To have a successful Schengen visa application, you must go through these simple steps:

1. Fill the Schengen Visa Application form.
2. Make an appointment.
3. Complete the documents file.
4. Show up at the appointment.
5. Provide biometrics.
6. Verify the documents.
7. Pay the visa fees.

Fill the Schengen Visa Application form

Complete the application form online carefully and correctly, print it twice and sign it at the end. The form contains questions for basic information such as your name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number and nationality. You will also have to answer questions regarding your trip, such as how long are you planning to stay in each country, where you’re staying, etc.

Make an appointment

Appoint an interview through the website of the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to visit, in your country of residence.

Complete the documents file

Make sure you have all the necessary documents for a Schengen visa as required, all of them in two copies. Organize them so on the appointment day you will not have a mess in your hands. You will need to leave your passport at the consulate of the Schengen country where you apply for a visa. If you withdraw your passport while your application is being processed, your Schengen visa application will be canceled.

Show up at the appointment

Show up at the appointment center on time. Remember that if you are late even for a few minutes, then they will probably cancel your appointment. The submission process takes around 10 minutes to complete.

Provide biometrics

You will also have to get your fingerprints scanned at the consulate’s office if you have never before applied for a visa to Europe. If you have, then you don’t have to do it again since the consulate should be able to look it up.

Verify the details

After the verification of your application, your information will be entered into the online system and you will receive a printed copy of your application, which process usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. After you get the printed form, please make sure to verify all the details are correct and sign the form.

Underage applicants must be accompanied by their mother/father/legal guardian.

Pay the fees

The cost of a Schengen visa application for adults is 80€. Whereas the visa fee for children from the age of 6 years to the age of 12 years is 45€.

After you pay the fees, you will be issued a receipt which you have to keep in order to collect your processed application. In the case of visa application rejection, the fee will not get reimbursed. If you apply again for a visa, you will have to pay the fees again.

If the authorities decide to grant you a Schengen visa, they will attach it in form of a sticker to the blank pages of your passport. It looks like this:

You should apply for a Schengen Visa at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you are planning to visit.

If you are planning to visit more than one country during the same trip, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you plan to spend more time. If you are planning to spend equal time in two or more countries, i.e. five days in France and five days in Germany, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you are planning to land first.

You have to apply and make an appointment at least 15 days before the intended journey, and the earliest six months before.

Citizens Entitled to Accelerated Schengen Visa Procedure Free of Charge

If the applicant meets the following criteria, then he or she is entitled to an accelerated visa procedure free of charge:

• The applicant is a family member of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen and the EU/EEA citizen is traveling to or is residing in a member state other than that of which he/she is a citizen.
• The applicant is accompanying the EU/EEA citizen or planning to join him/her in the Schengen State of destination.

Schengen travel insurance is a type of insurance that is required for travelers who need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Schengen Visa?

Yes, if you need to apply for a Schengen visa, travel insurance is a mandatory requirement. If you do not have a valid insurance policy, the Embassy will automatically reject your visa application.

On the other hand, if you do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area, then you are not required to get travel insurance, although it is still highly recommended!

Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements

The Schengen visa travel insurance plan must meet these requirements:

• It should cover at least €30,000 for medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
• It should be valid in all 27 countries in the Schengen Zone.
• It should be valid for the entire duration of time you are in Europe.

Companies such as Europ Assistance and MondialCare offer travel insurance certificate that is required by Embassies when applying for a Schengen visa.

How Much Does Schengen Medical Travel Insurance Cost?

Schengen travel insurance may cost as low as €1 per person for each day. Schengen insurance is not usually too expensive in comparison to the overall price of the trip. For a one-week trip, in general, you would pay between €20 to €50, depending on the policy.

There are three main factors which affect the price of your travel insurance policy:

• Your age. The cost of the insurance policy increases along with your age. For example, older individuals (especially over the age of 60) have to pay higher premiums for the same insurance plan than someone who is younger.
• The duration of your trip. Usually, insurance companies calculate the cost of the policy on a daily basis. So, the longer you plan to stay in Schengen, the higher the price of your policy.
• The maximum coverage limit. There are usually 2-3 insurance plans you can choose from, regardless of the insurance company. As such, the basic plan with health insurance coverage of up to €30,000 will be cheaper than the one with maximum coverage of up to €100,000 or more.

Where Can I Purchase Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa?

Here’s where you can purchase your policy:

• Through online travel insurance providers.
• Through your travel agency.
• Through a local Schengen-accredited travel insurance company.

