How to Apply for a Schengen Visa
- 1). Plan your travel itinerary in detail. Although you may vary this itinerary once you arrive in Europe, travel insurers and embassies may want to see it.
- 2). Secure travel insurance and obtain documentary evidence from your insurer. Your insurer may want to see details of your itinerary.
- 3). Identify the embassy or consulate nearest you representing the Schengen-area country in which you intend to spend the most time. This is where you will be expected to apply for the Schengen visa. Search the website and record their tourist visa documentary requirements. These requirements vary, but almost always include your passport (valid for at least six months beyond the expected date of travel), passport-sized photos, itinerary and round-trip travel bookings. Hotel reservations and bank statements (proving that you are capable of funding your trip) may also be necessary.,
- 4). Appear personally at the appropriate embassy or consulate well in advance of your intended travel, and present the necessary Schengen visa application documents along with the visa application fee in cash. Visas for citizens of industrialized countries are usually issued within a few days; however, nationals of other countries may have to wait longer.
- 5). Purchase your tickets and travel to your first Shengen-area destination. Note that you do not have to enter the Schengen area in the same country that issued your visa -- for example, if the Hungarian Embassy issued your Schengen visa, it is OK to fly from New York to Madrid and enter the Schengen area from Spain.