One of the frequently asked questions by many travellers is “Where should I apply for a Schengen visa?” Since there are more than 20 countries that belong to the Schengen area, travellers are confused as to which Schengen embassy to go to and apply for a tourist visa. This question aims to answer all queries regarding this frequently asked question.
Before answering the main question, the first detail to check is whether you really need a Schengen visa or not. There are currently more than 50 countries that have mutual visa exemption agreement with the Schengen group, which allows its citizens to enter the Schengen area for up to 90 days. If you are curious to know if your passport falls under the visa exemption agreement, here is the list of countries with visa exemption agreement:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Holy See/Vatican City
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Timor Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- USA
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Where Should I apply for a Schengen visa? – Details of Visa Application
If your passport doesn’t belong to any of the countries listed above, then you really need to apply for a Schengen visa.
Single Country Visit:
If you plan to visit only one country within the Schengen area, then you must apply for a visa in that particular country you are visiting. For example, if you plan to go around Italy, then you must apply at the Italian embassy near your location.
Multiple Country Visit:
If you plan to visit several countries in the Schengen area and you have predetermined your travel itinerary and your hotel booking, then you must apply for a visa from the Schengen member embassy where you plan to stay the longest. For example, if you plan to do a backpacking adventure in Central Europe and your planned itinerary states that you will stay in Amsterdam the longest, then you need to apply at the nearest Netherlands embassy in your location.
If you plan to visit several countries in the Schengen area but have not finalized your travel itinerary but have finalized your flight booking, then you must apply for a visa from the embassy of your planned point of entry. For example, if your flight booking states that your point of entry is Frankfurt, then you need to apply for a Schengen visa at the nearest German embassy near you.
When Should I Apply for a Schengen Visa?
If you have predetermined your travel itinerary, then you need to apply for a Schengen visa at least 6 weeks prior to your date of departure. This way, you have time to complete your visa requirements and have enough time to set an appointment for your visa interview. Moreover, applying for a Schengen visa 6 weeks prior to your date of departure will allow you to have a stress-free trip because you need not expedite your visa application.
What Requirements Do I Need to Prepare for my Schengen Visa Application?
Applying for a Schengen visa may have a different process depending on the Schengen member embassy you are applying from; however the requirements for the visa application are somewhat similar. Commence your travel plans by completing all the necessary documents to acquire a Schengen visa:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- Current passport-sized photos with white background
- Completed Schengen Visa application form
- Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.
- Travel Insurance – It is better to acquire this from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- Bank Documents
- For employed travellers, a No Objection Letter is highly recommended
Aside from the above mentioned requirements, you also need to pay for the processing of your visa application. The fee may vary from country to country or from embassy to embassy; however the average amount of the short-stay Schengen visa is €65 for adults and €40 for children below 12 years old. You can pay for your visa application fee using your local currency. Remember to pay the fee directly at the embassy or consulate to avoid any scams, unless you have sought the assistance of a travel agent.
Where Should I Apply for a Schengen Visa? – Important Reminders
Before sending your requirements to just any Schengen member embassy and be at a risk of being denied of a visa due to some technicalities, make sure you have a travel itinerary and/or a flight booking. Having one of these will give you an idea of which Schengen embassy to apply a tourist visa from.
In addition, it is important to know which kind of visa you will need. If your point of entry is within the Schengen area and your planned itinerary states that you will exit and re-enter the Schengen area, then you will need to apply for a double entry or multiple entry visa. Do make a note of this so that the consul who will process your application will not miss this important detail.
Finally, once you have submitted all the requirements to the right Schengen member embassy, you may need to prepare for your interview. Make sure to dress smartly and always answer the consul’s questions with confidence and conviction. Being confident during the interview will show that you are sure of your answers and you are telling the truth.
Hopefully all the answers to the frequently asked question, “Where should I apply for a Schengen visa?” are in this article. Good luck!