Destinations / Visit visa
Schengen area visit visa
A Schengen visa lets you travel through 29 European countries on one sticker: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland and the rest. You apply to one country, and the file has to make sense for that country.
Visas09
Schengen area
Schengen short-stay visa (type C)
- Stay
- 90 days in any 180
- Covers
- 29 countries
- Apply
- 6 months to 15 days before
Who it is for
- A holiday across several European countries
- Visiting family or friends
- Business trips and trade fairs
- Short courses, conferences and events
Documents for the file
This is the usual list. Yours is written for your case after the first assessment.
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with two blank pages
- Completed application form and recent photos to the Schengen size
- Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip
- Flight reservation and a day-by-day plan of the trip
- Hotel bookings, or an invitation and proof of address from the person you are staying with
- Bank statements, salary slips or business papers showing you can pay for the trip
- Leave letter from your employer, or your business registration and tax papers
- A short cover letter explaining the purpose of the trip
How the application goes
Pick the right country
You apply to the country where you will spend the most nights. If the nights are equal, it is the country you enter first. Getting this wrong is a common reason for refusal.
Build the file
We give you a personal checklist and check every paper: insurance, bookings, bank statements, leave letter, cover letter.
Appointment and biometrics
We book your slot at that country's visa centre. You attend in person to submit the file and give fingerprints.
Decision
Your passport comes back with the visa or a refusal letter. If refused, we explain the reason codes and what to change.
How long it takes
The Schengen rules give a consulate 15 calendar days to decide, and up to 45 days when it needs a closer look. In summer the wait for an appointment is often longer than the decision itself.
Good to know
- The 90 days are counted across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
- Book refundable hotels and a flight reservation. Do not pay for a non-refundable ticket before the visa is issued.
- Your insurance must cover at least €30,000 and every Schengen country, for the full length of the trip.
Questions about the Schengen area visit visa
Which Schengen country is easiest to get a visa from?
The one your trip is really about. Consulates check that you are applying to your main destination, and a file built around the wrong country gets refused. We plan the itinerary first and choose the consulate from that.
Can I visit other countries on a Schengen visa from one country?
Yes. A standard Schengen visa is valid for the whole area. You should still enter and spend most of your time where you said you would.
Start your Schengen area visit visa
Send us the basics and we will tell you what your application will involve.
