VR Team | Feb 18, 2020 | 0 comments
The Schengen visa is one of the most applied for visas in the world. In addition to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the Schengen countries form part of the list of countries that receive the most visa applications. In this article, you will learn where and how to download the Schengen visa application form, Sample Schengen application form in English and other languages, and instructions to download and fill the visa application form.
The Schengen area comprises of 26 countries which are a part of the Schengen Agreement. These countries include:
| Austria | Liechtenstein |
| Belgium | Lithuania |
| Czech Republic | Luxembourg |
| Denmark | Malta |
| Estonia | Netherlands |
| Finland | Norway |
| France | Poland |
| Germany | Portugal |
| Greece | Slovakia |
| Hungary | Slovenia |
| Iceland | Spain |
| Italy | Sweden |
| Latvia | Switzerland |
Any person wishing to travel to these countries either on tourism or studies or business/work needs to apply for the Schengen visa.
While the Schengen visa application form is easy to fill, some of the Schengen member states like France and Germany often reject visa applicants for the slightest problem in the application form. Take the 2017 Schengen visa rejection rates for example. France rejected 13.64% of its applicants, Netherlands 10.1%, Spain 8.2%, Italy 7.66%, and Germany 7.63%.
Each of the most-visited countries in the Schengen area has very stringent application processes and high rejection rates. This makes filling-in the Schengen visa form a challenge. But by filling the application form correctly, you can ensure your form isn’t rejected, and you are granted the Schengen visa.
New Harmonised Schengen Visa Application Form – Sample
Schengen Visa Application Forms
Starting Feb 02, 2020 you have to download the NEW HARMONISED SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION FORM, fill and print it. This should normally work and well accepted for all the Schengen countries.
If you are looking for individual country or language specific Schengen application form then you can use below resources to either download the application form, fill it and submit it along with the Schengen Visa application or directly submit online, print out and take it along with you for the Schengen Visa interview. Please follow the application instructions from the respective embassy you are applying for.
| Austria – Download | Liechtenstein – Download |
| Belgium – Download or Click Here | Lithuania – Submit Online |
| Czech Republic – Download | Luxembourg – Download |
| Denmark – Download | Malta – Download |
| Estonia – Download | Netherlands – Download or Submit Online |
| Finland – Download | Norway – Submit Online |
| France – Submit Online | Poland – Submit Online |
| Germany – Download | Portugal – Submit Online |
| Greece – Download | Slovakia – Download |
| Hungary – Download | Slovenia – Download |
| Iceland – Download | Spain – Download |
| Italy – Submit Online | Sweden – Download |
| Latvia – Submit Online | Switzerland – Submit Online |
Schengen visa application fees
| Applicant | Fees |
| Adults | €60 |
| Children 6 years – 12 years | €35 |
| Children below 6 years | Free |
| Adults/children traveling for academic and research purpose | Free/Reduced |
| Representatives of Non-profit organizations under the age of 25, traveling on cultural, academic or peace missions | Free/Reduced |
Sections in the Schengen visa application form and how to fill them
Here we give you tips on filling the Schengen visa application form correctly, with inputs on how to improve the chances of your application being accepted.
As a rule, ALWAYS use the information available in your passport as the basis for filling your visa application form.
The various sections in the Schengen visa application form are:
1. Surname (Family Name)
When writing your surname, be sure to write it exactly as it is in your passport. If you use hyphens in your surname (in the event you’ve combined your maiden and married names), be sure to include the hyphens.
2. Maiden Name
Here, you need to write the surname you were given at birth. If you are married and have changed your name, write your father’s name/surname here. Even if you haven’t changed your name, be sure to enter your surname here.
3. First Name
Write your legal first name here, as given in your passport.
4. DOB
Write your date of birth in the DD-MM-YYYY order. For example, if you were born on June 1st, 1980, you should write your date of birth as 01-06-1980 in the application form.
5. Place of birth
Write the place of birth as mentioned in your passport. Be careful with the spellings as they matter.
6. Country of birth
Enter the name of the country you were born in. You must do this even if you aren’t using the passport of the country of your birth.
