What is needed for Schengen visa?

The Schengen area is based on the concept of freetravel between European countries. Nonresidents who have been staying the UK for less than three months should apply for a Schengen visa from their home country. The documents required by a British resident to apply for a Schengen Visa include:

•           Passport

Your passport should have been issued no more than ten years ago and should be valid for a minimum of three months beyond your return. It should also contain at least 2 blank pages. If you have been issued a Schengen visa earlier, a copy of the same should also be available. If you have any earlier passports that have expired, these must be carried as well.

•           UK Residence Permit

This permit must be endorsed on your passport or on a biometric identity card.

•           Visa Application Form

The visa application form can be downloaded from here. This form can be edited on the computer or filled in by hand. The former is often preferred as it is more legible and makes correcting mistakes easier. The form must be filled completely and signed by the applicant.

•           Passport Photograph

The Schengen area is very strict as far as passport photograph requirements as concerned. A British resident needs one passport photograph for a Schengen visa application. To be the safe side, you may keep a few extra photographs handy. The specifications for these passport photographs are mentioned below.

•           Travel Insurance

As mentioned earlier, a tourist entering the Schengen area must have a minimum travel insurance cover of 30,000 Euros. This insurance must be valid in all the countries being visited and throughout the duration of your trip. Know how to get Schengen visa insurance quickly in this article.

•           A confirmed Flight itinerary or reservation for Schengen visa Flight itinerary isa safer way of submitting a visa application without buying an actual flightticket which can prove to be expensive if your visa is refused.