Dos and Donts for Schengen Visa - Document Checklist

This is a useful blog for Indians by an Indian.

For those who do not know - Schengen is a common European visa that is required for Indians (and other nationalities as well, but I am restricting this post just for Indians) to visit any of the 27 countries in the European Union.

This year I got my 5th Schengen and that should tell you how much I love visiting Europe. If ever given a chance, I would definitely settle in one of the countries in this continent and just travel to the untouched & unexplored, villages & towns of Europe. Why do I love it so much? It has natural beauty, from mountains to seas to valleys to forests. It has so much history (which I do not completely understand but am definitely fascinated with). It is so easy to travel from one country to another considering they have an amazing network of public transport. If you have a Schengen visa, movement between the EU countries is hassle free & no border control. The food… Muah!! I can go on and on but for now we can just focus on how to apply for a Schengen Visa and what documents are an absolute must to make sure you get your visas.

Before we jump to the documentation, it is important to know that there are 3 types of Schengen visas as below:

Type A Schengen Visa - Airport Transfer Visa. This is needed if you have to travel from a non-Schengen country A to a non-Schengen country B, but have a connecting flight from a Schengen country. With this visa the holder is not allowed to enter the country, rather just be on the airport for his connecting flight.
Type C Schengen Visa - The most common type. It is a short stay visa which allows the visitor to stay or travel freely in the Schengen area for less than 90 days over a 180 day period. This is again divided into 3 types:
- Single entry - Allowed to enter Schengen area only once
- Double entry - Allowed to enter Schengen area twice
- Multiple entry - Allowed to enter Schengen area multiple times
Type D Schengen Visa - National long stay
This is the visa that is normally requested for WORK, EDUCATION or LIVING, where the applicant is going to stay in a Schengen country for more than 90 days.

Documents needed for Type C Schengen Visa:

Photocopy of a Valid passport
2 Passport size photos (not required by all EU countries but good to carry. TIP: Make sure the photos are not more than 6 months old and if they are you are able to convince the authority that it is a recent picture.
Visa application form downloaded from the website
Previous Passports (if any)
A cover letter (the format can be easily found on the internet. However, I am also going to add the format below, in this blog)
A ‘no objection’ certificate from your employer (if you are a salaried employee)
Travel Insurance (the most important document)
Return Flight Tickets
Accommodation Booking Details - If you are staying with a friend or a relative then their hosting letter
Last 3 years IT returns
Last 3 years bank account statement
Last 3 months pay-slips
In case of students and minors, for points 10 and 11, attach parents or guardians IT returns and bank statements - This shows that some adult will be taking care of all the expenses.
If you have any prior visas (active as well as expired) then photocopy of those visa pages (They generally look for the USA, Canada, UK or prior Schengen visas. Other country visas can be skipped)

Tips to make sure visas do not get rejected:

Off lately a lot of Schengen visas are being rejected which was unheard of in pre-Covid era. So how to make sure that you are not the one on that list and that your travel plan does not mess up? Let’s find out:

Tip 1: If your plan is 100%, do not book refundable flight tickets or accommodations. Preferred choice but if it is unavoidable then sure, book the refundable ones.

Tip 2: For self-employed people, it is important to show some kind of guarantee that you will come back to India and not settle there. More often than not migration is a legit scare and not all countries are capable of handling illegal migrants

Tip 3: Some countries have more rejection rate than others. Do your research well and try to create an Itinerary where you will enter from the most favorable Schengen country. (In 2023, Estonia, Malta and Slovenia rejected highest Indian visa applications while Hungary, Germany and Italy were very generous. Full article here)

Tip 4: In your financial documents, clearly show that you are more than capable of traveling and managing your own finances. Show regular income inflow, show enough balance in the accounts and show that you file your returns regularly.

Tip 5: Be nice to your visa officer. :)

These are just tips are do not guarantee Schengen visa. So ALL THE BEST!

Cover Letter Format - Just for reference. Tweak it as per your needs and details.

Employer Letter - Again just for reference. Your employer (if mid to large size organization) may already have their preferred format. Make sure it is on the company letterhead and signed by your HR head.