Schengen travel insurance companies

Here is a list of companies that you can purchase travel insurance for Schengen Visa from:

• Europ Assistance.
• MondialCare.
• Insubuy.
• AXA Schengen.
• Dr-WALTER.
• Bupa.
• Allianz.

Local insurance companies

To purchase Schengen travel insurance from local companies in your country, you can just visit the offices of an insurance company in your country, request a Schengen insurance policy, and purchase one.

Through your travel agency

If you have booked your visit to Europe via a travel agency, the agency may offer you a complimentary insurance policy added to the overall price. These offers are usually the most costly ones, because agencies may sometimes inflate the price of the policy. You should always read the policy beforehand – and if you don’t like it, see if you can opt-out.

How To Buy Schengen Visa Insurance Online?

Most insurance companies operate online, so you can simply purchase a travel insurance plan directly from their website. To purchase one, visit the company website, look for the “Get a Quote” or “Start Now” button, and:

1. Complete the online application form. You have to give your name, nationality, age, destination, and the dates of travel.
2. Select which plan you want. There is usually more than one plan available. You can read the benefits of each plan to find one suited to your needs. For example, if you purchase through Europ Assistance one of the leading insurance companies, there are two available policies you can subscribe to.
3. Make the payment. You can usually pay by a credit/debit card or through PayPal. The cost of the insurance plan depends on the information you provided (age, length of trip) as well as the plan you chose.
4. Download and print the Insurance Certificate. You need this to hand in to the Embassy when you apply for a visa. It will be in PDF format.

How to Present Proof of Purchased Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa?

When you apply for a visa, the Embassy will ask to see proof of purchased Schengen travel insurance. This usually goes by the name of “travel insurance certificate”. Your insurance company will give it to you when you subscribe to one of their plans, and you can show that to the Embassy.

If the Embassy you apply to has certain specific requirements about the insurance certificate, then just contact your insurance company and they will most likely give you a certificate suited to your situation.

What Should the Schengen Travel Insurance Plan Cover?

Make sure your plan covers:

• Cost of medical treatment. This includes:
  • In-patient and out-patient medical treatment.
  • Doctor visits.
  • Hospitalization.
  • Surgery.
  • Prescription medication.
  • Emergency dental care.
• Cost of repatriation or evacuation. If you become gravely ill or get into a serious accident which requires medical attention from your home country, then travel insurance covers the cost of repatriation. It also covers repatriation in the event of death.

This is only what a basic policy has to cover to be valid for a visa application. However, some insurance companies also offer additional, more comprehensive coverage, such as insurance for your trip or liability.

What Other Liabilities May Be Covered in the Policy?

How Do I Get Schengen Visa Insurance From the USA?

If you are from the USA, you can get travel insurance for your trip to Europe in the same way as everyone else – by purchasing a plan online. Companies like Europe Assistance or MondialCare make it possible to subscribe to travel insurance through their website and get the Insurance Certificate as a downloadable, printable, electronic file. If you need a visa, you can just submit this Certificate to the Embassy.

How Exactly Does Travel Medical Insurance Work?

Travel health insurance protects you from financial losses as a result of medical emergencies while you are visiting Europe. If you have a valid insurance policy during your trip, then when you seek medical attention, the insurance company will take over the costs. There are two ways it usually works:

1. The hospital sends the bill directly to the insurance company. You do not need to pay anything upfront.
2. You pay the bill yourself, then make a claim with the insurance company to reimburse you. Make sure to save the bill you receive from the hospital.

If you are in an emergency situation, make sure to contact the assistance center as soon as you can so that they can help you or inform you on how to proceed.

Should I Purchase Schengen Health Insurance If I Have Domestic Insurance?

Yes, you should. Domestic insurance plans have coverage only within the country they were purchased in, and do not cover international travel. If you have domestic insurance but you also plan to travel to Europe, then you will have to get a Schengen visa insurance plan to cover you abroad.

Can I Get a Refund If My Schengen Visa Application Is Refused?

Many companies offer you a refund of your insurance policy if you do not receive a Schengen visa, but not all. Usually, you can learn whether or not you can get a refund by looking at the FAQ section on a company website, or by contacting them directly.

Does Schengen Medical Insurance Cover me for Countries That Are Not Part of the Schengen Area?

No, Schengen insurance is aimed only at the countries within the Schengen Area. However,  if you plan to travel somewhere outside the Schengen Zone, you can get an international travel insurance plan or an additional insurance plan aimed specifically at those countries.

Will I Get Covid-19 Coverage When Buying a Schengen Visa Travel Insurance?

If you get sick with Covid-19 while traveling, most travel insurance companies will cover your medical costs only if you follow the travel recommendation set by your country or the destination country, as well as those by the World Health Organization.

