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Schengen Visa Tour Proof

on 22 Nov, 2021

Guide – Prepaid Package Tour For A Schengen Visa Application 

What is a prepaid tour for the schengen visa application .

A “Prepaid Tour” for the Schengen Visa application is a prepaid package tour (a package vacation or package holiday) that you can use as proof of accommodation, transport, and travel itinerary when you apply for your Schengen Visa. 

In other words, a prepaid tour is a pre-arrangement for your trip or journey to the Schengen Area.

When you are applying for a tourist Visa, you can either plan your entire trip yourself or rely on the services of a tour operator. Outside of transport and accommodation, a tour operator can provide other services as well, such as a rental car, or specific activities during the day. 

A travel agency or tour operator can provide various tour packages, such as incentive tours (tours offered as a prize – many companies use them to stimulate the productivity of the employees), cruise tours, educational tours, etc. 

They can also be divided into independent tours (for tourists who like to travel independently) and group tours (for people who agree to having a travel experience with others). 

If you plan to travel to the Schengen Area and choose a prepaid tour instead of organising your trip yourself, you should firstly know that you are free to choose any type of tour and services you prefer.

Secondly, you should be aware that your Schengen Visa application process won’t change, even if you book a package holiday – you will still have to submit a set of mandatory required documents (e.g., passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned stay in the Schengen Area, Visa application form , employment contract or letter of sponsorship , birth certificate and/or marriage certificate, bank account statements , etc.).  

The only difference is that your tour operator will provide you with the following documents for your Schengen Visa application:

• Proof of transport (please note that some travel agencies do not include international flights in their packages)
• Proof of accommodation
• Day-to-day travel itinerary  
• Valid medical insurance (most tour operators do not provide insurance but we suggest asking your tour operator if they provide it and if it is included in the vacation package you choose. Alternatively, you can ask them if they have insurance partners they can refer you to, who can provide you with Schengen insurance.)

If you choose a tour operator to organise your trip to the Schengen Area you must submit evidence of the prepaid tour. 

This requirement is mandatory for all the Embassies/Consulates as proof of transport and accommodation, as well as your day-to-day travel itinerary – which are some of the most important Schengen Visa required documents . 

Please note that some tour operators can provide you with important last updated Visa information. 

Thus, you should ask if they can provide information on where you need to apply for your Schengen Visa according to the Member State you will enter first, the “90 days in a 180-day period” rule (for more details about this tule, please visit this link), and other relevant information concerning the Schengen Visa requirements.

The Importance Of Prepaid Tour Evidence For Your Schengen Visa

Schengen Visa officers are not interested in how you chose to organise your trip to the Schengen Area, as long as you can prove you have enough funds to cover all of your expenses and you provide proof of your intentions to return to your country of residence. 

However, a prepaid tour can have one advantage to the Schengen Visa officers in comparison with a trip organised by yourself: the fact that it includes all of your expenses (most packages you choose include your meals, transport, hotels, daily activities, etc.). 

However, you will still have to submit your bank statements or your sponsor’s bank statements, and other additional documents to prove that you have enough funds to cover all of your expenses. 

If you choose to travel to a Schengen country using a prepaid tour, it is important to bring proof of your payment (even if the tour operator requests you to pay 100% upfront, we recommend you always choose a package you can refund). 

The Schengen Visa officers require evidence that you have booked a vacation package for the following reasons:

● It provides strong evidence of your travel purpose

Providing evidence that you booked a holiday package helps the Schengen Visa officers understand that you actually are a tourist who wants to visit the top-rated attractions in the Schengen Territory. 

It is extremely important for them to know the purpose of your trip, as it helps validate that you intend to return to your country of residence. 

In other words, if you can adequately prove that you are an applicant travelling for tourism purposes, there will be no doubt that you have no intention to stay in the Schengen Area illegally.

● It provides evidence of your means of subsistence

When reviewing your application, Embassies/Consulates want to check that you have enough money to cover all of your expenses throughout your stay in the Schengen Area and you won’t be a travel risk for the countries you will be travelling to. 

Your prepaid package brings strong evidence of your financial means, showing that most of your expenses will be covered upfront, such as accommodation, transport, some daily activities, etc. 

● It helps Visa officers understand you travel dates

Your prepaid vacation package will help the Schengen Visa officers understand your travel dates, which are extremely important in order for them to decide the length of your Visa’s validity. 

They will also check the details of your tour to ensure consistency with the other information and documents you have submitted (for example, your travel dates must match the dates on the approved leave of absence from your employer – in case you are employed). 

How To Get Prepaid Tour Evidence From Your Tour Operator For Your Schengen Visa Application

First of all, you should know that submitting a simple invoice that proves you have paid for a trip to Europe (100% upfront or partially) is not enough . 

Schengen Visa officers need to check the details of your:

• Proof of transport (whether you will be travelling by plane, ship, bus, etc.)
• Proof of accommodation (e.g., hotel reservation)
• Day-to-day itinerary
• Schengen medical insurance valid for all Member States  

Please note that the above-mentioned documents are required whether you will be travelling with a tour operator or organise your trip to the Schengen countries yourself.

Therefore, your tour operator should prove all of these details. However, do not forget that:

• Most tour operators do not provide medical insurance meaning  you may need to acquire it from a separate company.
• Most tour operators do not include international flights in their packages and therefore you will have to submit your flight reservations as a separate document in case you will be travelling by plane.
• If you will be travelling through the Schengen Territory independently –  Before and after your booked the tour, you need to include flights, accommodation and insurance for these dates as well,

We suggest you discuss with your tour operator and ask what is included in your vacation package. 

Secondly, it is recommended that you use a reputable tour operator, as they are more likely to know what evidence you must submit to the Embassy/Consulate for a Schengen Visa and they will provide you with all of the necessary documents.

To get the complete set of evidence of your prepaid tour, you must contact your tour operator and ask them to provide you with the documents listed below, that is printed on paper with their tour agency in the letterhead, which also contains the logo of the tour agency (if they didn’t send them to you already). 

If you already have detailed evidence of your trip, you should simply print off the documents and submit them to the Embassy. 

Also, all these details can be included in one single invoice that shows the price of the tour and the details of your transport/accommodation/day-to-day itinerary or can be separated into various documents.

For example, you can submit an invoice that only shows the price of your tour and separate documents showing the details of your trip.

If you have not chosen a tour package already – we suggest you search on the Internet and find the most reputable tour operators in your country. 

Also, you can choose a vacation package based on the prior experience of your friends or relatives. 

Next, create a short-list containing a few trustworthy tour operators and check their websites to compare offers and prices. 

Once you decide on a specific vacation package, you can follow the steps on the agency’s website in order to book the tour. Alternatively, you can contact them and ask them to guide you.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing & Submitting Prepaid Tour Evidence For Your Schengen Visa

• Not choosing a vacation package well in advance

Do not forget that it will take a bit of time to prepare all of your documents for your Schengen Visa. 

Also, Embassies/Consulates can take up to 15 days to review your documents and process your application. 

So, make sure that you choose a holiday package well in advance (we recommend you choose a holiday package where the departure date is fixed at least 6 weeks from the moment you decide to book your prepaid tour and organise your documents for your Schengen Visa application).

• Assuming that your vacation package will replace other relevant documents that you must submit

The Schengen Visa requirements stay the same no matter whether you choose to organise your trip by yourself or to acquire a prepaid tour. 

Submitting evidence of a holiday package does not mean that you do not need to submit other important documents (such as insurance for medical emergencies with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR – in case your tour operator does not provide it to you – or your employment documents), they are still mandatory.

Also, be aware that some tour operators will require you to have medical insurance prior to booking a tour. 

If you show your tour operator your insurance in order to be allowed to book a tour, it does not mean that you do not need to submit your insurance to the Embassy/Consulate as well.

• Submitting just an invoice that proves you paid for your vacation package

This is the biggest mistake you can make. If you do not show the Schengen Visa officers all the details of your trip, you risk the rejection of your application.  

A simple invoice does not show the details of your accommodation (which is important, as they prove that you have a place to stay while travelling to the Schengen Zone) or other details of your trip, such as your internal travels and your daily activities.

Confused Where To Start?

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Schengen Visa for Tourists: Everything You Need to Know

Updated: October 19, 2023

The Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows you to travel freely within the Schengen area. As per the UN, the continent of Europe is comprised of 44 countries. Of these, 27 countries are part of the Schengen agreement. The Schengen agreement abolished internal borders between these 27 countries.

A Schengen visa is a unified visa for short stays (up to 90 days) for these 27 European countries. Therefore, a Schengen visa is the only visa you will need to travel to any of these 27 countries.

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SCHENGEN VISA POLICY

The Schengen visa policy was introduced in 1995 which abolished internal borders between the Schengen countries. 

Once you have obtained a Schengen visa, you can travel freely between the Schengen member countries without any border controls. For example, if you enter France and would like to go to Germany, you will not pass through passport controls at the France-Germany border. 

Keep in mind that the Schengen visa policy only applies to the Schengen area and not to the entire European Union.

Schengen visa countries

There are currently 27 countries in the Schengen area that you can visit with a single Schengen visa. Below is the list of countries.

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

Apart from the above 27 Schengen member countries, you also travel to 50 non-Schengen countries visa-free using a Schengen visa .

SCHENGEN VISA TYPES

Those intending to visit the Schengen countries for tourism must either be visa-exempt or hold a valid Schengen visa from the embassy. 

• Visa EXEMPTION (ETIAS from 2024)
• Type-A (Airport Transit Visa)
• Single-entry
• Double-entry
• Multiple-entry
• Type-D (Long Stay Visa for stays more than 90 days)
• Limited Territorial Schengen Visa

For this guide, we will focus only on visas for tourism intent, that is Type-C Uniform Schengen visas. 

SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS

Minimum passport validity required to enter the Schengen area

Passport must be valid for at least 3 months from your planned departure from Schengen area.

Example: If your trip is from Mar 10 to Mar 20, your passport must be valid at least until Jun 20.

Visa EXEMPT nationalities

90-day entry.

• Antigua And Barbuda
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
• El Salvador
• Marshall Islands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• St Kitts And Nevis
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad And Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

Visa REQUIRED nationalities

• Afghanistan
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo, Dem. Rep. of
• Congo, Rep. of
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Dominican Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• North Korea
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Sao Tome And Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Turkmenistan

IMPORTANT Palestine and Kosovo are not recognized by at least one Schengen member state. If you are a Palestinian or Kosovo national, please inquire at your nearest Schengen consulate for visa requirements for your passport.

SCHENGEN VISA EXEMPTION (ETIAS FROM 2024)

Currently, 62 nationalities can enter the Schengen area without a visa. Though you do not require a visa, you must consider the total duration of your stay in the Schengen area and must carry the mandatory documents.

Duration of Stay in Schengen Area – the 90 days/180 days rule

Non-EU Passport holders who are visa EXEMPT are allowed to stay in the Schengen area countries for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This “90 days in any 180 days” applies to all short-stay visitors to the Schengen area.

• Stays in EU countries that are NOT part of the Schengen area (Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ireland) are not counted in calculating the period of stay.
• Stays in non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are counted in calculating the period of stay compliance with the 90-day / 180-day rule.
• Both the day of entry and the day of exit are counted in the calculation.
• The 180-day period is referenced backward from the day of checking.
• A simple rule of thumb is, if you are out of the Schengen area for a continuous period of 90 days allows you a new stay of 90 days.

You can use the Schengen calculator to determine the number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area. Here is the manual on how to use the Schengen calculator.

Documents to carry

Visa EXEMPT individuals must carry the following documents when entering the Schengen member states.

• Valid passport
• Proof of onward travel
• Proof of accommodation

SCHENGEN VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

Currently, 104 non-EU nationals require a visa to enter the Schengen area. These nationals must be in possession of a Schengen visa when entering the Schengen zone.

Validity of Schengen Visa

The Schengen visa validity depends on whether you are a first-time applicant or a subsequent applicant. 

First-time application: If you are applying for the first time, your visa will be valid for the exact number of days you have asked for. In some instances, you may get a few buffer days as additional. 

For example, if your itinerary is 12 days, your visa will be valid for exactly 12 days. 

As a first-time visa applicant, I suggest adding a few extra days to your itinerary so you will get a few extra days on your visa validity. That way, you can have some flexibility in your travel plans.

First-time Schengen visas are usually single-entry or double-entry. 

Subsequent applications: If you are applying for the second or third time, you may likely get a visa valid for 90 days. The visa may likely be multiple-entry. 

Rules for obtaining Schengen visa valid for 1, 2 or 5 years

• To obtain a 1-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used 3 Schengen visas within the last 2 years
• To obtain a 2-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used a 1-year Schengen visa within the last 2 years
• To obtain a 5-year Schengen visa, you must have obtained and used a 2-year Schengen visa within the last 3 years

Duration of Stay in Schengen area – the 90 days/180 days rule

Visa-required passport holders are allowed to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. This “90 days in any 180 days” applies to all short-stay visitors to the Schengen area.

• Stays in non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are counted in calculating the period of stay compliance with the 90 days / 180-day rule.

Where to apply for Schengen visa

Most tourists plan to travel to more than one country during their Europe trip. The Schengen visa is valid for 27 countries, so you must first determine your Schengen country of application. This helps greatly in avoiding visa delays and refusals.

Follow the below guidelines to determine your country of application.

CASE 1: If you plan to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply for your visa at the consulate of that particular country.

Example: If you are traveling to Spain only, then you must apply for your visa at the Spain Embassy or Consulate.

CASE 2: If you plan to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for your visa at the consulate of the country of your main destination (the country where you will be spending most days).

Example: If your itinerary is 10 days of which 4 days in Spain and 6 days in France, then you must apply for your visa at the French consulate since you will be spending more time in France.

CASE 3: If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination (same amount of days in each country) then you should apply for your visa at the consulate of the country of your first point of entry.

Example: If your itinerary is 10 days of which you will be spending 5 days in the Netherlands first and 5 days in France after, then you must apply for a visa at the Netherlands Consulate since the Netherlands is your first port of entry.

When to apply for Schengen visa

You must apply for your Schengen visa no later than 15 days prior to your travel. Otherwise, your application will not be accepted.

You can apply for your visa up to 6 months in advance. So, apply as soon as you can to avoid delays, refusals and disappointments.

Schengen Visa Application Process

There is a plan to implement online systems of Schengen visas. But as of now, the visa can only be applied in person. Visa application is a 4 step process

• Fill out your Schengen visa application form 14076-02 (online or offline)
• Schedule an in-person Schengen visa appointment (at the consulate or visa agent such as VFS Global)
• Appear in person to submit your visa application, documents, biometrics and visa fee
• Pick up your original passport with the approved visa.

You can apply for a Schengen visa through a visa/travel agency in some countries. Travel agencies that offer vacation packages to Europe usually are allowed to apply for the visa on your behalf.

Documents required for Schengen visa

The following documents are required for your Schengen visa.

• Filled and signed visa application form (online or downloadable from the consulate page)
• Original passport
• Copy of the visa/residence permit if applying in a third country
• One recent passport-size photo
• Confirmed round-trip flight reservation
• Proof of health insurance
• 3-month bank statement
• 3-month salary slips
• Original signed employment letter
• Cover letter with a detailed itinerary

Application Form

Filling out the application form can be done online or offline depending on the Schengen country. For example, the application form for France is online whereas for Spain, it’s paper.