(Sometimes, people with dual citizenship choose to travel with stronger passports which make getting the visa easier. In such a scenario, you will have to declare both of your citizenships. For example, if you were born in Thailand, but live in and have the citizenship of the United States, you will need to write Thailand here.)
7. Current Nationality (or Nationality at Birth, if different)
If you hold dual citizenship and are actively enforcing this citizenship, write the name of the country where you are a citizen.
(In the example above, you write ‘United States’ as you currently reside and stay in the US.)
8. Gender
Check the option – Male and Female – as is most appropriate.
It is to be noted that some countries in the Schengen area do recognize ‘indeterminate’ and ‘non-binary’ genders on the birth certificate. But the visa application currently offers only two gender options, and applicants must select the one that they identify with the most.
9. Civil Status
This refers to the marital status of the applicant. Check the box that is most appropriate.
10. Minor
If the applicant is a minor, it is important to write the name, residential address, telephone number, email address, passport details, and occupation details of the parent/guardian.
11. National Identity Number
Some countries have a national identification number for each citizen. If you do have such a number, please mention the same.
12. Travel Document Type
Travel documents can refer to your passport, residential permits, citizenship certificate, and any other visa that you hold and which are valid at the time of the application process. Mention the type of travel document here which you are using as proof of your nationality.
13. Travel Document Number
Write the travel document number in this section.
14. Issue Date
This refers to the passport issue date. Write it in the same format as given in the passport.
15. Expiration Date
This refers to the passport expiry date. Write it in the same format as given in the passport.
16. Issued By
This refers to the body which has issued the passport. Specify the name of the authority and place of issue as given in the passport.
17. Personal Information Regarding a Family Member who is a European Union, EEA, or Swiss National
If your spouse/parent/sibling/friend is a citizen or permanent resident of the Schengen/EU/EEA/Switzerland, mention his/her name, residential address, telephone number, email address, passport number, DOB as per passport, and your relationship status with them.
18. Relationship
This refers to your relationship with the family member/friend who is residing in the Schengen/EU/EEA/Switzerland. Here you will have many boxes available. Check the option that is correct.
19. Applicant’s home address, email address and telephone number
Provide your residential contact details; your address, personal email address, and mobile number. If you are writing your office number or email, mention the name of your office, the address, and contact details.
In the case of a minor, please specify if the contact details belong to the parents or guardians.
20. Residence in Another Country
If you do reside in another country (other than your country of nationality), provide the address, telephone number, and email address of the place of residence in that other country, along with details about your stay. If you are a tourist or are on student/work visa, specify the expiration date. If you’re a permanent resident or citizen, mention the residency permit/citizenship number.
21. Current Occupation
Write the same occupation as listed on your passport. If you weren’t employed before, but are now, write it like this – Engineer (former graduate student). If you currently aren’t working anywhere, you can mention – No Occupation – here.
22. Employer or Educational Institution
Write the name of your office or educational institute, with its address, telephone number, and email address. For the office, mention if it’s public service, academic or private.
23. The Main Purpose of Your Trip
Many options will be provided under this section. Check the one that is the most appropriate.
24. Additional information on purpose of stay
Provide additional documentation that justify your purpose of the trip.
25. Destination Member State
This should be the name of the country where you will be residing the longest for the duration of your visit. If you are staying in France for ten days and Belgium for five days, you should write France here.
26. First Entry Member State
This should be the country you will be visiting first in your itinerary during your visit to the Schengen area. Let’s say in the above example, you enter Belgium first from your home country and then travel to France. You need to write ‘Belgium’ in this section.
27. Number of Entries Requested
You will be provided with a few options here, check the most appropriate option.
28. Fingerprint
If you have already given your biometrics, check the box “Yes” and enter the date when you had provided the biometrics. If “No,” check the relevant option.
29. Entry Permit for Your Final Destination Country, If Applicable
If the final country of the visit is outside the Schengen area, mention the dates of entry and exit to that country with the visa/application number next to it. If you are going to the UK after your Schengen visit, mention details about the UK visa and travel dates here.
30. Inviting Person’s Name
If someone is sponsoring your stay in the Schengen area, mention the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the individual.
