How to get a visa to the Schengen countries?

A Schengen visa permits you to travel to 29 European countries. You will need a passport, a bank statement, an employment confirmation, your photo, and health insurance. Here we are going over the details of a Schengen visa application: from submitting documents to the visa costs. Also — explaining, why the Schengen Area should be distinguished from the European Union.

What is a Schengen visa?

In 1985, the unification of European states into the Schengen Area began. The Schengen countries developed legislation titled “the Schengen Agreement”. It provided for the abolition of checks at internal customs and borders. 

When Germany and Italy joined the Schengen Agreement, German citizens could enter Italian territory without a visa.

How the Schengen Area emerged

On June 14th, 1985, representatives of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany met on the territory of the Schengen settlement in Luxembourg. They signed the Schengen Agreement to simplify passport and visa control at the borders between their states.

The Schengen acquis regulates movement within the Schengen Area. The rules, among other things, provide for issuing different Schengen visa types. They are provided by the consulates of the Schengen countries in 130 states. The legal provisions are detailed in 2009’s Visa Code.

Who needs a Schengen visa, and who doesn’t?

The rules for crossing the Schengen Area borders depend on the citizenship of a foreigner that crosses them. States that are not part of the Schengen Area can be divided into two groups: countries that do not have an agreement on visa-free entry into the Schengen and countries that do.

If there is no visa-free agreement. Citizens of countries from this group require a Schengen visa. Then they can visit all the countries participating in the agreement. With a visa, they can freely travel within the Schengen Area.

If there is a visa-free agreement. Citizens of countries from this group do not need a visa to Europe — they enter the Schengen Area by only presenting a passport.

Second citizenship. A person with second citizenship can choose which passport to use when crossing the external Schengen border. For example, Grenada has an agreement on visa-free entry into the Schengen Area. A person with dual citizenship — of their native country and Grenada — doesn’t have to apply for a visa and is allowed to cross the Schengen Area border with a Grenada passport.

Residence permit in a Schengen country. A similar rule applies if a person has a residence permit in a Schengen Area member state. For example, Kyrgyzstan citizens with a Portugal residence permit card can travel through the Schengen Area without visas. Moreover, a residence permit gives the right to enter the country without a visa, even if the borders are closed.

Schengen Area countries 

The concepts of the Schengen Area and the European Union differ. Visiting an EU country with a Schengen visa is possible only if that country has signed the Schengen agreement.

Countries of the Schengen Area that are also part of the European Union:

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Croatia
5. Czech
6. Denmark
7. Estonia
8. Finland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Italy
14. Latvia
15. Lithuania
16. Luxembourg
17. Malta
18. Netherlands
19. Poland
20. Portugal
21. Romania
22. Slovakia
23. Slovenia
24. Spain
25. Sweden

Countries of the European Union that are not part of the Schengen Area:

1. Cyprus
2. Ireland

Countries of the Schengen Area that are not part of the European Union:

1. Iceland
2. Liechtenstein
3. Norway
4. Switzerland

To visit a country that has not signed the Schengen Agreement but is a member of the European Union, a national visa, a visa-free agreement, or a multiple-entry Schengen visa is required.

For example, the UK has not been a member of the European Union since 2021 and has never been a part of the Schengen Agreement. A national visa is required to enter the UK. At the same time, European Union and Switzerland citizens come to the UK without a visa if they plan to stay in the country for up to 90 days. Citizens of Caribbean countries can enter the UK without a visa. 

Where else can you enter with a Schengen visa?

Some European countries that are not part of either the European Union or the Schengen Area can be entered with a Schengen visa. This is due to the peculiarity of their location:

• Andorra is a dwarf Western European state without its own airport. Access to its territory is through the border with France or Spain.
• Vatican City is an enclaved state surrounded by Italian territory.
• Monaco is a state associated with France, meaning that its foreign policy affairs are entrusted to France.
• San Marino. There is no airport in San Marino, and the country can be entered through Italy only. This means a Schengen visa is required.

Validity period and duration of stay of Schengen visas

The visa validity period and the maximum duration of stay in a country with that visa are different concepts. If a Schengen visa is issued for one year, this does not mean that the entire year can be spent in the Schengen Area.

Validity. A visa validity period depends on the trip’s purpose and the visa category. For example, a tourist from Armenia who is travelling to a Schengen state for the first time will most likely receive a short-stay visa for the duration of the trip. The maximum validity of a tourist Schengen visa is five years. A long-stay visa is usually given to tourists who have already visited the Schengen Area several times and are law-abiding.

Duration of stay. Tourists’ stay in the Schengen Area also depends on the visa category; the maximum is 90 days within six months. Meaning that if a visa is valid for 5 years, a person can enter the Schengen Area as often as they want. The main requirement is to stay in the Schengen Area for less than 90 days with a 180-day period. Tourists from countries with visa-free agreements are limited to the same duration of stay.

