Schengen Visa: How to Apply and Requirements for Short-Stay Visitor Visas in Europe

Applying for a Schengen Visa? Discover the steps, required documents, and tips to ensure a successful application. Plus, learn what to do if your visa is denied.

Learn about the Schengen Visa, including application requirements, types of visas, how to apply, and what to do in case of visa rejection. Plan your European trip with ease!

Visiting Europe is a dream for many travelers around the world. With its rich history, diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and iconic landmarks, Europe offers a wealth of experiences to explore. Whether you’re interested in art, history, cuisine, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of European cities, there is something for everyone.

However, not everyone is lucky enough just to pack and travel to Europe. For some people, the travel experience is a bit different and includes obtaining a visa, more specifically, a Schengen visa.

What Is a Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Visa is a European short-stay visa that allows its holder to travel throughout the Schengen Area. This type of visa is issued by one of the Schengen States and allows you to visit any of the Schengen countries for a duration of up to 90 days in total within 180 days.

There are 29 countries in the Schengen Area. These countries have agreed to abolish all internal borders and have a common visa policy, although there may be slight differences with respect to procedures and required documentation.

Every citizen of each country that is not part of the Schengen Area and whose country doesn’t have a Visa Facilitation Agreement with the EU needs a Schengen visa in order to enter any of the member countries. Those who are under the visa-free regime will be required to apply for ETIAS starting from May 2025.

What Countries Can I Visit With a Schengen Visa?

With a Schengen visa, you can visit all Schengen member countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Czechia
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

However, there is also a list of non-Schengen countries that allow you to enter with a valid Schengen visa, such as:

• Albania
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Colombia
• Cyprus
• Georgia
• Gibraltar
• Kosovo
• North Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Serbia
• Turkey

What Are The Types of Schengen Visas?

You can get a Schengen Visa if you are traveling to Europe for the following purposes:

• To transit through the airport of a country in the Schengen zone in order to take the plane to your Schengen destination country.
• Tourism visits and sightseeing.
• Business visits.
• Visiting family members and friends.
• Travel as part of a cultural exchange program, sports, or research.
• Medical visits.
• Short-term study courses.
• Official visits.

*The Airport transit visa is a Category A visa, but all visas that are issued for different purposes fall into the C category.

Depending on the number of entries and the number of countries you can visit, you could be issued a Uniform Schengen visa or a Limited Territorial Validity visa.

Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)

The Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) allows its holder to travel and stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days every six-month period. There are three types of Uniform Schengen visas:

• Single-entry visa: With a Single entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country only once and stay until the expiration of visa validity. If you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country.
• Double-entry visa: With a Double entry visa, you can enter a Schengen country twice within the time of visa validity. If you enter the country twice, and the second time you leave before the expiration, you are not allowed to enter the country again since the visa is considered to have expired once you leave the country for the second time.
• Multiple-entry visa: The Multiple entry visa allows you to enter and leave the Schengen Zone as many times as you please as long as your visa is valid.

Limited Territorial Validity Visas (LTV)

The Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa allows its holder to travel only in the Schengen member country that has issued the visa. If, for example, France has issued you the visa, then you are permitted to stay only in France.

You are not even allowed to transit from one country to another with the LTV visa.

This visa is considered an exception to a Uniform Visa and is only issued for international obligations or humanitarian reasons in general.

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa?

To have a successful Schengen visa application, you must go through these simple steps:

1. Fill the Schengen Visa Application form: Complete the application form online carefully and correctly, print it twice, and sign it at the end. The form contains questions for basic information such as your name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number, and nationality. You will also have to answer questions regarding your trip, such as how long you are planning to stay in each country, where you’re staying, etc.
2. Make an appointment: Appoint an interview through the website of the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to visit, in your country of residence.
3. Complete the documents file: Make sure you have all the necessary documents for a Schengen visa as required, all of them in two copies. Organize them so on the appointment day you will not have a mess in your hands. You will need to leave your passport at the consulate of the Schengen country where you apply for a visa. If you withdraw your passport while your application is being processed, your Schengen visa application will be canceled.
4. Show up at the appointment: Show up at the appointment center on time. Remember that if you are late even for a few minutes, then they will probably cancel your appointment. The submission process takes around 10 minutes to complete.
5. Provide biometrics: You will also have to get your fingerprints scanned at the consulate’s office if you have never before applied for a visa to Europe. If you have, then you don’t have to do it again since the consulate should be able to look it up.
6. Verify the details: After the verification of your application, your information will be entered into the online system, and you will receive a printed copy of your application, which usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. After you get the printed form, please make sure to verify all the details are correct and sign the form.

*Underage applicants must be accompanied by their mother/father/legal guardian.

7. Pay the fees: The cost of a Schengen visa application for adults is €90. The visa fee for children from the age of 6 years to the age of 12 years is €45.

After you pay the fees, you will be issued a receipt which you have to keep in order to collect your processed application. In the case of visa application rejection, the fee will not be reimbursed. If you apply again for a visa, you will have to pay the fees again.

What Does a Schengen Visa Look Like?

If the authorities decide to grant you a Schengen visa, they will attach it in the form of a sticker to the blank pages of your passport. This is what a Schengen visa looks like:

Where Should You Submit Your Application for a Schengen Visa?

You should apply for a Schengen Visa at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you are planning to visit.

If you are planning to visit more than one country during the same trip and spend an equal amount of time at all of them, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you plan to spend more time. But, if you are planning to spend equal time in two or more countries, i.e., five days in France and five days in Germany, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you are planning to land first.