31. Host Organization/Firm Name and Address
If a company/institution is inviting you on a business/event, mention the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the organization.
32. Travel and Living Expenses During Your Stay Are Covered by?
You will be offered many options in the application. Check the box that is the most relevant to your situation.
33. Place and Date
Date the application with the date when you are actually filling the form, even if you attend the visa interview at a later date. The same goes for the location; enter the location where you fill the form and not the location of the consulate (if they are different).
34. Signature
Sign the application form; your signature should match the signature given in your passport.
A properly filled-in application form is half the battle won. A transparent and comprehensive form with all the honest details will ensure that you get awarded your Schengen visa. Follow the above tips and fill in your application form with ease.
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Last Updated on February 18th, 2020
FAQs
Can I fill my Schengen visa application by hand? ›
Now the question arises, Can Schengen visa application be handwritten, the answer to this question is yes, and the visa application form can be handwritten but only in the case where you are applying for it through any offline window.
How do I fill my visa application online for France? ›- STEP 1 - Gather information on your situation. Seek information and check if you need a visa or not. ...
- STEP 2 - Set up my online application. Fill out the visa application form. ...
- STEP 3 - Book your appointment. ...
- STEP 4 - Submit your application. ...
- STEP 5 - Track your application.
In order to make your appointment, you will need to go to the website of the embassy or consulate that you dealing with and use their online booking system and choose a convenient date and time for your appointment. If they do not have an online booking system, you can phone or email them.
What if I make a mistake on my Schengen visa form can I correct it? ›What if I make a mistake on my Schengen Visa form - can I correct it? If you made a mistake on your visa application form - you will need to fill out a new one before your appointment at the consulate or visa application center.
Where do I submit my Schengen visa application? ›You must lodge the application for a Schengen visa at the Consulate of the country that you intend to visit, or – if you intend to visit more than one Schengen State, the Consulate of the country where you will spend the longest period.
How do you know if Schengen visa is approved? ›You will receive an email update when your decision has been returned to the Schengen Visa Application Centre. If you can't access email easily, or would like more detailed tracking information, you may also be able to get updates by SMS sent directly to your phone.
How much in advance can I apply for Schengen visa? ›The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as follows: The earliest you can file a visa application: six months before you start your planned trip. The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.
What if I made a mistake on my visa application? ›If you have made a mistake on a "DS-160" form that you submitted to get a "nonimmigrant" visa, you can reopen your application from the database by entering the application ID and providing identifying information. You need to do this within 30 days after submitting your DS-160, however.
How can I get visa appointment for France visa? ›Welcome to VFS Appointment system
You must book an appointment to submit your visa application to VFS Global visa application center (VAC). Before you book an appointment, you must fill a visa application form online on the official French website France-Visas.
Walk In Without Appointment*
If you need to submit your visa application on an urgent basis, walk into our Visa Application Centre and opt for this service. VFS Global will process your visa application without a pre-booked appointment.
What do I need to bring to my French visa appointment? ›
- Three long-stay visa application forms;
- Three passport photographs;
- A valid passport;
- The long-stay visa fees;
- A letter explaining why you are applying for a return visa;
- Proof of address in France (utility bill, etc.)
You should make an appointment by calling or by email. Do not try to make appointments by text, unless you are simply asking a good friend if they would like to have lunch. When making an appointment you should give the person your name and the reason for wanting an appointment.
Why there is no appointment for Schengen visa? ›Because of such a high demand, individuals who have not applied for the visa will not be able to get a slot till mid-September 2022. The executives of the travel industry told that no slots for July and August are available for the 26 Schengen Area countries.
How long does it take to get a Schengen visa appointment? ›Book your Embassy appointment 5 or 6 months before your departure date – it is important to book your Schengen Visa appointment well in advance as the waiting period for an appointment can be up to 3-4 months, particularly during peak seasons.
How much bank balance do I have to show for a Schengen visa? ›Proof of civil status – birth certificate will suffice. Bank statement – this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months.
Does embassy check bank statement? ›The Embassy does not check bank statement in case of every applicant. It is done on random basis or in case of doubt.