In other words, if you visit a place which has travel bans in place or a high number of Covid-19 infections, then you likely do not have coverage for coronavirus.

Most embassies and consulates around the world will ask you to submit proof of accommodation alongside with the other documents, especially if you are applying to visit one of the European countries.

The reason behind such a requirement is that the immigration authorities of every country want to know where you will be staying throughout your trip, and telling them that you will be staying at a hotel or at a friends’ house is not enough. You will have to submit proof where you are planning to stay. However, to many, this requirement might seem confusing and frustrating, especially for the fact that every country has different rules and requests when it comes to proof of accommodation.

What Can I Submit as Proof of Accommodation?

The embassy or consulate that you have to apply at in order to get a visa to your destination country, may require from you for either proof of accommodation, certificate of accommodation, letter of accommodation or hotel confirmation letter.

However complicated that it might seem, all of the above-mentioned serve for the same purpose: as evidence that you have a place where to sleep during your stay in your destination country.

This proof/certificate/letter can either be a:

• Hotel booking,
• Host invitation – if you are planning to stay over at friends or family members/relatives,
• Confirmation by an organized tour operator or holiday tours, or
• Rental agreement / contract.

Though most of the countries will require you to submit proof of accommodation, especially in the old continent of Europe, in many other countries you will only have to show Means of Subsistence. Which means you will have to show proof, like a bank statement, that proves you have enough money to financially maintain yourself during your trip, including the stay at the hotel/hostel/guest house.

Hotel Reservation

If you are planning to stay at a hotel in your destination country then you will have to submit proof of the hotel booking, which usually is a ‘hotel confirmation letter’ which is also known as hotel itinerary for visa application. This means that after you book a room/suite, the hotel will issue you a letter which confirms it.

This letter must contain the following information:

• your full name
• your entry and exit dates
• hotel address
• hotel contact details as phone number, email, etc.
• a valid hotel reservation code

Every embassy or consulate advises its applicants to make a hotel reservation at a hotel that will fully refund your expenses in case of visa rejection or delay. If you cannot find one like that, then try to find the cheapest hotel reservation. That is because if you book a room at a hotel that does not refund you in case of visa application rejection or delay, then you will lose your money.

You can also submit dummy hotel booking as proof of accommodation. Although this method may sometimes be referred to as a fake hotel reservation, this is by no means a fake booking. It’s just a booking without paying the price before the approval of the visa application.

To make a hotel booking without paying the price you could use the services of VisaReservation.

Should I get a hotel itinerary booking without paying the full price?

Many hotels charge non-refundable fees just for making a booking. This may be inconvenient because you could never be sure that you will get your visa approved, and you will not get refunded even in case of visa rejection.

However, there are specialized companies such as VisaReservation that will support your visa application by providing you with a dummy hotel booking confirmation for a small fee. This service is completely safe and is the most inexpensive way of dealing with hotel bookings prior to obtaining your visa.

Invitation From the Host

Many travelers, when traveling abroad plan to spend their night over at friends or family relatives in order to avoid expenses. It is not a problem for the embassy/consulate if you wish to do so, but you will still have to show proof that your friend or relative is willing to take you in and not only.

The host must write an Invitation Letter, where they confirm that you will be staying over at their place. This letter must contain the following details:

• Dates when you will be staying,
• Address of the place,
• Name and Surname of the host,
• Contact details of the host as email and telephone number,
• Signature of the host,
• The area of the place, and the number of members living in there.

Though not a requirement by every country, your host will also probably have to show proof that he or she has enough room for you. Because, in case you are planning to visit your friends, who are a couple that possesses only one bed at their place, and not even a sofa, then the embassy will most likely not approve your stay there. Actually, it is the host who is obligated to usually apply at the local office of his or her hometown for a document called ‘certificate of accommodation’ that confirms the availability of free room for another person. If the local authorities think that the available room is suitable for another person they will issue the document to the host, but if not then they will refuse to do so.

Invitation letter for Schengen Visa Application

In Europe, though the Schengen Area member states have a common policy on the issuance of visas, when it comes to the host invitation letter, each of them has their own rules. For example:

• In France, the host must submit an original of the so-called “Declaration d’Accueil” (guarantee document). The same applies if the host is from Luxembourg.
• In Austria, the host must request the ‘“Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung“ at his/her municipality in Austria. He or she has to deliver this document to the Austrian Authorities not earlier than 30 days before the applicant’s visa appointment date.
• In Belgium, the original “Engagement de Prise en Charge – Verbintenis tot Tenlasteneming 3 bis” must be stamped by the municipality and have the embossed stamp of the foreign office.
• Whereas in the Netherlands the host must submit the original “Bewijs van Garantstelling”, and also three salary sheets/reports and work contract of the inviting person. If the host is independent he or she must also submit the registration in the trade register of the company, the decision of taxation called “down aanslaginkomstenbelastingen”, an official document from the tax “Belastingdienst”, and its profit and loss account copy.