Applying for a Schengen Visa in the UK

If you are in the UK and need a Schengen visa, the process remains the same. You should approach the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you plan to visit. The UK, being outside the Schengen Area, requires its citizens and residents to apply for this visa like any other non-Schengen country.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from the USA

The process of applying for a Schengen visa from the USA is similar to that in the UK. U.S. citizens do not need a Schengen visa for short stays, but residents or nationals of other countries living in the U.S. may need to apply. You should consult the specific requirements of the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit.

When Should I Apply for a Schengen Visa?

The applications for a Schengen visa must be submitted at least 15 days before the intended travel and not earlier than 6 months before the start of your intended travel.

Keep in mind that you need to make an appointment before submitting your visa application. Depending on where you are applying from, appointments may need to be made weeks in advance.

Who Is Entitled to Accelerated Schengen Visa Procedure Free of Charge?

Applicants belonging to one of the categories below are entitled to an accelerated visa procedure free of charge:

• You are a family member of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen, and the EU/EEA citizen is either traveling to or residing in a different member state than their own.
• You are accompanying the EU/EEA citizen or intending to join them in the Schengen State they are traveling to.

What Additional Documents Do I Need to Present at the Schengen Port of Entry?

When entering the Schengen Area, in addition to your passport with the visa sticker on it, you will need to present additional documents at the port of entry. The additional documents include the following:

• Proof of travel insurance.
• Evidence of financial means.
• Proof of accommodation in Europe.

*Some countries might request you to present all three mentioned documents, while others may only require one or two. The requirement differs from one Schengen country to another.

How Long Can I Stay In Europe With a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa allows you to stay within the whole Schengen territory for 90 days within 6 months. This means that the total duration of stay is a maximum of 90 days in any period of 180 days. The specific duration of your visa’s validity is stated on the visa sticker itself under the section titled “Duration of visit.”

Sometimes, authorities issue you a visa for the amount of time you have sought, and sometimes for a longer or shorter period, depending on how they see it as reasonable. The embassy not only appoints the number of days you can stay in Schengen but also the earliest date you can enter and the last date when you can leave, which sometimes is confusing for many people.

What If You Need to Stay for More Than 90 Days?

If you wish to stay longer than 90 days in the Schengen Area, you will generally need to apply for a long-stay visa or a residence permit from the specific Schengen country where you intend to stay. The European National Visas are granted to individuals coming to one of the Schengen member countries for stays longer than 90 days, like working or studying.

In order to be eligible to apply for the D visas for Europe, you should be in one of the following categories:

• An international student in a program that grants Schengen visas.
• International student about to start full-time studies in Europe.
• Teacher at a higher education institution or research center in Europe.
• Professional traveling to Europe with the purpose of sharing expertise.
• Traveler in the Schengen Area who is experiencing an emergency, such as a medical condition that prevents departure at the end of your National Visa.

Can I Convert My Schengen Multiple Entry Visa Into a National Visa?

No, you cannot convert a C multiple entry visa into a type D national visa. Schengen visas are specifically intended for short-term stays and travel within the Schengen Area. They do not grant the right to live or work in a specific country; long-stay (type D) visas do.

You cannot apply for a residence permit in a Schengen country that you entered with a Schengen visa.

If you want to get a D visa, you will need to apply from the country of your residence.

Can I Get My Schengen Visa Extended?

A Schengen visa can be extended only under exceptional circumstances. Therefore, in order to get your visa extended, you must have a very strong reason behind it, such as:

• Force majeure.
• Humanitarian reasons.
• Serious personal reasons.

You must show strong proof that you cannot leave the country before the expiration of your visa. As a rule, you can only get a visa extension if you have stayed for less than 90 days in the Schengen Area within a 180-day period. If you have stayed in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within six months, then your chances of getting your visa extended are almost zero. Keep in mind that you have to apply for a visa extension before the expiration of your visa.

What Happens if I Overstay in Europe?

If you exceed the allowed duration of your stay in Europe, there can be serious consequences. However, penalties and outcomes vary depending on the country and the length of the overstay.

Potential repercussions for overstaying in Europe include:

• Fines.
• Entry bans.
• Legal action leading to deportation or removal.
• Negative effects on future visa applications or immigration records.

Why Would a Schengen Visa Application Be Denied?

A Schengen visa application may be refused for different reasons. However, here are some of the most common reasons why Schengen visa applications are rejected:

• You present false, counterfeit, or forged travel documents.
• The required documents do not meet the criteria set by the embassy.
• You do not provide a reason for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay.
• Insufficient means of subsistence.
• There is an alert in the SIS for refusal of entry.
• You are considered a threat to public policy, internal security, or public health.
• Invalid Travel Insurance.

What Can I Do In Case of Schengen Visa Rejection?

If the embassy or consulate of the destination country you have applied to refuses your Schengen visa, you have the right to appeal the decision. You will receive a paper that indicates the reasons behind the visa denial on the day you go to receive your answer regarding your application. The paper will also provide information regarding the procedure to be followed in the event of an appeal.

The appeal must be conducted against the Schengen Member State that made the final decision on your visa application and in accordance with the national law of that country.

Can I Reapply if My Schengen Visa Application Has Been Rejected Once?

Yes, even if your Schengen visa application has been rejected once, you can always reapply for a new visa. In such situations, you should consider the first refusal as a guideline of what not to do on the new visa application and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Embassies typically encourage applicants to carefully consider the reasons for the initial denial and make any necessary modifications. If you choose to reapply, you will be required to pay the visa fees once again, as they cover the cost of processing the Schengen visa application.