Schengen Visa

Schengen Visa is an official document that allows non-Europeans to travel Schengen area which includes 27 countries. The best of this visa is that once it is approved, the candidate does not have to go through security checks for crossing the borders of other Schengen countries. Schengen visa is of several types but the most sought visa is the Short Stay visa. This visa allows the applicant the visa validity for 90 days for a period of 6 months starting from the entry date in the visa.

What is Schengen Area?

Schengen Countries Zone or Schengen Area is a cluster of 27 European countries that have demolished their existing border controls between them. Most European countries are members of the Schengen Agreement, however, some of the countries have signed the said agreement but are yet to be active members of the Schengen agreement and hope to be active in the future. Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland are those countries that are not in the EU but are still inside the Schengen Area.

Given below is the list of 27 country members of the Schengen zone

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Croatia
4. Czech Republic
5. Denmark
6. Estonia
7. Finland
8. France
9. Germany
10. Greece
11. Hungary
12. Iceland
13. Italy
14. Latvia
15. Liechtenstein
16. Lithuania
17. Luxembourg
18. Malta
19. The Netherlands
20. Norway
21. Poland
22. Portugal
23. Slovakia
24. Slovenia
25. Spain
26. Sweden
27. Switzerland

Countries that are not part of the Schengen Area:

Although 27 countries are inside the Schengen Zone, including most nations in mainland Europe – not every European state is inside the area where border checks have been abolished. Countries we associate with Europe that aren’t in the Schengen Zone:

Even though all 27 countries are inside the Schengen Zone and mostly all countries are located in mainland Europe. But not everyone inside the European state shares the same gesture for border abolishment. These are the countries that are not in the Schengen Zone, they are given below:

• Albania
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Ireland
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Romania

Who needs a visa to enter Europe?

Mostly all non-European citizens require a Schengen visa in order to enter the Schengen member states, especially from Russia, Africa, India, & China). However, some the countries like Canada, Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Australia have a signed waiver agreement with the European Union. This waiver agreement allows them to enter the Schengen area without the need for a visa for up to 90 days.

What are the different types of Schengen visas?

• Type A – Airport Transit Visa: This visa is helpful if the candidate from the non-Schengen states is waiting for a connecting flight or transiting through an international zone of an airport located in the Schengen territory. It is mandatory for anyone from a non-Schengen country to have this visa type for transiting or waiting in the airport that is located in a Schengen country. However, these visa-holder applicants are not allowed to enter the Schengen country.

• Type B: This type of visa is suitable for travel that is no longer than 5 days. This visa has been replaced by Type C by the immigration authorities with the condition “transit”.

• Type C: This visa is one of the most common Schengen visas. This visa allows the holder to travel or stay in the country for a period of 90 days or 180 days. This Type C Schengen visa can be single, double, or multiple entries depending on the purpose of your visit.

• Type D: This is a national visa or type D long-stay Schengen Visa. This visa is suitable for candidates who are willing to work, live or study for more than 90 days.

What are the documents required for a Schengen visa?

The following list of documents is required along with the Schengen visa application form:

• Schengen Visa Application Form: This visa application form needs to fill along with the signature.
• 2 Recent Passport-Size Photos: Latest passport-size photos within the period of the last 3 months as per specifications of the government.
• Your Valid Passport: The candidate must be in possession of a valid passport that is not older than 10 years. The passport validity should be at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area. Itinerary or Round-Trip Flight Reservation: This travel itinerary for this visa must include the flight number and dates of entry and exit from the Schengen area.
• Travel Insurance Policy: It is required to have travel insurance for a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros. This will prove that you have travel insurance for the whole Schengen countries.
• Proof of Accommodation: Proof of accommodation is required when applying for a Schengen visa. This will include hotel booking or rental agreement.
• Proof of Financial Means: Proof of funds is required to show that you have a sufficient amount of money for your stay in the Schengen area. Bank statements, pay stubs, or sponsorship letters can be used to show the required proof of funds.
• Proof of Payment of Visa Fees: A copy of the visa fee payment is required at the time of submission of documents for the Schengen visa.

Embassies or the consulate have the right to ask for additional documents from the candidates depending on the status and type of visa they have applied for.

Schengen Visa Cost

Application Process for Schengen Visa:

1. Finding out the visa type as per your requirement
2. Fill out the visa application form for Schengen Visa
3. Make an appointment in your nearest embassy or consulate. Many embassies give you the option to apply online for making an appointment.
4. Collect all the relevant documents as per the norms.
5. Attend the interview for a visa
6. Pay the visa fee

After all this, the only thing that is there for you to do is wait for an answer from the embassy for your visa approval.

Processing time for Schengen Visa

Typical timing for Schengen Visa approval takes around 7-15 days. However, this timing is not mandatory and the visa approval can take a little more time as per the government norms and from the country where you are applying for this visa.

Reason to Choose Pi Overseas:

• Consultations at Pi Overseas are provided by professional and authorized immigration consultants
• A step-by-step guide to the eligibility and application process
• Our online process is secure and transparent
• For any process, there is a system addressing complaints for a smooth consumer experience.
• Having processed thousands of applications
• We assess every case multiple times before submitting it
• Qualifications and other skills are evaluated by our certified experts for error-free proceeding.

If you are willing to know more about the Schengen Visa process, you can certainly contact us by writing us an email at mail@pioverseas.com and one of our experts will help you out in every possible way. You may also call us at +91-9310-10-6988 or you can also receive a call back from our expert once you fill out the inquiry form. You can also talk to our experts directly through our live chat feature and clear your doubts instantaneously.

We at Pi Overseas have a team of dedicated experts that cater to every need of the clients. We have a proven track record in the immigration industry which was achieved in a very short span of time. Our experts will help and guide you through every step of the filing process and keep you posted throughout the whole cumbersome process of visa filing.