Depending on the number of entries and the number of countries you can visit, you could be issued a Uniform Schengen visa or a Limited Territorial Validity visa.
- Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)
The Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) allows its holder to travel and stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days every six month period. There are three types of Uniform Schengen visas:
Single-entry visas : With a Single entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country only once and stay until the expiration of visa validity. If you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again, since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country.
Double-entry visa: With a Double entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country twice within the time of visa validity. If you enter the country twice, and the second time you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again, since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country for the second time.
Multiple-entry visa: The Multiple entry visa allows you to enter and leave the Schengen Zone as many times as you please as long as your visa is valid.
- Limited territorial validity visas (LTV)
The Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa allows its holder to travel only to the Schengen member country that has issued the visa. If i.e. France has issued you the visa, then you are permitted to stay only in France. You are not even allowed to transit from one country to another with the LTV visa. This visa is considered an exception to a Uniform Visa and is only issued for international obligations or humanitarian reasons in general.