Originally Posted by
ajax
I find it difficult to conceive that any state that is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement would or even could issue you a visa to enter its own state but no others in the Schengen Zone.
And how would this be enforceable? I guess it wouldn't, technically, right?
The most common reason these are issued is when shortage of time or resources do not permit the issuing consular post to run a full SIS check on the individual, who nonetheless is able to present a prima facie case justifying emergency travel. In that instance, a consular officer may be authorised to issue a limited territorial visa, but not a full Schengen visa (which by treaty requires an SIS check to be conducted).
Furthermore, individuals who may be inadmissable to one or more Schengen states may not be issued Schengen visas, but rather only territorial visas. Similar conditions exist for those who have very narrowly defined purpose of visit (eg. an otherwise ineligible person who must visit a Schengen country to testify in a court case).