If you are a non-EU citizen, you might need a visa to visit the Schengen area, which includes 25 different European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Be aware that the Schengen agreement does not cover all European countries; there are about 30 countries in Europe but only the 25 mentioned above have signed up for the Schengen Visa Treaty and thus share a common visa.

The good news is that once the Schengen Visa is universally accepted in all the above 15 countries, so once you obtain the visa you can enter any and all those countries with the same visa. The bad news, however, is that obtaining the Schengen visa is relatively difficult, but this guide will aim to simplify and explain the application process.

Q: Which countries are covered and included under the Schengen Visa agreement?

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

The Schengen Visa is NOT valid for: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Romania, and the United Kingdom.

Q: Do I need a Schengen Visa? Which nationalities require a Schengen visa?

The following is a list of countries that require a Schengen visa. It is arranged alphabetically.

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Botswana, Burma (see Myanmar), Burkina Faso, Burundi

Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, China (People's Republic), Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Brazzaville), Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba

Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic

Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Fiji Islands

Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana

Haiti

India, Indonesia, Iran

Iraq

Jamaica, Jordan

Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Kiribati, Kuwait

Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya

Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldavia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (formerly Burma)

Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Marianas (Islands), North Korea

Oman

Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philipines

Qatar

Russian Federation, Rwanda

Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Salomon Islands, São Tomé and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria

Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu

Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Vanuatu, Vietnam

West Samoa

Yemen

Zambia, Zimbabwe

Q: I need a Short-Stay Schengen Visa. How do I start the process of applying?

First, you need to decide which embassy to apply to. You can obtain a Schengen visa from any of the 25 country embassies if they are present in the country you are currently living in. If you are only visiting one Schengen country, you will have to apply at the embassy of that country. If you are visiting multiple countries on your trip, you will need to apply at the embassy of the first country that you are entering (e.g. if you are going on a France -> Germany -> Italy trip, and France is your first country of entry, you will need to apply at the French Embassy).

Depending on your country of residence, different procedures for making a visa application applies. The most common way in most embassies is to call up a special appointment booking number, where you have to provide your details over the phone to make an appointment. Each country's embassy has a different number; so please make sure you are making an appointment at the right embassy. To find out the number to call, do a search on Google (e.g. search *French AND embassy AND London* for the French Embassy in London).

Q: Where can I get a download copy of the Schengen Visa Application Form?

You can obtain it at any of the Embassies if you visit in person, by fax or post, or online on their websites. The Schengen visa application form should be the same and is standardized regardless of which country you are applying for.

A PDF copy of the Schengen Visa application form from the French Embassy in London can be found here.

Q: What documents or requirements are there to get a Schengen Visa?

Requirements are pretty similar between the embassies and countries, but each enforces and interpretes the regulations differently, therefore it is advisable to check the embassy's website for the definitive list of requirements.

A good example is the French Embassy in London's requirement:

• Passport valid for more than 3 months beyond the validity of the visa applied for. Only foreigners with a British Residency Permit (i.e. UK work or stay visa) will be allowed to apply within the UK for the Schengen Visa.
• 2 passport sized photographs (be careful here, as American passport photos are different sizes. The conventional UK passport photo size is accepted)
• Proof of financial means of support. Normall this is a bank statement, preferably current account (no fixed term deposit account statements or bonds will be accepted), or proof of purchase of traveller's cheques. You must prove that you have a minimum of £40 for each day you are intending to be in France.
• Proof of travel. This is a confirmed booking of a return travel to France (can be flight, train, ferry, etc), or a confirmation of a booking fully paid from a travel agent (e.g. if going on a packaged or organised tour).
• Proof of accomodation. this is a confirmed reservation from a hotel. You must that you produce a booking confirmation directly from the hotel. If you are booking through an agent or an online website, you will need to get the hotel to issue you a separate letter or booking confirmation that clearly has your full name, dates of stay, the hotel address, and the contact details of the hotel. An online e-booking confirmation from a site like Expedia or Hostelworld will NOT be accepted on its own without this separate letter/confirmation from the hotel directly.
• Depending on your occupation, you will need to produce additional documents. If working/employed, this usually means a letter from your employer, if you are a student/studying this means a letter from your school.
• For more detailed information about the points above, you can have a look at the French Embassy's list of requirements.

Q: How much is the application fee?

For most nationalities, it is 60 Euros. For citizens of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM, Moldavia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine is it only 35 Euros. The visa is free for a small list of special cases, most notably for children under the age of 6, spouses of EU citizens, and dependents of European Union citizens. The fee is payable at the embassy during the appointment. Major credit cards (except American Express and Diner's Club) is accepted, as well as cash. No personal cheques will be accepted as payment. It is strongly recommended that you bring sufficient cash as a backup, even if you intend to pay by card.

Q: How long does it take to apply for a Schengen Visa?

For the majority of cases, when you call up to make an appointment, you will most likely be given an appointment date that is 4 to 8 weeks later. This varies from consulates to consulates, and country to country, as it is dependent on the number of people applying for a visa at that embassy.

They do, however, accomodate emergency visa applications, on a case by case basis, if you have a valid reason to get a quicker appointment date. In addition, if you have insufficient documentation with you at your appointment and are travelling very soon (e.g. within a week of the appointment), they will normally slot you in for an appointment the next day or the day after. However, this is not guaranteed, and you should always plan your travel 2 months in advance and apply for your visa with plenty of time to spare in case things go wrong.

*Guide under construction, more to come soon*