Which country rejects visa most? ›According to Schengen Visa Statistic 2021, the 4 countries with the highest rejection rates were: Sweden, Norway, France, and Denmark.
Which country gives Schengen visa easily? ›In general, Lithuania is the easiest country to obtain a Schengen Visa from, with officials granting 98.7% of applications. The nation also receives fewer applications than countries such as Germany or France, as they are extremely popular with tourists and business travellers.
Which European country gives visa easily? ›Iceland. With a rejection rate of just 12% if a visa is applied from the New Delhi consulate, chances are that you will get an Iceland tourist visa easily. This is also because since the country receives less visa applications, this country is also a good option to get a visa to the Schengen area.
What are the first port of entry rules for Schengen visa? ›What Is the First Port of Entry for a Schengen Visa? The first point of entry is the country through which you enter the Schengen Area on a trip. You must always enter the Schengen Area via the country which issued your visa.
Can I fill Schengen visa form online? ›
All Schengen applicants are kindly requested to fill in the online application forms according to VIDEX format, which can be found above. Please ensure that a high quality printout of the barcode is submitted with the application.
How do you fill a Videx form? ›- Filling up your VIDEX Form.
- Personal Details –
- * Family Name -Applicant's surname as per passport bio details.
- (NOTE: In case there is only Given Name in the passport, same needs to be entered in both. ...
- Name at birth - Do not write anything here. ...
- and full stop(.) ...
- *Country of birth - Depends on place of birth of applicant.
If you have made a mistake on a "DS-160" form that you submitted to get a "nonimmigrant" visa, you can reopen your application from the database by entering the application ID and providing identifying information. You need to do this within 30 days after submitting your DS-160, however.
How long does it take to get a Schengen visa appointment? ›Book your Embassy appointment 5 or 6 months before your departure date – it is important to book your Schengen Visa appointment well in advance as the waiting period for an appointment can be up to 3-4 months, particularly during peak seasons.
Which country is the easiest to apply for Schengen visa? ›In general, Lithuania is the easiest country to obtain a Schengen Visa from, with officials granting 98.7% of applications. The nation also receives fewer applications than countries such as Germany or France, as they are extremely popular with tourists and business travellers.
Can I go to VFS without appointment? ›Walk In Without Appointment*
If you need to submit your visa application on an urgent basis, walk into our Visa Application Centre and opt for this service. VFS Global will process your visa application without a pre-booked appointment.
For submission of your Schengen visa application at your nearest Visa Application Centre, please schedule an appointment at VFS Global by telephone (022-67866013) or online.
What is national identity number Schengen visa? ›National Identity Number: If you have a national identification number such as a Pan number for example, enter it in this section. Type of Travel Document: Select the type of travel document or passport you are submitting with the form. Eg: Ordinary passport, diplomatic passport etc.
Can I edit my visa application after submission? ›Once the online application form is submitted by the applicant, then further modifications are not allowed. Hence applicants are requested to check and validate the details before submitting the online application form.
How do you fill out an application name? ›You can fill your name in the First Name field. You can fill your family surname in the Last Name field. Your family surname will be common for you, your parents and your siblings (unmarried). You need to fill your father's name in the Middle Name field.
What is given name in application form? ›
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a family or clan) who have a common surname.
How do you fill out a first name and last name? ›Your last name is your family name or surname. The Maiden name is the previous name of a married woman before she took her husband's name. The first order is straightforward and very common. In this order, you write your first name, followed by your middle name and last name/surname.
Which country rejected visa most? ›According to Schengen Visa Statistic 2021, the 4 countries with the highest rejection rates were: Sweden, Norway, France, and Denmark.
Does Schengen visa get rejected? ›According to Schengen Visa Info, there are 12 reasons for which visa applications are rejected most frequently, including here a criminal past of the applicant, a damaged passport, the invalidity of one of the documents submitted, and insufficient financial means to support travel, etc.
How do I know if my Schengen visa is approved? ›You will receive an email update when your decision has been returned to the Schengen Visa Application Centre. If you can't access email easily, or would like more detailed tracking information, you may also be able to get updates by SMS sent directly to your phone.