Schengen Visa Application Requirements
When applying for a visa to Europe you will have to submit some required documents as part of the Schengen visa application process.The Schengen States have created a list of the required documents for each purpose of entry in this territory, and these requirements are approximately the same for stay in each of them.
In this article, you can find a
checklist of the generally required documents to obtain a Schengen Visa, as
well as the specific required documents for each visa type. In addition, you
will also find a short brief for each requirement and their specifications.
What Documents are Required when
Applying for a Schengen Visa?
The following list of documents are
required for any short-term Schengen visa application:
·
Visa application
form. Fully completed and signed.
·
Two recently
taken photos must be attached. Both
photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the visa
photo requirements.
·
A valid passport. Not older than 10 years and it should valid for at least
three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Schengen area. Older
passports with visas on them (if you have any).
·
Round trip
reservation or itinerary. It must
include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen
area. You can use the visa consultation services like this one. These
guys can handle most of your visa requirements such as flight itineraries,
hotel reservations along with free consultation over email.
·
Travel insurance
policy. A document that proves you
have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum
coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses,
accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
·
Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated
throughout your stay in Schengen. This can be one of the following:
o A hotel/hostel booking.
o A rental agreement.
o A letter of
invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.
·
Proof of financial means. Evidence
that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay
in the Schengen. This can be one of the following:
o Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your
account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
o Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be
financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to
be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older
than three months.
o A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of
sponsorship.
·
Proof of paid visa fee. €60
for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.
GET FLIGHT ITINERARY & HOTEL BOOKINGS FOR ANY
VISA.FREE CONSULTATION.
Along with the aforementioned
generally required documents, Schengen embassies around the world require
some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment
status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of
Schengen visa applied for. Schengen Visa Requirements According to
Applicant’s Employment Status
Specific required documents, based
on visa applicant’s employment status are as following:
·
For employees:
o Employment contract.
o Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.
o Leave permission from the employer.
o Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted
at the source of salary.
·
For the
self-employed:
o A copy of your business license.
o Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.
o Income Tax Return (ITR).
·
For students:
o Proof of enrollment.
o No objection letter from School or University.
·
For
retirees:
o Pension statement of the latest 6 months.
·
If
unemployed and married to an EU citizen:
o Confirmation of Employment letter, no older than three months,
from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as
well as the starting date.
o Spouse’s valid passport.
o An official marriage certificate.
What Documents are Required for Schengen Visa for Minors?
The parents / legal guardians of
minors applying for a Schengen visa, must submit some extra documents for the
underage applicant:
·
The minor’s birth
certificate.
·
Application form signed by
both parents.
·
Family court order – in cases
where only one parent has full custody over the child.
·
Certified copies of ID /
passport of both parents.
·
A notarized parental
authorization signed by both parents / guardians if the minor will be
travelling alone.
Specific Documents Required
According to Schengen Visa Type
Apart from all the aforementioned
documents, depending on the Schengen visa type you are applying for, several
additional documents should be submitted as well.
Below you will find the information
about all the additional documents needed for any type of Schengen visa
separately.
Documents Required when Applying for an Airport
Transit Visa
The additional required
documents to obtain a Schengen Airport transit visa are:
·
A valid visa (if needed) for
the final country one is travelling to
·
The flight ticket for
the final country you are travelling to
Documents Required when Applying for a Visa to
Visit Relatives or Friends
The additional required
documents to obtain a Schengen visa to visit relatives / friends are:
·
Affidavit of
Support. In case one does not have a bank account or does not own enough
funds to be taking care of their expenses during this travel, one must ask the
visiting friends or relatives to sign an “official affidavit of support” at the
corresponding office in his/her place of residence. Make sure you carry the
original document when applying for the visa.
·
Travel
Itinerary. The applicant’s description
of their trip, the purpose of travelling, the time frame and all the personal
date written down in a letter.
