Schengen Visa

How to get Schengen Visa? - Get Detailed information about Schengen Visa documents requirements and regulations.  http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa

What is a Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a visa issued to certain non-EU nationals outside the Schengen area. The Schengen area is an arrangement between 25 member countries (22 EU states and 3 non-EU members) to make traveling in their territory much easier and less bureaucratic. The Schengen visa enables many non-EU nationals, business people and tourists to freely circulate within the Schengen territory without being subjected to border checks. With the Schengen visa you can travel to any (or all) the 25 countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. The Schengen visa is a visitor’s visa, so the purpose of your visit must be leisure, tourism or business.

When to submit an application for a Schengen visa:

The general principle is that you must lodge your application at least 15 days before your intended visit. You cannot lodge your application more than 3 months before the start of your intended visit. Processing times vary at different consulates in different parts of the world. We recommend that you apply for a Schengen visa approximately 3 months before your intended travel.

The general processing time for deciding on a visa application is 15 days after the submission of the application; nowadays, a decision may be taken earlier than the 15 days stated in the Visa Code. In individual cases where further scrutiny of the application is needed by consulate, the time may be extended to 30 days. In exceptional cases, an application may take up to 60 days.

How to submit your application:

Some consulates allow for walk-inns while others allow submission of application by appointment only. Many consulates now allow for the submission of your application by appointment only. However in justified cases of urgency, your appointment may be given immediately or direct access for submitting your application may be allowed. A situation may be considered as one of urgency where you could not have been applied for your visa earlier for reasons that could not have been foreseen by you.

Personal appearance of applicant:

As a general rule you must submit your application in person. The objective is to allow the consular officer to gain an impression of the substance of your application and ask questions about the purpose of your travel. Your biometrics and photo will also be collected as part of your application. However persons who are known to the consulate for their integrity and reliability may be exempted from appearing in person. Such persons may submit their application through a third party or by post. This exemption cannot be granted to first time travellers.

Although the Visa Code states that your personal appearance for making your application is different from your personal appearance for an interview, you may do yourself a lot of good if you prepared yourself well to respond to the officer’s questions at the time of making of your application. A decision on your application will likely be made from your documents and statements made by you at the time of making your application; seldom will you be called for a personal interview.

Submitting your application:

For the consulate to accept your application for processing you must satisfy the following: You must submit a completed and signed application form, a photograph that meets standard requirements, a passport or travel document with at least two blank pages and a validity period of not less than 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory, payment of visa fee, and the collection of biometric data.

Where the consulate accepts your application, they will stamp your Schengen Visa passport to indicate that your application is admissible. Unfortunately, many applicants interpret the affixing of the stamp as an indication of a refusal of their application. The stamp merely indicates that your application has been accepted for processing; and this is usually done before a final decision on your application is made.

For more information visit here: http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/

Schengen Visa

Fancy a trip to Europe? You must! A trip to Europe is not as expensive as you may think and can be one of the most enriching experiences of your life. Each country has its own unique culture which is so different from our own here in India. From spectacular monuments to scenic landscapes, from trekking and adventure opportunities to a vigorous nightlife, Europe has it all. The first step of course is to get your Visa.

Here is all that you need to know about the Schengen visa for Indians:

What is a Schengen visa:

Short-stay or “Schengen” visas allow holders to move freely in countries in the Schengen Area for stays not exceeding 90 days per period of 6 months from your first entry to the Schengen Area. Schengen visas may be issued for one or several entries. This type of visa is generally issued for tourism, business travel, family visits.

Indian nationals and nationals of other countries legally residing in India can apply for a Schengen visa to travel to one or more of the countries in the Schengen area. On obtaining the Schengen visa, the holder is allowed to circulate within the Schengen territory multiple numbers of times. However, if the holder of this visa leaves the Schengen territory, he/she cannot re-enter again without a new valid visa.

Which countries are covered by the Schengen visa?

As per the European Union, there are currently 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states of the European Union. These 26 countries share a common legal framework and there are no checks on the borders between them.

The countries issuing Schengen visas are:-

Austria*

Belgium*

the Czech Republic*

Denmark*

Estonia*

Finland*

France*

Germany*

Greece*

Hungary*

Iceland

Italy*

Latvia*

Liechtenstein

Lithuania*

Luxembourg*

Malta*

the Netherlands*

Norway

Poland*,

Portugal*

Slovakia*

Slovenia*

Spain*

Sweden*

Switzerland

Countries marked as * are included in the European Union.

