contents
Some preliminary information on the Schengen Visa.
Types of Schengen Visas.
How Early Can You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Schengen Visa?
The Process of Application The Schengen visa application process is as follows:
Can You Get Your Schengen Visa Fast？
When Should You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
Post-approval checks on the visa include:
Conclusion
FAQs
Applying for a Schengen visa is a necessity for people from many countries to travel to any of the 29 European countries within the Schengen Area. One of the most typical concerns for travelers is knowing how long the application takes and understanding when to get ready. The answer can be different based on the specific situation and determining factors.
Below, we clarify the process, key steps, and time-based factors that can affect the application and consider how to ensure approval in time for the trip. The guide may also help answer questions on the time required for processing a Schengen visa application.
1. Some preliminary information on the Schengen Visa.
It refers to the short-term visa, allowing applicants to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days. The Schengen Area consists of 29 various European countries, comprising some of the worlds most popular tourist destinations, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. With the Schengen visa, individuals are allowed to travel freely in these countries without a need for separate visas.
2. Types of Schengen Visas.
Another important point to remember before applying for a visa is recognizing which type is needed. The specific type of document is a direct factor that influences processing time and required documentation. Primarily, there are three categories of visas:
Short-Stay Visa Type C. Designed for purposes of tourism, business, or family visits and is given for such travel duration. This specific type is optimal for conducting leisure activities, tours.
Airport Transit Visa Type A. With this type of visa, the individual traveling to a non-Schengen region can pass through the international zone of a Schengen state airport. A transit airport visa or in other words – an A-type visa holder is not allowed to enter into the Schengen Area territory.
Long-Stay Visa Type D. The given visa is targeted at people who plan to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days, with their intentions related to work, study, or other such interests.
For this article, the focus will be on the most commonly sought-after visa: the short-stay visa.
3. How Early Can You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
According to Schengen visa regulations, you can submit your Schengen visa application up to 6 months before your intended travel date. However, for seafarers, the application can be submitted as early as 9 months in advance.
The general recommendation is to apply no less than 15 days before your planned trip. However, it is always a good idea to apply as early as possible to allow for any potential delays and additional documents you may have to prepare.
4. How Long Does It Take to Get a Schengen Visa?
15 calendar days at most.
The processing time for a Schengen visa may differ, but generally, it takes 15 calendar days to complete. In a few cases, the visa application process may take as many as 30 or even 45 days, depending on the time of year and how much scrutiny your application has gone through.
15 calendar days:
This is the standard processing time from the day the application is handed in.
45 calendar days:
This is the extended processing time, which is in rare cases with peaks, a volume of applications, or specific risks related to national security.
The Time of Year:
High travel seasons, such as summer, Christmas, or New Year, usually see longer processing times due to the numbers of applications having to be processed.
Your Nationality:
Generally, the consulate will have to do more in-depth checks of nationals from countries with strict visa entry requirements.
The Embassy/Consulate Processing the Application:
The processing time can sometimes depend on which specific Schengen consulate or embassy is handling your application. If you are applying in a country where a high numbers of applications are being processed, adding to that length of time will be unavoidable.
The completeness of the Application:
If it is not complete and a number of documents are missing or unclear, the process of completing or clarifying the application will have to be undertaken, leading to increased processing times.
In order to submit a visa application, you will need to collect and send these documents:
- A Completed Schengen Visa Application Form: This form must be signed by the applicant and filled out accurately.
- A Valid Passport: The passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond the date you depart the Schengen Area and must have been issued in the last 10 years.
- Two recent Passport:Size Photos: The photos must meet the criteria and requirements set by the Schengen visa guidelines.
- Travel Itinerary: The travel itinerary must include a round-trip reservation or flight bookings, as well as accommodation information.
- Travel Insurance: Proof of an international travel insurance policy that covers up to €30,000 in medical expenses during your stay in the Schengen Area.
- Proof of Accommodation: This could take the form of hotel reservation, an invitation letter with the address of a host, or another proof of where you will be staying.
- Proof of Financial Means: This could take the form of bank statements, pay slips, or sponsorship letters.
Note that it is essential to verify the details in the country where you are applying, as some consulates may require additional documents.
6. The Process of Application The Schengen visa application process is as follows:
(1) Find the Consulate/Embassy: You must apply a the consulate or embassy of the Schengen country where you are intended to stay the most or that is your main destination.
(2) book a schengen visa appointment : Most of the embassies require you to book a schengen visa appointment in order to submit the application.