Photo Requirements

The photo must be 4.5cm x 3.5cm. That is, 4.5cm high and 3.5 cm wide. The face must be 3.2 to 3.6cm or 70-80% of the photo.

Proof of Health Insurance

It’s MANDATORY to submit travel medical insurance for Schengen visa . You must attach a certificate of travel health insurance in the Schengen area or worldwide with 100% coverage with no deductibles or co-pays.

It must have a minimum coverage of €30,000 EUR for medical, hospitalization, emergencies and repatriation services.

You can purchase Schengen travel insurance from any online provider. You can cancel and get a refund if your visa is denied. Once you purchase the travel insurance for your desired dates, you can download the visa letter that you can submit with your visa application.

Recommended Schengen visa insurance:

• VisitorsCoverage | Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements | Costs $1 a day

Schengen Visa Fee

The Schengen visa fee for an adult is approximately €80 EUR. For children between the ages of 6 and 12, it’s €40 EUR. Children under the age of 6 are exempt from paying the visa fee.

The fee must be paid in local currency, in the form of cash or bank money order. Most Schengen consulates have outsourced the visa process to VFS or BLS. Therefore, in addition to the visa fee, you may have to pay a fee for biometric collection and courier services.

Schengen Visa Processing Time

Schengen visa processing can take from 15 calendar days to 45 calendar days depending on the consulate, country or agent. Apply no later than 15 days prior to your travel. Otherwise, your application will not be accepted.

ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT

Entering Schengen Zone by Air

You do not need to fill in any arrival/departure card on entering the Schengen area. Do not panic if your flight attendant did not give you an arrival/departure card on your flight.

At the immigration, you will generally be asked about your final destination, places you will be visiting and the number of days you are planning on staying. You might also be asked if it is your first time in Europe.

The immigration officer will stamp your passport upon arrival. The number of days you are allowed to stay will not be marked on your passport.

As always, carry a copy of your return ticket and hotel booking just in case. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, don’t forget to get proof of onward ticket .

Leaving Schengen Zone by Air

You must go through passport control on exiting the Schengen area. You will not be asked any questions unless you have overstayed your visa. Passport control is fairly quick, about 10-15 minutes depending on the airport.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What is the minimum bank balance required for a Schengen visa?

The minimum bank balance required for a Schengen visa depends on the country you are applying from and the duration of your stay. As a general rule, you should have at least €60 per day for your stay in the Schengen area. This should cover your travel expenses, including accommodation, food, and transportation.

Does Schengen visa cover Switzerland?

Yes, the Schengen visa covers Switzerland. Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area. You can travel to Switzerland and other Schengen countries with a single visa.

Which Schengen visa is hardest?

There is no specific Schengen visa that is considered the hardest to obtain. But visa refusal statistics show that Norway, France and Belgium have the highest refusal rates.

Which country gives fastest Schengen visa?

The processing time for a Schengen visa may vary depending on the country you are applying from and the purpose of your visit. However, some countries may have faster processing times than others. For example, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are known to have relatively fast processing times.

Which country gives Schengen visa easiest?

There is no specific country that gives Schengen visa easiest. But visa refusal statistics show that Finland, Hungary, Estonia and Poland have the lowest refusal rates.

Do US citizens need a visa to enter the Schengen area?

No, US citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area. US citizens can travel to the Schengen territory for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa for tourism or business purposes.

Europe is usually the first choice for most first-time international travelers. It’s a dream for most people to visit European countries at least once in their lifetime. Europe has such an impeccable beauty, history, art, and cuisine.

A Schengen visa allows you to travel freely within the Schengen area, comprised of 27 European countries. Non-EU nationals who are visa-exempt and visa-required are allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Schengen visas are single, double or multiple-entry visas. First-time Schengen visas are limited in validity, but subsequent visas are 90 days to 5 years of validity.

• European Comission, Migration and Home Affairs
• European Union Law (EUR-Lex), Visa Code

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Planning to travel to Europe? How to Apply for Schengen Visa

One of the best ways to travel to Europe is through a Schengen Visa. Even though you don’t have a powerful passport, a Schengen Visa allows you to enter 26 European Countries + 3 de facto nations within the zone. If you want to learn more about how to apply for a Schengen Visa , read more of our guide here.

Schengen Visa is one of the most challenging visas people apply for. There are usually no interviews; just plain documents, checking your financial capacity, and a strong need for deep rootedness in case you are applying for a short-term visa. Learn more about Schengen Visa and the Zone through this article.

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• How to Get a Five-Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa for Filipino Citizens
• How To Provide Proof of Onward Travel – Rent a Flight Ticket
• DENIED Schengen Visa – How to File and Write an Appeal for a Rejected Schengen Visa (With a Sample Letter Template)

Table of Contents

Types of Schengen Visas

Type A – for Airport Transits, in case you pass by a Schengen Country to your final destination (e.g., Qatar to France to Brazil)

Type C – Short Stay Visa, the most common type of visa applied for, if you want a Tourist Visa to the Schengen Zone then you can apply for this. The maximum given is 90 days for a 180-day period, first-timers are usually approved for 15 days.

Type D – Long-term Visa, if you want to live in the Schengen Zone for more than 3 months, then you can apply for this. Usually, this is for those who plan to work or be reunited with a loved one.

Types of Entries for your Schengen C Visas

Single Entry – you can only enter the Schengen Zone once, so if you leave it; it’s going to be hard to come back. Single entry doesn’t mean one country, btw, but you can even enter all countries in the Schengen Zone as long as you don’t exit from it.

For example, with your Single Entry, you can cross Slovenia to Hungary more than once as they are part of the Schengen Zone. However, if from Slovenia (Schengen Zone) you go to Croatia, you can’t go back to Slovenia or go to Hungary again.

Double Entry – you can enter the Schengen Zone twice. So as in our example above you can go from Slovenia to Croatia (non-Schengen) to Hungary. After your second entry, you can exit the zone but not enter it for the third time.

Multiple-Entry – you can enter the Schengen Zone as many times as long as the visa is valid. Plus, you can also enter other countries with your Schengen Visa.

Countries You Can Enter With Your Schengen Visa

Additional countries who are not members, but you can enter even with a Single-Entry as there is not much border control

• Vatican City

Please also take note of the restrictions; you will need to have it as “The Schengen States” rather than a few letters. You can only enter the countries stated in your visa.

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa

STEP 1: Find which your main country is and apply from there.

You need to consider the following:

• It is the only country you are visiting in the Schengen Zone
• If you have many countries on your list, it is the country where you stay the longest
• If you’re visiting many countries for an equal duration, then apply to where you are arriving first

So if you are visiting only Spain, apply to the Spain Embassy or the Visa Application Center which represents them. In case you are visiting Spain and Portugal, for a week and you will be staying in Portugal longer, apply in Portugal (Embassy or VAC). If you are going to France, Spain, and Portugal for 4 days each and enter through France and Exit in Portugal, apply in France (Embassy or VAC) .

STEP 2: Gather your requirements.

Find a list of documents that are needed for your application. There are checklists on the visa application center’s website or through the Embassy’s Website. It’s better to check them as they may differ slightly. For example, Poland and Italy , have a system where you need to type your application. For some countries, you can print the form and answer it by hand.

Standard Requirements for a Schengen Visa

• Visa Application Form
• Passport-Sized Photos – one or two is asked depending on the country, it must be recently taken with white background
• Valid Passport – valid for at least 3 months after your departure in the Schengen Zone
• Proof of Sufficient Funds  and  Proof of Activity/Occupation – e.g., Bank Statement, Bank Certificate, Certificate of Employment, No Objection Letter , Business Registration
• Travel Insurance – usually for short-term visas, at least EURO 30,000 covering your entire stay in the Schengen Zone
• For Short Term Visas – Proof of Ties, Airline Ticket Reservation , Proof of Employment
• If for tourism Purposes – Proof of Accommodation, detailed Itinerary
• For Visits – Invitation Letter

Please take note that there may be additional documents asked, for example, Germany has a questionnaire while other countries don’t. Bank Statements may also be asked for either 3 months or good for 6. Check the embassy’s websites so that you won’t have a mistake on this. Not having complete documents may get you rejected.

STEP 3: Book an Appointment at the correct Embassy or Visa Application Center.

During your appointment day, your biometrics will be taken (Fingerprints and Photographs). Some Embassies let you pay ahead, sometimes at the center. The costs for Short Term Visas are about EURO 80, but there may be additional service fees. You will also need to budget for that.

STEP 4: Wait for the decision of the Embassy.

Short-term visa processing will be about 15 days but can extend to another 45 in case there are missing documents. Long-term visas may be longer. You can apply as early as 6 months just in case there are any problems or you get denied. There will be time to have an appeal which will take about 1-2 months.

STEP 5: Claim your visa.

You will be informed that you can get your visa at the application center or the Embassy. You can claim your passport with your Schengen Visa. Congratulations!

Frequently Asked Questions for a Schengen Visa

1. Can I apply for a Schengen Visa anywhere?

Usually, you can apply in your home country or the country you are currently residing in. In case you are a nomad, then you can contact the Embassy before your application if they can accept you.

2. Will I be immediately approved for a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa even though it’s my first time?

As per the rules, you will need to have obtained 3 Schengen Visas within 2 years before getting a 1-year Multiple-Entry. So, you have to settle with Single-Entry first. Here’s an article about How to Get a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa for Filipinos .

3. Can I work with my Short Term Visa?

No, you absolutely cannot.

4. How much money do I need for my application?

You can read our guide on Show Money .

5. Is there an interview?

Usually, there are no interviews, especially for Short Term Schengen Visas. However, you may be called at the Embassy in case there’s something wrong, or they need clarification on some points.

6. Do I need to buy a ticket before going there?

No, the Embassy advises you to buy a ticket after your visa is approved. However, a confirmed flight booking might be asked. If you need one, you can check out our Flight Rental Reservation Services .

7. What travel insurance is good for the Schengen Zone?

AXA Schengen is highly recommended. They will even refund you in case you get denied.

8. What if I get denied, what should I do?

You can appeal to the Embassy and send your remonstrance letter or apply to another country.

9. Do you have any Specific Articles for Filipinos for Visa Applications?

Here’s our directory on How To Apply for a Schengen Visa for each country:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Guide on How to get a UK Visa – Tourist, Marriage & Residency
• Guide on How to get a USA Tourist Visa
• Guide on how to re-apply for a Schengen visa if you get rejected – Remonstrance Process of Schengen Visa
• Guide on How to get Japan Visa
• Guide on How to get AUSTRALIA Tourist Visa

I hope you now know how to apply for a Schengen Visa. It’s very straightforward; however, there are certain tricky documents you might need to provide (Proof of Ties, for example.) In case you need assistance with your application, we offer a Visa Application Bundle where we can support you in getting a Schengen Visa. I wish you luck!

About the Writer

Hey, I’m Lyza! I once was a person who just imagined going to places “one day” but decided to pursue my dreams. My first travel abroad was to Japan, solo, last 2018, and fell in love with the journey since. I’m aiming to visit 10 countries before turning 30 and 2 new places in the Philippines every year. Besides traveling, I love organizing trips, photography, reading, and making new friends. Follow my adventures through my  Instagram .

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89 thoughts on “ Planning to travel to Europe? How to Apply for Schengen Visa ”

What are the documents that a retired person needs to show?

hello, Regarding an ITR for a freelancer, I just registered by business as freelancer just this May 2019 and im planning to apply this October, are we allowed to get an ITR at this early? I mean,the business is still less than a year on a run. I have DTI and Business Permit though. Can I ask for your professional opinion? thanks

Hello poh. Thanks po sa information nyu. Ask lng din poh ako if may idea poh or advise kau to me, I applied for a visit visa for germany and got rejected because of the reason nah Intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa could not be ascertained. Isubmitted COE as well as my approved leave of absence -working po aq as JOb Order sa isang Phil Ntl gvt agency. Meron pah po ba ibang posibleng doc nah mgproof na babalik aq nh pinas.? Thank you po

Hi, i have been granted with a schengen visa from August 11, 2019 to September 19, 2019 (40 days). If ever, i apply for a new one after it expires, let’s say a week after and my travel date will start in October, am i allowed to apply for 90 days? If not, how many days im only allowed to apply? Is it the remaining 50 only? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi! I’ve had the same experience as Dessy. I applied for visa in Austrian Embassy in Abu dabhi. I submitted my docs via VFS global Dubai on Feb10. I got a mail and SMS saying that my processed VISA was already dispatched via Aramex on Feb13. I was really anxious coz I’ve never travelled to Europe, I was thinking it is rejected and there’s no way that they will approve it within 2 days, BUT I was wrong! When I opened the envelope there’s no letter so I opened my passport immidiately and I saw the Visa.I just wanna share this coz I know how it feels to wait for the visa application. And to let people know out there that even youre a first time traveller, it is possible to get Schengen Visa. I strongly recommend the Austrian Embassy ^_^

Hi, I’m working here Malaysia and my friend invited me to visit him in France. He will provide my accommodation, insurance, my tickets (come and return) and other documents needed. My concern is I still to submit my bank statements?

Good day , I need help please . If somebody wants to come in SERBIA from PH needs to have visa right ? In Manila I couldnt find Serbia consul so please help me what to do ? Touristic visa.

Contact the Serbian consulate near Manila.. most probably in countries nearby!

yes, serbian need an entry visa to get into the Philippines

may I ask if im not employed neither a student (I stop) which and what documents should I submit, my uncle in sweden will be the sponsor of our trip with my grandma im escorting her.

I am currently based in Dubai, And planning to apply a tourist visa for my parents trip to europe, I will be paying all of their expenses. However, they are based in Philippines, would you please advise the requirements. Thanks a lot! ❤️

Seems you’r on the same situation like mine. Im currently in Riyadh, i applied my unemployed mother Schengen France visa in Manila. I completed all the documents to support her application. Documents required are almost the same as Kach’s written on this blog (completed application form, flight booking, hotel booking, travel insurance, daily itinerary, funds), you have to complete visa application online and print it including the checklist. But the “FUNDS” part of the checklist came from me. The most important document is the Guarantee of Support letter signed by me stating that i fully guarantee that I will pay all my mom’s expenses during our trip since this trip is my birthday gift for her. I have attached the following documents on my guarantee of support letter: My Cert of Employment signed by my Saudi employer showing my employment details and approved leave + copy of my company ID + 6 months payslip + 6 months personal bank statement from my Saudi bank + copy of my credit cards + my Saudi Residence ID translated in English + Saudi Exit/reEntry visa + my valid Schengen visa + my passport & other valuable visas to prove Im a frequent traveler to western countries + my yearly travel insurance + my roundtrip ticket RUH-MNL. From my mom side, she provided her photo + Marriage/Birth cert from PSA + my Birth cert from PSA + receipts of my monthly remittance + other billing statements under my mom’s name. For Socio-professional situation part, I prepared her cover letter which she just signed stating her personal background and why she needs to return to PH. I sent her all documents including the application form + cash for visa fees (php5690 total), I scheduled her appointment on 18Dec. She submitted her application at VFS France in Makati, they took her biometrics and finish everything in 20mins. They released the result on 26Dec.