When to apply:-

According to the EU, it is advisable to lodge the application at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit. It is important to note that applications can be lodged no more than three months before the start of the intended visit.

How to apply:-

Applicants may be required to obtain an appointment for the lodging of an application.

The applicant shall present a valid travel document (passport) which extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States). It shall contain at least two blank pages and shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

One shall download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.

Download the latest Schengen visa application form 2016

The application form can be filled in either by handwriting or by typing into it. The applicant has to sign the form in the corresponding gaps. If the applicant is a minor, the parents have to submit a written consent and also sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

Requirements:-

Every Schengen country shares more or less the same requirements for issuing a visa. However, depending on the consulate/embassy, there can be small differences in the additional documents required.

The application form must be fully completed and signed in the corresponding blanks.

One recently captures passport-size photo is to be attached.

The passport as well as all the copies of your previous visas, valid for at least 3 months prior to your departure is required.

The passport must have at least two blank pages.

One must have a copy of the reservation of the return ticket for the time intended to be travelling.

The travel medical insurance policy is to be secured, covering any medical emergency with hospital care and travel back to ones native country due to medical motives. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. The health insurance policy must be purchased before picking up the visa and if your visa is refused you can cancel it!

In addition, tourists need to submit:-

Bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)

The detailed itinerary of the traveling days in the Schengen Zone, hotel reservations or a formal invitation letter from a resident of a Schengen country.

Where to apply:-

In cases where the applicant will be traveling to one and only one Schengen country, the applicant has to apply at the appropriate embassy/consulate of the certain country.

If the applicant is planning to visit two or more Schengen countries, it is highly recommended to be applying for the visa in the embassy/consulate of the country you will be residing in for most of the traveling days, referred to as the main destination.

In case there is no main destination but just a random visit to several Schengen countries, the applicant has to apply for the visa in the embassy/consulate on the first Schengen country he/she will enter according to the itinerary.

Once it’s determined in which embassy/consulate one will apply in, the applicant will apply in the embassy/consulate of that country that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

ALSO SEE:-     Schengen Visa India

If visa is refused:-

Even after the applicant submits all the required documentation and proof, the consulate/embassy has the authority to deny him/her the visa since there is no right to a Schengen visa whatsoever. The magnitude of the documentation will assure the applicant that the request is accepted and will be preceded yet it’s never a guarantee to an issued Schengen visa. Therefore, it’s highly recommended not to make nonrefundable travel arrangement prior to getting the visa.

Applicants who have been refused a visa have the right to appeal. Appeals shall be conducted against the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State.

Disclaimer:- The information provided in this article is to the best of our knowledge. Please visit the embassy website for the most recent updates.

Schengen Visa India

Fancy a trip to Europe? You must! A trip to Europe is not as expensive as you may think and can be one of the most enriching experiences of your life. Each country has its own unique culture which is so different from our own here in India. From spectacular monuments to scenic landscapes, from trekking and adventure opportunities to a vigorous nightlife, Europe has it all. The first step of course is to get your Visa.

Here is all that you need to know about the Schengen visa for Indians:

What is a Schengen visa:

Short-stay or “Schengen” visas allow holders to move freely in countries in the Schengen Area for stays not exceeding 90 days per period of 6 months from your first entry to the Schengen Area. Schengen visas may be issued for one or several entries. This type of visa is generally issued for tourism, business travel, family visits.

Indian nationals and nationals of other countries legally residing in India can apply for a Schengen visa to travel to one or more of the countries in the Schengen area. On obtaining the Schengen visa, the holder is allowed to circulate within the Schengen territory multiple numbers of times. However, if the holder of this visa leaves the Schengen territory, he/she cannot re-enter again without a new valid visa.

Which countries are covered by the Schengen visa?

As per the European Union, there are currently 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states of the European Union. These 26 countries share a common legal framework and there are no checks on the borders between them.

The countries issuing Schengen visas are:-

Austria*

Belgium*

the Czech Republic*

Denmark*

Estonia*

Finland*

France*

Germany*

Greece*

Hungary*

Iceland

Italy*

Latvia*

Liechtenstein

Lithuania*

Luxembourg*

Malta*

the Netherlands*

Norway

Poland*,

Portugal*

Slovakia*

Slovenia*

Spain*

Sweden*

Switzerland

Countries marked as * are included in the European Union.

