Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
Schengen visas are short-term visas that allows a person to visit any country in the Schengen area for tourism or business for up to 90 days. The Schengen visa is Europe‘s most popular visa. The holder can enter, freely travel within, and exit the Schengen zone from any Schengen member country. Within the Schengen Zone, there are no border restrictions.
If you intend to: study, work, or live in one of the Schengen countries for longer than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa of that European country rather than a Schengen Visa.
It is advised that you apply as soon as possible as appointements can be fully booked for months in advance. The processing time is up to 15 working days from the day of your appointment.
Types of Schengen Visas
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is a short-term visa that permits you to visit any of the 27 Schengen nations for up to 90 days during a 180-day period. The Schengen Area is a region of Europe in which passport controls have been eliminated between member countries. This means that you can travel freely between Schengen nations without having to go through passport check.
The processing period for a Schengen visa differs depending on the nation to which you apply. Once your application is submitted, your case worker will advise on the next steps including your appointment location.
Schengen Visa Purposes
The following are the common uses for a Schengen visa
For the sake of business
Going to see friends and family
Tourism and vacations
Cultural and sporting events
Transit through the Schengen area
Due to medical grounds
Short-term research and study
How to Apply For Schengen Visas?
To apply for a Schengen Visa to travel to Europe, you must first determine whether you require one based on your trip purpose and nationality. If you do, youll need to plan your trip, including how many days you will be in the Schengen zone, the countries you’ll visit (if more than one), the nation from which you’ll enter, and the country from which you’ll exit.
Once you’ve found that out, you’ll need to go over all of the Europe visa application requirements and begin the process of scheduling a visa appointment at one of the Schengen consulates in your nation.
Schengen Visa Supporting Documents
What is Schengen Visa Travel Insurance?
Your travel medical insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the Schengen area, with a minimum medical emergency coverage of 30,000 EUR.
What is a Visa Application Proof of Accommodation?
You must present a confirmed document indicating where you will be staying for the duration of your journey in the Schengen zone.
Is a Visa Required for Entry into Europe?
Most citizens from countries other than the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) need a Schengen visa to visit any of the 27 Schengen member nations. The nations listed below do not require a Schengen visa:
– Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
– Albania, Andorra, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Monaco, San Marino, New Zealand and Vatican City are among the other countries whose citizens do not require a Schengen visa.
For detailed information on specific parts of the Schengen visa process, you can refer to the links to the right to find the answer to your query. If you are not sure whether you need a Schengen visa, please contact us via email.
Schengen Countries
A Schengen visa is required for any third-country national who intends to enter any Schengen country. It could be a short-stay Schengen C-visa for stays of up to 90 days or a national D-visa / residence permit for longer stays in the country. The countries in the Schengen zone are as follows:
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements
If you are a non-EU/Schengen country national, regardless of whether you are visa-exempt or not, you will be required to submit certain documents at the Schengen port of entry in order to be admitted. The documentation you’ll need to enter the Schengen Zone is as follows:
- Passport must be valid. Issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months after the date on which you want to leave the EU.
- Visa for the Schengen area. If you are a national of a third country who requires a visa.
Schengen Visa Entries
Depending on your reasons for visiting the Schengen nations and the frequency of your travels, the Schengen consulate can give you a Single Entry Visa, Double Entry Visa, or Multiple Entry Visa.
The validity of your single-entry visa is determined by the number of days you mentioned on your visa application form that you will be in the Schengen zone, as well as the actual decision of the consulate that provides you the Schengen visa.
If you are a frequent traveller, you can apply for an EU visa that is valid for up to 5 years. However, even if you have a multiple-entry visa for Europe that is valid for up to 5 years, you cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in a 180-day period.
People Also Asked...
This depends on a number of things such as whether or not you have had a Schengen visa in the past or how many countries you intend to visit. Generally you first Schengen visa will be issued for the duration of your stay. Future applications may be granted for multiple entry for a number of years.
There are 27 Schengen members states in Europe. You can see the full list of countries in the Schengen zone in the table on this page.
You can expect an update on your application within 3 days of submission. You can choose express processing at checkout for a response within 24 hours.
Once you attend your appointment, your visa can take up to 15 working days to be processed by the Embassy.