Certain documents must be provided as part of the Schengen Visa application process when applying for a Schengen visa. Due to this, the Schengen Zone has compiled a list of the documents you will need. The requirements are more or less the same for each country. This can change depending on where you are to visit and why.
This article contains a checklist of the documents you will need to gain a Schengen Visa Application and the specific documents required for each visa category. You’ll also discover a brief description of each criterion and its requirements. When applying for a Schengen Visa, you should use a management service.
What documents do you require when applying for a Schengen Visa?
All applications for Schengen Visas must have the following documents:
- A completed and signed application form.
- Two photographs are needed which have been taken recently.
- A valid passport. Less than ten years old. Valid for at least three months after the day you want to leave the Schengen Zone. Passports with visas from the past (if you have any).
- The full information on your itinerary or reservations for your trip. The dates and flight numbers detailing entry and exit from the Schengen area must be included. Any consultation services for visas.
What other documents do you required?
- Policy for travel insurance. A document proving that you have travel health insurance for the entire Schengen Zone with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of a medical emergency, such as sickness, accidents, or even death repatriation.
- Proof of accommodation of where you will be staying.
- A document that details where you will be staying throughout your stay in Schengen. One of the following is expected:
– A reservation for a hotel or hostel.
– Rental contract.
– A letter of invitation from the host who will be hosting you. - Financial proof. Proof that you can sustain yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen area. One of the following is usable:
– A bank account statement. To show that you have sufficient funds in your account for the trip. The statement must be no more than three months old.
– A Sponsorship Letter. A letter from someone else confirming they would financially sponsor your trip. A bank statement from the sponsor must accompany this letter. This should be no more than three months old to be valid.
– A combination of your bank statement and a letter of sponsorship is required.
Schengen embassies around the world ask visa applicants to provide specific documents based on their job status. As well as various extra documents based on the type of Schengen Visa Application.
Requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa based on your employment status.
The following documents are necessary depending on the visa applicant’s job status:
Employees:
- First Contract of employment.
- The most recent six-month bank statement available.
- Your employer must give you permission to leave.
- Form ITR (Income Tax Return) or Certificate of Income Tax Deducted at Source (CITD).
Self-employed:
- A photocopy of your company’s license.
- The most recent six-month bank statement for the company.
- Return on Taxes (ITR).
Students:
- Proof of enrollment is required.
- There is no letter of disapproval from the school or university.
Retired Persons:
- The most recent six-month pension statement.
If you’re unemployed and married to an EU citizen, you need:
- Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer, no more than three months old, specifying the job held inside the organization and the start date.
- Valid passport of the spouse.
- A legally binding marriage certificate.
Other Documents You Required
Apart from the aforementioned documents, you will need to submit other documents, depending on the Schengen visa type you are applying for. Each type of Schengen Visa requires its own set of documents.
Airport Transit Visa
The following documents are mandatory to obtain a Schengen Airport Transit Visa:
- A valid visa (if one is required) for the destination country
- The ticket for the final country you’ll be visiting
Visiting Relatives / Friends
The following documents are required to complete a Schengen Visa Application:
- An Affidavit of Support. During your visit, an official affidavit of support is required if you do not have a bank account or do not have enough money to cover your expenses.
- Itinerary for travel. The trip description. Reason for travel. As well as the time range and all personal dates of trip.
- Subsistence Techniques. If the applicant declares they will cover all travel expenses, proof of financial status is required. Otherwise, if the applicant’s expenses will be covered by a relative or friend, a formal document issued by the competent authorities to a resident of a Schengen country (in this case, the friend/relative) is required.
- Invitation letter. By a family member or friend who lives in a Schengen nation. If the applicant will be funding the costs on his or her own, the name, address, and a copy of the passport of a relative or friend will suffice. A copy of the residency permit will be requested if the friend/relative is not a citizen of this Schengen nation.
Tourism
The following documents are required to obtain a Schengen visa for tourism purposes:
- Statement from the bank. Ideally, from the last six months.
- Affidavit of Support. If you dont have a bank account or dont have enough money to cover your expenses during your trip, youll need to have your visiting friends or family sign a “official affidavit of support” at the equivalent office in your hometown. When applying for a visa, make sure you have the original document with you.
- Itinerary for travel. The applicants trip description, purpose of travel, time frame, and any personal dates put down in a letter. Hotel arrangements or an official invitation letter from a Schengen nation resident.
Medical Visit
The following documents are required to obtain a Schengen Medical Visa:
- A letter from a doctor, clinic, or hospital in the visa applicants home country stating that he or she need medical care.
- The receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in the EU provides official confirmation of the treatment/appointment.
- Financial proof is required. Proof that the applicant has the financial resources to cover all medical and related costs during their treatment.
One of the following is a possibility:
- Statements from the bank.
- Sponsorship letter plus the sponsors bank statements.
- Proof of treatment payments in advance, as well as a bank statement for other associated costs.
- Verbal note from the applicants home countrys Ministry of Health – stating that the applicants home countrys relevant government is willing to fund his medical treatment costs (for covered medical treatment by the Government of the home country of the applicant).
Other Reasons to Travel
If your visas purpose isn’t one of the ones given above, you’ll need to gather the additional documents listed below, depending on your reason for visiting Europe.
Study
The following documents are necessary to obtain a Schengen Student visa:
- Instead of one application form, there are two.
- Acceptance letter from an EU university, college, or school.
- Financial proof is required. Documents demonstrating ones ability to be financially independent while in the Schengen zone.
For Work
The following documents are necessary to obtain a Schengen Working visa:
- Instead of one application form, there are two.
- Contract of employment A contract between an applicant and his or her future employer based in the Schengen area.
Joining a spouse in the EU
The following documents are required to obtain a Schengen visa to join a spouse who lives in the EU:
- Instead of one application form, there are two.
- The certified copy of the marriage certificate in its original form.
- If the spouse is an EU citizen, a copy of his or her passport. If your spouse is not but only lives in a Schengen country, you must also present a copy of his or her residency permit.
To take part in Cultural, Sporting or Religious Events
The following documents are necessary in order to obtain a Schengen visa for cultural, sporting or religious events:
- Information about the event. Invitation letters, admission tickets, enrollment conditions, a full program, and other documents containing pertinent information about the event are examples.
- Proof of previous achievements. Previous participation in cultural and religious festivals and ceremonies, athletic events, winners diplomas, and proof of world/international ranking (sports).