When to apply:-

According to the EU, it is advisable to lodge the application at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit. It is important to note that applications can be lodged no more than three months before the start of the intended visit.

How to apply:-

Applicants may be required to obtain an appointment for the lodging of an application.

The applicant shall present a valid travel document (passport) which extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States). It shall contain at least two blank pages and shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

One shall download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.

Download the latest Schengen visa application form 2016

The application form can be filled in either by handwriting or by typing into it. The applicant has to sign the form in the corresponding gaps. If the applicant is a minor, the parents have to submit a written consent and also sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

Requirements:-

Every Schengen country shares more or less the same requirements for issuing a visa. However, depending on the consulate/embassy, there can be small differences in the additional documents required.

The application form must be fully completed and signed in the corresponding blanks.

One recently captures passport-size photo is to be attached.

The passport as well as all the copies of your previous visas, valid for at least 3 months prior to your departure is required.

The passport must have at least two blank pages.

One must have a copy of the reservation of the return ticket for the time intended to be travelling.

The travel medical insurance policy is to be secured, covering any medical emergency with hospital care and travel back to ones native country due to medical motives. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. The health insurance policy must be purchased before picking up the visa and if your visa is refused you can cancel it!

In addition, tourists need to submit:-

Bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)

The detailed itinerary of the traveling days in the Schengen Zone, hotel reservations or a formal invitation letter from a resident of a Schengen country.

Where to apply:-

In cases where the applicant will be traveling to one and only one Schengen country, the applicant has to apply at the appropriate embassy/consulate of the certain country.

If the applicant is planning to visit two or more Schengen countries, it is highly recommended to be applying for the visa in the embassy/consulate of the country you will be residing in for most of the traveling days, referred to as the main destination.

In case there is no main destination but just a random visit to several Schengen countries, the applicant has to apply for the visa in the embassy/consulate on the first Schengen country he/she will enter according to the itinerary.

Once it’s determined in which embassy/consulate one will apply in, the applicant will apply in the embassy/consulate of that country that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

ALSO SEE:-     Schengen Visa India

If visa is refused:-

Even after the applicant submits all the required documentation and proof, the consulate/embassy has the authority to deny him/her the visa since there is no right to a Schengen visa whatsoever. The magnitude of the documentation will assure the applicant that the request is accepted and will be preceded yet it’s never a guarantee to an issued Schengen visa. Therefore, it’s highly recommended not to make nonrefundable travel arrangement prior to getting the visa.

Applicants who have been refused a visa have the right to appeal. Appeals shall be conducted against the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State.

Disclaimer:- The information provided in this article is to the best of our knowledge. Please visit Schengen Visa India website for the most recent updates.

Schengen Visa

Georgia, Kosovo, Ukraine’s visa-free access to EU delayed:

The Wall Street Journal reports that the bloc’s powerful member states have raised new concerns regarding Ukraine, Georgia, and Kosovo’s visa-free grants, subsequently pushing the approval on to September at the earliest.

Organized crime deriving from Georgian gangs takes place as a major concern for Germany, while France is concerned that the visa waivers could create further security vulnerabilities at times of heightened terror fears.

In recent months, the European Commission recommended visa-free status for Georgia, Kosovo, Ukraine, and Turkey. While the latter’s bid has been put on the back burner as EU and Turkish officials are now targeting an October deal until Ankara completes several final tasks. The other countries’ bids, on the other hand, were expected to move rapidly.

Georgia is waiting for a decision on the matter, since December. Kosovo’s bid was expected to win backing within three-to-six months since the Commission’s recommendation in May. Whereas, Ukraine since April.

However, on Wednesday, June 8, when the ambassadors of 28 EU nations met in Brussels, the sufficient support required to back the move toward the visa lift has failed to be gathered, reports WSJ.

EU officials and diplomats maintain that September appears to be the earliest date for the EU governments and the European Parliament to sign off the agreements.

Italy and France agree that the decision should wait until the approval of new rules, which will allow easier suspension for visa-free regimes in case of abuse. Other countries have also slowed down the approval. Only in September is The European Parliament formally expected to back the changes.

Visa-free regimes are a crucial tool for the Bloc towards binding neighbors closer and advancing reforms in neighbor countries. Further delays may deplete the pro-western forces in countries like Georgia and Ukraine, who struggle with their hostile neighbor, Russia.

