Frequent Mistakes with Schengen Visa Applications - Printable Version +- Startup Forums (https://startupforums.net) +-- Forum: Discussions (https://startupforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Visa (Migration) (https://startupforums.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=3) +--- Thread: Frequent Mistakes with Schengen Visa Applications (/showthread.php?tid=8)

Frequent Mistakes with Schengen Visa Applications - MindKing - 03-27-2025 1. What is a Schengen visa and how is it different from a national visa? A Schengen visa allows the traveller to short-term stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period) for tourism, business, family visits, or transit within the 27 Schengen Area countries. A national visa, on the other hand, is specific to a specific country and is typically issued for long-term stays (90+ days and up to 12 months), such as work, study, or family reunification, and may (rarely) not allow free movement across the Schengen Area. 2. What are the different types of Schengen visas? The primary types of Schengen visas include: Type A (Airport Transit Visa): Allows the traveller to go through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering the Schengen Area. Type C (Short-Stay Visa): Allows the traveller to stay up to 90 days for tourism, business, or family visits. Type D (National Visa): Issued for long-term stays in a specific Schengen country for purposes like work or study. Typically, unless stated otherwise, it also allows the traveller with access to Schengen Member states under the 90/180 rule. 3. How early/late can I apply to the visa? The traveller can apply from up to 6 months before the trip, and up to 15 days before the travel. Do consider, that its preferably to use 15 working days than calendar ones to err on the side of caution. 4. What can I do if I got my application refused? The traveller has the right to appeal the decision within the timeframe specified in the refusal letter. Alternatively, it is possible to reapply, however, it is important to address all identified issues which led to the refusal. 4a. Caveats for consideration: A refusal has no bearing on future applications, as each application will be reviewed based on the provided documents. Holding a visa from the US, UK, or any other country does not entail you to automatically obtain a Schengen Visa. 5. How to read the visa sticker? Valid for: states the name of the Member States you're allowed to visit. If it states SCHENGEN STATES then you can enter all countries, if it has an acronym, then you're only allowed to enter the listed coutries. E.g. A=Austria, DK=Denmark, etc. From - Until: the period of time for which your visa is valid. Do consider that this timeframe is longer than the "duration of stay" to allow flexibility for any changes in itinerary. Type of visa: it will show either A, C or D as per question #2. Issued in: location where the visa was issued. On: date on which the visa was issued. Remarks: state the purpose of your travel to the Schengen Area, such as work, tourism, or medical reasons. Number of entries: single, 2, multi entry. Passport Number: your passport number. Duration of stay: states the number of days that you are allowed in the Schengen area. 5a. Caveats to consider: No matter how many days you have stayed in the Schengen area, you must leave no later than the date printed in the “UNTIL” field." For long term visas the "Duration Stay" represents how many days you can stay  within a period of six months. It is your accountability to check and ensure the visa sticker accurately registers your personal data, in case where its not, inform the consulate and request a new sticker with the proper corrections. 6. What is the 90/180 rule? It refers to the right of staying for 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area. When applying this rule, consider: The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay in the Schengen territory; The date of exit is considered as the last day of stay in the Schengen territory; if your flight is one minute past midnight of after your last day, you are overstaying. Stays in EU but non-Schengen participant countries are not calculated in the overall period of stay for the Schengen area. Instead the 90-day limit is calculated individually for each of these states. The 180-day reference period is a moving window, based on the approach of looking backwards at each day of the stay (be it at the moment of entry or at the day of an actual check, such as inland police control or border check upon departure). Periods of previous stay authorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa are not taken into account in the calculation of the duration of visa-free stay. Residence permits and long-stay visas are subject to different rules. 7. What documents should I have at hand to present to the border officer? The traveller needs to show the passport. Furthermore, and at the request of the officer, the traveller might be asked to also show documents proving your purpose and conditions of stay (e.g. tickets for further journeys and return tickets; lodging reservations ; invitation letter in case of visits, conferences or events; school/uni enrolment certificate in case of study etc.) as well as evidence of sufficient means of subsistence. 