Would like to ask, were can I book an appointment for schengen visa, I’m planning to go in Spain. I’m already registered in VFS Global, whta’s next for this? Am I going to book an appointment in embassy of spain?

Please help.

Hi I would like to ask assistance ..I am currently completing the requirements for visa application for my travel in Iceland .. I am really confused as to what would be the coverage period of the travel insurance .. it is asking start date and end date ,,, I was thinking if the start date is the departure here in the Philippines until the departure in Iceland? , start date is the arrival date in Iceland until departure from Iceland? or Start date is the departure date here in Philippines until arrival back in Philippines? I want to make sure the details i will be putting in is correct , also I don’t have ITR as we have a tax benefit on which our tax is not being deducted on our account and is being deducted on our organization’s account is that going to be a problem? .. Please help 🙁

hello good day i got 2x denied in italian embassy .. one is from here philippines and the other one is in thailand when i was staying there for one one year only and now i am applying again in philippines. I have no job at this moment no bank satement all support by my italian bf inviting me in to their place ITALY.. would any chance i can have a grant visa ? would you help me what to do.. To proceed my grant visa application….thank you very much..

Im working here in Saudi Arabia and my husband is here with visit visa.. Is it possible to process his visa application for schengen here together with my application?

Do you have to be employed? Because I plan on quitting my job in order to travel for 35 days.

I suggest you get your visa first before you quit your job!

Just curious, have you known anyone who got denied of schengen visa application because his passport has no stamp yet, in other words, it would be his first time to travel abroad?

hello,is it possible to apply spanish visa fro the other country while you are traveling for a long time?

hi. i would like to ask if i can apply shengen visa in behalf of my boss and her family?

can i apply shengen visa in croatian embassy because most of their stay will be in croatia.

hope to hear from you. thanks

hi I want to intersted Italy schengen visa or France visa I have pakistani passport butt I serve a job in Bahrain navy two years and residence same in Bahrain plZ tell me know how to apply and what required my some relative live France and some friends live in Italy plZ help me to apply visa schengen visa itally or France just for outing

Hello Zahid, the tips and steps on how to get the visa is written above on this article.

I wana turist visa

If I apply for a visa validity for a week, are they only going to give me a visa valid for only 7 days?

Yes unless they decided to give you a longer one but most of the time, they’ll give you the visa according to your itinerary.

is it possible to process tourist visa here in Taiwan to Netherlands pero sa pinas ako mg exit? kc bawal d2 sa Taiwan mg exit ang foreign workers need umuwi ng pinas…

thank you..

I want to apply for Schengen tourist for myself and my spouse.

currently i am in Doha , QATAR, i am having INDIAN passport and have residence permit of QATAR also my wife have INDIAN passport and residency permit of QATAR.

My wife is currently in INDIA , i want to know is her physical presence and original passport is required for applying Schengen visa from QATAR?? Can i apply for visa for myself and my spouse together and submit my spouse passport photocopy and Residency permit photocopy

can you please let me know the details and process.

yep, she needs to be there. She cant apply for her Schengen visa in Qatar if she’s in India.

Hello! Just wanna share my great experience in applying schengen visa, July 5, 2017 i went to vfs to submit my Austria visa application the staff their were good and friendly, after the submission of all my documents i always remind my self what the staff said “the processing will take 5-10 days”(i dont know if weekends is included), and unexpectedly the Austria embassy emailed me July 10, 2017 saying that my passport is now ready for colletion and so i did pick up immediately and to my surprise they approved me for a Schengen visa,, i thanked God so so much and to the people in embassy for giving me my first travel outside the Philippines!

Did the embassy of Austria email you or VFS?

Hello Dessy! Can we get some tips on how you prepared your documents and how your interview went that made you visa approval? As you mentioned, it was your first time to go out of the country. Did you travel in group or alone? Thank you!

Valuable discussion . I was fascinated by the info – Does anyone know if my business would be able to grab a blank cerfa N 14076 01 Application for Schengen Visa example to use ?

I needed to fill out Italy Schengen Visa Application earlier today and learned about a website that has a searchable forms database . If people are wanting Italy Schengen Visa Application too , here’s a https://goo.gl/G7HECW

Hi, I am an expat living in Dubai. Im planning to visit Prague, Vienna and Budapest this spring break, but the Czech Republic Embassy requires a detailed travel itinerary for multiple visa entry. Can you suggest a site where I can book a train ticket with free reservation from one Schengen country to another? Thank you.

Hello, would like to ask if I can apply Schengen Visa In Dubai? I will also be a tourist in Dubai. Thanks!

You can only apply in Dubai if you have a valid RESIDENCY and not a tourist visa.

do we have an Embassy of Montenegro here in Philippines? or may you please tell me where can i process this Shengen Visa or may you recommend Agencies that assist for this Visa? i have received a JO from Montenegro. hope for your response.

Best Regards, Chris

Hello, I resign last July 2016 from my work and I am currently a graduate student. My friends and I want to travel Europe next year. I am not employed as of the moment but I have sufficient money to in my savings account to travel to Europe. I also have a scholarship that gives me monthly allowance and basically that is my monthly income. I also have credit cards and properties that are on my name. I want to ask what documents should I give to the embassy to have a higher chance of being approved? Should I also provide documents to show that I am still a student?

Hello. I have a boyfriend in germany, and he invited me to go to german, i would like to apply for a schengen visa not a fiancee visa.. anyway i dont have a work here in philippines but he supported my financially. We met 4x here in phililippines as well as in Singapore. I would like to know if is it possible to get schengen tourist visa.

This article is very helpful and I agree that you really need to check everything and make sure your application is complete and you’ve read all the documents too in case you will be interview by the consule. I’ve had 4 denied entry two in UK and two in spain, I was really stressed it’s a pain. Base on my experienced once you got denied entry you already have a record and sometimes do they don’t even read your application properly. Twice I appealed for my denied entry and luckily they grant me my visa. But the appeal is more stressful as well but never give up guys appeal is free of charge so why not give it a go. But I know in the UK if you apply for tourist visa you can’t appeal except if it’s for study or family reunification. Let me know if you want to more about my experience.

This is very thorough and helpful! Thanks so much for this. My friends and I have tinkered with the idea of visiting another friend in Austria, and even if it doesn’t happen in the next year as planned, I’m absolutely certain that I’ll visit Europe one day.

HI, I like how detailed this article is. I haven’t acquired any visa yet. but sure I’ll get in the future.

Helloi applied on september 20 up to now october 4 visa is not released what do i do when can i expect to receive it

Thank you very much for this blog. May I ask if the embassy will approve the Schengen visa application if the applicant’s (Filipino) first travel is in the Schengen zone regardless of complete documents?

hi good evening. nagapply ako tourist visa sad to say kulang documents next monday ko pa ma iffollow up..binigayn lang ako resibo then kinuha nang lahat yung documents ko. kelan mo mllaman result ng visa? after ko ba ma ifollow up yung document. thank

hi ! if they email you to claim your visa does it mean youre approved or denied? thank in advance

You’ll never know until you get your passport.

hi ,i applied for short stay schengen visa for france and my dad did my sponsor .i provided all the documents as required by the embassy of france in pakistan .i am currently dental student so i provided the certificate from my dental college along with other documents .But they refused visa stating that your intention to leave the member’s state terriotry before the expiry of visa isnt approved .so what should i do now??how can i show them that i will come back !! i need to come back to complete the dentistry !!i would b grateful if u will help me out!!

Hi! Your blog entry is really informative. I would really appreciate it if you could answer my questions. I will apply for my schengen visa probably next year but I have so many apprehensions. I live in Mindanao, but since it is really a requirement to apply personally, I would take some time off from work to apply for my Visa. However, I couldn’t take a long leave of absence, so I’m worried that they may require additional requirements and I couldn’t submit them right away, or might not be able to. What do you suggest me to do?

This is katherine. Im sorry for the disturbance, I just have some quick questions. Im actually here in the USA I got a single entry luckily b1 visa. It sucks a bit since my boyfriend wanted to go to Mexico and also around europe would it be possible to get a Schegen Visa while I’m in Usa? Or do i have to get back to Ph since im holding a ph passport and I got my visa 05/29/2016 which is until 10/30/2016. I really can’t find any answers to my questions, I hope you can answer my questions. Thanks

You can apply for a visa to anywhere from anywhere in the world. just go to the consulate of your destination. My brother was in Norway when he applied for a US visa and he got it. Also with a PH passport. However, since your visa is only single (1) entry, once you go out of the USA to go to Mexico, since Mexico is another country, you can’t use that visa anymore and would have to apply for a new one if you want to come back to the USA. Next time, apply for multiple-entry if you intend to go in and out of the US. If you go to Mexico, then Europe and then go back to the Ph, then no problem.

hi katherine, did you manage to obtain a schengen visa in the US? I tried to apply in Canada, but they told me i have to apply from Philippines, since i am not a resident in Canada. They say, it is against the law to apply for a Schengen Visa outside of your resident country. With US visa we can apply outside our country but they say not for schengen. but if you had luck in the US let me know…so i can try there. thanks a lot.

Hi! I need help re Schengen tourist visa application. I’m a home-based virtual employee based in Cebu PH, the company I’m currently employed with is based in Australia. Do you think I should declare this in my visa application? If so, what if they’ll ask for an ITR which I don’t have. My employer though is willing to give me an Employment Certificate but I don’t have a company ID. Should I also ask for it? My husband and I are going to submit our requirements to Denmark Embassy before end of this month. Please advise.

Hi Michelle, I’m also a fulltime home-based virtual worker from Cebu, I just would like to know if you got your visa approved and if how you managed to comply with the requirements. Or if nag file jud ka sa BIR para makakuha ug Tax Certificates? Just wanted to know, although layo2 pa akong plano to travel. Thanks in advance!

HI! My mom and I are planning to go to Paris and UK this June. I understand that we need to apply for two visas, the Schengen and the UK visa. Our plan is to enter in Paris and exit in London. Since we will be entering Paris first we are applying for the Schengen visa next week. Will it be a problem since we don’t have the UK visa yet? What are your suggestions in going about this?

Hi were you able to get your visa already and how did you do it? Im interested because I plan to visit uk n paris as well but the difference is that, I will enter n exit uk but will go to paris by train only during my stay in uk.

Hi i had my interview last april 20 2016 the visa officer said come back on may 5 2016 it is posible im denied or grant?

Hi i had my interview last april 20 2016 the visa officer said come back at may 5 2016 for follow up im so nervious its mean im denied or grant?

yeah, it takes about 15 days for some embassies to process applications. Just pray in the meantime.

I was wondering, the intent letter/description of trip letter, should it be the exact itinerary that you have to follow or not necessarily as long as you will be staying the longest in the country wherein you applied visa for?

Thanks, Kristina

Its is so frustrating, its been 20 days since I submitted my visa application here in Italy VFS Abu Dhabi but I still did not get any feedback from them. My sister got her visa in just 2 days, well she applied in Dubai Consulate and I applied here in Itally Embassy in Abu Dhabi. I even emailed them but I did not get any reply. It makes me sad ‘coz we cannot make plans for our Europe trip for my bday…

when you going to apply the visa for netherland during in your interview in the embassy are they going to tell you right away that you didnt qualified to get a visa?

no, you will wait for 2 weeks or so.

How long until you received approval of your visa from Netherlands Embassy? Thanks

Our visa got denied today. We planned to go Hungary in Europe for celebrating Holi and to see good places in Europe. But, it was so frustrating for us to know that our visa got denied. We are very hopeless right now. We have already booked our tickets. Please someone guide us what to do?? Will we get refunded totally? How to get our tickets refunded? Please somebody help. We are in a dilemma that if we caste a Remonstration letter, we have to again pay for re-booking?We have very less time as our confirmed flight is on 20th march, 2016. The reasons 3 and 9 were behind our refusal.

Does the embassy tells you if they are refusing your visa? I had my interview yesterday at Washington DC and they didn’t tell me anything and said you’ll get to know once you get the envelope back. I don’t know what does that mean.

All I’ve heard is that in case of a US visa, if your application gets denied, they hand over the passport back to you immediately.

Nice! In detailed post. Thank you for sharing.!

I like how detailed this article is. I haven’t acquired any visa yet. but sure I’ll get in the future. This is very helpful to those who are planning to get a Schengen visa. I’m sure there are a lot out there!

Getting a visa might be stressful but it will all be worth it if you got one. Hope you will get your schengen visa soon, Karol! 🙂

Havent acquired any visa yet but i plan to in the future. this kind of article is really helpful for people like me who usually browse the net to check for tips and how tos

This is definitely helpful. Thanks for detailing. 🙂

Wow,,, this is great! Thanks for all of this,,, im in dubai right now and working here for almost 4 years but I’ve been longing to visit uk or any part of Europe,,, i hope i can visit that listed countries one of these days,,

Hi i’m in New Zealand right now, is it possible to apply my schengen visa here instead rather than the hassle of going back to the philippines?

Hi! I found this post very helpful. But i just have to ask. Because I’ve been working for 2 years, is there anyway that I can just use my current ITR? Also, for the bank statement, how much is like the surest thing that would really make it easy for me to get the visa? I’m visiting a friend in Sweden, but i won’t be staying in their home. It’s more like a surprise visit to him. Please help. I really want to go to Sweden during my birthday week as a gift for myself.

Hello Fatima. The most recent ITR is what the Embassy needs. For the amount of your bank account, just make sure it fits to the travel dates you requested to. Each schengen country has an ideal daily allowance. Some I know it’s 45euros per day.

Thank you very much for this blog. May I ask if the embassy will approve the Schengen visa application if the applicant’s (Filipino) first travel is in the Schengen zone regardless of complete documents?

Hello Monica, of course! Always have the chance as long as you submit all the documents!! <3

meron ba dito gsto mgbaksyon sa sept2016? sabay tyo pra mas mataas ang chance na magrsnt ang visa..

join ako syo.sabay tyo.u can email me.

I’ve got a phone call from italian embassy, i just dont expect that.Why they interviewed me over the phone?

Hi Rebecca! Have you tried to call them again and ask about this unsual procedure? Are you based in Philippines or elsewhere?

This is very thorough and helpful! Thanks so much for this. My friends and I have tinkered with the idea of visiting another friend in Austria, and even if it doesn’t happen in the next year as planned, I’m absolutely certain that I’ll visit Europe one day. Bookmarking this page for future reference. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading Mai!! How’s your application?

Hi, it’s been 7 working days already since I passed my tourist visa application in French embassy via VFS. Is this duration normal through French embassy? The person from VFS who collected my documents said it takes 2-5 working days to process everything. Can you share your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

I got my Schengen visa after 3 weeks of waiting.

Okay Kach! Thanks! What you said gave me hope. Curious though if you applied in the same embassy as mine? Thanks so much.

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• Tour & Visa services: You can embark on your journey by selecting one of our carefully curated tour packages plus you can opt for our visa services for your tour with us.
• Standalone Visa Services: If you have already planned your trip and just looking for visa assistance, our standalone visa services are designed to provide you with expert guidance, from appointment booking to document preparation.