Myola Tochytskyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the EU, stated that he hopes the EU governments and the parliament will formally approve Kiev’s visa bid by early autumn, at the latest. Further delays and linking Ukraine with other countries will impair EU’s credibility, added Myola Tochytskyi.

Kosovo’s and Georgia’s officials have also reacted with concern towards the delay.

“Brussels literally has no more reasons to delay,” Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaçi told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. “Kosovo should not be held hostage to any disagreements between—in this case Brussels and Ankara. We have done our homework,” he said.

The proposal for the visa waiver came as a result of the positive assessment of implementation of Visa Liberalization Action Plan submitted by the European Commission.

Source: http://schengen-visa-india.tumblr.com/post/145748511113/schengen-visa

Schengen Visa

Fancy a trip to Europe? You must! A trip to Europe is not as expensive as you may think and can be one of the most enriching experiences of your life. Each country has its own unique culture which is so different from our own here in India. From spectacular monuments to scenic landscapes, from trekking and adventure opportunities to a vigorous nightlife, Europe has it all. The first step of course is to get your Visa.

Here is all that you need to know about the Schengen visa for Indians:

What is a Schengen visa:

Short-stay or “Schengen” visas allow holders to move freely in countries in the Schengen Area for stays not exceeding 90 days per period of 6 months from your first entry to the Schengen Area. Schengen visas may be issued for one or several entries. This type of visa is generally issued for tourism, business travel, family visits.

Indian nationals and nationals of other countries legally residing in India can apply for a Schengen visa to travel to one or more of the countries in the Schengen area. On obtaining the Schengen visa, the holder is allowed to circulate within the Schengen territory multiple numbers of times. However, if the holder of this visa leaves the Schengen territory, he/she cannot re-enter again without a new valid visa.

Which countries are covered by the Schengen visa?

As per the European Union, there are currently 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, 22 of which are member states of the European Union. These 26 countries share a common legal framework and there are no checks on the borders between them.

The countries issuing Schengen visas are:-

Austria*

Belgium*

the Czech Republic*

Denmark*

Estonia*

Finland*

France*

Germany*

Greece*

Hungary*

Iceland

Italy*

Latvia*

Liechtenstein

Lithuania*

Luxembourg*

Malta*

the Netherlands*

Norway

Poland*,

Portugal*

Slovakia*

Slovenia*

Spain*

Sweden*

Switzerland

Countries marked as * are included in the European Union.

When to apply:-

According to the EU, it is advisable to lodge the application at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit. It is important to note that applications can be lodged no more than three months before the start of the intended visit.

How to apply:-

Applicants may be required to obtain an appointment for the lodging of an application.

The applicant shall present a valid travel document (passport) which extends at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States). It shall contain at least two blank pages and shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

One shall download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.

Download the latest Schengen visa application form 2016

The application form can be filled in either by handwriting or by typing into it. The applicant has to sign the form in the corresponding gaps. If the applicant is a minor, the parents have to submit a written consent and also sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

Requirements:-

Every Schengen country shares more or less the same requirements for issuing a visa. However, depending on the consulate/embassy, there can be small differences in the additional documents required.

The application form must be fully completed and signed in the corresponding blanks.

One recently captures passport-size photo is to be attached.

The passport as well as all the copies of your previous visas, valid for at least 3 months prior to your departure is required.

The passport must have at least two blank pages.

One must have a copy of the reservation of the return ticket for the time intended to be travelling.

The travel medical insurance policy is to be secured, covering any medical emergency with hospital care and travel back to ones native country due to medical motives. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. The health insurance policy must be purchased before picking up the visa and if your visa is refused you can cancel it!

In addition, tourists need to submit:-

Bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)

The detailed itinerary of the traveling days in the Schengen Zone, hotel reservations or a formal invitation letter from a resident of a Schengen country.

Where to apply:-

In cases where the applicant will be traveling to one and only one Schengen country, the applicant has to apply at the appropriate embassy/consulate of the certain country.

If the applicant is planning to visit two or more Schengen countries, it is highly recommended to be applying for the visa in the embassy/consulate of the country you will be residing in for most of the traveling days, referred to as the main destination.

In case there is no main destination but just a random visit to several Schengen countries, the applicant has to apply for the visa in the embassy/consulate on the first Schengen country he/she will enter according to the itinerary.

