Get the right documents for your Schengen Visa Application
People who wish to visit one or more of the Schengen Zone countries will need to apply for a Schengen Visa in advance and ensure they have the required documents depending on their travel purpose. Spplicants will need to fulfill a number of requirements, and it is a good idea to gain an understanding of all the requirements before applying. Anyone who is planning to visit more than one country in the Schengen Zone should apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country they plan to spend the most time in. Successful applicants will be granted a multiple entry visa, which will allow them to visit all of the different Schengen Zone countries if they wish during the amount of time that is specified on the visa.
It is important to note that people who are applying for the visa need to make an appointment at the embassy or consulate and arrive in person along with all of the required documents. The process of granting the visa can take a little time due to high demand from travellers, so it is best to schedule the appointment at least two weeks before the departure date.
Each of the countries in the Schengen Zone specifies roughly the same requirements for those who wish to receive a visa. However, it is important to note that certain consulates and embassies may have their own special requirements and it is always a good idea to quickly check which documents are required to reduce the risk of getting rejected. Simply applying for a visa does not guarantee that it will be granted and applicants who are refused run the risk of losing the money they have paid for flights, accommodation, travel insurance and other travel aspects, as all of these need to be arranged before applying for the visa. Therefore, it is essential to check all of the documents through carefully and allow plenty of time to complete the process.
Read on to gain a detailed understanding of the documents and other information that is required in order to grant a visa to visit countries in the Schengen Zone:
Standard Documentation Required for Schengen Visa
1) A copy of the Visa Application form, which is completely filled in and signed in the specified places.
2) A standard sized passport photo that has been taken within the last six weeks. The photo needs to show the full face of the applicant standing against a light coloured background.
3) Your passport, which is due to expire at least three months after you plan to travel. There must be at least two blank pages remaining in the passport and you also need to supply photocopies of all of your previous visa stamps.
4) Copies of your return flight ticket or a detailed itinerary that includes the dates and flight numbers of your planned entry and departure from the Schengen area. This can be a little bit tricky, so it is a good idea to make use of a visa consultation service to work out the details of your flight itineraries as well as hotel reservations and it is possible to receive a free consultation via email.
5) Full details of a travel health insurance policy, which covers all medical emergencies that may arise in including full hospital care as well as travel back to the policy holder’s native country in the case of emergency. This health insurance policy needs to cover any expenses incurred up to 30,000 Euros, although the exact sum required will depend on the number of days spent travelling. It is also essential to ensure that the travel health insurance policy is valid in all of the Schengen countries and it has to be purchased before applying for the visa.
6) Proof that you have booked accommodation for the entire duration of your planned stay in the Schengen area, which can be in the form of booking confirmation emails.
7) Proof that you have sufficient means to support yourself throughout the entire duration of your planned stay in the Schengen area. However, the specific amount of funds that are required tend to vary between countries and should be checked in advance.
Travelling with Children
People who are travelling with a child under the age of fifteen will also need to apply for a visa on their behalf. In order to be granted a visa for the accompanying child, a few additional documents need to be supplied. These are:
Documents required when travelling with children
– The birth certificate of the child.
– A fully completed Visa Application form signed by both parents.
– If only one parent has custody of the child, a family court order needs to be attached to the application form.
– Copies of the passport or ID of both parents that are certified as being authentic.
– A notarised parental authorisation form that has been signed by either both parents or guardians needs to be attached to the application form if the child is planning to travel alone.
Other required documents based on travel purpose
While most people apply for the standard tourist visa when travelling to the Schengen area, there are also several other types of Schengen visas, depending on the specific needs and circumstances of the applicant. While all of the documents detailed above still need to be provided, applicants also need to supply a number of additional documents for the visa they have set their sights on. Read on for details of the other types of visas that can be applied for when visiting the Schengen area and the documents that may be required.
Airport Transit Visa
– If required, a valid visa for the country that will be visited after leaving the Schengen area.
– A ticket for the country you will be visiting after leaving the Schengen area.
Transit Visa
– If required, a valid visa for the country that will be visited after leaving the Schengen area.
– A ticket for the country you will be visiting after leaving the Schengen area.
Tourist Visa (visiting relatives or friends)
– Your current bank statement, dating back at least six months if possible.
