Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Plan your trip
• Part 2 of 3: Taking the first steps
• Part 3 of 3: Applying for the Schengen visa
• Tips

The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 by a number of countries in the Luxembourg town of Schengen. The aim of the agreement was the gradual abolition of international border controls at the common borders between the participating countries (Schengen states). In other words, the agreement allowed the free movement of persons for passport holders of the participating countries. It also became possible for travelers to apply for a visa in a certain country and then travel freely in the Schengen area. Today there are 26 European countries that fall under the Schengen area. This includes much of Western Europe, but excluding the UK and Ireland. The EU countries Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Romania are not part of the Schengen area.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Plan your trip

1. Check in advance whether you are forced to apply for a visa. Although you often book your trip before applying for a visa, you should check in advance if you need a visa for the country you are going to visit. You must make sure that you can meet the requirements to be eligible for the visa before you book.
2. Plan and book your trip before applying for a visa. You must provide information about your trip when applying for the visa. So you can plan your trip in advance and book flights and hotels.
3. Make sure you can provide the correct documents. When planning your trip, make sure you have the correct documents. When applying for the Schengen visa, you must provide certain documents to show where you are going and why you are traveling to a particular country in the Schengen area.
4. Take the duration of your trip into account. With the Schengen visa it is allowed to travel in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. Make sure that you do not violate the rules that apply to the visa.
5. Wait to apply for the visa. In most countries you cannot apply for a visa earlier than three months before your trip. Even if you have planned and booked your trip far in advance, you still have to wait to apply for the visa. You would be wise to take out cancellation insurance in case your visa application is rejected and you are forced to cancel your trip.

Part 2 of 3: Taking the first steps

1. Know how a Schengen visa works. You apply for a travel visa as you normally would. However, you do not have to apply for a separate visa for each country, as long as you stay in countries that fall under the Schengen area.
2. Find out if you need a Schengen visa. You only need a Schengen visa if you come from a non-EU country. You could use a handy tool, which you can find on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, to find out whether you need to apply for a visa.
   • For example, US passport holders do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area, as long as they have a blue passport. These passport holders can stay for up to 90 days. Nevertheless, it is wise to check carefully in advance what the requirements are with regard to your passport for the country you are going to visit. An example of a requirement that can be imposed is a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date you enter the country.
   • However, there is a whole list of countries that do not have these benefits when their nationals want to travel in the Schengen area. Nationals of non-EU countries are generally referred to as "third-country nationals". Passport holders from these countries are required to apply for a Schengen visa. Examples of such countries are: Russia, Bahrain, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Turkey, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
3. Choose the country for which you are going to apply for the visa. The first method you should use is to choose the country where you will be spending the most time (the main destination). So, for example, if you plan to stay in Germany for ten days and in France for five days, you need to apply for a visa for Germany. Suppose the number of days you stay in different countries is the same, then apply for a visa for the country you are going to visit first.
4. Check whether your entire trip falls within the Schengen area. Although you can leave the Schengen area and return within the period of 180 days (six months), you should check carefully in advance whether your entire trip takes place within the borders of the Schengen area. If this is not the case, you may need to apply for another visa for countries you are visiting.

Part 3 of 3: Applying for the Schengen visa

1. Download the application form. The form for applying for a Schengen visa is the same in all Schengen states. You can find the form on the website of the government of the relevant country. For example, if you want to apply for a Schengen visa for France, you can download the form from the website of the French government.
2. Fill in the application form completely. First of all, you will have to provide standard information about yourself. Think of name, date of birth and your current nationality. Information regarding your passport must also be provided. This includes the type of passport, the passport number and the date of issue.
   • You must then provide information about your trip. So how long you will be staying in each country, the type of visa you are applying for and the reason for your visit to the country.
   • You must also provide information about your whereabouts, as well as information about how you will be supporting yourself during your stay. Finally, you should also include information about your spouse and children in the forms, identify family members you will be visiting and possibly act as guarantor and / or accommodation provider.
3. Collect all relevant documents. You need documents such as a passport, a passport photo and perhaps a residence certificate. You must also collect all documents about your trip, such as a copy of your itinerary / flight reservations and proof that you have medical travel insurance that covers you in the Schengen area. Do not forget to also bring the documents with which you can prove your destination. You must also show an original letter from your employer or company (employer's statement) and your salary slips for the past three months.
   • If it is a business trip, you must show the invitation from the company, as well as an original letter from your own employer or company. Both letters must state your destination and at least one of the letters must indicate who will bear the costs for your stay and where you will be staying.
   • If the travel purpose is tourism, you must provide information about your hotel reservations, among other things. This includes the correct contact details of the respective hotel. Also, if you plan to join a planned tour, you must provide the relevant information in the application.
   • If it is a family or friends visit, you may need to provide an invitation letter and a guarantee. In the Netherlands, this document is called, for example, “Proof of guarantee and / or accommodation”, this document must be legalized by the sponsor and / or accommodation provider at the town hall in the Netherlands. The country will also ask for a copy of the passport or residence permit of the sponsor and / or accommodation provider.
4. Submit the fully completed and signed application form. For most countries you need to apply for a visa at the embassy or at the consulate of the relevant country in the country where you currently live. You often have to make an appointment for the application. Use the government websites of your main destination country to find out where the nearest embassy or consulate is.
5. Have your fingerprints taken. Your fingerprints will be taken by an employee of the embassy or consulate when submitting the application form. If your fingerprints have already been taken, they can probably be found in the Visa Information System (VIS).
6. Pay the fees. The costs for applying for the visa depend on the country in which you are applying for the visa and the country for which you are applying for the visa. You will undoubtedly be able to find the current costs on the website of the relevant country or the website of the embassy. You could also contact the embassy or consulate of the country concerned by phone to inquire about the costs in advance.

Tips

• Take enough time to apply for the visa. You are wise to apply for the visa as soon as possible after the three-month period before departure has started.
• Make sure you have at least one blank page in your passport for the visa. (Some embassies even require two to four blank pages.)