Getting your visa for your dream travel adventure is a breeze with our expert agency. We specialize in securing tourist visas and offer a streamlined process to ensure your travel plans go off without a hitch. Here is how we make it easy for you:

• Visa Appointment:

On behalf of you we secure your visa appointment. No need to navigate the appointment process alone.

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Our dedicated team prepares your visa file to ensure it's complete and ready for submission.

Collect the necessary supporting documents based on your visa type. Common documents may include:

• Passport:  Original passport must be submitted and ensure it has at least 3 months of validity beyond your intended stay.
• BRP (Biometric Residence Permit): For those with a BRP, original BRP must be submitted and it should have at least 1 month of validity beyond your intended stay.
• Passport-sized photos: These should meet specific requirements. The photos should measure 35mm x 45mm, feature an 80% facial zoom, and clearly show your forehead, ears, and neck. They must be set against a white background and should be sharp and clear.
• Travel itinerary: This should include flight reservations and accommodation details (unless you are traveling with Star Tours).
• Employment reference letter: If you are employed, you will need a reference letter on your company's letterhead. It should include the company's name, address, and contact details. Your name in the letter should match your passport, and it should specify your position/designation and your employment start date. No less than one month old from date of appointment.
• University/School letter: For students, a letter from your university is necessary. This letter should be on the university's letterhead and include the university's name, address, and contact details. Your name in the letter should match your passport, and it should confirm your student status and term plan.No less than one month old from date of appointment.
• Bank statements: Provide your salary bank account statements for the last 3 months(For student Personal bank account statement). Ensure a minimum closing balance of £100 per day, so for a 3-day tour, you should have a closing balance of £300 per person.
• Pay slips: If you're a student, pay slips are not required. However, for employed individuals, provide the latest pay slips in GBP for the last 3 months.
• Travel insurance: Your travel insurance should cover your entire trip through Europe and should not exclude any European country. It should also include your travel dates. Ensure that your name matches your passport.
• Marriage certificate: If you are traveling with your dependent or spouse, you must submit the original marriage certificate.
• Birth certificate: If you are traveling with a child, you must also submit the original birth certificate.

Please note that this list serves as a general guide. The specific requirements may vary based on your visa type and individual circumstances.    

• Your documents will be required weeks prior to your appointment. We need sufficient time to prepare your documents for submission.
• We will require the following documents as originals: Passports, Photos, BRP Card, Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificates and Forms will need to be sent by courier to us. You can use Royal Mail Special Delivery and address to Visa Team, 312 Harrow Road, Wembley, HA9 6LL.
• A link will be sent to you by text message and by email. You will need to upload all your documents on the portal. You will need to upload your documents using our portal.
• Employment/University Reference Letters, Payslips, Bank Statements, Hotel bookings and Travel tickets (if not travelling with Star Tours) and Travel Insurance will need to be uploaded on the portal.
• We will contact you once an appointment becomes available and confirm the date and time after checking your availability.
• To ensure ample time for document preparation and appointment scheduling, we will need your passport and documents several weeks in advance. This preparation is vital to streamline the visa application process.
• On the day of Biometrics you will need to come with your confirmation appointment letter. 
• The visa processing time can vary depending on your nationality, visa type, and the time of year.
• After submitting your application, please be prepared to wait for a few weeks. Currently, as per the consulate's guidelines, it may take 15-20 working days for your passport to be returned from the embassy.
• Once your visa is approved, you will be notified to collect your passport with the visa sticker from the Visa Application Centre. If you have taken our end to end process we will collect your passport. 

Visa Prices

Visa prices will depend on your application and consulate fees.

For more accurate details please call us on 0208 900 2323

Document Requirements

• Validity for 3 months from your return date
• A passport has 2 or more blank pages
• Passport is not damaged i.e. rips or tears, must not have air bubbles, defects in lamination
• Not to be stapled to other passports
• Validity for 1 month after your return date

Employers Reference Letter

• No less than one month old from date of appointment.
• The name should be as per the passport
• Company address and contact details must be visible
• The document must be signed by a authorised person
• Do not write your travel dates
• The letter should be addressed to “Consulate”

Photographs x2

• Size: 35mm x 45mm
• 80% zoom on the face
• The forehead, ears and neck should be visible
• Clothing must be in dark colours
• White background
• No glasses and do not smile or show teeth - No other facail expression

Payslips & Allowance Slips

• The last recent 3 months' payslips in GBP

Bank Statements

• Most recent 3 months' bank statement (salary account)
• The minimum balance should be £100 per day, per person (i.e. for 3 day tour £300 per person)

Travel Insurance

• Name as per passport
• Must cover your travel dates
• The geographical area must clearly cover the entire of Europe and should not exclude any European countries
• Provide Medical cover of at least 30,000 Euros

Proof of Travel (not required is travelling with Star Tours)

• A copy of the hotel confirmation with the hotel address
• A Copy of flight confirmation showing onward/return travel
• The flight confirmation must not be cancelled or amended

Marriage Certificate

• Original and must be in English
• If names are not matching then an affidavit will be required

Birth Certificate

School Letter (for children over 5 years old)

• School address and contact details must be visible
• The document must be signed

Download Forms

When sending documents, please ensure personal details are provided such as booking reference number (if travelling with Star Tours), your contact telephone number and email address Please send documents via Royal Mail Special Delivery to: Star Tours (Visa Department), 312-314 Harrow Road, Wembley HA9 6LL

• A passport has 2 or more blank pages.
• Passport is not damaged i.e. rips or tears, air bubbles, or defects in lamination.

BRP Card  

• Validity for 1 months from your return date

University Reference Letter

• University address and contact details must be visible
• Course title
• The forehead, ears, and neck should be visible
• No glasses do not smile or show teeth
• Most recent 3 months' bank statement
• The minimum balance should be £100 per day per person. i.e. For 3 days tour £300 per person.
• The geographical area must clearly cover the entire Europe and should not exclude any European countries
• Provide cover of at least 30,000 Euros
• A copy of the hotel confirmation with the hotel address
• Copy of flight confirmation showing onward/return travel.
• Original and must be in English.
• If names are not matching then an affidavit will be required.

School Letter (for children over 5 years)

Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary,  Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

British and European passport holders do not require a visa. Indian, Pakistani, Sri-Lankan, Bangladeshi and Nepalese passport holders will require a visa.

Yes, a visa is required, please read this document to understand what documents are required.

You will need to apply based on where the majority of your stay is. For example a tour covering 2 days in The Netherlands and 3 days in France – you will need to apply at the French Embassy.

This is at the consulates discretion

As soon as possible.

As long as your Schengen visa is valid and have multiple entry visa.

No the fees are non-refundable

You can email the following documents :

Bank Statements, Payslips, Employers Reference Letter, University/College/School Reference Letter, Travel Insurance, Pension Letter and Proof of Travel (if not travelling with Star Tours). When emailing us, please quote your booking reference in the subject line.

The following must be sent by post or couriered:

Passports, BRP Photographs, Birth & Marriage Certificate

4-5 working days

Yes, but, the appointment will be booked only after receiving the pending documents.

Yes, you will receive a call, asking you to confirm the date is suitable.

15-20 working days

Things you might find useful

Why choose Star Tours?

What our customers say about us

FAQs about Tourist Schengen Visa

One of the most popular types of Schengen visas, the Tourist visa is available to eligible applicants looking to travel to the Schengen area for the purpose of sightseeing. Today’s blog will answer some of the most-commonly-asked questions about this popular visa category, including, “How long is a Schengen tourist visa valid for?” and, “Where should the Schengen visa be requested?” The answers to these questions, and many more, are found below. 

What kind of visa do I need to apply for?

• While the Schengen tourist visa is available to those looking to travel for touristic purposes, you may have already encountered a number of additional Schengen visa types, causing you to wonder, “What kind of visa do I need to apply for?”
• There are a number of different kinds or “types” of Schengen visas; Business, Medical, and Tourism are some of the most popular options for travelers. 
• For a full list of Schengen visa types, click here .

How long is a Schengen tourist visa valid for?

• One of the first questions you likely have about the Tourist Schengen is “how long is the visa valid for?” The Schengen visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180 day period. 
• This means that, if you obtain a Schengen visa, you will be able to spend a total of 90 days in the zone before you have to exit. 
• How long is the visa valid for when it comes to other types of Schengen visa categories? The answer for all Schengen visa types—including tourism—is 90 days. 

What are the rules for a Schengen visa?

• Perhaps the most important question for those looking to travel to the Schengen area is “What are the rules for the Schengen visa?”
• Prior to applying for a Schengen visa, you should make sure that you understand its specific terms and conditions, so that you do not accidentally violate them and jeopardize your present or future stay in the zone. 
• The main rule for the Schengen visa is that you do not overstay it—i.e. you do not spend more time in the Schengen area than you are allowed to via the visa’s terms. 
• Schengen visas are valid for up to 90 days in the Schengen area—the main rule, therefore, is that you do not exceed 90 days in the zone, and that you leave well before your visa is set to expire. 
• Another essential Schengen visa rule is that you do not commit any crimes while you are in the zone, or do anything that would be considered a threat to the general security of the Schengen area. Criminality is grounds for expulsion from the zone, where threats to general Schengen security are taken incredibly seriously. If you are found to have committed a security offense against the Schengen area while you are there on a Schengen visa, you will almost certainly be deported from the zone, and ultimately be barred from applying for another Schengen visa. 

Who needs a Tourist Schengen Visa?

• Wondering who needs a Tourist Schengen Visa? You will likely need one if you intend to visit the Schengen area for the purpose of tourism, and you are not from a country that currently enjoys visa-free access to the Schengen area. 

Where should the Schengen visa be requested?

• You probably know already that Schengen visa applications are submitted via the Member State of the Schengen country you intend to visit in the zone. 
• However, even if you are aware of this general fact, you may still be confused as to where to submit the Tourist Schengen visa application.
• Specifically, you should request your Schengen visa from the embassy, consulate, or visa application center affiliated with the Schengen state you are applying to (located nearest to you). 
• For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa to France, you will likely apply via the French Consulate or Embassy in the capital city of your country of residence. 
• Confused about where to apply? Contact us here . 

How to apply for Schengen tourist visa?

Wondering how to apply for Schengen tourist visa? Follow these general steps below: 

• Make sure you apply well in advance of your trip—gathering your documents and fulfilling the Schengen visa requirements can take time, and the decision process itself can take up to three weeks. Therefore, if you are applying for a Schengen tourist visa, make sure that you submit your application a minimum of three weeks prior to traveling to the zone. 
• The country in the Schengen area where you will be spending the most time on your trip is the country through which you will apply for your Schengen visa. 
• For example, if you intend to travel to both France and Spain for touristic purposes, but you think you will spend the majority of your trip in Madrid, then you should apply for a Spanish Schengen visa. 
• As a tourist to the Schengen area, you will need to determine whether (or how many times) you intend to exit the zone after entering it. This will determine the entry category of the Schengen visa you need: single, double, or multiple. 
• If you plan on entering the Schengen area and staying there until you are done traveling, then you should apply for a single-entry Schengen visa.
• If you plan on touring around the Schengen area but then ultimately exiting the zone (for example, to go back to your home country), before trying to re-enter the bloc, then you should apply for, at minimum, a double entry Schengen visa. 
• Please note that only the multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you an unlimited number of entries, exits, and re-entries to the Schengen area throughout your visa validity period. If you attempt to re-enter the zone after exiting it on a single entry Tourist visa (or after having exited it twice on a double-entry visa, then you will not be allowed back into the zone). 
• While you will apply for your Schengen visa via the Schengen country you will be spending the most time in on your trip, you will apply directly through the embassy, consulate, or visa application center affiliated with that country. Therefore, a key component of your application is to find out the specific entity from which you should apply for your Schengen visa.  
• If you are having trouble figuring out where to apply for your tourist visa, contact us here .
• Basic required documents include passports, photos, proof of accommodation, and other documents (for a full list, click here: 
• In addition to the basic required documents, you will be asked to submit additional documents relating to the nature of your trip (tourism). 
• For a complete list of required documents for the tourist visa, click here .
• Click here to access the generic Schengen visa form.
• While most Schengen countries will accept the above form, some will prefer that you apply through a country-specific visa application portal. Check with your application destination to see which method they prefer. 
• Whichever form you use, you will indicate “tourism” as your reason for traveling. 
• You will almost certainly have to schedule an appointment in order to submit your tourist visa application; in addition, you will likely have to schedule that appointment in advance (as opposed to simply showing up at the embassy/consulate/center to submit your application. 
• This is where you will submit your application, pay your visa fee, have your fingerprints and photos (biometrics) collected, and attend a visa interview. 
• Most applicants receive a decision on their visa 15 days after applying (or earlier). 
• Depending on the nature of your application, you may not receive a response until 30 days have passed (or 60, in extreme cases). 
• If you receive your Tourist visa, congratulations; you may proceed with your trip. If you are rejected for a Schengen visa click here to appeal. 

Is there an interview for the Schengen tourist visa?

• If you have read through all of the requirements for the Schengen visa, you may still be wondering, “Is there an interview for Schengen tourist visa?”
• The answer to this questions is: yes—usually. While interviewing is not a mandatory component of the Schengen visa application, the vast majority of applicants are asked to attend an interview. If you receive a request to attend a Schengen visa interview, you will be required to attend. 
• If you travel frequently on a Schengen visa and have a history of applying for a visa to the zone from the same country consulate, you may be exempt from the in-person interview requirement.
• First time Schengen visa applicants, however, are almost always asked to attend an interview.
• Ultimately, even those who travel frequently to the Schengen area can be asked to interview, so don’t be surprised if you are contacted to do so—even if this is not your first time traveling to the zone.  

Where to submit the Tourist Schengen visa application?

• You will submit your Tourist Schengen visa application in-person at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center affiliated with the Schengen country that you are applying through. 
• Depending on how you are applying, you may be able to submit your application online, through a Schengen visa portal. However, even if you are able to apply online, you will still likely have to submit a paper copy of your application in-person, at your Schengen visa appointment.  

How long does it take to receive the visa?

• If you are considering applying for the Schengen visa, you are likely wondering, “How long does it take to receive the visa?”
• The majority of Schengen visa applicants receive their visa (or not) within three weeks. However, some applicants (typically those who submit incomplete applications or who encounter problems with their background check) can take from 30-60 days to receive their visa (or rejection). 

How to extend a Tourist Schengen visa?

• Wondering how to extend a Tourist Schengen Visa? The short answer is: you cant. 
• Unlike other visas, Schengen visas cannot typically be extended in any cases whatsoever. This means that, if you end up in the Schengen area on a Schengen visa, and you need to stay longer in the zone, you will not be able to stay longer by extending your Schengen visa. 
• Because Schengen visas cannot generally be extended, applicants who need more time in the zone will generally need to exit it and re-apply for another type of visa (such as a national visa-D, in order to stay longer in Europe). 

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA & Other Frequently Asked Questions

We have made four European tours so far, two of them lasted 2 months. Hence, we receive tons of questions about getting a Schengen Visa. It’s quite expected. Europe is a dream destination for many, and the Schengen Visa is probably the most complicated visa there is. In this article, we’ll try to answer the questions we have been asked the most as adequately as we can.

However, bear in mind that we are writing based only on our own experiences and some contributions from our readers. The goal is to help other applicants have a better picture of the process. But we strongly encourage you to still contact the embassies for more updated info.