Confirmation by Organized Tour Operator or Holiday Tours

If you are planning to go on a tour organized by a tour operator, together with a group of people, then you will have to submit a letter by the tour operator. The letter must show the hotels/hostels/guest houses where the group will be staying throughout the whole tour. The letter must include the following detailed information of each place:

• name of the place
• address
• telephone number & email
• date of entry and exit
• name in which the reservations were made

The tour operator must be legal in order for the issued documents to be valid.

Rental Agreement or Contract

If you are planning to rent a place in your destination country, then you should arrange that before you apply for a visa. You can find a place at your destination country online, also sign the contract online and submit it on the day of your interview at the embassy or consulate, alongside with the other documents.

In general, the contract must contain the below-listed information:

• name and surname of the landlord
• his / her contact details as email, telephone, home address, etc.
• address of the rented place
• the period during which time the place has been rented by the applicant (entry and exit date)

The house/apartment/room must be rented legally, which means registered at the competent authorities at the applicant’s destination country. The agreement must be signed by both the landlord and the renter.

Accommodation Proof for Backpackers

If you have to obtain visas in order to visit the countries you are planning to travel to backpacking, then you must know that visas are not backpacker-friendly. The consulate or embassy will insist for you to show proof of accommodation, and they will not accept reasoning as “I will rent a car, and sleep in it when I get tired!” or “I will sleep in my tent!”

However, your case is not a lost one. You do not have to change your plans since you can still book a hotel room with free or very cheap cancellation, and then after you get your visa you can cancel it. You are strongly advised to be careful when doing such stuff, because some countries, like Belgium, will check if your hotel reservation is still available when you arrive at the border by calling the hotel. If you have already canceled your accommodation, then you will not be allowed to enter.

Many websites offer fake hotel reservations for very little money, but you are not advised to buy one of them. If the competent authorities find out that you have provided a fake document, then you might get banned from entering that country. It will also damage your other visa applications, especially if you have been banned from a Schengen country.

Sponsored Accommodation

If you are going to attend some kind of professional activity like training, seminar, research etc., and the expenses will be covered by the organizer, you will still have to submit proof of accommodation. In this case, it should be a letter signed/stamped by the organizers, which aside of the main details as the address of the accommodation place, email, and telephone number, it should highlight who is going to cover the expenses of the accommodation.

Proof of Accommodation vs. Means of Subsistence

Proof of Means of Subsistence is usually a document (like a bank statement) which evidences that you possess sufficient funds for the trip, that you will be able to financially maintain yourself during your stay in your destination country. Every country has the appointed sum of money that the traveler must possess per each day he or she plans to spend in that particular country.

There is a very close link between the Proof of Accommodation and Means of Subsistence since if you are going to stay at a hotel, you will be required to have more money rather than if you are planning to stay at some friends or relative’s place. For example:

• In Belgium, the traveler must possess EUR 95 per day if staying in a hotel, and EUR 45 when planning to get accommodated by cheaper means, in order to be able to get the visa.
• In France, the traveler must possess the daily money amount of EUR 120 if holding no proof of prepaid accommodation. If the visitor has a prepaid hotel, then he or she must possess EUR 65 per each day. In case the applicant plans to use cheaper forms of accommodation the amount decreases to EUR 32.25 per day.
• Whereas, for a traveler to be able to obtain a visa to Denmark, she or he must possess EUR 67.24 per day if staying in a hotel. While if staying in a hostel or similar cheaper means, the required amount of financial means is EUR 47.07 per day. On the other hand, if accommodation is covered by a third party (the traveler stays at relatives or friends), the required amount of financial means lowers further.

You can stay within the whole Schengen territory for 90 days at most, within a period of 6 months. Sometimes, authorities issue you a visa for the amount of time you have sought, and sometimes for a longer or shorter period, depending on how they see it reasonable. The embassy not only appoints the number of days you can stay in Schengen, but also the earliest date you can enter and the last date when you can leave, which sometimes is confusing for many people.

If You Need to Stay for More Than 90 Days

The European National Visas are granted to individuals coming to one of the Schengen member countries for stays longer than 90 days, like working or studying. In order to be eligible to apply for the D visas for Europe you should be in one of the following categories:

• An international student in a program that grants Schengen visas.
• International student about to start full-time studies in Europe.
• Teacher at a higher education institution or research center in Europe.
• Professional traveling to Europe with the purpose of sharing expertise.
• Traveler in the Schengen Area who is experiencing an emergency, as a medical condition, that prevents departure at the end of your National Visa.

