Applying for a Schengen visa in 2024 is not an easy task, as it has never been. The application process involves gathering numerous documents, attending an interview, and paying a fee.
As of June 11, 2024, the Schengen visa fee increased from €80 to €90.
However, obtaining a visa can be easier for many, if they just pay attention to some very common mistakes that usually result in the rejection of an application.
Most of the time, these errors are made due to lack of knowledge or the applicant not understanding the importance of documents meeting the criteria set by the Schengen country they wish to visit.
We asked the founder of SchengenVisaInfoBesart Bajrami, to share a list of the most common mistakes made by Schengen visa applicants based on his experience.
Below is a compilation of these common errors. By avoiding them and ensuring that your application file meets the criteria of the Schengen authorities, you can greatly increase your chances of obtaining a Schengen visa.
1. Collecting the necessary documents based on a random list provided by a friend
Many travelers, particularly first-time applicants for a Schengen visa, make the mistake of following the advice of family or friends who have obtained Schengen visas in the past and applying them word for word throughout the entire procedure.
The documents required for a Schengen visa often differ from one country to another, or from one embassy to another. Additionally, Schengen Area embassies around the world continually review and update visa requirements.
People who simply receive a random list from a friend or family member and start collecting documents according to the same often make the mistake of leaving out newly added crucial requirements or documents that are required according to new criteria.
All Schengen visa applicants are advised to collect documents according to the list published by the embassy of the country where they will apply.
SchengenVisaInfo also has a complete list of documents required for a Schengen visa application, which are continually reviewed and updated according to official sources.
2. The passport does not meet the requirements
Having a passport that has several months of validity left is not enough, and some travelers have learned this the hard way.
The EU has specific and strict passport rules for those applying for a Schengen visa, as follows:
- The passport must be valid for an additional six months after the date of your planned trip to the Schengen Area.
- The passport must have been issued within the last ten years on the date the passport holder plans to leave the Schengen country they are visiting.
- The passport must have at least two blank pages, but they must not be added later to the passport.
Those who do not comply with any of these rules will not be able to obtain a visa.
Additionally, travelers planning to obtain a visa with the multiple entry option, for periods of three or five years, should note that if the validity of their passport is shorter than the required visa validity period, then they will not they will be able to achieve the latter.
Instead, in most cases, they will obtain a visa valid for a shorter period of time, before their passport expires.
3. Filling out the application form with information that does not match other documents
Every traveler must complete the application form for a Schengen visa (download the application on the SchengenVisaInfo page). This is the first document that is required. Many travelers make the mistake of putting different information on the application form than on the rest of the documents.
For example, if your passport is valid for six more months, some request that the passport be valid for longer. On other occasions, they write the required period of visa validity on dates other than the dates for which they have travel or accommodation insurance.
These errors, particularly when made intentionally, can automatically result in the rejection of the visa application.
Find clear instructions on how to complete the visa application form from the experts at SchengenVisaInfo.
4. The applicant does not have (adequate) travel insurance
Refusing to purchase travel insurance with the idea “nothing is going to happen to me“It’s a big mistake. The embassy doesn’t care if you are a person who never gets sick or if you are very careful about accidents. Schengen travel insurance with coverage of €30,000 that covers repatriation in the event of death is essential for everyone.
In many cases, people take out travel insurance for a shorter period of time than they plan to spend in the EU, or they take out coverage with less coverage than required.
In cases where the insurance does not cover repatriation in the event of death, even if it covers other accidents, the requirement to have travel insurance is considered to have been breached.
Travelers always have the opportunity to buy Schengen travel insurance online at a very low cost at Europ Assistance or Insurte.
5. Applying too early or too late
Like everything else, the time when an application must be submitted is also regulated by the Schengen Visa Code. According to him, the earliest you can apply is six months before your planned trip, and the latest is 15 business days before your planned trip.
Trying to apply, that is, a year in advance, is not going to end well, even in overcrowded embassies.
The same goes for late submission of an application. People who previously obtained a visa in a very short period, i.e. five days from a particular embassy, and think that submitting the next visa application late will not be a big problem, risk that their visa application will be delayed or even not accepted at all.
Therefore, every traveler should make sure to apply well in advance, but no earlier than six months before the planned trip.
6. Applying at the wrong embassy/consulate/visa center
Another very common mistake among people who plan to visit several countries in the Schengen Area with a single visa is to apply at the wrong embassy.
In cases where you wish to visit two or more Schengen Area countries with the same visa on an uninterrupted trip, the application must be submitted as follows:
- You will visit the country’s embassy first., if you plan to stay in each country the same number of days. That is, if you plan to stay five days in Austria, five days in Germany and five days in France, but you will enter the Schengen zone through Austria, then you will need to apply at the Austrian embassy.
- You will stay longer at the country’s embassy., if you plan to stay in each country for a different number of days. That is, if you plan to stay three days in Austria, five days in Germany and seven days in France, you will need to apply at the French embassy.
You can use SchengenVisaInfo’s Visa Wizard to find out which embassy or consulate to apply at!
7. Not bringing cash to pay the application fee
This is not a mistake that could get your visa rejected, but it could cause you unnecessary problems.
On the day of the interview, many people do not carry cash to pay the Schengen visa fee with the idea that they can pay by card or online. This is not possible, as all embassies, consulates and visa centers require travelers to have the exact amount required for a visa in cash.
Trying to pay with large bills can also be a problem, especially if you are one of the first applicants of the day. It is best for each applicant to have the exact amount to avoid headaches.
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