Once it’s determined in which embassy/consulate one will apply in, the applicant will apply in the embassy/consulate of that country that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

ALSO SEE:-     Schengen Visa India

If visa is refused:-

Even after the applicant submits all the required documentation and proof, the consulate/embassy has the authority to deny him/her the visa since there is no right to a Schengen visa whatsoever. The magnitude of the documentation will assure the applicant that the request is accepted and will be preceded yet it’s never a guarantee to an issued Schengen visa. Therefore, it’s highly recommended not to make nonrefundable travel arrangement prior to getting the visa.

Applicants who have been refused a visa have the right to appeal. Appeals shall be conducted against the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State.

Disclaimer:- The information provided in this article is to the best of our knowledge. Please visit the embassy website for the most recent updates.

Source: - https://www.evernote.com/shard/s743/sh/6334e439-71b0-4524-8595-bf2768d6904d/181557d57f7aad0a9f9e2bb59b6cce83

Schengen Visa India

In order to get a Schengen visa, it is necessary to apply for multiple entry visa from one of the Schengen countries. (For more on Schengen countries, read our article.) I applied and got a tourist Schengen Visa through the French Embassy last year: and here’s the good, bad and ugly of the process.

Where to apply?

The French Embassy has outsourced the processing of their visa to an Indian company called VFS. So all the necessary information about what, where, how and when is available on the VFS France site. Any applicant can download visa forms for different categories for the site too.

How much it costs?

For information on the visa fees structure: http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/. When we include the Visa fee + VFS’ processing charges, it rounds up to about Rs 5000.

How long it takes?

There are two aspects to this: first is scheduling of appointment and then the entire procedure of submitting, interview and getting the visa. The first part entirely depends on how busy the VFS is. I would definitely recommend getting your appointment date at least a month or month-and-half before your departure. This can be done online or by calling their VSF service.

Once you have your date, the second part takes only 2 days and is done at the French Consulate of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata (to the best of my knowledge). So remember, if you don’t live in these cities, there will be a trek involved.

On the scheduled appointment day, the applicant has to FIRST go to the VFS office and submit the documents. The VFS officer then issues an interview token upon the receiving of the visa fee for the following day. The applicant then goes for his interview the next day (at the French Consultant) and receives his visa the very day.

Regarding the paperwork?

Don’t underestimate the power of paperwork. If they ask for a document, make sure you have it. And don’t let pride step-in. In my case, I happily wrote that my father was funding my trip – even though it was not the case – and showed his bank statements instead of mine, because of course, it made my application stronger. I arrived with a complete set of travel, accommodation and financial documents.

Questions at interviews?

The good news about the French Visa system is that if your paper work is strong, then the interview is a mere formality. For the tourist visa, they ask the usual questions like: who is funding? How many days? What accommodation? Etc. If the applicant is traveling alone, they might ask why? To that I simply give a guarded but confident answer like “some of my friends will be joining me on my trip”.  Please do NOT mention things like “I have family” or boyfriend. These are strict NO. At visa interviews, it is never a good idea to be TOO HONEST! (Though, read Aditi Tandon’s comment below for a contrary view. Also, if you get nervous during interviews, it might be better to just stick to the truth and slug it out).

What is a biometric?

The French consulate insists on taking biometric every time the applicant applies for a visa. Biometrics involves taking imprints of all your 8 fingers and 2 thumbs on a machine that they keep for records. I think, all the four consulates now have the biometric facilities available. When I applied last year, only the Mumbai and Delhi Consulates did, which meant I had to travel from Bangalore to Mumbai for this.

Other tips.

Even if you are actually staying with friends/family/hosts, I would suggest for you to not mention this in your application. The French system has a complicated procedure for anyone staying with French citizens. The host family has to first collect a paid application from the Town hall. Next, they are forced to answer absurd questions related to their personal/financial situation. (Again read Aditi Tandon’s comment below for a contrary view. Also, if you get nervous during interviews, it might be better to just stick to the truth, get your paperwork done in advance and slug it out).

Take my advice, just make cheap hostel bookings across the country that you can easily cancel after getting your visa: they can’t question the bookings and it is the simplest and easiest way to keep the paper work light. (And stick to your story during the interview).

Multiple set of original documents: Always keep two set of originals of your bank statements or other documents. My bank statement was misplaced by the VSF officer…thankfully I had another copy of my originals at the day of the interview.