No, you cannot convert a C multiple entry visa into type D national visa. You can’t either apply for a residence permit in a Schengen country which you entered with a Schengen visa. To get a D visa, you will need to apply from the country of your residence.

In order to get your visa extended, you must have a very strong reason behind it as:

• Force majeure.
• Humanitarian reasons.
• Serious personal reasons.

You must show strong proof that you cannot leave the country before the expiration of your visa. If you have stayed in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within six months, then your chances to get your visa extended are almost zero. You have to apply for the visa extension before the expiration of your visa.

If you overstay your Schengen visa you will risk of being issued with a Schengen visa ever again. You will first be deported to your country, and can also be fined with a particular amount of money.

Some of the most common reasons why Schengen visa applications are rejected are as follows:

• Absence of one or more required documents.
• One or more required documents do not meet the criteria set by the embassy.
• Invalid Travel Insurance.
• Insufficient proof of the purpose of the trip.
• Past or present criminal actions.
• Damaged passport, passport with not enough pages or validity.

If the embassy or consulate of the destination country you have applied to refuses your Schengen visa you can always appeal against the decision. On the day you go to receive your answer regarding your application, if rejected, you will receive a paper that indicates the reasons behind the visa denial. There you will also have included the procedures and deadlines for submitting an appeal.

However, this does not mean that you cannot apply for it anymore. The embassies advise the applicants to take notes on the reasons why their application was denied at first, and make amendments where necessary. You will have to pay the fees again, which cover the cost of the examination of the Schengen visa application.

To apply for a Schengen Visa there are some documents that you are required to submit depending on the visa type that you are applying for, your nationality and your current status.

During the processing time, the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents or you may be contacted for an interview. Make sure to submit them too, since the submission of the firstly required documents does not guarantee you will be granted with a visa.

Schengen Visa Requirements

The required documents to apply for a Schengen visa are the following:

• Valid passport. The passport should fulfill some criteria, as follows:
  • The passport must have at least two empty pages in order to affix visa.
  • Must not be older than ten years (meaning it must be issued within the last 10 years).
  • Must be valid for at least three more months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen territory.
• Schengen Visa application form. The form asks for basic information as name and surname, date of birth, place, and country of birth. It also asks per current nationality, sex, marital status and details about your passport details (as the date of issue, expiration date, etc) information regarding the purpose of the journey, the type of visa you are applying for (single entry, double-entry or multiple entry), duration of intended stay, etc.
• Photography that meets Schengen guidelines. You must submit two identical photos, one pasted on the application form and the other submitted loose.
• Proof of paid Schengen visa fees. After you pay the visa fee, you will be issued a receipt. Keep it because you will have to show it in order to collect your processed application. In case of visa application rejection or if you withdraw your application, the fee will not get reimbursed.
• Travel Medical Insurance for your entire stay in Europe. The Schengen Area member countries have agreed on the minimum coverage of travel medical insurance, which is 30,000 Euro per person. The insurance has to cover the entire stay in the Schengen territory and all the expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment.
• Biometric Data. The biometric data of persons applying for a Schengen visa will be stored in a new Visa Information System (VIS). Exempted from the fingerprinting requirements are the below-mentioned categories:
  • Children younger than twelve years old.
  • Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible.
  • Heads of State and members of National Governments, their accompanying spouses, and their official delegation when on an official visit.
• Copies of previous visas. If you have traveled to the Schengen Zone before, with a passport that has already expired now (or is full), you should submit it together with the other documents to prove your travels. If you have more than two passport bring all of them. Do not staple them together, instead just tie them with a rubber band.
• Flight Itinerary. The flight itinerary is a detailed flight plan to and from the destination country within the Schengen Area you want to get a visa to visit, as a booked flight reservation, a hotel booking, package tour, etc. This does not mean you will have to purchase actual flight tickets before you receive your visa, only a flight reservation.
• A Schengen visa cover letter. In a cover letter, you explain your travel plan in details as to when you plan to visit the country, where you will stay and what you will do.
• Proof of financial status. You must show evidence that you will be able to financially maintain yourself during your stay in the Schengen territory. You should be able to prove that through a bank statement of the past three months, which must not be older than three days. The minimum amount required is different in each country, therefore you will have to consult with the relevant consular authority in your country.
• Proof of accommodation. The proof of accommodation for Schengen visa is a hotel booking usually. If you are planning to stay over at friends or family members, then you must submit a letter where they confirm it and explain that they have enough room for you. Depending on the country you are planning to visit, your host might also have to submit some extra documents as for example:
  • In France, the host must submit an original of the so called “Declaration d’Accueil” (guarantee document). The same applies if the host is from Luxembourg.
  • In Austria, the host must request the ‘“Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung“ at his/her municipality in Austria. He or she has to deliver this document to the Austrian Authorities not earlier than 30 days before applicant’s visa appointment date.
  • In Belgium, the original “Engagement de Prise en Charge – Verbintenis tot Tenlasteneming 3 bis” must be stamped by the municipality and have the embossed stamp by the foreign office.
  • Whereas in the Netherlands the host must submit the original “Bewijs van Garantstelling”, and also three salary sheets/reports and work contract of the inviting person. If the host is independent he or she must also submit the registration in the trade register of the company, the decision of taxation called “down aanslaginkomstenbelastingen”, an official document from the tax “Belastingdienst”, and its profit and loss account copy.