8. How much money do I need to have with me to be allowed entry? The means of subsistence will be assessed in accordance with the duration and the purpose of the stay and by reference to average prices in the destination Member State(s) for board and lodging in budget accommodation, multiplied by the number of days stayed. Evidence includes  the cash, travellers' cheques credit cards, and if applicable,  letters of guarantee from host(s). Long story short, the amount of money depends on the country you visit. 9. Does the visa ensure entry into a country? No, the visa grants the right to travel to the country, however, the decision to allow entrance or not, depends on the border officer. 10. What is visa shopping and why should it be avoided? Visa shopping refers to the practice of applying for a Schengen visa at a country’s consulate where you are less likely to be denied or because it might issue the visa faster, even if it is not your main destination. This practice is discouraged and can lead to visa denial, refusal of entry, among other actions. 11. How to decide where should I apply? The traveller should apply at the consulate of the country where you intend to spend the most time or where your first entry into the Schengen Area will occur if stays are equal across countries. 12. Can I apply for a Schengen visa in a country where I do not legally reside? The traveller must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate in your country of legal residence. However, if you are legally staying (e.g., on a long-term visa) in another country, you might be allowed to apply there. It is essential to check the specific consulate’s rules. 13. What influences the visa validity period? For short-term visas the provided itinerary is what influences the most on the validity period. For longer periods of time, review the caveats for the requirements. 13a. Caveats to consider: If you're a first time applicant, you are highly unlikely to get a 3 or 6 month visa validity period as it directly depends on the itinerary you submitted during your application. Longer validity visas are typically granted to applicants with a history of compliance and frequent travel. What can you do to request a longer period? For the 6-month period, typically you should justify the need for it and provide evidence of planned trips. What about one, two or five year visas? these visas are issued when the traveller requests it, justifies its need and fulfills the requirements. For a one-year visa it is necessary to have used 3 visas within the previous 2 years, for a two-year visa it is necessary to obtain and use a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year in the previous 2 years, and for the five-year one, it is necessary to have obtained and used a two-year visa in the previous three years. 14. Can I visit other Schengen countries? Assuming the territorial validity of your visa allows you, then yes, you can visit other Schengen countries, but your primary destination (larger number of days, or same number of days but point of entry) should be the country that issued your visa. Failing to do this is considered visa shopping. 15. What documents are required for a Schengen visa application? The common requirements include: A completed and signed visa application form. A valid passport with at least two blank pages and a validity of at least three months beyond your intended departure. Two recent passport-sized photographs. Proof of travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical expenses. Travel itinerary (flight and accommodation bookings). Proof of financial means (e.g., bank statements, pay slips). Letter of invitation (if applicable). Any additional documents required based on the purpose of travel (e.g., employment letter, student proof). 15a. Caveats for consideration: Presenting all the documents does not equal a high-quality application nor it ensures the issuance of the visa. Your application should have all the evidence structured in a manner that is explicit and easy to access, it is the traveller's accountability to demonstrate compliance, not for the consular officer to sift through multiple documents to try and find if you comply with all requirements. Can a border officer really check my docs at the point of entry? yes, officers are within their right to ask questions, verify and request a secondary inspection. It does not mean that secondary inspections are mandatory, but better to prepare yourself with all the documents in case it happens. 16. Can I extend my visa once I'm in the Schengen Area? No, you can't unless for exceptional cases, such as unforeseen circumstances (e.g., illness, force majeure). Only in this case, extensions can be applied for at the immigration authority of the country where you are staying, and strong evidence is required to support your request. 17. What happens if I overstay? The traveller would be liable to one or more of the following, fines/penalties, forceful deportation, entry ban and a note on your record which will influence the outcomes of any future visa application. Article is featured from the following source.