A European holiday on your mind? Arm yourself with a Schengen visa – let Skyscanner show you your way around. A Schengen visa allows you to travel to any of 26 European countries that are part of the Schengen Area. What you have to keep in mind is that when you apply for your Schengen Visa, you must choose the country you apply through carefully.
Here is how you can decide which consulate to approach:
- It should be the only Schengen country that you will be visiting OR
- It should be the first of two or more Schengen countries you visit OR
- It should be the Schengen country which is your main destination in terms of duration of stay. In case you plan to stay in two Schengen countries for an equal number of days, then you must apply at the consulate of the country of first entry.
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For a regular tourist visit, you will be looking at a Short Stay Visa which allows you to stay in the member states for up to 90-day duration within a 180-day period.
While different Schengen countries may have specifics they want you to follow, here is a general overview of the procedure followed and the documents requested for a Schengen Visa. You may click here for a Common Information Sheet.
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Procedure to apply for a Schengen Visa
• Apply for a Schengen Visa as early as possible and a minimum of 15 calendar days prior to the intended travel date. Applications will not be entertained more than three months before the intended travel date.
• Apply for a Schengen Visa at any of the member state consulates or through VFS Global Application Centres. VFS centres have separate counters for all Schengen member states.
• Fee for a Schengen Visa is EUR 60. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are charged EUR 35, while children below the age of 6 are not charged.
• Go through a checklist of documents required and download your application form here.
• Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure. It must also have at least two blank pages and have been issued within the last ten years.
• Biometric data of the applicant – photographs and finger prints – have to be provided along with the application. These may be collected either by the Schengen States’ consulates or external service providers.
• A cover letter stating the purpose of your visit and your itinerary.
• A travel health insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000. You can go through a list of approved insurance companies here.
• Details of flight reservations or a flight itinerary.
• Proof of sustenance and financial status in the form of bank statements, travel cards and credit cards.
• Proof of employment or business.
• Students need to provide a no objection certificate from the institution and from parents.
• Proof of civil status – marriage, birth certificate.
• For unaccompanied minors, a consent letter signed by both parents and the applicant, and copies of the data pages of the parents’ passports.
• Schedule your appointment either at the consulate or the Visa Application Centre.
• Collect your acknowledgement receipt after you submit your application and declarations and provide your biometrics.
• Track your application online. For example, if you have applied for your Schengen Visa through Germany, you may click here to track your application.
Read more: Germany visa – How to apply for a visa to Germany
Getting a Schengen Visa may sound daunting, but if you have all your documents in order, it is really quite a breeze. It is suggested that you submit your visa application with a flight itinerary instead of the real thing and book your flights and hotels after getting your Schengen Visa – in case of visa rejection, the cancellations are formidable. You can book your flights, hotels or rent a car with Skyscanner. Download the mobile app now.
