Every person wishing to enter the Schengen Area, for whatever purpose, may be subject to a visa regime, depending on their nationality.

If you have never been to Europe before, you first must ask yourself, “Do I need a visa to Schengen Area?” Currently, more than 60 countries worldwide can enter Europe visa-free zone without needing to obtain a permit first and remain there for 90 days within a six-month period.

The application process to obtain a European visa is mandatory for your freedom of movement in this area. So, you should be careful when leaving your Schengen visa application.

If you need to apply for a European visa, you can read this article which is the ultimate guideline of a Schengen visa application process.

1. Figure out which Schengen visa type you need

Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types:

• Transit visa
• Tourism visa
• Visa for Visiting Family or Friends
• Business visa
• Visa for Culture and Sports activities
• Visa for Official Visits
• Study visa
• Visa for Medical Reasons

2. Find out where you need to apply

Depending on how your destination country in Schengen has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, you will have to file your Schengen visa application at one of the following:

• Their embassy
• One of their consulates
• A visa centre to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission
• The embassy / consulate of another Schengen state to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission

Your “destination country” means the country where you need to lodge your application, according to the Schengen rules.

These rules are as follows:

• If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy/consulate/visa centre of that country
• If you are going to visit more than two Schengen countries, file your application:
  • At the embassy / consulate / visa centre of the country where you will spend most days if you will be spending an unequal amount of days in each
  • At the embassy/consulate/visa centre of the country where you will step first if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each

3. Find the most suitable time to apply

Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates worldwide need to process a Schengen visa, you have an appointed period within which you can file your visa application.

The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as following:

• The earliest you can file a visa application: six months before you start your planned trip.
• The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.
• The recommended time to file a visa application: at least three weeks before your trip.

4. Book an appointment

Book a Schengen visa appointment to proceed with your application.

Most countries give you a chance to book an appointment online. On the other hand, in others, you will need to book the meeting in person at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.

5. Fill out the visa application form

Download the application form and fill it out correctly and honestly.

The Schengen visa application form has the same format, no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.

You will have to give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:

• Your personal information,
• Information on your background,
• Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area,
• Other details regarding your trip.

To complete and submit the form correctly, pay attention to the following tips:

• Download the latest application form since that is the only form accepted.
• Make sure you fill out every required gap. Here you can find some clear instructions on how to fill in the visa application form.
• Do not leave any columns blank. If you feel that some columns do not correspond to your case, fill them with NA (No Answer).
• Remember to print the form twice. Sign both copies at the end.
• If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

6. Gather the required documents

The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. Usually, these documents are categorised into two groups.

The first group is of the standard required documents, which include:

• The visa application form.
• Valid passport.
• Two identical photos.
• Travel insurance policy. You can easily purchase it online from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.
• Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of financial means, etc.

The other group is the visa-specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other. In addition, some Schengen member states have extra requirements for visa applicants.

7. Attend the visa interview

On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the facility where you will be interviewed. You will meet a visa consular to whom you must hand the collected documents, as required.

During the interview, you will be asked personal questions about your whereabouts, the intended trip and other travel details. Ensure your answers are firm and correct and comply with the information in the application form and the other documents. The interview may last around 10-15 minutes.

Some of the questions you might be asked during the Interview

• Which countries in the Schengen are you planning to visit?
• Do you have any family members or friends living in Europe?
• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Who will pay for your visit?
• Are you married? If yes, what does your spouse do? For how long have you been married?
• Do you have any children? If yes, how old are they, what do they do?
• How long are you going to stay in Europe?
• Where are you going to stay?
• What is your educational qualification?
• Which company do you work for?

8. Pay the visa fee

You will need to pay a non-refundable administration fee when applying for a Schengen visa to process your visa application.

The member countries have synchronised the visa fees; therefore, they are static and unchangeable until decided otherwise by the Schengen states.

Currently, a Schengen visa fee is €80 per person. Children and some other specific categories will have to pay either reduced fees or no fees at all, depending on their situation. Check the list of Schengen visa fees, their reductions and exemptions to see if you belong to any of those categories!

9. Wait for an answer to your application

Could you wait until you get a response on your visa application? Although, in most cases, it takes no more than 15 days to process a visa, there are times when this process takes quite much longer. That period can be extended from 15 up to 45 days in some countries concerning some citizens.

If your Schengen visa is approved

If you get your visa, carefully understand the labels attached to the visa sticker, including the period it permits you to remain in Europe; otherwise, overstaying in the Schengen Area might have consequences.

The articles " How to find low-cost flights to Europe and What you need to pack when traveling to Europe will help you save money and have a more pleasant journey there. Have a nice trip to Europe!

If your Schengen visa gets rejected

If your visa application gets denied, read why they didn’t grant you a visa and try to fulfil it the next time you apply if you think your application was correct. The decision on its refusal was a mistake; you can always appeal the visa rejection.

Need to stay more than 90 days in Europe?

If you need to remain longer in Europe, you must apply for a National Visa at the embassy of the adequate country. A National Visa permits you to stay in Europe for 12 months.