– If you do not have a bank account or do not have the required funds for the entire duration of your stay, it is possible to ask one of the friends or relatives that you will be visiting during your trip to sign an official affidavit of support form at the office in their place of residence. It is important to make sure that you take the original document with you when you are actually applying for the visa.
The applicant needs to write a letter containing a complete description of their intended trip that includes their reason for travelling, the amount of time that they plan to spend in the Schengen area and all of their personal information.
Visiting Friends or Relatives
– If you make a statement to the effect that you will be covering all of your own travel expenses, it is essential to provide proof that you have the required funds for the period that you intend to travel. However, if a friend or relative has agreed to cover your travel expenses for you, they must complete and sign a formal document to that affect.
– You must submit a copy of a formal invitation from a relative or friend who lives in a country in the Schengen area.
– People who will be covering all of their own travel expenses simply need to supply the name of the friend or relative they will be staying with along with their address and a copy of their passport. If the friend or relative you plan to stay with is not registered as a citizen of that particular Schengen country, it is also necessary to supply a copy of their residency permit.
Tourist Travel (not visiting friends or relatives)
– Your current bank statement, dating back at least six months if possible.
– A detailed itinerary of your travel plans throughout the Schengen Zone including your hotel reservations or a formal letter of invitation from someone who lives in a country within the Schengen Zone.
People who are travelling to the Schengen area for the first time need to submit these additional documents:
– Copies of income tax returns covering the last three years.
– A detailed appointment letter.
– Proof that the company is fully legal.
– A detailed reference letter from your employer.
– If you happen to be the owner of the company that you work for you will need to attach copies of you business registration as well as tax returns and your most recent bank statement.
– Proof that you have reserved a flight ticket.
– Proof that you have booked accommodation for the entire duration of your planned stay in the Schengen area, which can be in the form of booking confirmation emails.
– Any other documents that are specified by the type of visa you are applying for.
Travel for Business Purposes
– A cover letter explaining in detail the reason you plan to travel to the Schengen country.
– A brief profile of the company or organisation of the applicant.
– An original and certified copy of the Memorandum and Article of Association that is registered with joint stock companies, the Trade License, including the first issued license and the present copy along with all Proprietorship/Partnership documents.
– A letter from your employer describing in minute detail the purpose for your travel along with the full itinerary for the days that you plan to stay in the Schengen zone.
– An invitation letter issued by the partner company that resides in the Schengen Zone, which must also be faxed to the relevant consulate. It is important that this letter looks like an invitation to take part in meetings or other types of events that are related to trade, industry or work.
– A formal statement must be made either in the invitation from the partner company or in the letter from the employer explaining who will be responsible for the travel expenses of the applicant during their time in the Schengen Zone.
– Proof of any trade relations that have previously taken place between the two companies.
– Details of flights that have been booked.
– Proof that you have booked accommodation for the entire duration of your planned stay in the Schengen area, which can be in the form of booking confirmation emails.
Travel for Training Purposes
– A certificate proving that you have enrolled at an eligible and recognised institution for the purpose of attending a course in a Schengen country.
Other Short Term Travel Purposes (trips for any type of reasonable event)
– The letter of invitation that has been sent to the applicant.
– The entry ticket, if applicable.
– If the applicant is enrolling in a programme it is necessary to provide a full description of the applicant’s itinerary during their time in the Schengen Zone. This description must include details of the purpose of travel and proof of the intended place of residence.
Travel in Order to Study
– Two correctly completed application forms.
– A copy of the letter of acceptance to a university, college or school located within the Schengen Zone.
– Proof that the applicant is able to live and support themselves financially throughout the full duration of their stay within the Schengen Zone.
Travel in Order to Gain Employment
– Two correctly completed application forms.
– A copy of the employment contract that has been made between the applicant and the potential future employer who resides in the Schengen Zone.
People Who Have a Schengen Spouse and Are Travelling With the Intention of Permanently Residing in a Schengen Country with Their Spouse
– Two correctly completed application forms.
– The original copy of the marriage certificate, which has been certified.
– A copy of the passport of the spouse if they are a citizen of a country within the Schengen Zone. In the case that the spouse is not a citizen of a country within the Schengen Zone, it is necessary to submit a copy of their residency permit.