitfalang

[Donutz]

See the sticky:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724180-schengen-visa-faq-when-applying-from-thailand/

Where can I travel with a Schengen Visa?
You can travel throughout the entire Schengen area. This means that you can enter, move through and leave the Schengen area via all member states. However you must apply at the embassy of the country that is your main destination. If there is no clear main destination you should apply at the embassy of the Schengen country that you will enter first.

As said you may enter or exit through any Schengen member state if it's plausible that you are heading onwards to your main destination. It's perfectly okay to fly in and out of the Schengen area via a neighbouring country of this is more practical or cheaper. You should be well prepared though and are adviced to carry a copy of all the documents you used in your application so you may show them to the border guard if they wish to verify you meet the requirements. A Schengen visa doesn't give automatic right of entry!

[fitfalang]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

See the sticky:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724180-schengen-visa-faq-when-applying-from-thailand/

Where can I travel with a Schengen Visa?
You can travel throughout the entire Schengen area. This means that you can enter, move through and leave the Schengen area via all member states. However you must apply at the embassy of the country that is your main destination. If there is no clear main destination you should apply at the embassy of the Schengen country that you will enter first.

As said you may enter or exit through any Schengen member state if it's plausible that you are heading onwards to your main destination. It's perfectly okay to fly in and out of the Schengen area via a neighbouring country of this is more practical or cheaper. You should be well prepared though and are adviced to carry a copy of all the documents you used in your application so you may show them to the border guard if they wish to verify you meet the requirements. A Schengen visa doesn't give automatic right of entry!

Thanks for outlining it so clearly!