A Schengen visa allows you to visit any Schengen area and stay for a short time. About 27 European Union (EU) countries came together, made a pact, and removed all their internal borders, making them the Schengen zone.
The Schengen short-stay visa lasts for about 90 days. Visitors can move from one Schengen country to the other with this visa without restriction.
Before obtaining a Schengen visa, you must provide some documents that align with the Schengen requirements. You must also follow the correct application method, which we will look at in this post.
What are the requirements for a Schengen visa?
Those looking to travel for a short stay must fulfill the requirements below.
- Fill out and sign the Schengen visa application form
- A passport-sized photograph that is not more than two months old
- Your flight tickets
- A valid passport that won’t expire in three months with two blank pages for your visa stamps.
- Flight tickets with dates showing when you will leave the Schengen country
- Schengen visa application fee receipt
- Proof of funds to show that you can financially take care of yourself during your stay. The proof can be in bank statements that show enough funds in your account and have not been touched for at least three months. Also, your proof of funds can be a sponsorship letter from a family, spouse, or friend. Stating that they will be financially responsible for you. The letter must have an attached bank statement of your sponsor.
- Evidence of accommodation. This may be a hotel reservation with dates and addresses or a family or friend’s address if you are not staying in a hotel.
- Health insurance
There is a possibility that you might be asked to present more documents during your application.
How to apply for a Schengen visa
When all your documents are ready, take the following steps below.
- Take your visa application form and your documents
- Visit the specific Schengen country’s embassy you want to travel to
- Schedule an interview date
- Go for your interview early
- Appear for your scans and biometrics
- Pay your visa fee
It takes about 15 days to receive your Schengen visa report.
What are the types of visas for Schengen?
- Transit visa
- Tourism visa
- Business visa
- Medical visa
- Visiting family members and friends
- Travel as part of cultural exchange
Aside from these types of visas for Schengen, there is a type of Schengen visa called the uniform visa. They are:
The single-entry visa
If you hold a single-entry visa, you can only visit once and leave as soon as your visa expires.
Double entry visa
The double entry visa permits you to travel to the Schengen zone twice before your visa expires.
Multiple entry visa
With a multiple-entry visa, you can visit the Schengen area as often as you want for as long as your visa remains valid.
How do I know if my visa is approved?
Visit the embassy you applied at. However, you can get the website of the country you applied for and keep checking for an update.
How many countries can I visit with a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa is an authority to visit all the Schengen zones. First, you must have a specific country that is your destination country. You can enter another Schengen area with your visa.
What are the 27 countries in Schengen?
- Belgium
- Austria
- Croatia
- Spain
- Hungary
- Estonia
- France
- Norway
- Czechia
- Malta
- Denmark
- Germany
- Lithuania
- Greece
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Luxembourg
- Slovakia
- Liechtenstein
- Portugal
- Poland
- Latvia
- Sweden
- Iceland
- Italy
- Switzerland