(3) Submit the Application : Present your application form as well as the required documents at your appointment. In the majority of cases, you will have to give your biometric data being fingerprint, in case you haven’t done it in the past five years.
(4) Pay the Fee : The visa fee for an adult is €90. However, there are additional discounts for minors, some nationalities, and group.
(5) Processing : The period of processing starts following the book. You will be notified to pick up the visa or receive it by post.
7. Can You Get Your Schengen Visa Fast？
It can be challenging to obtain a Schengen visa more quickly, and there is no priority service for Schengen visas. However, if you want to expedite your Schengen visa submission, you can choose our Fast Track Schengen Visa service. With this service, the earliest available appointment slot could be as soon as 24 hours.
If you find the time that is required to process the visa longer than the time mentioned. There are many ways that you can reach to through.
(1) Check Your Application Status: Many embassies and visa centers have an online system in place that enables tracking the progress of your application.
(2) Contact the Consulate or Embassy: If there is no update after the end of the standard processing time, you can contact the embassy or visa center to query the status of your application.
(3) Submit Additional Documents if Requested: Sometimes, there are delays because they require additional documents, or there could be some misunderstandings or priority cases on their desk. Do what they ask to avoid the continuous delay.
If you understand why a Schengen visa application sometimes gets rejected, then you will see that most of the reasons are avoidable. Some standard grounds for the rejection of visa applications include
(1) Incomplete Application: A visa can be rejected if any given specific requirement is not satisfied.
(2) Insufficient Financial Means: If the consulate you have made your applicate to thinks that you do not have sufficient funds to spend during your trip to the Schengen Area, your visa application will be overturned.
(3) Lack of Travel Insurance: The SOV is not convinced that the applicant has not obtained travel insurance yet.
(4) Unclear Purposes of Travel: A Schengen visa may be refused if the applicant cannot convince them about their travel to the Schengen Area.
You will receive notice on the reason(s) for the denial of the visa application. Please note that before a rejection, consulates and embassies always contact the applicant for clarification or add additional documents before. If you find such mistakes upon rejection, you can appeal the decision or reapply after correcting everything.
10. When Should You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
If possible apply at least one or two months before you plan to travel. Not only will you get a stress-free experience while applying, but you also get ample time even in case of delay. Also, you will have enough time to add extra documents to your application or even correct if there is an error.
11. Post-approval checks on the visa include:
(1) The Visa Type: Different types of visas serve distinct purposes. Make sure the visa is relevant to your purpose of travel. Additionally, one should understand how long they can stay before making an application, as the best fit may differ. For example, a business visa may be valid for up to 5 years, but you can only visit for 90 days within a 6-month period. Ideally, you should indicate the correct duration in your travel itinerary to prove the necessity of your trip.
(2) Your Passport or Other Travel Document : Make sure your passport is renewed and still valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure. Additionally, it should not be too old since it was issued within the last 10 years. Also, ensure that your passport has an entry and exit stamp when you arrive and leave the Schengen Area. This is very important because the absence of exit stamps may be considered as if you overstay your visa.
12. Conclusion
In conclusion, applying for a Schjson visa can be easy if you have quality time to ensure that you have all the required documents. Usually, it takes around 15 days for the application to be processed. Therefore, make sure you apply 1 to 2 months before your planned travels.ippi licati fcnsi it c ts as di bered in this article, y uca n navigate your application successfully, which would imply that it would be easier for you to obtain your visa before you travel.
13. FAQs
• Most embassies and consulates require you to submit your applications in person, although some countries permit visiting VACs to schedule appointments and to track the application.
(2) How much does a Schengen visa cost?
• The standard fee for a Schengen visa is €90. Children, students, and a few nationalities can obtain a lower fee.
(3) What is the consequence if my visa is rejected?
• If a visa is rejected, the authorities have to give the reason for refusal and you are entitled to appeal or correct the facts and apply again.
(4) Can I stay longer than three months when I hold a Schengen visa?
• No, you can’t. The sojourn must be limited to three months for every six-month period. To stay for a longer period, you must apply for an appropriate long-stay visa.
(5) Is it essential that I have travel insurance to obtain a Schengen visa?
• Yes, it is essential. The travel medical insurance must be worth at least €30,000 for your visa to be accepted.
(6) Can I trace my Schengen visa application?
• The majority of consulates and visa centers offer you reliable means to trace the status of your application online.
Skytravel Global was established in 2020 and is based at 1 Jordan Street, Manchester, United Kingdom. We provide Schengen visa consultancy and assistance in the UK. Since our establishment, we have served over 10,000 clients.
