Which Countries Can I Travel On A Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Area comprises twenty seven countries. These countries are as follows:

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

No matter what country in the Schengen area you apply for, it is mandatory for you to submit all the mandatory documents. Every country in the Schengen area demands the applicant to submit the visa application, make flight reservation for Schengen visa, attend the interview and then fly to the destination once the visa is approved.

How To Apply? And Where To Submit Visa Application?

The applicant must apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country where their principal destination or longest stay will be. When applying for a Schengen Visa, people must show enough proof of their plans to stay and journey in the Schengen zone.

You must submit the form in either electronic or paper PDF format. Before you submit your visa application form to the embassy or visa officer, read the requirements and whether in which format they permit they allow applicants to submit digital copies. If so, applicants may submit Schengen Visa applications online.

Applicants can apply for a Schengen Visa for different visa categories including tourism, business, study, work and spouse etc. The type of Schengen visa you request should correspond to your primary purpose for travelling to the Schengen area. For instance, if you travel to the zone to visit a relative, you would register for a “Visiting Family and Friends” visa.

The advancement in the Schengen areas visa policies have brought the following changes:

When in the Schengen Area, citizens of any nation may traverse the internal borders of the member states without being subject to border checks.
Standards shared for traversing international borders
Enhanced cooperation between the security forces of member nations
Advantaged judicial collaboration between members, such as expedited extradition of criminals and facilitated relocation for the execution of criminal sentences.
Despite the extensive freedoms guaranteed by the Schengen Area, the police have the authority to conduct checks at internal borders and in border zones under certain conditions. However, this is not deemed a border check. At internal walls, the police can inquire about a person’s Schengen Zone stay and ask additional pertinent inquiries.
A member country may temporarily reintroduce border checks at its internal borders, but for 30 days, if it lacks complete internal security due to a significant threat.

Visa Application Procedure For Schengen Countries

Complete the Schengen visa application form that can be downloaded from the website of the embassy or Consulate or obtained in person.
Collect the necessary travel documents, including a valid passport, evidence of travel insurance, and itinerary.
Once the visa application reaches its final stage of interview, visit the visa officer and attend the interview with confidence.
The processing duration can range from two days to three weeks.

Any application for a Schengen visa needs the following list of visa documents:

Visa application form. Filled out and signed.
You should Include two recent photographs. According to the visa photo requirements, you must have taken the photographs within the last three months.
An authorised passport. The passport must be current for at least three months following the departure date from the Schengen area.
Travel medical insurance. Documentation of medical coverage for the duration of the intended stay, applicable in all Schengen states. The coverage minimum is €50,000.
Proof of Accommodation. Confirmation of where you will be lodging during your trip.
Evidence of financial ability. You must provide proof that you have sufficient funds for your intended stay and your return to your country of origin or domicile.
Dummy ticket for Schengen visa. The flight itinerary must be booked for a round trip and the details must be the same as of the hotel booking.
Write the cover Letter relevant to the visa type and defining the purpose of applying for a visa.
NOC Letter is mandatory only in a few visa categories.

How Lengthy Is The Visa Application Process?

Once you have submitted a Schengen visa application to the Consulate, the Consulate typically renders a decision within 15 calendar days. This time frame may extend by 30 or 60 days. You must submit the application three months before the planned departure date. Submitting an application at least 15 days before the intended visit is recommended.

However, you should submit your visa application taking into account the national holidays of both the Schengen state of destination and your home country. The holder of a multiple-entry visa (valid for at least six months) may apply for a new visa before the visa’s expiration.