Additional Schengen Visa Documents

Depending on your working status, you will have to submit some extra documents as follows:

• Evidence of student status – you have to prove that you are a student through some document. This could be the student card or a copy of the matriculation at the university and student index signed and stamped by the university and the current transcript of records. You will have to submit proof of sufficient funds for the entire stay in your destination country, that could be a work contract and bank account statement from your parents or host (if applicable).
• Evidence of employment – it can be an original signed letter from an employer or recent payslip.
  You will have to submit your employment contract and a vacation confirmation from your employer, aside of the bank statement.
• Evidence of self-employment – a letter from a solicitor, accountant or Companies House, which confirms your status.
• Evidence of retirement – Pension statements over the last 6 months.

Schengen Visa Requirements for Children Under 18

• The visa application form must be signed twice by the legal guardian/s.
• Unabridged birth certificate.
• If the child is traveling alone, he or she must submit certified parental consent by both parents.
• If the child travels with only one parent, the other parent must produce the notarized/certified consent.
• In case the single parent with whom the minor will be traveling holds the paternal authority alone, the relevant court documents must be presented (death certificate, divorce agreement or custody agreement).

NOTE: Be aware that the embassies or consulates do not accept an application without a previous appointment and most of them do not give information about pending cases by email or phone.

Each embassy or consulate reserves the right to request additional documents during your appointment or later, and also to summon the applicant for another interview.

The Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa is a necessary part of your visa application because it is a way to introduce yourself, the reason why you want to travel to that specific country, as well as to communicate with the visa officers who are handling your application.

Please note that the Cover Letter should be addressed to the Embassy or Consulate of the country you will visit, even if you are applying through a visa application center, such as VFS Global.

In the Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa, you have to convince the Consular staff that you are suitable to receive a visa for the country you intend to visit.

What Information to Include in a Cover Letter for Schengen Visa Application?

When you write a Cover Letter for your Schengen Visa application, you have to include details of your entire trip including:

• The reason why you want to visit a Schengen country.
• The dates when you intend to enter and depart.
• A planned itinerary of your activities in the Schengen Area.
• Where you will stay once you enter the Schengen area.
• All the countries you intend to visit.
• The status of your employment.
• If you were unable to submit any of the required documents, give an explanation of why that is.

Sample Cover Letters for Schengen Visa

Below, you will find a sample Cover Letter for a Schengen Tourist or Visit Visa, a Schengen Business Visa,  as well as for a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa which will give you an idea of what to include on your own Visa Cover Letter.

Sample Cover Letter for Tourist Schengen Visa

March 20, 2019

New Delhi, India

Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi

6/50 F, Shantipath

Chanakyapuri

New Delhi – 110021

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to apply for a Schengen visa to visit the Netherlands from the dates May 20 to June 10, 2019. I am traveling alone and the main reason why I want to visit the Netherlands is tourism.

I would like to visit the popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the house of Anne Frank, as well as the Keukenhof gardens to see the Netherlands’ most popular flower – the tulip.

During my stay, I also want to visit Germany from May 29 to June 5 to visit my sister who lives in Dusseldorf, where I will stay at her house. Then, I will return to the Netherlands, where I will explore the Hague before I leave the country.

I am employed at the [name of company/organization] where I have the position of [job position]. I have worked here for X years, and I have an annual salary of XX. My employer has given me a No Objection Certificate for my trip, which you will find enclosed.

I intend to finance my own trip, and I have also enclosed proof I have the necessary financial means to cover my stay.