Anyway, it’s gonna be a lengthy post, so let’s begin.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

What is a Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Visa is a travel document that allows the holder to enter any of the 26 states that are part of the Schengen agreement. Think of it as an almost all-access pass to many countries in Europe, eliminating the immigration borders within the Schengen zone and the hassle of having to apply for a visa for each individual country.

What are the Schengen countries?

Here they are, all 26 of ’em.

Which embassy should I lodge my visa application?

It will depend on the purpose of your trip or your overall European itinerary. The rule is:

• If you’re visiting just ONE country, apply at the embassy of that country.
• If you’re visiting multiple countries, apply at the embassy where you will be staying the longest. For example, if you plan to spend 3 days in the Netherlands, 3 days in Italy, and 5 days in France, apply at the French Embassy.

However, some countries have additional rules. It is best to double check with the Embassy to be absolutely sure.

What if I’m spending equal number of days in different countries?

I’ll just copy-paste what the Dutch Embassy has to say about this:

“If you will be staying an equal length of time in more than one Schengen country and cannot designate one of these countries as the country of your main destination, you must apply for your visa at the mission of the first Schengen country you intend to enter .”

This means if you’re spending 3 days in Germany first, then 3 days in Italy and 3 days in France, you should apply at the German Embassy.

What are the requirements?

Schengen embassies usually ask for almost the same requirements. But there are some variations.

Here are the documents that are in common to all of them:

• Valid Passport
• Accomplished Application Form
• Recent Photo
• Proof of Available Accommodations (Hotel booking if no inviter, or invitation letter + citizenship/residency documents of contact abroad if invited)
• Photocopy of Passport stamps and visas
• Proof of Employment (ITR, Certificate of Employment for employees, and business registration documents and permits for self-employed)
• Proof of Financial Means (bank statements, bank certificates, land titles, etc.) Travel insurance covering the entire stay. Some require coverage for additional days.
• Identity Documents
• Complete Itinerary
• Flight Reservations

Some embassies add more to the list above, so make sure you check with the embassy that will process your application

For more details, here are the embassies that we have personally tried lodging our applications at.

• German Embassy
• Greek Embassy
• French Embassy
• Italian Embassy

What is the application process? What are the steps?

It varies from mission to mission. Some embassies, like the French and the Italian, employ a third party unit to handle most visa applications (VFS Global or VIA). Others take care of ’em in-house.

Here are the embassies I have personally tried:

I’ll be updating this part of the post to include a link to the processes per country. (Please check back later.)

Do we need to book flights before applying for a visa?

NO. Don’t book your flights yet. They only require flight reservations, not flight booking. Don’t pay for your flights yet. (Unless you grabbed promo fares at a seat sale.) Some travel agencies can reserve flights (often for a fee).

We recommend Gazelle Travel and Tours , a DTI-registered DOT-accredited travel agency. You can get flight reservations, hotel reservations, and travel insurance from them online!

For the rates and more info, read: ✅ FLIGHT RESERVATIONS FOR VISA

Is travel insurance really necessary?

The short answer is YES.

The long answer is still YEEEEEEESSSSS.

Some embassies, like the Italian Embassy, requires an additional 15-day coverage on top of the travel period. Make sure you know these little rules when purchasing travel insurance.

Where to get travel insurance?

You can simply purchase travel insurance online. I have tried Pacific Cross and Standard Insurance , and had no problems.

You can book Standard Insurance with Gazelle Travel and Tours too! You can use the same form we made for Flight Reservations. Just tick TRAVEL INSURANCE in the checklist on the form.

✅ MORE INFO HERE: TRAVEL INSURANCE

Can I book hotels on my own?

Yep. You can book via third-party websites, but book hotels with FREE Cancellation policy so you won’t be wasting money in case your visa gets denied.

What does a detailed itinerary look like?

Can i visit countries that are not in the itinerary i submitted.

Yes, you can, as long as it is within the Schengen Zone.

However, we encourage you to at least visit the country that granted you the visa.

Can I visit the UK using a Schengen Visa?

NO. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen Zone and does not honor the Schengen visa. They have their own visa policy.

If you want to visit the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other British territories), you will need to secure a UK visa. You can find more info here: UK Visa .

Can I visit other countries in Europe that are outside the Schengen Zone using the Schengen visa?

Yes, there are some non-Schengen countries in Europe that accept a DOUBLE or MULTIPLE ENTRY Schengen visa. Not all countries, but some.

Countries like Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo allow entry to holders of a valid passport with a valid MULTIPLE ENTRY Schengen visa (provided that the visa has been used to enter a Schengen country before).

Note that each country has certain conditions including the length of stay.

What non-Schengen countries can I visit in Europe with a DOUBLE ENTRY Schengen visa?

A DOUBLE ENTRY Schengen Visa (two-entry) is also accepted by Croatia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus provided that the visa is valid and that it has been used once.

I have tried entering Croatia and Montenegro with a two-entry Schengen visa. Double entry is also specifically mentioned on their official websites.

The Foreign Affairs website of Serbia does not specifically mention DOUBLE ENTRY but I emailed them and they confirmed that Serbia allows double-entry Schengen visa.

Again, note that each country has certain conditions including the length of stay.

If my application is approved, do I have to stick to the itinerary I submitted?

Ideally, yes, but not really.

There are no checkpoints between countries within the Schengen Zone, there’s no way for them to check. You can deviate from your original itinerary if you want. We made a number of changes to our itineraries on the two occasions we visited Europe.

But my only guidance is this: At your point of entry, know that you might be asked questions about your itinerary. At the very least, stay the longest in the country where you got your visa so you won’t run into trouble. They have the right to refuse entry even if you already have a visa.

Is a cover letter required?

No. But I highly encourage you to provide one especially if there will be no interview. You can explain the purpose of your trip further. Here’s a sample .

Are embassies really strict?

Yes, but some are more strict than others.

For example, in my travel circles, the Italian and Spanish Embassies are notorious for being extremely meticulous, while the Dutch and Austrian Embassies are known for being more forgiving and considerate.

Is there an interview?

Some embassies conduct a short interview, some don’t. Usually, when a third party company (like VFS or VIA) is involved, there will no longer be an interview.

Here’s what I know so far: Do the following embassies usually conduct an interview?

• Austrian Embassy – NO
• Czech Embassy – LIKELY
• Danish Embassy – NO
• French Embassy – NO
• German Embassy – NOT ANYMORE
• Greek Embassy (for Greece and Portugal) – LIKELY
• Italian Embassy – NO
• Norwegian Embassy – NO
• Spanish Embassy – LIKELY

Again, that’s usually . Some applicants will be called for an interview at the embassy when they need further clarifications. It really depends on many factors but mostly how strong your case is.

In many cases, even when there is no interview involved, personal appearance is sometimes required. It’s best to check with the embassy to be sure.

If your embassy requires an interview or you are called for one, just answer their questions truthfully and confidently . Don’t lie. Most of the time, they will know.

What are the usual questions they ask at the interview?

I asked my friends what were the questions thrown at them during the interview and here are the most common. True enough, when I applied for a Schengen Visa on two separate occasions, these were asked too.

• What is the purpose of your trip?
• How long is your trip?
• How long will you stay in (country)?
• What is your first stop?
• What countries are you going to visit?
• When will you leave?
• When will you be back?
• Will this be your first time in Europe?
• What countries did you visit on your first trip to Europe and for what purpose?
• Do you know anyone in (country)?
• Do you know anyone in any other Schengen country?
• Do you know anyone in the UK (United Kingdom)?
• How are you related to them?
• How did you meet?
• With whom are you traveling?
• How are you related to your companion?
• What do you do for a living? (Expect a lot of follow up questions about your job.)
• How long have you been with your company?
• Does your company know you’re taking this trip?
• Do you own properties in the Philippines (home country)?

Based on experience, most of the questions were about three things:

• the details of the trip , which means you must know your itinerary by heart
• my connections to anyone in Europe . In my case, I had none. I have no relatives or close friends there.
• my job and my rootedness in my home country . In both cases, they gravitated towards finding reasons for me to return to the Philippines.

Again, answer truthfully and confidently.

Note that these are just the common questions. They might still ask a lot of other questions relevant to your background and application.

How early should I apply for a Schengen visa?

You can apply up to 90 days (3 months) in advance. While most embassies process applications relatively fast, it is wise to give some time allowance just in case something doesn’t go as planned (e.g. they ask for additional documents). I consider “a month before” too tight. Two months should give you enough time to secure a copy of all required documents and fix a problem should it arise.

How soon do they release the visa after receiving my application?

Depends on the embassy. If things go smoothly, the French Embassy releases visas after 5-7 days, the Greek Embassy 14 days. Most of the time, the wait is shorter. Sometimes, when they have doubts, it can take much longer.

For example, when I applied for a visa for my second Euro trip, the German Embassy took only 6 days. My partner Vins, who was applying for the first time and didn’t submit an ITR, was asked to send more documents to prove his rootedness in the Philippines. He did submit the requested additional papers and finally got his visa after 3 weeks.

I have friends who waited for over A MONTH!

On the other hand, I have a friend who applied via the Austrian Embassy and got her visa after only 3 days.

So it really depends on the embassy AND your case.

How much money should I have in the bank to be approved?

No one really knows for sure what the minimum amount is. But remember this: You will be asked to submit flight and hotel reservations and a detailed day-to-day itinerary. So here’s the rule of thumb. Add the cost of the flights you reserved and the cost of the accommodations and EUR 60 per day of your stay.

What’s the EUR 60 per stay? Think of it as your pocket money. Embassies need to be assured that you can afford the trip. The French Embassy requires at least EUR120 per day if accommodations are not yet settled. But if accommodations are booked, some embassies require EUR 45 per day, some EUR50, some E55. To be on the safe side, use EUR60 per day.

Let’s use this as example. Let’s assume that your roundtrip flight costs EUR1000 and your total hotel stay costs EUR1200 and you’re staying in Europe for 10 days. That’s EUR60 X 10 days = EUR 600.

1000 (flights) 1200 (hotel) 600 (allowance) EUR 2800 – TOTAL

Of course, that can’t be the only amount in your account. You should have WAY MORE than that. You have to convince the embassy that you will still have a comfortable life to return to in the Philippines after the trip.

But my point is, don’t apply for a 10-day visit with only EUR 1000 in your bank account.

My personal policy is P10,000 per day + cost of flights & accommodations.

How long is the validity of the visa?

Depends on the itinerary you will submit and the embassy.

When I applied at and submitted a 5-day itinerary to the French Embassy, I was issued a visa that was valid for 15 days.

When I applied the second time and submitted a 53-day itinerary to the German Embassy, I was given a visa valid for 60 days.

When I applied at the Greek Embassy with an 11-day itinerary, I was given exactly that, 11 days.

When I applied at the Italian Embassy with a 46-day itinerary, I was given 90 days.

It’s pretty hard to tell, so make sure you take your itinerary seriously because you’ll never know how long you’re gonna get.

What are the usual reasons why applicants are denied a Schengen visa?

We created a video about that here:

I’m traveling to multiple cities. Do I need to submit train transfer and flight reservation within the Schengen area?

Some embassies require those, some don’t. You’ll know when you read their checklist.

In my experience, however, I have never submitted proof of train or bus booking. But I always submit flight reservations even for those journeys within the Schengen zone.

I’m traveling to multiple cities. Do I need to provide hotel reservation for all the countries I’m visiting or for the embassy’s country only?

If you’re staying at hotels, you must provide hotel reservation covering the entire duration of your stay within the zone.

If you’re staying in multiple countries, you must submit hotel reservation for all the countries where you will be staying, not just that one country.

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[…] NOTE: If you’re planning to visit multiple Schengen countries, I suggest that you visit The Poor Traveler’s Schengen visa application FAQ page! […]

Very useful post Yoshke! So glad to know that there are no interviews for Norwegian Embassy :) Hopefully, I get to travel to Norway and Iceland early next year!

Have you heard of anyone being asked to report to the French embassy after the trip?

Hi Joeybelles, yep. Me. Hahaha.

Me too haha but it was at the Italian embassy

Hi, I am supposed to go to France with my family (husband and daughter) on the 1st of December for a 10-day tour. When is the best time to set an appointment for visa application?

Hello good day could I ask if once they have finished processing my visa application for France and my sponsor is my boyfriend is it possible that they will approved my visa ? My reason to come back in the Philippines is I will start my studies this January and also my sick mom. Thank you!

The Italian Embassy requires a travel insurance coverage of 15 additional days over and above your desired length of stay. FYI.

Thanks, Mae! We’ll add this to the post. :)

What are the different documents your partner submitted in lieu of his ITR? Thanks for your reply in advance.

Hi Maverick! He submitted invoices and certification from his clients. :)

I’m sorry. I’m clogging up this thread. Does he work online? If so, is it okay to declare that I am working virtually from home with paying taxes? :)

Yes to both questions. But don’t mention the online bit unless you’re asked about it. What do you do exactly? If you’re an online writer, just say writer. If you’re a digital marketing manager, just say marketing manager, so as not to invite more questions. :)

Thank you, Yoshke. I’m a Marketing Manager. By the way, is it easier to get a visa if you have a proof of accommodation from a citizen? This is greatly appreciated.

Saang embassy ka mag-aapply? Anong country?

If you’re declaring you’re going to Europe to visit a friend, yes, it will help. If you’re going there as a tourist, I recommend that you just reserve a hotel.

Embassies are often stricter sa applicants who have connections or kakilala in Europe than those na walang kakilala.

If this is not too much to ask. May I ask for the template of the certificate and invoice from his clients? :)

Thank you so much for your help. It’s really my first time and I can’t help but be nervous.

By the way, I am a student so I just get a certification from my school regarding my status.

Thank you so much. Sa French Embassy, Yoshke. They have declared full accommodation.

Regarding the visa validity in this post, will you know immediately upon visa approval how long you are allowed to stay in the schengen territories?

What if upon application i submitted a 10days itinerary, if ever approved, will they indicate there in my visa or passport- just 10days or a bit more days only? There will be no way for me to change it to 30days anymore if ever there will be changes in my trip?

Yes, the number of days will be indicated in the visa. :)

Not sure if it’s possible to extend or the process required for it.

I checked the link in step number 1 to fill out the application form and I believe we need to check the link because the link to the website is no longer there. Thanks. :)

Hi Maverick. The French Embassy implemented a new visa application process last month. We have yet to try the new process, but the new website is: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/

Hi guys! Im applying for a Schengen Visa over at the French Embassy. Is Agoda’s free cancellation policy really FREE (provided that I cancel on their specified “cancel for free before ____”)? Or would there be a surprise cancellation fee or other unprecedented fees? Dont know who better else to ask but you two. Thanks!!

They required me to go back to their embassy in 2001 after I returned from my tour of France. When I got to their office, they got my passport, took it to their back office, then handed it back to me after stamping ‘Expired Visa’ on my visa.

Me too. 2014 naman ako.

Hi! I am an OFW. my concern is about the ITR. I don’t have one. What should I do? But I had a TIN when I was still working in the Philippines.

