In this article 11 sections
Short answer A Schengen short-stay visa application in 2026 needs a signed application form, a passport issued within the last 10 years that stays valid at least 3 months after you leave (with two blank pages), a recent photo, travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, a return flight reservation, proof of accommodation, recent bank statements and a cover letter, plus documents for your purpose and your job. The fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, and you apply between 6 months and 15 days before the trip at the consulate of your main destination, which usually decides within 15 days. Each consulate adds its own details, and Safeonward's free questionnaire gives the exact list for your trip in about 2 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Every applicant brings the same core file: form, passport, photo, insurance, flight reservation, accommodation, proof of funds and a cover letter.
- Your purpose adds documents: hotel bookings for tourism, an invitation or official host form for a partner or family visit, a company invitation for business.
- Your situation adds documents: an employer's letter and payslips, a business registration, an enrolment certificate, pension statements or a sponsor's letter.
- The visa fee is €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 11 and free under 6; a visa centre may add a service fee of up to €45.
- A return flight reservation is enough for most consulates: the Visa Code lists a "reservation of, or a return or round ticket".
- Consistency matters as much as completeness: the same names, dates and amounts on every page.
What the Schengen short-stay visa covers
The Schengen short-stay visa (type C) lets you stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the 29 Schengen countries, for tourism, a visit to a partner or family, or business. The rules come from the EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, so the core documents are the same at every consulate. What changes is the detail: how many months of bank statements, which form your host signs, which documents must be originals.
Which consulate to apply to
According to the European Commission, you apply to the country you are visiting. If you visit several, apply to the one where you will spend the most time; if the stays are equal, to the first country you will visit. As a general rule, you apply in the country where you legally live, at the consulate or the visa centre it works with.
The core documents every applicant needs
Application form and photo
Fill in the harmonised Schengen application form and sign it; some countries, such as Germany, have you fill it in online and print it. Add one recent photo that meets ICAO standards, usually 35 × 45 mm on a white background.
Passport
Under Article 12 of the Visa Code, your passport must:
- have been issued within the previous 10 years;
- be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area;
- have at least two blank pages.
Add copies of the photo page and of your previous Schengen visas with their entry and exit stamps: they show you came back on time. A multiple-entry visa cannot run past your passport, so a passport close to expiry limits the visa you can get.
Travel medical insurance
Article 15 requires at least €30,000 of cover, valid in every Schengen country for the whole stay, for urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation for medical reasons, including in case of death. In principle, you buy it in your country of residence.
Return flight reservation
Show a return flight in your name, on the dates of your stay. Annex II of the Visa Code accepts a reservation as well as a ticket, and consulate checklists such as those of the German missions in India and the Slovenian embassy in Manila simply ask for a "flight reservation". Unless your consulate asks for a paid ticket, you do not need to buy one before the decision: a flight reservation for a visa is a real booking you can show at the counter.
Proof of accommodation
Hotel or holiday-rental bookings for every night of the stay, or the invitation or official form of the person who hosts you. If you visit several countries, show accommodation in each one.
Proof of funds
Recent bank statements show you can pay for the trip. The Visa Code does not fix how many months; local lists do. The harmonised list for India asks for the last 3 months of statements, stamped and signed by the bank, plus income tax return acknowledgments for the last two assessment years. The list for the Philippines asks for statements or a bank certification covering the last 6 months.
Cover letter and day-by-day itinerary
The cover letter explains who you are, why you travel, your dates, who pays and why you will go home; the Indian list makes it compulsory for every applicant. The itinerary lists each day of the trip, on the same dates as the flights and hotels. Our guides on the Schengen visa cover letter and the Schengen visa itinerary show how to write both.
Extra documents by purpose of the trip
Tourism
- Hotel bookings for every night, or a travel agency's confirmation of an organised tour.
- A detailed day-by-day itinerary; the Philippine list asks for one explicitly for tourism.
Visiting a partner
- An invitation from your partner, or the official host form where the destination country has one.
- A copy of your partner's passport, ID card or residence permit.
- Evidence of the relationship: photos together and messages, sorted by date; a marriage certificate if you are married.
Visiting family
- An invitation from your relative, or the official host form, with their address and the dates of your stay.
- Proof that your host lives there legally: a copy of their passport, ID card or residence permit.
- Proof of the family link: a birth certificate, marriage certificate or family record book.
Some countries replace the simple letter with an official form. In France, the host requests an attestation d'accueil at the town hall, for €30 in tax stamps, and sends you the original. In Germany, a host who pays for your stay signs a formal obligation, the Verpflichtungserklärung, at the local foreigners' office. Your consulate's list says which form applies.
Business
- An invitation from the company you visit, with your identity, the purpose of the visit, the dates and the place.
- A letter from your employer confirming the same trip; the Indian list requires both letters to state these points.
- Proof of the business relationship, such as contracts or invoices, where relevant.
Extra documents by situation
Employed
An employer's letter with your position, salary and approved leave dates, plus your last 3 payslips. The Indian list also asks for the employment contract; the Philippine list for a certificate of employment, a leave approval and the latest income tax return.
Self-employed or business owner
The business registration (in India with the GST number, in the Philippines the DTI or SEC registration), the latest income tax return and the business bank statements.
Student
A certificate of enrolment and your school's approval of the absence if you travel during term. If your parents pay, add their letter and their bank statements.
Retired
Pension statements for the last 3 months and, if you have them, proof of other regular income such as rent or a business.
Sponsored or without regular income
A letter from the person who pays, saying what they cover, with a copy of their ID and their recent bank statements; the German missions in India ask for the sponsor's last 3 months.
