– Schengen Visa Requirements –
Schengen Visa Requirements: When applying for a visa to Europe you will have to submit some required documents as part of the Schengen visa application process.
The application process to get a European visa is compulsory for your freedom of movement in this area.
Therefore, you should be extremely careful when lodging your Schengen visa application.
If you want to apply for a visa to Europe, read this article, which is the ultimate guideline of a Schengen visa application process.
Schengen Visa Application Requirements
The following lists of documents are required for any short-term Schengen visa application:
1. Visa application form: Fully completed and signed.
2. Two recently taken photos must be attached:Both photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the visa photo requirements.
3. A valid passport: Not older than 10 years and it should valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).
4. Round trip reservation or itinerary: It must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.
5. Travel insurance policy: A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
6. Proof of accommodation: A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This can be:
– A hotel/hostel booking.
– A rental agreement.
– A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.
7. Proof of financial means: Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen. This can be:
– Bank account statement that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
– Sponsorship Letter by another person who confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen.
In order for this letter to be valid, a bank statement of the sponsor must accompany it, no older than three months.
i. A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.
ii. Proof of paid Visa fee. €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.
Application Process
1. What Documents are required for Schengen Visa for Minors?
The parents / legal guardians of minors applying for a Schengen visa must submit some extra documents for the underage applicant:
i. The minor’s birth certificate.
ii. Application form signed by both parents.
iii. Family court order where only one parent has full custody over the child.
iv. Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents.
v. A notarized parental authorization signed by both parents/guardians if the minor will be traveling alone.
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2. Figure out which Schengen Visa type you need
Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types:
a. Transit visa
b. Tourism visa
c. Visa for Visiting Family or Friends
d. Business visa
e. Visa for Culture and Sport activities
f. Visa for Official Visits
g. Study visa
h. Visa for Medical Reasons
3. Find Out Where you Need to Apply
Depending on how your destination country in Schengen has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, file your Schengen visa application at:
i. Their embassy
ii. One of their consulates
iii. A visa center to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced Visa submission.
iv. The embassy/consulate of another Schengen state to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced Visa submission
By your “destination country”, we mean the country where you need to lodge your application, according to the Schengen rules.
These rules are as follows:
– If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy/consulate/ visa center of that country
– If you are going to visit over two Schengen countries, file your application:
– At the embassy/consulate/ visa center of the country where you will spend most days if you will be spending the unequal amount of days in each
– At the embassy/consulate/ visa center of the country where you will step first if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each.
4. Find the Most Suitable Time to Apply
Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates worldwide need to process a Schengen visa, you have an appointed period within which you can file your visa application.
The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as follows:
a. The earliest you can file a visa application: three months before you start your planned trip.
b. The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.
c. The recommended time to file a visa application: at least three weeks before your trip.
5. Book an Appointment
Book a Schengen visa appointment in order to proceed with your application.
Most of the countries give you the chance to book an appointment online. In others, you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.
6. Fill out the Visa Application Form
Download the application form and fill it incorrectly and honestly.
The Schengen visa application form has the same format no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.
Give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:
a. Your personal information,
b. Information on your background,
c. Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area,
d. Other details regarding your trip.
In order to complete and submit the form correctly, pay attention to the following tips:
i. Download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.
ii. Make sure you fill out every required gap.
iii. Do not leave any columns blank. If you feel that there are columns that do not correspond to your case, fill them with NA (No Answer).
iv. Remember to print the form twice. Sign both of the copies at the end.
v. If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign in the corresponding column of the application form.
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7. Gather the Required Documents
The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. Usually, these documents are categorized into two groups.
The first group is of the standard required documents, which include:
a. The visa application form.
b. Valid passport.
c. Two identical photos.
d. Travel insurance policy. The insurance from MAWISTAmeets the Schengen visa insurance requirements.
e. Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.
f. Proof of accommodation.
g. Proof of financial means, etc.
The other group is of the visa specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other. In addition, some of the Schengen member states have their own extra requirements for visa applicants.
8. Attend the Visa Interview
On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the facility where you will be interviewed. There you will meet a visa consular to whom you need to hand the collected documents, as required.
During the interview, they will ask you personal questions about your whereabouts, the intended trip, and other travel details.
Make sure your answers are firm and correct, and that they comply with the information in the application form and the other documents. The interview may last around 10-15 minutes.
g. Wait for an Answer on Your Application
Wait until you get a response on your visa application. Although in most cases it takes only 15 days to process a visa, sometimes this process takes quite much longer.
That period can be extended from 15 up to 30 days in some countries concerning some citizens.
Follow this guide, and have a safe trip to Schengen
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FAQs on Schengen Visa Requirements
Below are the frequently asked questions on Schengen Visa Requirements
1. How much bank balance is required for Schengen visa?
Bank statement–this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months.
2. Is it easy to get Schengen visa?
The Northern European country of Finland, despite the high number of visa applications it receives annually, remains an easy Schengen country to get a visa from.
3. How long does it take to get a Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa processing time around the world is approximately two weeks.
4. How do I prove sufficient funds for visa?
This proof can come as personal or family bank letters, bank statements, stock statements, company sponsorships.
5. Does Embassy check bank statement?
The Embassy does not check bank statement in case of every applicant.
6. Which country gives visa easily?
Cambodia
7. Which country visa is most difficult to get?
China
8. How do I get a 5 year Schengen visa?
5-year MEV is granted to people that have got and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for at least two years within the previous three years.
9. Is there any interview for Schengen visa?
A Schengen Visa interview isn’t only a meeting where you provide supporting documents for a visa application to a visa official of a respective country.
9. Is Schengen visa open now?
More European Union and Schengen Zone countries have started to reopen their visa application centres located abroad.
10. Can immigration call your bank?
USCIS may contact the bank if they would like. It is based on each officer’s discretion whether to contact your bank or not.
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