If you are a non-EU citizen who wants to work, study, or just visit Europe you might need to get a visa. There a few types and many different requirements one must complete. So take this as a very brief summary which needs to be followed up with your own research, especially since different countries have different agreements with the EU and the adjacent Schengen Area so no two countries are alike.
Schengen visa requirements
There are seven basic requirements which you’ll need to complete (for a more detailed list, see this document or the website of EU Commission).
- “Common Schengen Application Form” which should be downloadable for free on consular websites of the given country you want to enter.
- Passport with the expiration of validity whole three months after your last day in a Schengen country. It should have its last two pages blank for the visa. Also note that the temporary R.S.A. passports are no longer usable to get a visa, meaning that you’ll have to consult someone for more information.
- Two recent passport photographs in colour.
- Residence permit, which again must be valid even three months after the last day of your stay.
- (Optional) If you have a visa specifically for the country of your destination you will be asked to include it in your application.
- Proof of the visa payment.
- Itinerary of your flights, accommodation, days of arrival and departure, and the like.
- Proof of accommodation: either a hotel reservation or an invitation letter from a relative or a friend.
- (Only for business) Letter by the company in the Schengen Area which you will work at explaining the reason for the stay.
- (Only for children under 18 years of age) Unabridged birth certificate.
European union visa
Since the Schengen Visa only grants you a stay for 90 days, you might want to apply for a residence, study, or work visa, if you want to stay for longer. You do this directly through the embassy or consulate of the country that you want to stay in as there is no one unified long-term visa for the European Union as a whole. If you do get a long-term visa in one of the Schengen Area countries, you may move freely between them.
And if you live continuously in one country, applying and reapplying for long-term visas for a period of at least five years, you may have the opportunity to apply for a long-term resident status which will allow you to work and move in Europe freely as well as some perks such as social services.
EU travel visa policy
Travels visa policy depends on which country are you from. For example, if you are a US citizen, you may move freely in 26 countries of Schengen for up to 90 days without a visa. But if you are from a different country, it is best to consult the EU Commission website above to learn about your specific situation.
Travel insurance for Schengen
One of the requirements we haven’t stated above but which you might need to provide is a one-page proof of having the Schengen Travel Medical Insurance. The insurance itself is provided by various private companies.
Application form Schengen visa
You will find the application form for a Schengen visa here.
How much money do I need to show in my bank account for a Schengen visa?
One of the other additional requirements will be proof of sufficient funds which will be provided to you by your bank. The amount necessary for a successful application depends on the country of entry. So for example, in Belgium, the funds necessary are 95€/day or 45€/day depending on whether you’re staying in a hotel or somewhere cheaper.