Below you can see a planned itinerary of my activities:

Supporting visa application documents I have enclosed with this letter:

• The completed Schengen Visa Application Form
• My passport
• My flight and train ticket reservations
• Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance
• Hotel reservation receipts (Amsterdam and Hague)
• Letter of Invitation from my sister in Dusseldorf
• No Objection Certificate from my employer
• My Bank Statements from the last six months

I hope you find that the details I have provided in this letter are adequate for a favorable reply to my application. Thank you for your time, and do not hesitate to contact me should you need further information.

Best regards,

Alan Shilmani

[Full address in India]

Sample Cover Letter for Business Schengen Visa

If you are applying for a Schengen Business Visa, it is your employer who has to write the Cover Letter on your behalf. It must be written on the company’s letterhead.

March 20, 2019

New Delhi, India

Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi

6/50 F, Shantipath

Chanakyapuri

New Delhi – 110021

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to request a Schengen Business Visa on behalf of [applicant’s full name] with the passport number XXXX.

Through this letter, I would like to confirm that [applicant’s full name] is employed at our company [company’s name] where he works as [job title or position]. [The applicant] has been working in our company for [X number of years], and needs to travel to the Netherlands to visit our partner company [partner company’s name] during the dates April 20 to April 30, 2019.

During his visit at [partner company’s name] in the Netherlands, [the applicant] will be engaged in the following duties:

• Attending meetings
• Negotiating a deal between the companies regarding [XYZ]
• Giving a presentation
• (Any other tasks that you will have to do during your trip)

[The applicant] will stay at the [hotel name/other accommodation], and the expenses will be covered by our company (if applicable).

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Thank you for your time,

Best regards,

[Name of employer/supervisor along with siganture]

[Position or job title of employer/supervisor]

[Email address of employer/supervisor]

[Phone number of employer/supervisor]

Sample Cover Letter for Medical Treatment Visa

If you are traveling to a Schengen country to receive medical treatment, your doctor has to write the Cover Letter on your behalf. The Cover Letter for a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa has to include the following information:

• Your detailed diagnosis
• Your medical history
• The nature and duration of the proposed treatment you will receive in the Schengen country

March 20, 2019

New Delhi, India

Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi

6/50 F, Shantipath

Chanakyapuri

New Delhi – 110021

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to request a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa on behalf of my patient [applicant’s full name] with the passport number XXXX.

[Applicant’s name] is diagnosed with [XYZ] and needs to receive [XYZ] treatment at the [medical facility name] in the Netherlands.

[Detailed diagnosis]

[Medical history]

[The nature and duration of the proposed treatment you will receive in the Schengen country]

I hope you consider the information I have enclosed in this letter to be satisfactory for my patient’s Schengen Visa application.

Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Best regards,

[Name of the doctor along with siganture]

Where should I submit the Cover Letter for Schengen Visa?

Depending on what country you are applying from, you can submit the Schengen Visa application at:

• An Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you are visiting.
• The Embassy/Consulate of another Schengen country, in case the country you want to visit has no diplomatic representation in your place of residence.
• A visa application agency, to which the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you are visiting has outsourced visa applications to.

Keep in mind that if you’re going to visit multiple countries, submit the application at the Embassy/Consulate of the country you will visit first.

What other documents should I submit along with the Cover Letter for Schengen Visa?

When you submit your application for a Schengen Visa, along with the Cover Letter, you have to submit several other supporting documents, such as:

• The completed Schengen Visa Application Form
• Your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months
• Passport-size pictures, in line with Schengen visa photo requirements
• Your flight itinerary or reservations
• Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance
• Proof of accommodation in a Schengen country
• No Objection Certificate from your employer/school
• Letter of Invitation from a relative or company in the Schengen country you are visiting, depending on the purpose of travel
• Proof of paid Schengen Visa Fees
• Your Bank Statements from the last six months

The cover letter for student visa application for Germany has to convince the German Embassy or Consulate staff that you are a good fit to study in Germany. This means you have to include the following information.

• Introduction of yourself. Full name, age, nationality.
• Previous academic and/or professional background.
• Details about the university. Explain why you chose that particular university and why you think it will help you in the future. What will you do with a diploma from a German university?
• The reason why you want to study in Germany.
• Your financial situation. Explain how you will pay for the costs of living and studying in Germany. Will you pay for it yourself? Will your parents be supporting you? Do you have a sponsor in Germany? Do you have student assistance, such as a scholarship?
• Accommodation in Germany. Explain where you will be living if your visa application is successful.
• A list of the documents you have attached with your cover letter.
  • If applicable: Explanation of why you could not submit a particular document.

Remember:

Be very specific and concise in your letter. Include all the essential information, but do not make it overly long and complicated.

