European Schengen Visa

 

A Schengen visa is an official document mandatory for some non-Europeans to travel to all the 26 countries which are part of the Schengen area. Once granted, this visa allows the traveler to cross the borders of the other member-states without going through identity checks at the border.

 

There are several types of Schengen visa but the most common (the short-stay visa) allows to travel/stay for 90 days maximum over a 6 month period starting from the entry date stated on the visa.

 

The Schengen Area, or Schengen Countries Zone, is a group of 26 European nations that have abolished border controls between each other. These include France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, and Scandinavian nations, but not the U.K. and Ireland. Most European Union (EU) countries are signatories to the Schengen Agreement, although some non-Schengen countries, like Bulgaria and Romania, are signed up but not yet active members and are merely obliged to join in the future. Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway are not in the EU but are inside of the Schengen Area.

 

Here is the complete list of 26 countries members of the Schengen zone :

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Austria                           

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

 

• Type A Schengen visa - Airport Transit Visa

 

The type A visa (Airport Transit Visa) allows citizens of non-Schengen states to transit through or wait for their connecting flight in the international zone of an airport located in a Schengen country. It is compulsory for those traveling from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country and who have to connect flights in the airport of a Schengen country. The holder of a type A visa is not allowed to enter the said Schengen country.

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• Type B Schengen visa

 

The type B visa relates to journeys lasting fewer than five days has been replaced by type “C” with the condition “transit".

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• Type C Schengen visa

 

The short-stay Schengen visa is the most common one. It is issued by the visa services (embassies, consulates, appointed external providers) of a country belonging to the Schengen area. It allows the holder to stay or travel freely in the Schengen area for less than 90 days over a 180 day period.

According to the purpose of your trip, the short-stay category C Schengen visa can be a single-entry, a double-entry, or a multiple-entry.

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• Type D Schengen visa

 

The national visa is the type D long-stay Schengen visa. It is mandatory for any foreigner wishing to study, work or live in a Schengen country for longer than 90 days (up to 1 year).

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What reasons for visits to Europe require a short-stay Schengen Visa?

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You need to apply for a Schengen Visa if you intend to visit one or more European countries in the area for any of the following reasons: Tourism and recreation, business purposes, visiting friends or family, cultural and sporting events, airport and seafaring transit visits, official visits, medical treatment, short-term study, and research purposes.

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Depending on your reasons for visiting the Schengen Area countries and the frequency of your visits, the Schengen consulate can issue you a single, double, or multiple-entry visa - valid for 90 days.

 

However, if you are a frequent traveler, you may apply to obtain a multiple-entry Schengen Visa valid for up to five years. On each visit, you will only be able to stay within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

 

Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

 

To apply for a Schengen visa you will need to contact the consular authorities of the Schengen country you wish to visit.

If the country you plan to visit does not have an embassy or consulate, you will have to address your application file to the local representatives of this country. 

Visa applications are sometimes processed by external service providers (such as VFS Global or TLS) which are authorized to receive application files.

 

Documents required for Schengen Visa.

 

To book an appointment with the competent authorities, you must first put together an application file with the following mandatory documents : 

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•    A duly completed and signed visa application form

•    Two identical and recent id photos

•    A copy of your passport and your passport (issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiration date of the requested visa)

•    A letter explaining the reasons for your trip 

•    The reservation confirmation of your return ticket

•    Proof of your accommodation plans

•    Proof of your means of subsistence 

•    A mandatory travel insurance certificate

With a complete application file, you will be able to attend your appointment with the consular services in the best conditions. 

 

The fees for a type C Schengen visa have increased since February 3rd, 2020:

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• A Schengen visa now costs €80 (≃$90).

• For children aged 6 to 12: €40 (≃$45).

• For children under age 6: free

 

When should you apply for your visa?

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Since the implementation of the new Visa Code (February 2020) you can now apply for your Schengen visa at the earliest 3 to 6 months prior to the date of your trip and at the latest 15 calendar days before your departure date. 

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What is Schengen insurance?

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To obtain your Schengen Visa, your travel and medical insurance must meet several minimum requirements. It must cover you in the whole Schengen Area - even countries you have no plans to visit - and cover accidents, illnesses, and emergency treatments, as well as repatriation in case of death, for a minimum of €30,000 (≃$35,000).