Types of Schengen visas 

Europe visa types depend on the purpose of the trip. It can be one-entry, two-entry or multiple-entry. With a single-entry visa, a traveller can enter and exit the Schengen Area only once; with a two-entry visa, two trips are allowed.

With a multiple-entry visa, a traveller can enter the Schengen countries as often as possible while the visa is valid. But the total number of days in the Schengen Area is limited.

 Types of multiple-entry Schengen visas

Where and how to apply for a Schengen visa, and how much does it cost

Where to apply. Embassy, ​​consulate, visa application centre — these three terms usually come up when dealing with visa issues. A Schengen visa is issued at the desired country’s consulate. You can apply directly to the consulate or through the visa centre. Embassies do not issue visas. 

A Visa Application Center is a private intermediary company that receives documents from applicants for issuing visas, processes requests and transfers them to consulates. Also, employees of visa centres provide paid services for filling out the form.

How to apply. Decide on the first country of entry, and register on its consulate’s website. Study the information about the required documents and make an appointment. Usually, self-registration through the consulate takes longer than submitting documents through visa centres. For example, at the Italian consulate, appointment slots get booked three months in advance, while a visa centre allows making an appointment the very next day. 

How much does it cost? The issuance fee for a Schengen visa does not depend on which country’s consulate it is issued through. The fee depends on the applicant’s citizenship and ranges from €35 to €80.

What documents are needed to obtain a Schengen visa

The set of documents for obtaining a Schengen visa depends on the trip’s purpose: tourism, business or medical treatment. 

Reservations for air tickets and hotels should be added to the documents for a tourist visa. Entrepreneurs apply for a certificate of business registration, and employees present an employment letter from their company or the inviting party proving the purpose of the visit. A letter from the doctor and a confirmation from the accommodating medical facility are required for a medical treatment trip.

List of essential documents for a Schengen visa of any category:

1. Passport, or a foreign passport with two blank pages, issued within the last 10 years. It must be valid for at least three months beyond the planned Schengen Area exit date.
2. Photo. One photo in colour sized 3.5×4.5 cm. The face should occupy 70—80% of the total area of ​​the photo. Photos must not be older than 6 months. Visa application centres in some countries require two photos.
3. Previous cancelled passport, if available, and copies of all its pages.
4. Passport of the country of origin, with copies of all pages.
5. Employment letter. It is issued on the company’s letterhead with details and the date of issue. The document indicates the position and salary of the applicant, the work commencement date, and the full name and position of the persons signing the letter. Usually, it is the director or the supervisor. The original company stamp is mandatory. This letter is valid for one month.
6. Medical insurance for Schengen travels with a minimum coverage of €30,000.
7. Bank account statement. Details on the financial movements of the last three months are necessary when applying for a visa to Belgium, Spain, Italy, Norway and Poland. The funds must be at least €581 per person; the statement is valid for one month.

Biometrics. Starting September 14th, 2015, applicants over 12 must submit biometric data — their fingerprints. Biometrics are valid for 5 years. Applicants who cannot undergo a fingerprint scan, government leaders, monarchs and royal family members are exempt from the procedure.

Some visa application centres provide mobile biometrics services starting from €150. This is convenient for those who do not have time to visit a consulate or visa centre in person.

Insurance for a Schengen visa

The coverage must be at least €30,000. The insurance must indicate the country of visit or “Schengen” if a tour is planned. Insurance can be taken out for the nearest trip, even if the traveller is applying for a long-stay tourist visa. The insurance includes dates of entry and exit.

Long-stay insurance is usually issued after obtaining a multiple-entry Schengen visa. For example, a one-year Schengen travel policy.  

The €30,000⁣ coverage is basic health insurance with a minimum of services. If a person goes to a ski resort, rides a bike, scuba dives, or goes mountain climbing, it is recommended to include the appropriate option in the insurance. Insurance will rise in price, but a person will receive medical care.

Other types of insurance are optional, although some of them are often taken out by travellers. You do not need to present these insurances to apply for a visa.

Trip cancellation insurance. Reimburses for travel expenses if you have to interrupt or cancel your vacation due to illness, visa denial, or urgent work situation. Relevant for those who are planning a vacation at least six months in advance. This is one of the most expensive insurances; the cost starts from 10% of the travel price.

Baggage insurance.  About 5% of baggage gets lost every year during flights. In case of loss, the insurance company reimburses for the cost of the suitcase and its contents. Insurance does not cover money, jewellery, precious stones, documents, medical devices, or other expensive items. They are insured separately. Statistically, most cases of lost baggage occur on connecting flights.

Frequently Asked Questions