German Student Visa Cover Letter Sample

Here is a sample of what your German student visa cover letter should look like:

[Date]

[Country in which you are applying for the visa]

[Name of German Embassy/Consulate]

[Address of German Embassy/Consulate]

Dear sir or madam,

My name is [__________], I am [__] years old and of [________] nationality. I have a [___________] Degree from [__________] university/high school. I have been working/worked as a [_________] for [_] years.

I am writing this letter because I have been accepted into the [name of university/school] in Germany, and I am applying for a German Student Visa. The course lasts [__] semesters, from [____] to [____]. I applied to this university because [list all the reasons why you think the university is a good fit for you, how it would help you in your future career, etc].

I want to study in Germany because I believe it is a wonderful country to study in, with one of the highest levels of education in the world. I also want to be more familiar with German culture and lifestyle, and I believe studying in Germany would give me the opportunity to do that.

If my visa application is successful, I will enter Germany on [date of entry], which will give me enough time to become settled before classes start.

I have found accommodation at [___________]. During my stay, the way I will finance myself is though [a scholarship/ the help of my parents/ personal savings/ working/ a sponsor/ etc].

Along with this cover letter, you will also find the following documents:

• My passport
• My birth certificate
• Two pictures
• Proof of health insurance
• My CV
• Proof of sufficient financial requirements
• University acceptance letter
• My high school diploma
• My university diploma (if applicable)
• Language proficiency certificate

I hope my application will be enough for a favorable response, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

[Your name]

[Your contact information]

German Student Visa Cover Letter Example

For example, the German student visa cover letter for a student from Turkey who has been accepted in an MA of Architecture course in Germany and intends to finance her own stay may look like this:

May 20, 2019

Istanbul, Turkey

The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Istanbul

Gümüşsuyu, İnönü Cd. No:10, 34437

Beyoğlu/İstanbul

Turkey

Dear sir or madam,

My name is Aysel Polat, I am 24 years old and of Turkish nationality. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Okan University in Istanbul, where I finished with a 3.8 GPA. In the past two years, I have worked as an interior and spatial designer for a local architectural company in Istambul.

I am writing this letter because I have been accepted into the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and I want to apply for a German Student Visa. The program I have been accepted in lasts for 4 semesters, from October 2019 to March 31, 2021. I want to study at TUM because I want to continue working as an interior and spatial designer, and have my own company one day, and since TUM is known as one of the best universities in Europe, I believe a degree from there will truly help me in my future career goals.

I want to study in Germany because I believe it is a wonderful country to study in, with one of the highest levels of education in the world. I also want to be more familiar with German culture and lifestyle, and I believe studying in Germany would give me the opportunity to do that.

If my visa application is successful, I will enter Germany on September 10, which will give me enough time to become settled before classes start in October.

During my stay, I will finance myself through my savings as well as from the help of my parents. You can find attached the bank statements which prove I have sufficient financial means to sustain myself financially.

Along with this Cover Letter, you will also find attached the following documents:

• My passport
• My birth certificate
• Two pictures
• Proof of health insurance
• My CV
• Proof of sufficient financial requirements
• University acceptance letter
• My high school diploma
• My university diploma (if applicable)
• Language proficiency certificate

I hope my application will find a favorable response, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Aysel Polat

[Email address]

[Phone number]

The Schengen member countries have agreed on the cost of the visa fee, for all those who wish to apply in order to obtain a Schengen visa. The Schengen visa fees are:

Schengen Visa Fee Waivers

Schengen visa fees may also be reduced or waived for people belonging to one of these categories:

• Humanitarian reasons in cases of major accidents or other similar emergencies,
• Holders of diplomatic or service passports,
• Members of the staff accredited by a diplomatic mission, and
• Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in Recommendation 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament.

Individual Schengen member states may offer other optional visa fee waivers. Check at the embassy or consulate of your destination country in your home country, where you intend to apply, in order to learn more in this regard.

Visa Fee Payment Options

The Schengen visa fee can be paid in the designated consulate/embassy via cash. Generally, checks or credit cards are not accepted at most of them. The Schengen visa costs include the visa fee and the service fee.

If the country you live in uses other currency, you can pay in that currency (i.e. Naira) as per current exchange rate approved by the Embassy.

In Case of Visa Rejection

In case of visa application rejection or if you decide to terminate your application, the fee will not get reimbursed. If you apply again for a visa, you will have to pay the visa fee again. Payment of the visa fee and the service fee does not guarantee that you will be granted with a visa.

You will probably be charged with a service fee, if you submit the application at an external service provider. On the other hand, if you choose to get your passport sent to your home by the consulate or embassy via registered express mail (some countries offer you that possibility), you will have to pay for courier return charges.