·
Means of
Subsistence. If the applicant declares
that he/she will be covering all the travel expenses, proof of one’s financial
status is requested otherwise if the relative/friend is to cover the
applicant’s expenses, a formal document issued by the competent authorities to
a resident of a Schengen country (the friend/relative in this case) is to be
submitted.
·
Letter of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in a Schengen country. If
the applicant will be covering the expenses on his/her own, the
relatives/friend’s name, address and the copy of their passport will suffice.
In case that the friend/relative is not a citizen of this Schengen country, the
copy of the residency permit will also be required.
Documents Required when Applying for a Tourist Visa
The additional required
documents to obtain Schengen visa for tourism purposes are:
·
Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
·
Affidavit of
Support. In case one does not have a
bank account or does not own enough funds to be taking care of their expenses
during this travel, one must ask the visiting friends or relatives to sign an
“official affidavit of support” at the corresponding office in his/her place of
residence. Make sure you carry the original document when applying for the
visa.
·
Travel Itinerary. The applicant’s description of their trip, the purpose of
travelling, the time frame and all the personal date written down in a letter,
as well as hotel
reservations or a formal invitation letter from
a resident of a Schengen country.
Documents Required when Applying for a Business Visa
On the following link you
can find the
list of required documents to obtain a Business Schengen visa.
Documents
Required when Applying for a Training Visa
The additional required documents to
obtain a Schengen Training visa are:
·
Enrollment certificate. At an
eligible institution for the courses one will be attending in the Schengen
country.
·
No objection letter. NOC
from the educational institution where the visa applicant is currently enrolled
(if applicable)
Documents Required when Applying for a Medical Visa
The additional required
documents to obtain a Schengen Medical visa are:
·
A letter from a doctor /
clinic / hospital in the home country of the visa candidate, that he or she
needs medical treatment.
·
Official confirmation of the
treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in
EU.
·
Proof
of financial means. Proof that the applicant has sufficient financial means to
pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout their treatment. This
can be one of the following:
o Bank statements.
o Letter of sponsorship + bank statements of the sponsor.
o Proof of advance payments of the treatment + bank statement for
other related expenses.
o Verbal note from the Ministry of Health of applicant’s home
country – which must declare the readiness of the relevant government of the
applicant’s home country to cover his medical treatment costs (for covered
medical treatment by the Government of the home country of the applicant).
Other Travel Purposes
If the purpose of your visa is
different than any of those listed above, then you should collect the
additional documents listed below, according to your purpose of traveling to
Europe.
Documents Required when Travelling to Europe for the
Purpose of Studying
The additional required documents to
obtain a Schengen Student visa are:
·
Two application forms instead
of one.
·
Letter of acceptance at an EU
University/College/School.
·
Proof of financial means.
Documents that show one is able to reside and financially maintain him /
herself during their stay in the Schengen zone.
Documents Required when Travelling to Europe for the Purpose of Employment
The additional required documents to obtain a Schengen Working visa are:
·
Two application forms instead
of one.
·
Employment
contract. Contract between the applicant and the future employer residing
in the Schengen territory.
Documents Required when Travelling for the Purpose of
Joining a Spouse Residing in EU
The additional required documents to
obtain a Schengen visa to join a Spouse residing in the EU are:
·
Two application forms instead
of one.
·
The original certified copy
of the marital certificate.
·
A copy of spouse’s passport,
if he / she is an EU citizen. If the spouse is not an EU citizen, but only
lives in a Schengen country the copy of his/her residency permit is to be
submitted as well.
Documents Required when Travelling for the Purpose of
Participating in Cultural, Sports or Religious events in Europe
The additional required documents to
obtain a Schengen visa for Cultural, Sports or Religious events are:
·
Event
Information. As i.e. invitation
letters, entry tickets, enrollment conditions, detailed programme and other
documents that present relevant information about the event.
·
Proof of previous
performances. Participation in previous
festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners
certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).