Thank you for your blog. I read all of it including the comments. I was planning to apply for a Spain visa together with my mom and encountered this “Shengen visa”. But after reading this blog, I realized that I don’t need to apply Schengen (maybe someday). I got relevant information I need. Your blog really helps (thou different destinations to take). I just worry that that my mom is a senior citizen and she do not have proof of ITR or COE.Please give good advice on what relevant documents should I present in support for her application. Hoping for your advice. Thank you!

Hi Wilma, if you’re going to Spain, you will still need a Schengen Visa.

As for the reqs for senior citizens, I really have no idea. :( But I’m guessing you can submit a copy of Senior ID and bank accounts. Perhaps the COE/ITR may no longer be required for seniors. Again, these are all a hunch. Best to coordinate directly with the embassy.

Hi! I’m planning to visit my boyfriend in Belgium this year, may I ask if do I need to make my itinerary trip there for my visa application? Since I don’t have any plans once I get there. Also I will stay at his house so no need for hotel bookings. I just wanted to know thanks.

What if we are four person is the interview for schengen visa is individually or a group? We are applying to go in Switzerland

Hi Iza, we have no personal experience applying via Swiss embassy/consulate, so we don’t know. :(

We are from Philippines

Hi. If you’re traveling alone, will it be stricter? Considering I have all the requirements, which part should I be careful at? Is it better if I will be sponsored by someone from the country I will be visiting or just don’t mention anything at all? Thank you in advance.

Based on experiences of friends and our readers, they are stricter if you know someone in Europe. Traveling alone isn’t an issue for as long as you meet all the requirements satisfactorily.

Hi. Thank you for responding to my queries. Is it better if I join a certain tour package or I can do my DIY itinerary? Thanks again in advance.

DIY is fine. What we usually recommend is booking the flights and hotels on your own and then join group tours when you’re there.

But I think booking a tour package will give you better chances of approval sa visa.

Hi yoshke. Plan ko magapply ng visa next year since my mom wants to go to Turkey, baka magGreece and France na rin kami. Diba sa pagkuha ng visa may means of subsistence per Schengen country? Sa Greece nasa 60 euros and then sa France is 130 euros. Okay lang ba na pag kukuha ng visa ang sundin namin is yung sa Greece na 60 euros? Since dun din naman yung first point of entry namin and mas magstay longer. Or pag nilagay namin sa itinerary na pupunta kami France, kelangan din namin ipakita sa bank statement na may 130 euros per day kami for France? Thanks!

Hi Jane. Were you able to email the Greek Embassy for interview? My email is not getting through. I wonder kung may ganoong experience din and iba.

Yung rule ng embassy kung saan ka mag-aapply yung masusunod. So rule ng Greece if sa Greek Embassy ka mag-apply.

Hi! i just want to ask, we’ll be going to Paris (4days)-Rome (3Days) – BArcelona (3 Days). we’ll be coming from london then going to Paris. Our flight is Manila-London-Manila. Do I have to submit the flight details (London to Paris), (Paris to Rome) (Rome to Spain) and (Spain to London)? I’m hesistant pa kasi to buy the tickets. maybe flight reservations muna for europe?

Hi Donna, flight reservations lang muna. Aside from Manila-London tickets mo, pinaka-important yung Schengen entry and exit flights (London-Paris, Spain-London) kasi they need to see how you’re going to enter and leave the Schengen area.

But yep, wag ka muna bili tickets. Flight reservation muna.

Hello Yoshke – Sana matulungan mo ako. I can’t decide if I’ll stick to my plan A or plan B. Ganito kasi iyong Mom ko ay nakapasa na ng visa for Schengen. Aside from naipresent niya lahat, ininvite din siya ng Tita ko. Ngayon, my father wants me to join her as this will be her first time leaving the country alone. Nag-ayos na ako ng requirements kaso nahihirapan ako pagdating sa itinerary. My Plan A is – Sundin iyong itinerary na napresent mo sa taas w/o mentioning na I applied because of my Mom. Itinerary will be Belgium-Amsterdam-Paris-Belgium. My plan B is – I’ll mention that I’m applying to accompany my Mom. My itinerary will be a month in Belgium (which might sound crazy?)

Ano sa tingin mo mas okay?

Hi Hill. It depends on a lot of factors. What’s your current employment and personal financial status? If you don’t declare that bit about your mom, will you be applying as a tourist or as someone still invited by your tita? If you apply as a tourist, can your docs prove you can support a trip that long?

My top-of-mind advice is to just be honest and transparent. Just say you’re accompanying your mom. It sounds like a valid reason, to begin with.

Hi! Regarding “details of the trip” did the embassy asked you where exactly are you going in each country and when? did they asked you randomly or in order?

Sa German Embassy, yep, they asked about specific activities pero hindi sa lahat ng countries, konti lang. And yep, randomly.

Sa Greek Embassy, they asked about each activity in the itinerary, per day, in order.

When I tried to bring my Filipina girlfriend to Greece, back in 2011 I think, I asked the Greek embassy about the requirements for the visa. They were vague, not specific, they just said that the girl needs to have a high-salary stable job like a doctor or lawyer, and much money in bank, and a credit card, etc,,, even if I officially invite her and host her and pay her food etc. I guess that the embassy is afraid of illegal immigration and makes the visa impossible for most Filipinos. Eventually, I married the girl, and then she applied for spouse visa and now we live happily in Greece.

Hi Vassili,

Happy to hear about your happy marriage with your Filipina wife. I myself will be married to a Portuguese in May and eventually we plan to get a spouse visa for me to live together in Portugal. I would like to ask if your Filipina wife, when she applied for spouse visa was it much easier and what were the requirements? Thank you & God bless!

Hello! Thanks for posting these very useful and detailed info. May I ask what if we are booked via Airbnb? Do we declare it sa itinerary? I saw in the checklist there’s an attestation or something needed pa? Thanks in advance!

Yep, you can declare AirBnB. We did before, wala naman naging problem. Just submit the reservation confirmation.

Saang embassy ka nag-aapply pala?

Hi, Yoshke! Just a question. For the bank statement, diba its 60 Euros per day + budget for flight + budget for accommodation. Yung sa accommodation ba, is it ok if yung budget is half na of the total expenses for the accommodation given that hati kami ng partner ko with the accommodation expenses? :)

Hi Gelo, I’m afraid they don’t see it that way especially if hindi family member kasi applications are often assessed individually.

Also, yung 60 euro per day, that’s the minimum but having that doesn’t guarantee anything. I’m pretty sure they’re looking for much more than that (kasi hindi believable or ideal for them if yun lang ang fund ng account). If French Embassy ka pala apply, their standard now is 120 euro per day.

Hello, everyone! I just want to ask if there will be an issue if I didn’t fly to Schengen country; though, I got my Schengen visa? Then, I want to re-apply new visa and fly this time? Please, any advice. Thank you.

Hi Ayesha, I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m publishing your comment pa rin just in case other readers have an idea. :)

Hi good evening.. i find this very useful. And please Allow me to ask if i need an ITR since my visit is funded by my friend? Shall i need this for proof of rootedness here in Philippines? Thanks

Yes and yes. Even if your trip is sponsored by someone else, you will need to prove rootedness.

hi, im travelling to Mexico and may lay over sya sa Paris. didnt know na need ko ng Transit Visa and in 5days aalis na ako. i scheduled an appointment sa French embassy on bukas for that. Madali lang ba marelease ang transit visa and hindi sila strict?, huhuhu pls advise

Hi Chinitakee, naku, I have no idea kapag transit visa.

hello, do you have any idea if what to do or what does it mean kung over 15days na yong processing? i mean i applied last month June 11 (considered holiday nung June 12 and June 15) they said it will start ng June 13 na counted as 1st day. i don’t think kulang mga docs ko since we checked it sa Via.ph na completed naman. im worried kasi my flight is on July 16:-/ 1 almost a month na processing grabe. thank you so much.

Saang embassy ka nag-apply?

hi i just got my Visa today and this is what they said,

1)The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and the conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.

2)your intention to leave the territory of the Member Stated before the expiry of the visa could not be ascertained

what is this means? im thinking sa french embassy nlng magapply, :(

Saang embassy ka nag-apply? Italian? The Italian Embassy is known for being super strict.

I think medyo clear naman yung reasons na sinabi nila sa pag-deny. Hindi nila sure if babalik ka ng Pilipinas before mag-expire ang visa. Usually, kapag ganyan, it’s a matter of proving rootedness (stable employment, properties in PH, etc). Madalas din na denied kapag may kakilala ka dun sa Europe tapos hindi clear ung connection mo sa kanya, hindi clear ang purpose ng trip, and hindi strong yung ties sa PH.

Hindi enough na complete yung docs. They have to find it satisfactory.

Good Evening! Tanong ko lang kung family ba mag apply ng schengen visa (italian embassy) d pa rin guarantee na ma approve? Family kc sabay na aalis ksama fiancee ko at fiancee ng kapatid ko. They can present ITR, bank statements, coe, etc. Pero problem ko lang sa parents ko kc senior citizen na cla, at wala sila itr or coe. Ako nalang nag sponsor sa kanila kase OFW ako. May 100k naman sa bank accounts nila para ma present namin sa embassy. May alam ka na ba ngayon kung ano pa kelangan documents na i.submit ng mga senior citizens? Gagawa pa kasi ako ng letter of support, lagay ko don na ako ang nagbayad ng lahat ng tickets namin at ako magbabayad ng hotel accommodations namin. Lahat kami may experience na travelling around asia. ako at mama ko may experience na din sa europe. Sa italian embassy kami mag apply kc don ung entry namin, at sa itinerary namin for 15 days nasa loob lang kami ng italy at lilibutin namin lahat ng tourist spot cities. Pero baka d namin i.follow ung itinerary.

Hi Poy, an affidavit of support would be great. Submit also a copy of their senior ID.

I haven’t tried applying via Italian embassy so there’s not much advice I can give. All I know is, based on experiences of my friends, they’re very thorough and strict.

hello po sau…ako po ay ofw sa hk..i met a guy from ..he ask me to visit him…sb nya he will sponsor me…10 days tour….hanapan papo kaya ako ng bank statement..

Great infos. :) By the way I have a question, I have a stable job naman here in Ph. And I have visited 10 countries already mostly Asia and I still have a valid visa sa Australia. My recent trip was Japan. I am planning to apply Schengen Visa Pero this time medyo “urgent” kasi. Now my problem is in my bank nasagad yung amount meaning around 10k nalang ang natitira. Pero May makukuha akong enough money para sa mga pautang ko na Pwede ko na magamit for my Europe trip. Pwede kayang bank certificate nalang ang I present instead of bank statement? Baka kasi magdoubt yung embassy if May biglaang malaking amount na idedeposit.

Hi Jen, usually ni-rerequire nila both. Sa French, German, and Greek embassies, kelangan talaga. Di ko lang alam sa ibang embassies. :(

Hi, Yoshke!

I’m planning a trip to Portugal in January 2019. If possible na mas maaga ko makuha yung visa ko if nag-start ako mag-apply by October (since hinihintay ko pa yung release ng passport ko). Possible kayang pwede kong mas agahan ang alis ko? Thank you! :)

Hi Mhai. Visa for Portugal visit is processed by the Greek Embassy and they’ve been pretty swamped lately. Try to email them first and check for their earliest available appointment.

Hi Yoshke! Im planning to appy for a schengen visa via french embassy, but will travel to multiple cities, ask ko lng re: don sa “number of days of travel”, kailangan ba yong buong travel sa Europe ang ilalagay don or ung no. of days lang namin sa France? we’ll be staying for a total number of 21 days (multiple cities) pero we’ll be staying for 4 days lang sa France.. Thank you for your answer. Your blog really helps me a lot.

Hi Mhay, ang alam ko, yung buong stay mo sa Europe (within the Schengen zone).

Hi Yoshke, My boyfriend invited me for a vacation in his place. NORWAY. So we are planning to process the application for visa. He will shouldered all my expenses for that vacation thus will send invitation, sponsorship and guarantee letter. My question is do i need to submit any proof of my financial status. Coz at present im unemployed, no bank cert or record and No credit card. Your reply would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi Elie. Yes, you will still need to submit proof of your own financial status kahit na sponsored yung trip.

Hello Yoshke,

I just want to reply on this nessage cause I just went through the same thing recently. My Norwegian boyfriend will sponsor my trip to Norway and he sent the invitation letter, Guarantee form and other needed documents. We just followed all the instructions and documents na need isubmit sa checklist. Since sponsored nya no need na for me to submit bank statements or proof of financial status (basta ma meet ng mag sponsor sayo yung minimum income pre tax per year) and when I submitted our application after 2 days I was granted a tourist visa for 3 months. Ang nakikita ko importante is nag meet na kayo before in person (they want to see na totoo yung relationship nyo) and n ma meet ng sponsor yung min. income pre tax to prove na kaya ka niya isponsor and ma prove mo na babalik ka sa Pinas yung rootedness malamang ma aapprove ka. Hope this helps

Thanks for sharing, Zee!

My name is Fatima. I just want to ask a few questions to clarify.

I am very eager in applying for Schengen Visa via Germany Embassy. I applied earlier this year, unfortunately, I got denied Now, I wanted to reapply and make sure that I provide the details in the most proper way. However, I heard some dark rumors about it. T_T I wanted to clarify if this is truth or not.

My German boyfriend is the one sponsoring this travel. We’ve planned this travel for quite a long time already. However, we were advised by friends that we should not say that our relationship is a “boyfriend-girlfriend” one since it will automatically makes the embassy refuse my application. This makes me very confused since I already submitted files before stating that he is my boyfriend. Would it be easier if I say this time that he is my friend? Does it make a change or should I stick to the truth that he is my boyfriend?

I understand that this is beyond your control but I would be very happy to hear an opinion from you. Thank you very much in advance.

Best Regards,

Hi Fatima, yes, I believe they’re much, much stricter if you’re invited by someone especially if boyfriend-girlfriend. When they denied your application, did they tell you the reason?

I’m asking because I don’t think changing it to “friend” will make that much of a difference. It’s risky too because you already said he’s your bf before. When you declare that you know someone in Europe, they’re going to take a closer, stricter look at your “rootedness” — that’s your ties to PH, employment, properties in your name. If wala ring nag-change sa rootedness mo — meaning, you’ll still be submitting the same docs — I don’t think maaapprove yung application this time around.

But again, that’s just my hunch. Some people na na-deny, what they do is they apply sa ibang embassy na lang as a tourist, not a visitor. Not that I recommend it because it’s also a risk and it only works if okay yung rootedness and finances mo.

