Schengen visas are short-stay visas that allow their holders to travel freely throughout the Schengen area. There are no internal border restrictions in the Schengen area’s 26 member states (called “Schengen States”). In this article we have mentioned the requirements to get Schengen visa
Countries that are in Schengen Visa List
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Requirements to get Schengen Visa
Whether or not you need a visa to enter Schengen as a native of a non-EU/Schengen country, you will still need to provide a number of papers at the Schengen border crossing.
The following documents are required for entry into the Schengen Area:
- Valid Passport. The passport must have been issued within the past ten years and be valid for at least three months after the date you want to exit the EU.
- Schengen Visa. If you are a citizen of one of the nations that require a visa, EU/Schengen border officers may additionally request additional information and documentation, such as –
- proof of adequate cash
- proof of Hotel Accommodation
- your intended length of stay
- a round-trip plane ticket
- the reason for your arrival
- travel insurance
- an invitation letter if Applicable
Frequently asked Questions about the Schengen Visa
Different types of Schengen visa’s are –
1)Visitor visa – If you have a family member or friend residing in the Schengen region, or if you are an EU/EEA citizen, you must apply for a Schengen guest visa. For this form of visa, you must often submit an invitation letter from a friend or relative.
2)Business visa – If you need to conduct business in the Schengen region with a corporation or a person, you will be awarded a business visa. If you are invited by another business, you must produce a copy of the invitation letter.
3)Medical visa – To be eligible for a Schengen medical visa, you must present evidence that you are traveling to the Schengen area for medical treatments or procedures, such as surgery. Typically, in order to obtain a medical visa, you must demonstrate that you require medical care and have sufficient funds to pay for it.
4)Student visa – Only apply for this sort of visa if you want to study in the Schengen Area/EU for less than 90 days. Otherwise, you will be required to apply for a long-stay study visa for the nation in which you want to enroll.
5)Visa for Official Visits – Visas for official visits are provided to persons who will be visiting the Schengen Area for formal activities, such as exchange programs, negotiations, and consultations, as well as comparable occasions.
6)Cultural exchange visa – Choose this form of Schengen visa if you want to go to the Schengen Area for cultural, sporting, religious, or film crew-related activities. In most situations, this sort of visa is provided for the duration of the event/program/training/competition, and different conditions apply depending on your reason for travelling.
7)Transit visa – A transit visa is a temporary visa given only for the purpose of transiting between Schengen nations en route to your final destination. Depending on your nationality, you might not require a transit visa at all.
8)Tourist visa – You must apply for this visa if your sole purpose for visiting the Schengen region is to sightsee and see Europe’s most famous attractions.
Even if you possess a multiple-entry visa for Europe valid for up to 5 years, you cannot stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in a 180-day period. So max 90 days continuously you can stay in European Schengen countries with Schengen Visa ?
The cost for a Schengen visa application is as follows:
Schengen Visa Category
Visa Cost in USD*
Adult
$84
Children between 6-12 years of age
$42
Children younger than 6 years of age
Free
Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, and Russia
$37
Nationals from the Gambia
$126
Please note * – Agencies might ask you for more charges for Schengen Visa , depending on their fees
Regardless of whether you obtain the visa or not, your Schengen visa cost is non-refundable. Any additional service fees incurred at visa application agencies are non-refundable as well.
If you are an employee in a private firm, these below documents will be asked for Schengen visa –
1)Your Employment letter/Offer letter.
2)Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
3)Leave permission from the employer
4)Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary
1)If you are a Businessmen/Women, these below documents will be required for Schengen visa
2)A copy of your business license
3)Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
4)Income Tax Return (ITR)
Parents or legal guardians of kids seeking for a Schengen visa must present the following additional documents:
1)The birth certificate of the minor.
2)Formal application signed by both parents
3)In circumstances when only one parent has exclusive custody of the kid, a family court ruling is required.
4)Certified copies of both parents’ identification documents or passports.
5)A notarized parental authorisation signed by both parents or legal guardians if the youngster will travel unaccompanied.
Affidavit of Support. If one does not have a bank account or sufficient means to cover travel expenditures, he or she must ask visiting friends or family members to submit a “official affidavit of support” at the appropriate office in his or her place of residence. When applying for a visa, take the original paperwork with you.
You must submit your Schengen visa application at least 15 days and no more than six months before your scheduled departure.
In the event that your visa is not approved in time, it is in your best advantage to submit your application at least 15 days before to your departure.
Schengen embassies and consulates normally ask visa applicants to book an appointment 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
Start the application procedure in advance of your future trip, since the embassy’s decision will take an additional two weeks.
Again, appointments may be fully booked prior to the summer or winter holidays, so start early. You may submit an application six months in advance.
Applicants are limited to submitting their paperwork at one of the designated Schengen embassies or consulates.
You must apply for your Schengen visa at one of the designated visa application centers, the choice of which depends on the number of countries you want to visit and the length of time you plan to spend in each.
To obtain a visa for a single Schengen nation from India, you should contact the native embassy, consulate, or visa facility for that country.
Where you apply for your Schengen visa, if at all, if you want to visit more than one Schengen nation, will depend on how long you intend to stay in each individual country.
Apply for your visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit first if your time spent in each will be roughly equal.
If your time spent in each country is significantly different, you should submit your visa application to the relevant authority in the country where you will be spending the majority of your time.
The following are some of the most prevalent causes of Schengen visa rejection:
1)Your criminal history breaches Schengen’s security risks.
2)Your application is missing essential documentation.
3)You submitted misleading information on the application.
4)You lack sufficient funds to sponsor your vacation to the Schengen region.
To reduce the likelihood of having your Schengen visa application refused, you must submit your application with all of the essential papers and carefully follow the embassy or consulate’s instructions.
If your application for a Schengen visa from India is rejected, you will be notified of the reason for the denial and can then choose between the following options:
Oppose the decision through consular channels.
Appeal the judgement to a higher court in the Schengen nation in question (e.g., a Foreign Ministry, an administrative court, etc.).
After receiving a refusal notification, you have 30 days to file a complaint with the embassy or consulate. If the embassy rejects your visa a second time following your complaint, only then may you pursue legal action.
Remember that you do not need to file a formal complaint or pursue legal action if your Schengen visa application is denied; you may always submit another application.