- See more at: http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/

Schengen Visa India

How to get Schengen VisaIndia ? - Get Detailed information about Schengen Visa documents requirements and regulations.  http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/

5 Points to be considered while selecting your travel destination

How to get Schengen Visa? - Get Detailed information about Schengen Visa documents requirements and regulations.  http://visafromhome.com/schengen-visa/

Tourist Schengen Visa

Tourist visa is an authorization of the designated country/countries of destination within the Schengen Area issued to the citizens of countries that have mandatory visa requirements from the Schengen Zone with the sole purpose of traveling in the designated Schengen country/countries for pleasure or on a visit to their relatives living in the Schengen Zone. The holder of this type of visa is not required to have the citizenship of the designated country in order to spend time with their relatives or visiting the designated Schengen country however such an authorization has its limitations as well.

On a tourist visa you are allowed to reside in the designated country for the maximum of 3 months/90 days unless the visa states differently, and you are not allowed to work for such a period of time, unless the visa states differently.

Who needs a Schengen Visa?

Non-European citizens willing to travel to the Schengen Area are bound to apply for a short-term Schengen visa under “tourist” specification.  Depending on the visa issued they may be allowed to enter once (single entry) or multiple times (multiple entry) and stay for no longer than 3 months 90 days per year in between the period of 6 months. Such a decision is made by the authorities depending on the nature of ones travel purpose and other relevant factors.

What documentation is required?

First of all, one must download the application form from the internet and fill it completely and sincerely. You can electronically fill in the form for a Schengen Visa and print it out.

One photo is to be attached; the photo must have a passport format, full-face capture, and a light background. The photo must be recently taken.

The passport as well as all the copies of your previous visas, valid for at least 3 months prior to your departure is required. The passport must have at least two blank pages.

One must have a copy of the reservation of the return ticket for the time intended to be travelling. It is not recommendable to buy the ticket before getting the visa, if not necessary.

The travel medical insurance policy is to be secured, covering any medical emergency with hospital care and travel back to one’s native country due to medical motives. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. The health insurance policy must be purchased before picking up the Schengen Visa India and if your visa is refused you can cancel it!

Tourist visa (Visiting friends or relatives)

The current bank statement (preferably for the last 6 months)

In case one doesn’t have a bank account or doesn’t own enough funds to be taking care of their expenses during this travel, one must ask the visiting friends or relatives to sign an “official affidavit of support” at the corresponding office in his/her place of residence. Make sure you carry the original document when applying for the visa.

The applicant description of their trip, the purpose of travelling, the time frame and all the personal date written down in a letter.

In case of first time travelers, one must submit also:

Income tax returns for the last three years

Appointment letter

Proof of legal entity of the company

A reference letter from the employer

In case the applicant is the owner of the company he/she is working for, the business registration, tax returns and the latest bank statement is to be attached.

The plane ticket reservation (One shall buy the ticket after getting the visa, as recommended).

Other documents, specified by the visa subtype

[Source: http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/tourist-schengen-visa/]

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

It was in 2007 when my parents had to apply for my student Schengen visa. It wasn’t easy back then, especially with my case since I was underage and my parents had to give my sister the rights to be my guardian while I live with her in Finland, there was too much fuss and tons of paperwork. Of course, I didn’t process my own papers because I was not yet eighteen, therefore my parent’s had to endure all the processing themselves while I tagged along. That was eight years ago.

Nowadays I have to do the entire visa processing all by myself without anyone’s help and although year by year visa application becomes more expensive, yet easy (thanks internet), there is one thing I realize has not changed: the process of application itself. Throughout my eight years of stay in Finland, I had to go through the same visa application process every year for four years until I finished my studies.

After that, I had to apply for a four-year working resident visa. It doesn’t matter in which country you try to apply for your Schengen visa (may it be student, tourist or working visa) and/or to what country, the requirements are very standard (we’ll go through them as you read along). But as always, every embassy requires some specifics.

That is why it is always better to call and ask for other special requirements needed just in case it is not clearly specified in their list online.

Although I acquired my Schengen visa because of work and studies, that does not mean it is so much different than applying for a tourist visa. Tourist Schengen Visa however a much simpler process than work and studies is since it is only meant for short visits (90 days).

Be aware nonetheless because even though I say it’s simpler doesn’t mean you have to treat your application lightly. One wrong move will lead to your application getting denied and although reapplication is possible, it is still better to be careful and triple check your requirements before handing it to the embassy or consulate for processing.

Like any visa application, it also costs a lot, so please take care that you fill in every detail correctly.

[Source: http://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/2015/04/how-to-apply-for-schengen-visa/]