Tourist Visa In Europe
A visa is an official stamp or endorsement that allows a person to travel to, remain in, or enter a country. However, visas are not just limited to persons trying to visit, or travel from one country to another. There are various visas for different purposes in different countries around the world. It is upon the holder of a certain type of visa to follow the regulations and conditions set out by the issuing authority. This article will give you necessary information on how to apply for a tourist visa in Europe as well as when you need it and under what circumstances.
Tourist visas allow foreigners to remain in a European country for no more than three months per stay. The duration of this type of visa can be renewed as many times as needed, depending on the foreigner’s needs. To obtain a tourist visa in Europe, you must meet certain requisites that vary from one country to another. Any European citizen can easily obtain a tourist visa through an online application system.
A tourist visa is a document that allows you to enter and stay in a country for a limited period of time. In most cases, this type of visa can be obtained at the airport or border crossing when you arrive. However, there are some countries that require tourists to apply for a pre-approved tourist visa before they travel.
Once you have obtained your visa, you will be allowed to remain in the country for up to 90 days. The length of time varies depending on the country and where it is issued. A tourist visa typically allows you to work while you are in the country as long as your employment does not exceed any restrictions listed on your visa.
In most cases, once you have been granted a tourist visa, it will be valid for multiple entries into that country over a period of up to five years. Some countries may require additional paperwork if you plan on staying longer than 90 days or wish to change your status while living there legally under an approved program like an extended stay business visa or student visa.
Visa requirements
Here are the documents that you need to submit to apply for a Schengen visitor visa:
- Schengen Visitor Visa Application Form. You can complete the form online and print two copies of it.
- Two photographs in accordance with the Schengen visa photo requirements. They should be not older 6-months, 35–40mm in width, close up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70–80% of the photograph. The photos should be taken in sharp focus, of high quality and with no ink marks or creases, and according to all of the standards set by ISCO.
- Your valid passport. It should have at least two empty pages in order to affix the visa and be issued within the last ten years. The passport must be valid for another three months beyond the intended stay in the Schengen Area.
- Clear photocopies of the 1st and last page of the passport (biodata).
- Previous passports (if applicable) – if you have more than one old passport, do not staple them, instead tie them together with a rubber band and hand them along with the other documents.
- Personal cover letter. In this letter you will tell more about the purpose of visiting the EU, the countries you plan to travel to, the dates, where you plan to stay and other details of your trip.
- No Objection Letter from the employer or education institution. This is a letter from your employer or your school/university which states that you have contractual obligations in your home country and assures the embassy that you will return back to your homeland.
- Schengen area medical insurance that covers emergency medical, hospitalization and in case of death, repatriation. The Schengen Zone member states have agreed that the minimum cover should be 30.000 EUR, and it must be valid for your entire duration of stay in the whole territory of the Schengen Area.
- Proof of booked flight tickets without buying them. However, the embassy wants you to purchase a flight reservation in order to prove your intended entry and exit dates. One way tickets are not accepted.
- Proof of accommodation for the entire period of stay in the Schengen Area. Your relatives or friends must submit proof that they have enough room for you.
- Proof of financial status. You must show evidence that you possess sufficient funds for the visit, that you will be able to financially maintain yourself during your stay in the Schengen territory. You should be able to prove that through a bank statement of the past three months, which must not be older than three days. The minimum amount required is different in each country, therefore you will have to consult with the relevant consular authority in your country. You should also submit documents to prove your working status.
Please take note that you may have to submit some additional documents depending on your:
- the country you where you are applying from.
- the country you wish to visit.
- situation.
How Much Does it Cost for a Schengen Visa?
Here’s a cost breakdown:
| Schengen Visa Category | Fee in EUR |
| Adult | 80 |
| Child between 6 – 12 years of Age | 40 |
| Child below 6 years of Age | Free |
| Diplomats Travelling for Official Purposes | Free |
| Family Member of EU/EEA Nationals | Free |
| Pupils, Students & Accompanying Teachers | Free |
| Researchers Travelling for Scientific Research | Free |
| Citizens from Armenia, Azerbaijan & Russia | 35 |
How to Apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa?
The application for a Tourist Schengen visa will go through these simple steps:
- Fill the Application Form for a Tourist visa to Europe.
- Compile the documents that are required for tourists.
- Schedule an interview.
- Show up at the appointment.
- Provide Biometric Data.
- Pay the fees.
Fill-in the application form
Complete the Schengen Tourist visa application form online carefully and correctly, print it twice and sign it at the end. Make sure to check the box that says “tourism” at the question regarding the purpose of your journey. The Schengen visa application form contains questions for basic information such as your name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number and nationality.
You will also have to answer questions regarding your trip, such as how long are you planning to stay in each country, where you’re staying, etc. Make sure that the information you have given in the application form corresponds with that in the other documents.
Collect the documents for a Tourist visa
Make sure to complete the file of documents that the Schengen authorities demand from tourists.
Appoint an interview
You have to make an appointment at least 15 days before the intended journey, and the earliest six months before. Appoint an interview through the website of the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to visit, in your country of residence.
Show up at the appointment
Show up at the appointment center on time (embassy or consulate). Remember that if you are late even for a few minutes, then they will probably cancel your appointment. The submission process takes around 10 minutes to complete. Please make sure that: The official person at the application center will check and verify all of your documents.
Provide Biometric Data
You will also have to get your fingerprints scanned at the consulate’s office if you have never before applied for a Schengen Visa before. They will be stored in a new Visa Information System (VIS). Once finger scans are stored in VIS, they can be re‐used for further visa applications over a 5‐year period, therefore frequent travelers to the Schengen Area do not have to give new finger scans every time they apply for a new visa.
Pay the fees
The fee is EUR 80 for adult tourists and must be paid when you submit the visa application. Whereas the visa fee for children from the age of six years and below the age of 12 years is EUR 40.
After you pay the visa fee, you will be issued a receipt which you have to keep in order to collect your processed application. In the case of visa application rejection, the fee will not get reimbursed. If you apply again for a visa, you will have to pay the visa fee again.
Where Should I Submit my Schengen Tourist Visa Application?
If you are planning to visit only one country, then you will have to simply apply to the embassy of that country in your home country.
But, if you are planning to visit two or more countries during the same trip, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you plan to spend more time. If you are planning to spend equal time in two or more countries, i.e. five days in France and five days in Switzerland, then you have to apply at the embassy of the country where you are planning to land first.
How Long Does it Take To Get a Tourist Visa for Europe?
You will likely be notified whether you have been issued a Tourist visa for Europe within 15 days. However, in some exceptional cases, this process might take up to 30 days, or even up to 60 if more additional documents are required to be submitted by the applicant. You are recommended to apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa around six weeks prior to your planned travel.
Tourist Schengen Visa Validity
A multiple entry Tourist visa gives the right to its holder to stay within the Schengen territory for 90 days at most, within a period of 180 days, to enter and leave whenever she or he wants to.
In the meantime, single entry and double entry visa holders will have to wait for the embassy or consulate they have applied to decide on its validity after processing all documentation. Sometimes they issue you a Tourist Schengen visa for the amount of time you have sought for, and sometimes for a longer or shorter period.
The embassy not only appoints the number of days you can stay in the Schengen territory, but also the earliest date you can enter and the last date when you can leave. This is all indicated on the visa sticker affixed in your passport.
Conclusion
Online visa services to Europe is a market worth hundreds of millions of dollars. I am making this site with the future that everything will be in English, there will be no need to speak with customer service rep on the phone which typically has given a bad customer experience. Also, payments and registration is better handled by merchants not just users.