Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
You will have to present several documents at the Schengen port of entry, in order to be permitted to enter, if you are a non-EU/Schengen country national, regardless if you are a visa-exempt or not.
The documents you need to provide when entering the Schengen Area are as follows:
- Valid Passport. Issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
- Schengen Visa. If you are a national of one of the third countries in need of a visa.
EU/Schengen border officials may also ask for other information and documents such as sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, how long you intend to stay, round-trip airline ticket, the purpose of your entry, travel insurance, invitation letter, etc.
Please, make sure that the border officer gives you an entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen area. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.
What Documents are Required When Applying for a Tourist Schengen Visa?
When applying for a Tourist Schengen Visa, you must submit the following documents:
- Visa application form. Fully completed with correct information, printed and signed at the end.
- Two recent photos. Taken within the last three months, in compliance with the Schengen visa photo criteria.
- Valid passport. No older than ten years and with a minimum validity of three months beyond your planned stay in Schengen. It must have at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix the visa sticker.
- Roundtrip reservation or itinerary. A document that includes dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. Find out how to get a flight reservation for a tourist visa application.
- Travel Health Insurance. Evidence that you have purchased health insurance that covers medical emergencies with a minimum of €30,000, for your whole period of stay.
- Proof of accommodation. Evidence that shows where you will be staying throughout your time in Schengen. This could be a:
- Hotel/hostel booking. With name, complete address, phone, and e-mail, for the entire time you will be in the Schengen area.
- Rent agreement. If you have rented a place, in the country you will be staying.
- Letter of tour organizer. If you will be traveling with a tour agency.
- Proof of financial means. Evidence that shows you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in Schengen. This could be a:
- Bank account statement.
- Sponsorship Letter. When another person will be financially sponsoring your trip to the Schengen Zone. It is also often called an Affidavit of Support.
- A combination of both.
- Evidence of employment status.
- If employed:
- Employment contract,
- Leave permission from the employer
- Income Tax Return
- If self-employed:
- A copy of your business license,
- Company’s bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
- If a student:
- Proof of enrollment &
- No Objection Letter from University
- If employed:
- Travel Itinerary. A description of your trip to Europe, your purpose of traveling, which places are you going to visit in Europe, the time frame and all the personal data.
- For Minors:
- Either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced / death certificate of parent
- Letter of consent from parents, including passport copies of both parents/ legal guardian
What Documents are Required When Applying for a Schengen Visitor Visa?
The required documents for a Schengen Visa for Visiting Family, Friends or Relatives are as following:
- Schengen visa application form. Filled with all the required information.
- Two identical photos. Taken within the last three months, according to the requirements for Schengen visa photo.
- Valid passport. Which has at least two blank pages, and validity of three more months from the date you plan to leave Schengen. Passports older than ten years or extended passports will not be accepted.
- Letter of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in a Schengen country, attached with a copy of their passport. In case that the friend/relative is not a citizen of the Schengen country, a copy of the residency permit will also be required.
- Roundtrip reservation or itinerary. This document should include the dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use visa consultation services like this one to get it.
- Schengen Travel Insurance. A confirmation letter from your health insurance stating coverage for emergency medical treatment with a minimum of €30,000, including repatriation in case of death.
- Travel Itinerary. A detailed description of your trip, the purpose of traveling, the time you will be spending there, and all your personal data.
- Means of Subsistence. You will need to prove that you have enough money to financially support yourself during your stay in the Schengen Zone. This could be any of the following:
- Bank account statements.
- Sponsorship Letter. A letter was written by another person who is willing to pay all your expenses in the Schengen zone. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by their bank statements to prove they have the means to do so.
- A combination of both.
- Proof of accommodation. This could be any of the following:
- House/Flat of your family member, relative, or your friend who is inviting you.
- Hotel/hostel booking. With the name of the place, its complete address, and other contact details as phone and e-mail. It should also include the dates you will be staying there.
- Rent contract. If you have rented a room/apartment/house in the country where you will stay.
- Proof of family relationship (for relatives).
- Evidence of employment status.
- If employed:
- Employment contract,
- Leave permission from the employer
- Income Tax Return
- If self-employed:
- A copy of your business license,
- Company’s bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
- If a student:
- Proof of enrollment &
- No Objection Letter from University
- If employed:
- Minor travelers:
- Birth certificate
- A minor accompanied by one parent should provide an original notarized NOC by the other parent, plus copies of parents passports or ID
- A minor traveling alone shall provide an original notarized NOC by both parents / legal guardians, plus copies of parents passports or ID
What Documents are Required When Applying for a Business Schengen Visa?
The following documents are required for a Business Schengen visa application:
- Visa application form. Fully completed and signed.
- Two recently taken photos must be attached. Both photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the Schengen visa photo requirements.
- A valid passport. It should valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).
- Round trip reservation or itinerary It must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use the visa consultation services like this one. These guys can handle most of your business visa mandatory requirements such as flight itineraries, hotel reservations along with free consultation over email.
- Travel insurance policy. A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents, and even repatriation in case of death.
- Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This could be a hotel booking, a rental agreement, or a letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.
- Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially during your Business trip in Europe. This can be one of the following:
- Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
- Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
- A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.
- Proof of paid visa fee.
- Cover letter. Explaining the purpose of the visit to the Schengen country.
- A short profile of the applicant’s place.
- Letter from employer. Meticulously describing the purpose of the travel as well as the itinerary of the days spend within the Schengen zone.
- Invitation letter. Written by the partner company in the Schengen zone, faxed also to the corresponding consulate. This letter has to appear as an invitation to attend meetings or other relevant events matching trade, industry or work.
- Proof of financial means. It must be stated either in the employer’s letter or the partner company’s invitation that one of both parties will be covering the applicant’s travel expenses during his/her stay in the Schengen Zone.
- If there were previous trade relations between the two companies proof of such an event.
- For employees:
- Employment contract.
- Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.
- Leave permission from the employer.
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.
- For the self-employed:
- A copy of your business license.
- Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.
- Income Tax Return (ITR).
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