Buzz
The Schengen Agreement, established in 1985, abolished border controls between several European countries. In simpler terms, this agreement allows citizens of these countries to travel freely; moreover, travelers only need to obtain a visa for one country to be able to visit any other country within the Schengen Area. Today, most Western European nations are part of this agreement, except for the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some Eastern European countries.
Steps to Follow
Plan Your Trip
Verify Visa Requirements Before Booking Your Trip. Even though booking a trip is a prerequisite for applying for a visa, it’s important to gather information from the consulate of the country you are visiting first to ensure that you meet all the visa requirements.
Plan and Book Your Trip Before Applying for a Visa. You will need to provide trip details when submitting your application. Therefore, it’s essential to plan your journey in advance by finding flight tickets and hotel accommodations.
Keep Documents Related to Your Trip. As you plan your trip, ensure you keep relevant documents. You will need to submit proof of accommodation and provide a valid reason for your visit to a country within the Schengen Area.
Determine the Length of Your Stay. With this visa, you are allowed to stay within the Schengen Area for up to 3 months within a 6-month period. You must ensure that your trip does not exceed this timeframe.
Wait to Submit Your Visa Application. In most countries, you cannot submit your application earlier than 3 months before your departure date. Even if you plan early, you must wait until the appropriate application period. Additionally, it’s advisable to purchase travel insurance in case your visa is denied and you need to cancel your trip.
Proactively Research Information
Understand the Schengen Visa. You will need a visa for traveling as usual. However, you won’t need to apply for a separate visa for each country if you are permitted to stay within the Schengen Area.
Check if you need a Schengen Visa. You will need a visa if you're not from one of the Schengen Area countries. To determine this, you can answer preset questions on websites like the Netherlands visa website.
- For example, U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to enter Schengen Area countries if they have a blue passport. Additionally, they can stay up to 3 months. However, you must still verify passport requirements for the country you're visiting. For instance, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
- Moreover, there are countries that require a visa, such as Russia, Bahrain, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Turkey, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
Choose the country to submit your visa application. The best approach is to choose the country where you will stay the longest. For example, if you're planning to stay in Germany for 10 days and France for 5 days, you should apply at the German consulate. On the other hand, if your stay duration is equal in both countries, apply at the country you will visit first.
Ensure your entire trip is within the Schengen Area. Although you can exit and re-enter within the 6-month period, make sure your journey remains within the Schengen Area boundaries. Otherwise, you’ll need a visa for any non-Schengen country you visit.
Submit Your Visa Application
Download the visa application form. The Schengen visa application form is the same for all countries within the area. However, it’s recommended to download the form from the government website of the country where you’ll be applying. For example, if you’re applying for a visa to France, you should download the form from the French government website.
Complete the form. You’ll need to provide some basic personal information, such as your name, date of birth, place of birth, and current nationality. Additionally, you'll need to include your passport details, such as passport type, number, and issue date.
- Next, you’ll need to provide trip details such as the duration of stay in each country, the type of visa you're applying for, and the purpose of your visit to each country.
- You must also provide accommodation information, as well as evidence of your ability to financially support yourself during your stay. Finally, you will need to provide details about your spouse and children, as well as information about the family members you are visiting and who will depend on you during your stay.
Prepare your documents. The documents you need include your passport, proof of residence, and passport-sized photos. You’ll also need travel-related documents such as a flight itinerary, travel insurance for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen Area, and evidence of your trip's purpose. Additionally, you must verify your employment contract and provide your salary slips for the last 3 months.
- If it's a business trip, you’ll need an invitation letter from the partner company and a letter from your own employer. Both should clearly state the reason for your visit and one of the letters must specify the payment details for your trip and accommodation.
- If you're traveling for tourism, you’ll need hotel reservation details, including accurate contact information for the hotel. You should also provide information if you're part of a tour group.
- If visiting family, you’ll need a special form for verification. For example, in the Netherlands, the form called the 'Sponsorship Letter' needs to be notarized by local authorities. Your relative will also need to submit a copy of their passport or residence card.
Submit your application. Most countries require you to submit your application in person at their embassy or consulate in your area of residence. Generally, you'll need to make an appointment before your visit. You can find the nearest consulate’s address on the official website of the respective country or your own country’s embassy website.
Provide your fingerprints. You will need to give your fingerprints at the consulate office if you have never applied for a Schengen visa before. If you have previously held a visa, consular staff may retrieve your information electronically.
Pay the visa fee. The visa fee varies depending on your nationality and the country you're applying to. You can check the fee details on that country's official website or contact their consulate for more information.
Advice
- Plan your visa application submission time. It is best to apply at least 3 months before your intended departure date.
- Ensure that your passport has at least one blank page for the visa. However, some embassies may require 2 to 4 blank pages.