I find your blog helpful, thank you! I will be applying a Schengen Visa at Italian Embassy this month and I stumbled about Flight Reservations. Does Gazelle Tours offer 2 week reservation of flight because apparently, Italian visa has approximately 2 weeks processing time. What happens if the flight reservation expires while the application is being reviewed? My another concern is that I will be spending Christmas and New Year with my Mother and brother ( they are legal residents there ) but I am thinking it will be a more complicated process ( since Italian Embassy has thorough and strict process as you have mentioned ) that’s why I will be applying as a tourist instead. I had used schengen visa issued by Singapore last 2016 (back when I was an OFW ) so this is the first time I am applying in the Phils. What’s your take on this? As you have applied with several embassies, I would appreciate your opinion on this ;)

Thank you Yoshke, it means a lot! Btw, I am following you on IG and your travel adventures are really great! :)

Hi Moshi! Thanks for your comment. Here are my answers:

What happens if the flight reservation expires while the application is being reviewed? —- How long the airline can hold the reservation depends on the airline and class. Iba-iba kasi ng policy ang bawat airline. The thing is, most airlines now can hold reservations for only 24-48 hours. And I think the embassies know that. We’ve had flight reservations na nag-expire while being processed but hindi naman nagka-problem. Pero French, Greek, and German embassies yun. Hindi ko lang sure sa Italian Embassy. My guess is, it doesn’t matter to them kasi alam din naman nila yun and feeling ko, mas concern nila ung rootedness, finances and employment kaysa dun. At the very least, sana hindi pa expired nung time na nag-submit ka ng documents. You can ask the agency to issue the ticket the day before your appointment.

I will be applying as a tourist instead. —- Even if you apply as a tourist, you’re still going to be asked if may relatives ka sa Italy. Parang mas dubious or suspicious if apply ka as a tourist pero may immediate family members ka dun. Baka mas maka-affect negatively? Huhu, di ko alam. Pero uyyyy, opinion ko lang ‘to ha. I’m in no way an expert in this, lalo sa Italian Embassy kasi di ko pa natry dun.

I’m planning to get a Schengen visa and your post is very helpful for me. Thanks a lot.

You’re welcome! Thanks too for visiting! Good luck with your application.

Is it a good idea if I will tell on the cover letter the main reason I will visit Europe is to visit my boyfriend’s family? 4 years na kami together and he went here already and I never met his family. I wanted to be more personal with getting the visa. Negative ba yun for embassies?

Hi Den, I’m not sure. Usually, they subject applications na may romantic connection sa Europe to further scrutiny, but at the end of the day, if strong yung proof of relationship and kaya namang magstand on their own nung financial/rootedness status mo, pwedeng maapprove pa rin naman.

I have a terminal illness and I am planning to visit Lourdes , France .My nephew will accompany me kasi nga sick ako. Should we apply our visa together? Paano kung magkaiba ticket nmin pabalik ,sya uuwi ng Pinas , ako babalik ng Saudi(I’m still working) Medyo hindi ok ang rootedness ng nephew ko sa pinas.

If you’re both applying here in Manila, the French embassy through VFS Global will treat your application separately, but you could state in your cover letter that you will be traveling with your nephew. This happened to us (husband and wife) when we applied last year, I had to write an impromptu cover letter for my wife, and photocopied several documents because I assumed wrong i.e., since we’re a couple, shared documents will do (experience with UK embassy).

You will also need to tweak your itinerary and make it appear that you will both leave the Schengen area together i.e., same outbound tickets.

Will you be applying from Saudi? Kasi if so, di ko alam ang process pag sa Saudi.

If from PH naman, ito yung process: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2018/01/france-visa-requirements-schengen-appointment-vfs-manila/

Di ko sure pero ang alam ko, individually talaga ia-assess yung application. In your nephew’s case, best na ma-explain na lang dun sa form or you can even write a cover letter explaining the purpose in detail.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. :( Hindi kasi ako ganun ka-familiar pag group application via French Embassy kasi solo lang ako nag-apply.

Hi yoshke! Ngwwork ako currently sa family business nmin. So wla akong employment certificate. Small business lng kc sya kaya wla ng certification na ganyan..Pwd ba explain sa cover letter na family business sya? Tpos present ko na kapatid ko mayari? Tpos support letter nlng from him?

Hi Kim, ang idedeclare mo ay sponsored ka ng kapatid mo pero walang proof or legal document na pagmamay-ari yung business ng kapatid mo or na nag-ooperate ang business?

Medyo mahihirapan po maapprove kung ganyan kasi naturally cynical ang mga embassies. Kailangan ng paperwork lalo na pag business, kahit small business pa yan.

Meron nman pong mga permits and dti…so pwd ko sya ideclare na mgsupport sakin dba? Ung support letter ba dpat notarized?

Best if may ITR kasi dun makikita yung finances ng business.

Yep, best if notarized.

Hi… Mas madali ba mag k shengen visa if sasama sa group tour? Kaso nga lang mas mahal.

Mas may chance pero not a guarantee kasi kahit group tour, individually pa rin inaassess ang application most of the time.

Hello :) Regarding with the sponsorship case, do the requirements for sponsor need to be all original copy? like the invitation letter as well as his bank statements? Can it be just sent thru online by my sponsor or it has to be shipped? Also, what if I reserve for a flight ticket for p300 for a certain agency, the actual price is 68k compared to the online actual price which is only 45k, should I go for the agency price when my visa approves? this is for the Italy trip. thanks so much :)

yes, submit original copies.

You always have the option to cancel or hindi tumuloy sa nasa flight reservation mo after the visa processing.

Thanks for replying. I asked the same question to Youtube vlogger, Lyka Krystle the same day I asked you and she confirmed that FYI, its not me who will submit the invitation letter, my sponsor will email it instead along with his bank statements and passport/ID photocopy to the Italian embassy. That means a physical copy is never a thing in this situation at all, so theres no need to waste a paper here. As an applicant, I dont need to do anything else aside from helping my sponsor to fulfill the 3 main requirements. Long story short, all sponsor’s requirements go directly to the embassy, done by the sponsor.

Thanks for sharing!

Good luck with your application.

I will be applying at the Italian Embassy. The itinerary I will be submitting is MNL-FCO-MNL only. But after I get my visa, am I allowed to change my itinerary to MNL-FCO ( 8 days)-CDG ( 3 days)-GVA ( 3 days)-MNL? Will I get into trouble at the airport/immigration for changing the itinerary?

Hi, I am planning to apply for Schengen visa to visit a friend in Belgium, un balak mamasyal lang sa France and Spain after a week s Belgium with her family. I have my own house, travelled few times s US and asian countries, pro wala ako work now, I got 2 kids (filipino-american) and married sa american. My friend will be sending me invitation and sponsorship letter din already signed by the mayor s Belgium. Plus his bank statements and stuff. Nakapag travel na dn kami together twice s SG. My US visa will be expired next month but I am planning to renew it next week. I am just super nervous sa EU visa ksi wala ako work. Ano kaya ippsa ko mga requirements other than the papers na ippadala. I hope somebody can help me please.

Hi Leah, naku, di ko po alam anong pwedeng alternatives pag unemployed. :(

Really insightful article. Just wanted to ask if you know anything about fresh grads applying for a Schengen visa? My sister and I are graduating this June and plan to go to Europe with our mother around October as a graduation gift. Is it true that it is much harder for our applications to be approved since we won’t be employed yet or enrolled anymore? We will be taking a gap break before applying for jobs (which will most likely be after the trip).

Our parents will be sponsoring our entire trip, and we have a good travel history (at least 1-2 international trips every year). I already have a Schengen visa from my school trip to Italy last summer, but my sister only has a 5 year visa from Japan. Thank you and hope to hear from you!

Hi Sofia, I think it’s possible to get a visa pag fresh grad lalo na kung family trip sya. You can explain that it’s a graduation gift and since kasama nyo naman yung parents/sponsors, mas believable yun if sabay-sabay yung pag-apply nyo. Bukod sa usual requirements, submit na lang din kayo ng proof na kakagraduate nyo lang recently.

Saang embassy kayo apply?

We plan to apply at the Dutch or Italian embassy. Anyway thanks for the reply, that eased my thoughts!

Hmmm. Di ko pa natry mag-apply sa Dutch or Italian Embassy ha.

Hi there. What option on the airline website should I select or go to if I’ll have multiple trips. For example, my itinerary is MNL-ROME-PARIS-BERLIN-MNL. Please help me. thanks.

Hi Mark, depends on the airline. Some airline websites allow MULTI-CITY booking.

Another workaround is to book via a 3rd party website like Skyscanner, Traveloka, Expedia.

Hello, would u know if czech embassy is strict?

Hi K-Anne. No idea. :(

hello, what if na deny ako sa French embassy and after 6months I will apply in Austrian embassy,can I still visit france for tourism?

“My partner Vins, who was applying for the first time and didn’t submit an ITR, was asked to send more documents to prove his rootedness in the Philippines. He did submit the requested additional papers and finally got his visa after 3 weeks.”

Hello, may I ask what additional documents s/he was asked to submit in lieu of the ITR? :) I am recently employed as an individual contractor / consultant so I haven’t sorted my BIR taxation yet. Thank you!

Hi Aya, they called him and asked him to submit COE and ITR from previous employers instead and property titles.

Hello, my father invited me to join his family to go on a month trip to EU. Will be there for a month if approved. He will be sponsoring our trip since he has a stable company. If ever, I will be travelling with my father, step mom and 2 baby step brothers. They already had several visas including Schengen before, while me I am unemployed. I used to have a Japan visa for a year. I have a daughter here in PH who will not be joining us due to school. I’m wondering if theres a high possibility that I will be approved?

Also, schedule will be this May 14 or 16. How long does the processing will take? (Italian Embassy) coz I have a booked flight to Bangkok on June 5 :(

Thanks Yoshke!

I haven’t tried applying via Italian Embassy so I can’t say. :(

In general though, the chances of approval depend on a lot of factors playing together: employment, finances, rootedness and (sometimes) travel history.

Me and my husband plan to travel to EU this coming septermber for our 12th anniv for 14days. I work as a web dev online (homebased) no ITR and my husband works with his current employer for more than 6 years na din which is previously homebased din pero now kumuha na sila ng office here. No ITR din si husband currently pero meron sya Form 2307 – Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source. Is that okay na kaya to submit + COE, payslips? Ang balak kasi namin sya na lang ang magsubmit ng lahat ng requirements. I’ll declare na lang na im a housewife / no income and sya magshoulder lahat ng expenses para i dont need to submit any other req’s(proof of income) na since i dont have ITR. We have few properties owned and car din and has 2 kids pero kami lang ni husband ang magtravel to EU. Prev travel was HK, SG, MY, South Korea(ME), Japan, Shanghai – all with family. Sa tingin mo malaki ang chance namin maapprove? My brother is also a resident in Norway pero magappply kami as tourist not sponsored tho magvivisit kami sa kanila since on our planned travel kasabay din namin ang parents ko since they want to visit my brother in norway.

Hi ahb19, we can’t assess po and predict your chances without having a really good look at your documents. Depende kasi yan sa napakaraming factors. It’s not enough na meron ka nung required docs, need din nila iconsider ano ang laman ng mga docs na yun. So we really can’t say.

Hi. On the application “Which Schengen country you will enter first?”

I have a layover on a Schengen country, yun ba ilalagay or yung destination mismo? Many thanks

I am a Philippine passport holder. I will be in the US in April next year and I’m planning to go to Spain from there in July also next year. Can I apply for a schengen visa from there in the US?

hello there, Is it true that Austrian embassy is more lenient than other embassies in the Schengen area? I also have concern regarding freelance job and my ITR, I just registered my part time job last june and im applying for visa this oct. and that would mean I cant provide an ITR this October for my part time job (fashion design), what should I do?

I have a fulltime job though and could provide complete papers for this, I just needed more reasons for the “rootedness” thingy.

Hi Jessie, I haven’t tried applying via Austrian Embassy but my friends who have said they are indeed more lenient.

Is your full-time job stable? Can it support your lifestyle and your trip? According to a travel agency that I consulted before, sometimes, if the full-time job can stand on its own, it’s better to not mention any part-time or freelance work because they just complicate things. I don’t know if it’s good advice, but it makes sense to me.

Hi Yoshke! Thanks for the guide. We are planning to have a month long multi-country honeymoon trip in Europe next year at April. We plan to apply after our wedding in February. However, I can’t seem to find in the internet what is the best way for our case: we will enter first in Madrid, spend the longest in Germany, travel to other neighboring schengen countries, then from Paris to London and spend our last days there before heading back to Manila.

Therefore, we need to apply for 2 visas, one schengen through the German Embassy, and one UK Visa. Do you have any idea or suggestion which is better applied first? The schegen or the UK?

Hi Clarice,

No idea. I haven’t tried applying for a UK visa yet kasi. But my friends na pumunta ng UK + Schengen area, they applied for UK visa first. Not sure if that’s right, but that’s what they did.

Is it valid to arrive to other country , where I do not have any booking .

Is a reservation for a return flight to the Philippines a specific requirement or just a flight reservation to a non-Schengen state? For example, last destination is Berlin. Is a Berlin to Manila flight required or can you book a flight from Berlin to, say, Tel Aviv?

hi. im planning to visit russia and schengen. which visa should i apply first? thanks.

Hi,if everything was sponsored do i still need my bank certificate and bank statement?

Yep. All the more reason for them to look for your bank cert and statement.

More info here: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2019/07/visa-immigration-boyfriend-girlfriend/

HI. Can I apply for a schengen visa from the US even if I’m not a US citizen?

Hi! what are the documents that needed to be authenticated by DFA in applying for a Schengen visa?

May i ask if paano mag schedule ng appointment for a family of 6? parang up to 2 applicants lang pwede ko ilagay per account sa vfsglobal :( or baka may mali lang akong ginawa?

Hi Chi, saang embassy po yung ina-applyan nyo?

Hello I wanted to ask because I’ve already sent an email to the Greek Embassy for my Portugal trip this December and I haven’t received an email back. I sent it October 7 and I only got an auto message from them. How long should I wait or should I call them? I really don’t know who else to ask regarding this. I’ve been reading your blogs its been very helpful to me. Thank you so much!

I think it’s okay if you call them because it’s been over 2 weeks.

Hello. Will it help if i show credit card statements? Sa korea kasi wala ako pinakitang bank certificate, Platinum credit card lang na 1.5M ung limit. So for example i only i have 100-150k sa bank at the time of application and then i present it together with the credit card… will it compensate ung low balance ko sa bank?

Hi Bernie, yes, the credit card statements can surely help. But not sure if sapat yung 100-150K sa bank. Minsan may mga naaapprove na ganyan but they’re more the exception than the rule. Schengen embassies are a lot stricter than the Korean Embassy. And depende rin sa length of trip mo. :)

Hi there, im planning to apply schengen visa this coming December. I just want to ask first if ever i get denied (wag naman sana) can i apply immediately to other schengen visa embassies? or do i have to wait a certain time before reapplying

Hi James, you can apply at another embassy immediately. :)

Thanks!! also if im planning to present an affidavit of support from my parents for this trip, i also need to present their bank statement & bank cert? Aside from my own bank statement and bank cert? tama ba

Yes. If you’re going to declare you’re going to be sponsored by someone else, you should be able to prove that your sponsor can afford it.

Also do I need to provide birth certificates to prove our relationship and does it have to be the original copy? Thanks in advance!

Hi James, di ko sure if needed pa. Best to call VFS or the embassy na lang. :S

Hi Yoshke and Vins,

Super love your blog! It’s so useful!

I have a have applied for a Schengen visa twice thru a travel agent but got refused twice din :( I think it’s because my intention was to visit Norway and the travel agents suggested that I should go apply at the French Embassy and Swiss Embassy (ang sad kasi I have a history of refusals na tuloy) I would like to re-apply. Should I address the fact that I have applied previously and was refused? I want my application to be as honest as possible and I am doing it on my own na without the help of travel agents.

