Book an Appointment
A Schengen Visa allows non-European Union (EU) citizens to travel within the Schengen Area. It permits stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for purposes such as tourism, business, or visiting family.
What is the Schengen Area?
Schengen Area is the largest border-free zone in the world, which permits unrestricted movement to more than 425 million citizens of the EU, as well as non-EU nationals living in the bloc or visiting the EU as tourists.
Since the main goal of the Schengen Area is to allow free movement, citizens of the EU are able to travel, live, and work in an EU country without having to undergo complex procedures.
Why Is It Called Schengen?
The name Schengen comes from a town in Luxembourg where Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the Schengen Agreement in 985.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa?
Nationals from certain countries are required to obtain a Schengen Visa to enter the Schengen Area.
Currently, citizens from 104 countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, China, India, and Nigeria, need a visa for short stays.
Types of Schengen Visas
Schengen Visas are categorized based on the purpose of travel:
Uniform Schengen Visas (USV): Allow transit or stays in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Limited Territorial Validity Visas (LTV): Permit travel only within the issuing Schengen state or specific states.
National Visas: Issued for specific purposes like study or work, allowing longer stays in the issuing country.
Schengen Visa Application Process
Applying for a Schengen Visa involves several steps:
1. Determine the Type of Visa Needed: Identify the visa category that aligns with your travel purpose.
2. Locate the Appropriate Embassy or Consulate: Apply through the embassy or consulate of the country that is your main destination.
3. Schedule an Appointment: Arrange a meeting to submit your application and biometric data.
4. Complete the Application Form: Provide accurate personal and travel information.
5. Gather Required Documents:
These typically include:
o Valid passport
o Recent photographs
Proof of travel insurance
o Flight itinerary
o Proof of accommodation
o Financial means
o Purpose of travel documentation
6. Attend the Visa Interview
7. Pay the Visa Fee
This Is What to Have in Mind When Purchasing Schengen Visa Insurance
While there are many travel insurance policies that Schengen visa applicants can choose from, it is important that certain requirements are met so that the wrong policy does not penalise travellers.
In line with the current EU laws, the travel insurance policy for a Schengen visa must cover at least €30,000 of medical costs, including emergency treatment, hospitalisation, and medical evacuation.
Moreover, the travel insurance policy must be valid in all Schengen member states regardless of whether Schengen visa applicants plan on visiting only one country in the Schengen Area.
Another thing that all Schengen visa applicants must have in mind when purchasing travel insurance is that the policy must cover the entire stay in the Schengen Area.
Source: https://schengen.news/schengen-visa-and-schengen-area-what-every-traveller-should-know-before-visiting-europe/
