schengen visa
Picture by Paul Watson

Processing time:
It is essential to allow yourself sufficient time when applying for a Schengen visa. Make your plans accordingly because the process of getting a Schengen visa may take up to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer.

Processing fee:
Application fees €60 not refundable in case of cancellation or denial.

Schengen visas are issued free of charge to:

  • The spouse and to the children under 21 years of age of a European Union national or of a EEA national.
  • Children under 6 years.
  • School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training.
  • Researchers from third countries traveling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.

Visa fee reduced or waived:
In individual cases, the amount of the fee to be charged may be waived or reduced in accordance with national law when this measure serves to promote cultural interests as well as interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy, other areas of vital public interest or for humanitarian reasons.
A fee reduction or waiver for nationals of a third country may also be the result of a visa facilitation agreement concluded between the European Community and that third country consistent with the Community’s overall approach to visa facilitation agreements.

Important notes

  • There is no legal right to a visa.
  • A later change of the purpose of the visit is NOT permited.
  • The total duration of one stay, or of several consecutive stays cannot exceed 3 months per semester in the Schengen-territory.
  • Applicants may be requested to submit additional documents.
  • Even though you can travel with one visa between Schengen countries, it is safer to carry your passport and any other identification with you. Countries like Sweden and Finland still maintain customs control at their borders.
  • Providing all the requested documents does not guarantee the issuance of the visa.
  • Documents received by fax or e-mail are not accepted.

Passport pickup:
At the end of the application process, your passport can be picked up at the Consulate of the Schengen country to which you have applied.
There are some countries that can provide another service if you ask them. If you want your passport returned by mail, you must provide a self-addressed return envelope with enough stamps on it when you apply.

Schengen visa extension
A visa may only be extended if new facts have arisen since the visa was issued. A visa extension may not result in the duration of the stay exceeding 90 days. Applications to extend a visa have very powerful reasons to undertake this action, humanitarian grounds or serious occupational or personal reasons. The authority may charge a fee for extending visas.

Appealing against a Schengen visa denial

  • Appeals should be exercised in accordance to the law of the Schengen State which has rejected the application.
  • A Schengen visa may be denied if the applicant’s name shows in the Schengen Infomation System (SIS) with a “deny entry” alert no matter which of the Schengen member states issued this alert.
  • In case of a inaccurate alert, you might want to refer to the court of the state which has issued the alert

A guide to Schengen Visa Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Disclaimer: Every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information. However we cannot guarantee that there will be no errors. We make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this post, and all provided are to be used as a guideline

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 1st, 2007 at 2:12 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.