I will be sponsored din kasi. Any advise?

Hi Kimberly,

I think you have to disclose that you have been refused a visa before. (I’m guessing this will be asked on the application form.)

Question, who is your sponsor? Is it someone living in Norway?

hi, ask ko lang po sa visa application form for italian embassy… ano ang ilagay sa SURNAME AT BIRTH (Formerly Family Name) if N/A po ba if lalaki yun mag-aapply?

Yung ginawa ko, sinulat ko lang din yung last name ko dahil male.

1.Surname (Family name): DIMEN

2. Surname at Birth (Formerly family name(s)): DIMEN

ok, thank you po… another question po dun sa cost of travelling & living during the applicant’s stay is covered by whom? Kc yung husband ko po kc yung kasama ko sa trip tapos join account namin yun isa-submit na bank certificate. ano po ang ilalagay ko by the applicant or sponsor? tpos paano po ilalagay yung name ng husband ko if ever. pwede po ba dalawa ang ilagay… by the applicant and by a sponsor ang ilagay?

Hi Joy, in theory, pwede pareho. Pero in practice, depende yan sa kung OK ang employment and rootedness documents mo. In my opinion, if OK naman lahat, complete naman, satisfactory naman sa tingin mo, mas OK if self-funded yung trip.

Pero if may problema yung sayo tapos maganda naman yung kay husband, pwede rin naman si husband.

Sa palagay ko lang po yan.

Hi there. Just want to inquire On what i must do with my Schengen application. I was denied of it last May 15, 2018 but biometrics were taken. Is it safe for Me to declare on the form that my biometrics were indeed taken on said date even if i was denied? Im applying in January 2020 at the allegro center (italian visa).

Hi Weng, di ko alam kapag ganyang case. Pero yung experience ko, kahit na nakuhanan na rin ako ng biometrics dati, kinuhanan pa ako ulit. In-ask ko ung staff kung bakit ako kukunan ulit. Sabi nila, safer daw kasi na kuhanan na lang para di na bumalik in case hindi readable yung dati.

We are applying at the Italian embassy for our trip on March 27-apr8 (arrival march28 departure apr7) is it that we have to add 15 days additional when we buy travel insurance? Coz im confused if the coverage should cover the addl 15 days or we really have to indicate the addl 15 on the travel insurance?

Hi Weng, here’s the policy of the Italian Embassy: “Travel Health Insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 euros ( with 15 days allowance beyond travel period) for expenses for emergency hospitalization and repatriation expenses, valid throughout the Schengen area.” ambmanila.esteri.it/ambasciata_manila/en/informazioni_e_servizi/visti/turismo_0.html

That means that your insurance should cover March 27-April 22. (Actually di ko sure kung until 22 or 23 dapat.)

Hi Yoshke, Thank you for this article. I always go back to this post for information. Very helpful! I do have a question though. My sister and I have plans to apply at the Austrian Embassy. For the cover letter, do we need to provide one for each of us? Or one cover letter lang for both of us? Thanks

Hi Louise, yes, because applications are assessed individually.

Hi! I am applying for a schengen visa from the Czech Republic in Manila. My main purpose is to meet my boyfriend’s family. I met my boyfriend in the US, and he has been in the Philippines, so this time, I would like to do the same for him. My dilemma is, if I should apply for the visa with an invitation letter from him or just apply for the tourist visa all by myself. After a series of research, I found out that acquiring an invitation letter from him would take at least one month (due to some paperworks from the Foreign Police and document transit,) and I’m kinda running out of time cause my initial plan is to travel in March. Currently, I’ve had visas from Japan, Korea, and a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa from USA. I also have a job, and enough money for the trip. Do you think there is a chance that my application will be approved? Should I mention that I am there to visit someone, or just tell them that my purpose is to mainly travel?

Hi Katrina,

Applying with an invitation often makes the application a lot more complicated. That’s why in my travel circles, it is widely believed that if your finances, employment and rootedness are great, better to apply without it. The only catch is you will need hotel reservations for that.

Hey guys! Your website has been a great source of info for me, great job! Alas, here’s a little query I gotta ask. I will be traveling to Norway on March, and I applied for the visa here in our country. I plan to visit China for a few days first, then depart for Norway from there. But I worry that passport control in Norway will question why I departed from China, not from the country that issued my visa (PH). Does point of departure matter when entering the Schengen Area? Have you guys encountered or heard of similar situations? Thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

I don’t think it matters, unless hotspot sa kanila ung destination. But I think China is fine.

When we fly to the Schengen Zone, we usually come from Singapore. We stay in SG ng 2-3 days before ung flight namin. Di naman sya problem.

Hi! I already have an appointment with VFS Global this friday. My parents paid for the accomodation and my airfare tickets but pocket money and everything else will be shouldered by me. Does that count as sponsorship po? I will be travelling with my parents but they are coming from the US po kasi so ako lang magisa ang nag-apply for Schengen Visa. Would really appreciate your reply. Thank you!

Which embassy po?

Yes, that counts as sponsorship. You can declare that your accoms/tickets will be sponsored by parents but other expenses by yourself.

Since you’re applying on your own, it would help to write a cover letter explaining that you will be traveling with your parents so they know it’s a family trip and get a better picture of your case.

France embassy po. If I declare na accoms/tickets sponsored by parents will they ask for documents ng parents ko even if other expenses will be mine? Wala po kasi local bank parents ko puro US banks if ever manghingi sila ng documents of my parents.

Hi, will they give the documents back together with the passport once approved? Thank you very much.

Based on my experience with the embassies of France/Italy/Greece/Germany, they will only give you back the passport.

Hi Yoshke, Ask ko lang nung nag apply kaba may old passport ka? If yes, need mo rin ba ibigay yung old original passport pag apply or photocopy nalang nung old passport then yung mga stamps and visa mo before? Thank you so much!

Hi Dharleigh,

Sa experience ko, kung tama ang pagkaalala ko:

sa Italian Embassy, hindi kinuha ung original na old passport.

sa Greek and German Embassies, kinuha nila.

sa French, hindi ko na matandaan talaga.

Best talaga na dalhin na lang din para if kunin, dala mo. Ibabalik naman yan din sayo on the spot if hindi kailangan.

I have an online job and Im a tax evader, lol. I havent been paying TIN and what not since 2016. Haha. I travel around for 1-2 months straight usually (but I always come home because of family and friends). I feel like Im a sketchy case in the embassy’s eyes.

Do you think it would suffice that I provide them with 1 savings account with sufficient cash, 1 everyday-use account, a life insurance policy and my parents business permit to show I have financial capability and still coming back?

Hi. Could you also create an article for applying for Schengen Visa for freelancers. Especially on the requirements part. A lot of people now are switching to being freelancers so that will be super helpful

Thank you. This is such a useful information. Godspeed.

Hi ask lang po what if there’s a reason na hindi talaga pwedi magtravel Yong bf ko kasi it’s about his health problem Kaya hindi sya makapagtravel sa phillipines because of his health problems we never met yet possible ba ma approve Yong visa if ipa kita ko Yong medical record nya???

Hi Junelyn. It’s really very difficult to know kapag ganitong unusual case po. Limited din po kasi experience namin.

hi, question lang po. What if I will present 5 days itinerary in France (entry point) and 3 days itinerary per country on Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal during visa application But after getting my French Schengen visa, changed my itinerary to 3 days France, 5 days italy, 5 days greece. Will there be a problem if nangyari ito?

Kindly give me referrals as to where can we get flight reservation for schengen visa application. I have big trust on your recommendations. I recently booked spectrum of the seas cruise, with your vlog i booked directly to the carribean. I have saved travel agents fees. I love your vlogs. Kindly reply. Thanks

Try Gazelle Travel and Tours po at [email protected]

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Schengen visa new rules, processing time, qualifications & everything else you need to know to plan your holiday in Europe

By Sanjana Ray

A summer in Europe —the theme for countless romcoms—has a permanent fix in the Indian tourist’s travel bucket list. With the new Schengen visa rules, a visit to the West (or more specifically, 29 countries in the West) just became more hassle-free.

The European Union recently introduced a new “Cascade regime”, under which Indians can obtain a two-year multi-entry Schengen visa. What’s more, a two-year visa can be followed by a five-year visa. Not only will this help streamline the entire Schengen visa process—which until this moment has been quite a tedious affair—it will also increase outbound travel from India to select European nations, thereby boosting sales for airlines and travel agencies.

However, the new rules come with a list of caveats. And despite the revamped structure allowing greater access to Indian tourists , the visa processing time and fees remain a challenge. So, before you start dreaming up your next European adventure, take a look over at the technicalities first and then start planning ahead.

Going by the new rules, Indians can now apply for a Schengen visa which has a validity of two years—a significant improvement from the shorter validity periods that were previously available. However, to qualify for this extended two-year visa, Indian tourists should have obtained and judiciously utilised two Schengen visas in the preceding three years.

Once this two-year visa is utilised, these applicants can then be considered eligible for a five-year Schengen visa, as long as their passports maintain sufficient validity.

According to VFS Global, applications by Indian tourists for the Schengen visa usually take about 15 days to process, but this can extend up to 30 days during busy periods.

The Schengen visa fee is approximately Rs 7,200 for adults and Rs 3,600 for minors.

The Schengen visa holder can stay in the concerned country for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period. While the visa is not purpose-bound, it does not grant the right to work.

The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (out of which 25 are EU states). These include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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EU Schengen visa new rules: How your European tour just got easier?

T he European Commission has introduced new rules regarding multiple entry visas for Indian nationals, aiming to streamline the process and provide greater accessibility. Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India may now benefit from easier access to visas with extended validity, based on their travel history and passport validity, under the new visa 'cascade' regime, the EU said in a statement on Monday.

European Union new visa rules: What changes for you?

• Newly adopted visa rules for Indian nationals introduce a "cascade" regime for Schengen visas.

• Under this regime, Indian citizens can obtain long-term, multi-entry visas valid for two years after using two visas within three years.

• Following the two-year visa, eligible applicants may receive a five-year visa, contingent on passport validity.

• Holders of these visas enjoy travel rights similar to visa-free nationals throughout the validity period.

ALSO READ- Exploring Europe: Train travel a winner for young Indians

What are Schengen visas?

• Schengen visas permit unrestricted travel within the Schengen area for short stays, allowing a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

• The visas are not restricted by purpose but do not confer work rights.

ALSO READ- Indians travelling more frequently, surge in searches for spiritual destinations: Report

• The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

According to the statement, this decision is in line with the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aiming for enhanced cooperation on migration policy “with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU.”

Read more news like this on HindustanTimes.com

ATM 2024: UAE reveals details of GCC’s Schengen-styled ‘Grand Tours’ visa

The GCC Grand Tours visa will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy, unveiled plans for the introduction of the ‘GCC Grand Tours’ visa, a unified Gulf tourist visa, during the Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM) opening day.

“In a significant move aimed at simplifying travel logistics and fostering tourism, the Gulf Cooperation Council has given the green light to a unified tourist visa that will allow travellers to visit all six countries,” stated Al Marri.

The GCC Grand Tours visa will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region. According to the minister, this will make travel to the region more convenient and affordable for tourists. It will also increase activity and employment numbers in the region, he added.

Rollout and implementation of visa system

While an official rollout date was not provided, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority indicated that the system should be operational by the end of 2024.

“By the end of this year, the whole system should be in place. Many people and teams, led by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE and other ministries in other countries, are working on it tirelessly to make it happen in the best possible way, emphasising digital transformation,” said Al Midfa.

Al Midfa highlighted the collaborative efforts among ministries to ensure a seamless and digitally transformed visa system.

What an incredible day it has been! The first day of #ATMDubai 2024 was absolutely breathtaking, and the exciting part is that it’s only the beginning! If you missed it, don’t worry – you can still join us tomorrow by registering here ➡️ https://t.co/HfUrYegQqZ . pic.twitter.com/PoP52tdYvg — ATM Dubai (@ATMDubai) May 6, 2024

Economic impact and tourism growth

Al Marri emphasised the economic significance of tourism. The minister cited the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) research and stated that travel and tourism contributed 11.7 per cent to the UAE’s GDP last year, amounting to Dhs220bn.

“The forecast is set even higher, with an anticipated contribution of 12 per cent to our GDP, equating to Dh236bn,” he added.

“I believe that our regional ambitions should not be to recover to pre-pandemic benchmarks but exceed them merely,” said Al Marri.

Benefits and prospects

The ‘GCC Grand Tours’ visa aims to simplify travel logistics, making tourism within the GCC more accessible and cost-effective for visitors. This initiative is expected to boost tourist activity and create employment opportunities across the region.

The introduction of the unified visa system underscores the GCC’s commitment to promoting tourism and economic growth, positioning the region as a leading tourist destination on the global stage.

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6 Nations, 1 Visa: GCC To Launch Schengen-Style Unified Visa By Year End!

Gcc grand tours visa to revolutionise regional travel..

In a move set to redefine travel across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, the unveiling of the ‘GCC Grand Tours’ unified Gulf tourist visa promises boundless adventures for globetrotters. Announced by UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri at the Arabian Travel Market, this GCC unified visa allows explorers to traverse all six GCC states for more than 30 days, marking a historic milestone in regional tourism.

A Unified Visa To Explore The GCC Wonders

Comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the GCC has set its sights on emulating the seamless travel experience offered by the Schengen visa of the European Union. With the launch of the GCC Grand Tours visa, the region aims to lure a burgeoning number of tourists by simplifying cross-border travel, fostering a newfound sense of unity among its diverse landscapes and cultures.

Access From Dazzling Skyscrapers To Desert Oases

The introduction of the unified GCC tourist visa heralds a new era of prosperity for the Gulf’s tourism sector. By streamlining entry procedures and encouraging multi-country exploration, authorities anticipate a surge in hotel bookings and tourist arrivals, propelling the region to the forefront of global travel destinations. This strategic move not only promises economic growth but also positions the Gulf as an irresistible playground for adventurers and culture enthusiasts alike.

Business Ventures And Cultural Exchanges

The journey towards a unified GCC tourist visa began in October of the previous year, garnering unanimous support from member states. To spur economic vitality, the GCC seeks to simplify travel logistics and enhance the overall visitor experience. Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooq, affirmed the commitment of GCC states to seek input on the unified visa plan, underscoring the collaborative spirit driving regional integration.

Also Read:  Man Loses ₹3.5 Lakh In Flight &#038; Hotel Bookings Due To Delayed Schengen Visa Refusal

GCC Nations Band Together For Tourist Convenience

Minister of Economy, Marri underscored the transformative potential of the unified visa, citing its capacity to showcase the Gulf’s rich tapestry of tourist attractions to a global audience. Projections indicate a staggering influx of visitors, with forecasts predicting a remarkable 128.7 million tourists by 2030. This tourism boom is poised to catalyse economic diversification, foster cross-cultural exchange, and elevate the Gulf’s profile as a preeminent travel hub on the world stage.

In conclusion, the GCC Grand Tours visa represents more than just a travel document; it symbolises the collective aspirations of Gulf nations to forge a brighter, more connected future. As the region embarks on this transformative journey, it invites adventurers from around the world to unlock the treasures of the Gulf and embark on a voyage of discovery like never before.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Stock Images

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