When traveling to Europe, you must come with a valid Schengen visa. The visa can be obtained if you have submitted all the necessary travel documents for your application. In this article, find out what the requirements for a Schengen Visa application are.
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What is a Schengen visa?
The Schengen visa application form is downloadable for free; you can find it at the Schengen Visa Information website. You have to complete the form with your personal information and other important data. A Schengen Visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign tourists and business travelers to stay for up to 90 days in a Schengen area. The applicant needs other important travel documents to obtain the visa.
What are the necessary documents for a Schengen Visa application?
Here is a quick list of requirements for a visa or an eVisa application for a Schengen State:
- A Visa application form can be downloaded for free from the Schengen Visa Info website. The form must be fully completed and signed by the applicant.
- Two photos that were taken within the last three months are needed. To be valid, the photos must comply with the visa photo requirements.
- A valid passport should not be older than 10 years. Also, the passport date should have an extra validation period of three more months after the planned end of the stay in any Schengen area.
- The proof of a visa fee payment from the bank where you have paid for it is necessary. The visa fee costs €80 for adults, while for children between 6 and 12 the visa fee is €45.
- Other important travel documents might be needed: round trip reservation itinerary, travel insurance policy, proof of accommodation, and proof of financial means.
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What are the photo requirements?
The traveler should attach two recent 35×45 mm colored photos to the visa application. Black and white photos are not acceptable. 70 to 80% of the photo should clearly show the applicant’s face from the forehead to the chin, right in the center of the photo, with the applicant’s eyes looking straight into the camera, with a neutral facial expression. This means that the applicant must not smile or make a face, and the eyes and ears must be visible in the picture to be valid. There should not be any shadow next to or behind the applicant’s face. This means any photo that does not meet the validation requirements for a Schengen Visa will be rejected.
Schengen Visa Requirements for Business and Work
If you travel to a Schengen state for business, the travel documents depend on your employment status. For employees who wish to travel to any of the areas, you are required to attach an employment contract from the company where you work and leave permission from the employer to the visa application. Besides, you are required to include a statement of your bank account for the latest 6 months. Aside from that, a Certificate of Income Tax is equally mandatory to complete your travel document.
Self-employed travelers are required to come with a copy of their business license. Also, an Income Tax Return (ITR) and a recent bank statement are mandatory. The bank statement should cover the latest 6 months of your account.
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Schengen Visa requirements for students
If you want to continue your studies in a Schengen area, you are required to submit proof of enrollment at the desired university or college. Besides, an Invitation Letter from the school headmaster or university dean is a must to validate your visa application.
Schengen Visa requirements for minors
The parents who apply for the visa are required to hand out the minor’s birth certificate with the court order if the child is raised by the parent who has full custody of the minor. Also, you must attach an application form that has been approved by both parents. If the child is raised by guardians, the same documents should be submitted. To comply with all the requirements, it is necessary to check any other requirements from the local Embassy or Consulate.
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Schengen Visa requirements for retirees
A recent pension statement is required for the Schengen visa application. The document must include the latest 6 months.
Schengen Visa requirements for a spouse
If you want to apply for a Schengen visa as a spouse, you are required to present a valid passport, a certified marriage certificate, and a recent letter from the employer confirming your employment.
Other requirements for specific Schengen Visa type
Additional documents are required according to the type of Schengen visa that you want to apply for. For example, if you need to apply for an Airport Transit Visa at a Schengen airport, you must submit a valid visa and a flight ticket to your final destination. If you want to apply for a visa to visit relatives or friends in any Schengen territory, you must submit an affidavit of support, your travel itinerary, as well as your means of subsistence. Also, you must submit a letter of invitation from the Schengen relative or friend. If you want to apply for a visa for tourism or to participate in any sport or cultural event, it is essential to check all the requirements from the Embassy or Consulate website. Schengen visa requirements for medical visits are also different from the ones listed above.
To conclude, it is necessary to know all the requirements before applying for a Schengen Visa. To get more information, you can also ask for help from a travel agency. Onward Ticket can for example help you to know about the type of visa you need for your trip. Also, from its website, you can book a flight to any country member of the Schengen Area.
