Schengen Visa

The Schengen Area is the area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders, also referred to as internal borders. It mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The Area is named after the Schengen Agreement. Countries in the Schengen Area have eliminated internal border controls with the other Schengen members, and strengthened external border controls with non-Schengen states. The Schengen area encourages the free movement of goods, information, money and people.

Twenty-two of the twenty-eight European Union (EU) member states participate in the Schengen Area. Of the six EU members that do not form part of the Schengen Area, four – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania – are legally obliged and wish to join the area, while the other two – Ireland and the United Kingdom – maintain opt-outs. All four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – have signed the Schengen Agreement, even though they are outside the EU.

1.     First determine if you need visa to visit Schengen countries, list of countries that fall into the Schengen category are: (https://www.axa-schengen.com/en/countries-schengen-area). If you are an Indian citizen you would need visiting visa to enter Schengen countries. Citizens of other countries please check visa requirements under http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/requirements-exemptions.html.

2.     Determine the embassy/consulate nearby to you.  List of embassies for each Schengen country in USA and India are as follows: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/embassies-consulates.html

3.     Now, gather the list of documents needed to apply for a visa

                         i.         Application form http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/application_form_english.pdf

                       ii.         Two passport sized photographs.

                      iii.         Copies of all pages of passport(include blank pages also).

                      iv.         Proof of medical insurance (for travel dates)

                       v.         Proof of sufficient financial means.

a.     It is recommended to have enough funds in your account. Please reference the below link for an approximate expense information for each Schengen country per day. http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/means-of-substinence.html

                      vi.         Application fees: Schengen visa fee is

a.     60 Euros per person – Adult

b.     35 Euros per for children 6-12 years of age.

c.      Free for children less than 6 years.

                    vii.         If non-US citizen, copy of valid us visa.

                   viii.         Supporting documents such as airline tickets for the duration of stay, hotel confirmations, and car rentals etc. Please make reservations but do not pay until visa is issued.

Note: If visiting Germany or Denmark supplementary documents are needed. For Germany fill http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/germany_declaration.pdf and for Denmark fill http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/supplementary_information_form.pdf