How to apply for tourist visa (travel visa) to Europe

France is the country where most Vietnamese tourists apply for tourist visas, with the highest success rate.

• 1 completed short-stay visa application form filled in French or English and signed. View the form here.
• 1 recent passport-sized photograph.
• Passport + copy of the first 5 pages of the passport along with all stamped pages and visas.
• For Vietnamese citizens: household registration book translated into French or English along with a copy of all pages of the household registration book.
• For minors: notarized birth certificate, parental consent, copy of parents' ID card, confirmation of schooling + translation into French or English.
• For married individuals: copy of marriage certificate + translation into French or English.
• Original employer confirmation specifying the name and position of the sponsor, consent for leave during the trip. This document must include the address, contact phone number of the employer along with the stamp and signature of the issuer + translation into French or English + copy.
• Copy of personal financial guarantee: savings book, bank statement, documents proving regular income (payroll, pension, property ownership, vehicle registration).
• Hotel reservation corresponding to the duration of stay in France and in other Schengen countries + copy (only accepted in French or English).
• Round-trip flight reservation (only accepted in French or English).
• Travel and repatriation medical insurance + copy (only accepted in French or English).

• Completed visa application form with 2 passport photos. Form available here.
• Passport valid for at least 3 months from the expiry date of the visa issued.
• Certificate of employer (for dependent workers) or business license of the company (for self-employed workers) detailing: profession, monthly income, work period.
• Bank statement for the last 4 months.
• Financial capability certificate that foreign citizens need to prepare to enter Italy as attached. Note that providing evidence of financial capability alone is not sufficient for visa issuance, the application must be completed with the documents listed above.
• Flight reservation and providing flight tickets after visa approval.
• Confirmation of hotel reservation or invitation letter with the signature of the inviter in case of staying at a private home.
• Travel insurance Medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros valid for all Schengen countries during the stay period.

Note:

• In case minors travel with one parent: consent from the parent not traveling, birth certificate and decision to change surname (if there is a change).
• The embassy reserves the right to request additional necessary documents.

• Completed visa application form filled out in English, using uppercase letters.
• Passport and copy of passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months beyond the expiry date of the visa. Passport must have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps. The old passport may be required if the visa applicant has been previously issued a Schengen visa.
• Two new passport photos sized 35×45 mm with the length from top of head to chin between 30-36mm. Photos not meeting these requirements will be rejected.
• Proof of financial means:

If the visa applicant is a salaried employee:

+ Original bank statements for the last three months.

+ Salary slips for the last three months.

+ Employment contract or most recent employer certificate.

+ Approval letter for leave from employer.

If the visa applicant is a business owner or self-employed:

+ Business registration certificate*.

+ Tax payment receipts.

If the visa applicant is retired:

+ Pension payment slips/pension book.

In addition, the visa applicant can demonstrate financial capability through credit cards, assets, savings accounts.

• If the trip is booked through a travel company, a Letter from the Travel Company confirming financial responsibility and the traveler's return.
• Clear itinerary detailing the travel route and stay duration in each country within the Schengen Area.
• Evidence of accommodation: hotel reservation confirmation, resort accommodation booking.
• A copy of the household registration book*.
• A copy of Marriage Registration or Divorce Certificate (if applicable)*.
• Round-trip flight reservation.
• Travel medical insurance for the entire planned stay period, valid for all Schengen countries covering all expenses related to returning to Vietnam for medical reasons, emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, or death (minimum insurance coverage is 850 million VND).
• If the visa applicant is a minor:

+ If the child is only traveling with one parent, written consent from the other parent or guardian, except cases where the parent has sole custody.*

+ If the child is traveling alone (without accompanying parents), written consent from both parents or legal guardian with custody and guardianship over the child.*

+ Birth certificate of the visa applicant.*

+ Copies of both parents' ID cards.*

• The visa applicant must present round-trip flight tickets upon collecting the passport and visa at the embassy.

Note: Official documents marked with * must be the latest (up to 3 months prior) and authenticated by the competent authority locally and must be accompanied by a translation (translated and notarized) into English.

In addition to all the documents mentioned above, the visa applicant may be required to provide additional information.

• Visa application form: fill in uppercase letters and sign the form. See the visa application form template here.
• Passport valid for at least 3 months before the planned departure from the Schengen territory of the last trip. The passport must have at least 2 blank pages and be issued within the last 10 years. An A4 size copy of all pages of the original passport (including blank pages). If there are old passports, the original must be presented and accompanied by a copy in A4 size.
• Curriculum vitae of the visa applicant, according to the embassy's provided template here.
• One recent color passport photo, passport size, taken with a straight face, white background, and the name written on the back of the photo. The photo can be affixed to the corresponding section of the form, but not stapled.
• Travel insurance (not applicable for diplomatic passports and official passports): insurance must be valid for a minimum of 30,000 euros and cover all Schengen member states. The insurance period must cover the entire stay in the Schengen territory, from the date of entry into the member state as the first destination of the itinerary until the date of departure to a third country outside the Schengen territory.
• Round-trip flight booking. After the application is approved, the embassy may require presentation of flight tickets before issuing the visa. In case of multiple destinations, additional documentation must be submitted with detailed itinerary and orderly travel itinerary, specifying flights, duration of stay, and purpose of each destination and accommodation.
• Evidence of personal financial means during the stay in the Schengen territory (not applicable for diplomatic passports and official passports). The visa applicant must demonstrate a minimum amount of 569.97 euros if the stay duration is 9 days or less and an additional 63.33 euros per day from the 10th day onwards. Personal bank statements for the last 3 months, traveler's checks, travel checks, payment confirmation letters, and credit cards with verified account balances or existing savings accounts can be submitted.
• Evidence of economic and social ties in Vietnam:

+ If the visa applicant is a business owner: a notarized copy of the business registration certificate must be submitted. If employed, a leave permit with the signature of the employer, specifying job title and monthly income, must be submitted.

+ Marriage certificate and birth certificates of the visa applicant's children (if any).

+ Proof of legal property ownership (if any).

• If residing in hotels or public facilities, confirmation of booking for all intended accommodations must be submitted.