Minors
A birth certificate, the parents' consent if the child travels alone or with one parent (often notarised), and copies of the parents' passports or ID cards.
After a previous refusal
Add the refusal letter and a document that answers each ground ticked on it; our guide on what to do after a Schengen visa refusal explains how.
Schengen visa fee in 2026
| Applicant | Visa fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (12 and over) | €90 |
| Child aged 6 to 11 | €45 |
| Child under 6 | Free |
| Nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan or Belarus | €35 |
| Nationals of Cabo Verde | €67.50 |
These amounts have applied since 11 June 2024, under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415. A visa centre charges a service fee on top; the Visa Code caps it at half the visa fee, so €45 at most.
When and how to apply
When to apply
You can apply up to 6 months before the trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; the German missions in India count 15 working days. The Visa Code says an appointment should, as a rule, be given within two weeks of the request, but slots go fast in high season, so book as soon as your dates are set.
Fingerprints
You submit the file in person the first time, to give 10 fingerprints and a photo. Fingerprints taken in the last 59 months can be reused, and children under 12 are exempt.
Processing time
The consulate decides within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, or up to 45 days in individual cases that need a closer look or more documents. Add the time to get your passport back from the visa centre.
Printable Schengen visa checklist
Download the PDF : Schengen visa checklist to tick off
| Document | Who needs it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Signed application form | Everyone | Same dates and addresses as the rest of the file |
| Passport and copy of the photo page | Everyone | Issued within 10 years, valid 3 months after you leave, 2 blank pages |
| Previous Schengen visas | If you had any | Visas and entry and exit stamps |
| Photo | Everyone | Recent, ICAO standard, usually 35 × 45 mm |
| Travel medical insurance | Everyone | €30,000 or more, all Schengen countries, every day |
| Return flight reservation | Everyone | In your name, same dates as the itinerary |
| Hotel bookings or host document | Everyone | Every night covered |
| Bank statements | Everyone | Usually 3 months (6 in the Philippines) |
| Cover letter | Everyone | Purpose, dates, who pays, why you return |
| Day-by-day itinerary | Everyone | Matches flights and hotels |
| Employer's letter and payslips | Employed | Position, salary, leave dates |
| Business registration and tax return | Self-employed | Consistent with bank statements |
| Enrolment certificate and school approval | Students | Absence approved |
| Pension statements | Retired | Last 3 months |
| Sponsor's letter, ID and statements | Sponsored | Who pays what |
| Invitation or official host form | Partner, family or business visit | Original if asked |
| Proof of relationship or family link | Partner or family visit | Photos and messages by date, or civil records |
| Company invitation and employer's letter | Business | Same purpose and dates |
| Refusal letter and answering documents | After a refusal | One answer per ground |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dates that do not match. Flight, hotels, insurance, itinerary and leave dates must describe the same trip.
- Insurance that falls short. It must reach €30,000 and cover every Schengen country and every day.
- A passport that is too old. Check the issue date as well as the expiry date.
- Gaps in the accommodation. One night without a booking or a host raises a question.
- A generic cover letter. A copied template does not answer the consulate's questions about your trip.
- The wrong consulate. Apply where you spend the most nights, not where an appointment is easiest to get.
- Names spelled differently. Use your name exactly as it appears in your passport.
Our guide to the most common visa refusal reasons goes through each one.
Getting your exact checklist with Safeonward
Safeonward (safeonward.com) is an independent service that prepares Schengen short-stay visa files. It is not a consulate and does not decide on visas; it builds the file the consulate expects and checks it before you submit it.
- A free checklist. A questionnaire of about 2 minutes (destination, dates, purpose, nationality, residence, occupation, host) gives the exact list of documents the consulate expects, in the order of the file. The list is free.
- Letters from your own story. The cover letter and, depending on the purpose, the host's invitation letter, the employer letter or a support letter, written in the consulate's language with a translation for you.
- A day-by-day itinerary as a PDF.
- A verifiable flight reservation in your name, created the day before your visa appointment.
- A check of the whole file. Every document is compared with the consulate's list, and dates, names and amounts are compared across documents. The first check is free; after payment, checks are unlimited.
The complete file costs €29, paid once per file. You can answer the questionnaire or read more about the Schengen visa application service.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required for a Schengen visa?
A signed form, a passport issued within 10 years and valid 3 months after you leave, a photo, travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, a return flight reservation, proof of accommodation, bank statements and a cover letter. Then add the documents for your purpose and your situation.
How much is the Schengen visa fee in 2026?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 pay nothing. A visa centre may add a service fee of up to €45.
How many months of bank statements do I need?
Usually the last 3 months, as the harmonised list for India asks. The list for the Philippines asks for 6 months, so follow your consulate's list.
Do I need to buy a flight ticket before applying?
Usually not. The Visa Code accepts a reservation, and many consulate checklists ask for a flight reservation rather than a paid ticket; buy one only if your consulate requires it.
How long does a Schengen visa take?
The consulate decides within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, and up to 45 days in individual cases. Apply at least 15 days before travel, and earlier in high season.
What are the Schengen visa requirements for Indian and Filipino applicants?
The core documents are the same, with a harmonised local list on top. In India, consulates ask for 3 months of bank statements and income tax return acknowledgments for 2 years; in the Philippines, 6 months of bank statements, PSA-issued civil records for family ties and, for tourism, a day-by-day itinerary.
How does Safeonward help with a Schengen visa application?
Safeonward's free questionnaire gives the exact list of documents your consulate expects. For €29 per file, it writes your letters, prepares the itinerary and a verifiable flight reservation, and checks the whole file for consistency before you submit it.