Schengen visas, made easy

From expert consultation to fully handling your application, we offer the complete range of Schengen visa services — your trusted, proven partner every step of the way.

For citizens of

Traveling to

1M+ travelers served since 2003 20+ years of expertise 29 Schengen countries covered

Trusted by travelers

What people say about our Schengen visa service

We guide you through every step of your application

Whatever your route, you get the same trusted VisaHQ expertise — whether you just need advice or want us to take the whole process off your plate.

Consultation

Expert guidance — you submit the application yourself.

Answer all your questions
Explain your destination’s specific requirements
Pre-check your documents before the embassy visit
Prepare you for the interview
Help you complete the application form

Done for you

Full service

We manage your application end-to-end — where available for your country.

Everything in Consultation, plus:
Gather and prepare the correct documents
Complete and manage your application forms
Appointment scheduling where required — subject to availability and the visa centre’s, consulate’s or authority’s procedures
Meet & Greet support in selected locations — subject to local availability during submission
Keep your case on track end-to-end

20+ years of expertise1M+ travelers served29 Schengen countries covered

Which option is available depends on your citizenship and destination — start above and we’ll show you the exact path for your trip.

See My Options

VisaHQ does not handle the physical submission in every country; submission support, Meet & Greet and appointment scheduling depend on your destination and local availability.

Schengen visa information

A Schengen visa is a travel document that allows a person to enter the Schengen Area for a designated period of time. The Schengen Area is made up of European states that have abolished internal border checks and apply a common visa policy.

As of 2026 the Schengen Area includes 29 member countries — 25 European Union states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. A valid Schengen visa issued by any member state lets you travel freely to the other Schengen states for the duration of your stay, as long as you have proof of your travel arrangements. You normally enter the area through the country of the issuing authority or your main destination.

A Schengen visa is the perfect way to discover Europe — one document opens the door to dozens of countries, letting you experience the continent’s remarkable diversity and immerse yourself in its many cultures and local traditions.

Get My Schengen Visa

On this page

Everything about Schengen visas

Schengen visa countries Visa requirements Application process Visa fees Insurance How to apply Do I need a visa? Documents checklist

29 member states

Schengen visa countries

Select a country below for visa requirements. The newest members — Croatia (2023) and Bulgaria & Romania (full members since January 2025) — are now part of the Schengen Area.

Schengen visa requirements

Travelers must fulfil the following requirements in order to apply for a Schengen visa.

If you plan to visit more than one Schengen state, apply at the embassy of the country where you will stay the longest, or the country you enter the Schengen Area through first.

Complete and sign the Schengen Visa Application form.

Provide a recent passport-type photo meeting Schengen photo requirements (45×35 mm, neutral expression, no glasses, light background).

Passport valid for at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank visa pages.

Copies of all prior visas issued to Schengen states.

Flight reservations and hotel bookings for the whole stay, with entry/exit dates and booking references.

Travel insurance covering medical expenses up to €30,000, valid in every Schengen state.

Proof of sufficient financial means (bank statement, tax information, etc.).

Schengen visa application process

Check if you need a Schengen visa and select which country’s visa you will be applying for.

Download and complete the application form entirely, then sign it.

Obtain proof of insurance from your insurance company.

Prepare a bank statement and other financial documents that prove you have sufficient funds for your travel.

Make an appointment at the embassy or consulate of your main (longest stay) destination — ideally 2–3 weeks before travel.

Submit all the documents.

The consulate usually takes 3–4 business days to process, but confirm your pickup date in case of delays during high season.

Let Us Do It For You

Schengen visa fees

A nominal, non-refundable fee is payable when applying. Approval is at the discretion of the consulate.

Visa type	Visa fee
Short stay (up to 90 days)	90.00 EUR
Long-term stay (over 90 days)	99.00 EUR
Children visa (6–11 years old)	45 EUR
Children visa (under 6 years old)	Free / Gratis
Citizens of countries with an EU visa-facilitation agreement (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cape Verde)	35 EUR
Students and accompanying teachers travelling for educational purposes (proof needed)	Free
Researchers travelling for scientific research purposes (proof needed)	Free
Non-profit representatives aged 25 or below travelling for educational events	Free

* Different rates may apply for different Schengen countries.

How to apply for a Schengen visa

At this time there is no possibility to apply for a Schengen visa online instead of going to the consulate in person. You need to complete the forms, collect all the documents (see the checklist below) and apply directly at the consulate.

First, book your appointment in advance. Plan it at least 15 days before your intended departure, but not earlier than 6 months before you travel.

Fill in the application form and make sure you do not leave blank fields. If some answers cannot be given, write “N/A” in the appropriate field.

After your appointment is scheduled and the form is filled, double-check the required documents and take a passport-type photo that meets the background and size requirements.

Attend your appointment on time and be ready to answer questions about your travel plans and personal details (education, job position, company background).

Some countries (e.g. Italy, France) require biometric identifiers (fingerprints and a digital photograph). This information is stored on the Visa Information System (VIS) and can be reused for your next Schengen applications.

