What are the additional and mandatory Requirements for Schengen Visa?

Documents Required for Schengen Visa

General/Mandatory Requirements

These are the general mandatory documents for travelling to any Schengen Zone:

1.         Passport: A valid passport with at least 3 months validity from the date of return from Schengen Area. Also, passport MUST not be older than 10 years, i.e. it must have been issued in the last 10 years. The old passport will also be required if you have any.

2.         Visa application form: Must be filled and signed.

3.         Photos: Two passport-sized similar photos. The photos must have been taken recently, like within the last 3 months.

4.         Round trip reservation or Itinerary: It must mention all hotel books, flights, flight numbers, dates, entry, and exit.

5.         Travel Insurance: You’ll need to have travel insurance for the whole Schengen territory of 30,000 Euros in case of any medical emergency like any illness or accidents.

6.         Proof of Accommodation: Usually a hotel booking voucher, this ensures that you have a place to stay in Schengen Zones. It can be any one of the following:

·                     Hotel Booking

·                     Rental Agreement

·                     A Letter of Invitation from a host at whose house you’ll be staying

7.         Proof of Financial Means: This is required to show that you have sufficient funds to stay or travel around and take care of your expenses. It can be any one of the following:

·                     Bank statement – of last 6 months, not older than 3 days

·                     Sponsorship Letter – mentioning that you’ll be taking care of the person going to Schengen area financially. This must be also accompanied by the bank statement of the person who is sponsoring the trip.

·                     Combination of both

·                     Please note that each Schengen country has its specific requirement about the amount required in the bank.

8.         Proof of Paid Visa Fee: You’ll have to show the proof of paid visa fees while receiving your processed application. The fee is non-refundable in the case the visa is rejected. As of now, the fee for an Adult is €60, and €35 for a child (6-12 years) and no fees required for children below 6.

·                     Important: The fees have been increased to €80 and €40 for adult and child respectively. The change will come into effect from 02 February 2020. (Source: The Financial Express)

9.         Schengen Visa Cover Letter: This is a letter written by you explaining why you are going to Schengen Area; your travel plan, and what will you do there.

Additional Requirements (Depending on Applicant’s Current Employment Status)

In addition to the above-mentioned general documents, you may also be requested to provide further evidence depending on the status of your employment. These are listed below:

Student

•           Proof of Enrollment

•           No Objection Certificate (NOC) from school or university

•           You’ll also have to submit proof of sufficient funds for the entire duration of your stay. Work contract and bank account statement from your parents or host may suffice.

Employee

•           Original signed letter from employer or recent pay slip or employment contract

•           Bank statement of the last six months

•           Approved leave from your Employer

•           You may also be asked for Income Tax Return (ITR) or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at Source of salary

Self-Employment

•           Copy of business license

•           Bank statement of the company for the last six months

•           Income Tax Return (ITR)

Retired

•           Last six months pension statement

Unemployed & Married to EU Citizen

•           Confirmation of employment letter, at least three months old from spouse’s employer confirming the employment, position, and date of starting.

•           Marriage certificate (official)

•           Spouse’s passport

         Note: Two application forms may be required to fill.

Documents Required for Minors

•           Birth certificate

•           Application form signed by both parents

•           If only one parent has custody of the child, the Family Court Order is required

•           Passports of both parents

•           Parental Authorization (Notarized) signed by parents if the minor is travelling alone

More requirements depending on Visa Type

Airport Transit

•           Flight ticket to the final country

•           Valid visa to final country (if a visa is required for that country)

Medical

•           Letter from the doctor in the home country explaining that you need medical treatment

•           Confirmation of the doctor’s / hospital’s appointment in EU

•           Proof of Financial Means