Do I need a Schengen visa?

You need a Schengen visa before travelling if you hold a passport from one of the countries below (Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806). Nationals of all other countries are either visa-exempt for short stays (Annex II) or have EU/EEA free movement. Holders of a valid Schengen residence permit are also exempt. You may apply from your country of permanent residence, not only your country of citizenship.

Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Congo Republic
Ivory Coast
Cuba
Congo Democratic Republic
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Swaziland
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Rwanda
Sao Tome Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Insurance for a Schengen visa

Travel insurance is required for a successful Schengen visa application. Your insurance should cover €30,000 and be valid in all Schengen member states, not only in your country of destination.

Travel insurance usually also includes cancellation cover for losses from lost luggage, cancelled flights and other force-majeure events.

When choosing insurance for a Schengen visa application, make sure the document is valid for all member countries, not only your destination country.

Documents required — checklist

A general list for all countries — always also check the specific requirements of the country you are visiting.

Passport — valid at least 3 months after your return, with at least 2 blank pages.

Photo — passport type.

Visa application form — filled in and signed.

Proof of travel medical insurance.

Proof of accommodation — booking, etc.

Proof of sufficient means of subsistence — bank statement, etc.

Contact information for a reference in the visiting country.

Proof of stable income — tax information, etc.

Proof of employment or enrolment in your country of residence.

Copies of all the documents.

Copies of all Schengen visas issued to you in the past.

Letter of invitation — if attending an event, meeting or conference.

* All documents are to be A4 format. You may also be required to provide proof of entrepreneur status, family status (e.g. marriage certificate) or a national passport in some countries.

Schengen visa map

Schengen Area (EU)

Schengen Area (non-EU)

Set to implement later

FAQ

Schengen visa: frequently asked questions

Clear answers on getting a Schengen visa, using it across Europe, and the perks it unlocks for travelers.

What exactly is a Schengen visa, and where can I travel with it?

A short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) is a single travel authorization that opens 29 European countries with one application. Once it is in your passport you can cross internal borders freely — fly from Spain to Italy or take a train from Germany to Austria — without showing the visa again. As of 2025 the area covers every EU member except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland; Bulgaria and Romania became full members in January 2025.

How long can I stay in the Schengen Area on a short-stay visa?

The limit is 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, counted across all member states combined — not 90 days per country. Each time you enter, border officers look back over the previous 180 days, so several short trips in one season still draw from the same 90-day budget. Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation and future entry bans, so it pays to track your days precisely.

When should I apply, and how long does processing take?

You can lodge an application up to six months before departure and no later than 15 calendar days before you travel. Consulates usually decide within 15 calendar days, but during the busy summer and winter-holiday peaks this can stretch to 30–45 days. Applying early is the single most reliable way to protect non-refundable flight and hotel bookings.

If I am visiting several countries, which one do I apply to?

Apply to the consulate of your main destination — the country where you will spend the most nights. If the time is split evenly with no clear main destination, apply to the country through which you first enter the Schengen Area. Submitting to the wrong consulate is a frequent reason applications are handed back unprocessed.

How much does a Schengen visa cost in 2025?

Since 11 June 2024 the standard consular fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged six to eleven; children under six pay nothing. Reduced or waived fees apply to certain groups, such as students travelling to study and nationals of countries with visa-facilitation agreements. Because the fee is set by EU law it is identical at every Schengen consulate, and it is non-refundable even if the visa is refused.

What is the difference between single-entry and multiple-entry visas?

A single-entry visa lets you enter the Schengen Area once; if you leave — even for a quick trip to a non-Schengen country — the visa is used up. A multiple-entry visa allows repeated entries while it is valid, which suits multi-leg itineraries and frequent business travel. Consulates increasingly grant long-validity multiple-entry visas of one to five years to applicants with a clean travel record.

Can I work or study long-term on a Schengen visa?

No. The short-stay Schengen visa is meant only for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences and similar short trips. Paid employment or a course longer than 90 days requires a national long-stay visa (Type D) issued by the specific country, which follows a separate application route with its own documents and conditions.

What are the most common reasons for refusal, and how do I avoid them?

The usual culprits are weak proof of funds, missing or insufficient travel medical insurance (it must cover at least €30,000 in every member state), travel dates that do not match across bookings, and a thin case for your ties to home that fails to show you will return. A coherent, fully documented file — ideally pre-checked before your appointment — sharply lowers the refusal risk.

Does a Schengen visa guarantee entry to Europe?

Not on its own. A visa is permission to travel to the external border and ask to enter; the final call belongs to the border officer. Keep your supporting documents — return ticket, accommodation, insurance and proof of funds — in your hand luggage, because you may be asked to show them on arrival even with a valid visa.

Why use VisaHQ instead of applying on my own?

VisaHQ reviews your documents before you ever reach the consulate, flags the gaps that cause refusals, helps you fill in the application form correctly, and prepares you for the interview — drawing on more than 20 years of Schengen visa experience. For a first-time applicant juggling insurance, bookings and financial proof, that pre-check is often the difference between a smooth approval and a costly second attempt.