Despite anti-Russian sanctions, in 2023, domestic tourists can still apply for a Schengen visa at some consulates of European countries, although it has become more expensive and more difficult to process them due to the abolition of a simplified visa regime with the European Union. Schengenvisainfo experts have compiled seven of the most common application mistakes.
As noted by experts, in most cases, errors are made due to lack of knowledge or due to the applicant's misunderstanding of the importance of documents that meet the criteria established by the Schengen country they want to visit. Here are the top 7 common mistakes.
Firstly, all Schengen visa applicants are advised to collect documents based on the list published by the embassy of the country they will be applying to, and not speculation or recommendation friends.
Many travelers, in particular first-time Schengen applicants, make the mistake of taking the advice of family members or friends who have received visas in the past and apply them word for word throughout the entire procedure.
Required Documents for Obtaining Schengen visas in many cases differ in different countries or in different embassies. In addition, visa requirements are constantly reviewed and updated by Schengen embassies around the world. For example, a simplified visa regime has been canceled between Russia and the European Union.
Secondly, the passport does not meet the requirements.
It is not enough to have a passport that is valid for a few more months. Some travelers have learned this the hard way. The EU has specific and strict passport rules for those applying for a Schengen visa, namely:
- The passport must be valid for another six months after the date of the planned trip to the Schengen area.< /li>
- The passport must be issued within the last ten years on the date when the passport holder plans to leave the visited Schengen country.
- The passport must have at least two blank pages, but they must not be added to the passport later.
Those who do not meet any of these rules will be denied a visa.
In addition, travelers planning to obtain a 3- or 5-year multiple-entry visa should be aware that if their passport validity period is shorter than the validity period of the required visa, they will not be granted permission. Instead, in most cases, they will receive a visa valid for a shorter period of time before their passport expires.
Third, filling out the application form with information that does not match other documents .
Each traveler must fill out a Schengen visa application form. This is the first document that is required. Many travelers make the mistake of entering information on the questionnaire that differs from what is indicated in other documents. For example, if their passport is valid for another six months, some will indicate on the application that the passport is valid longer. In other cases, they indicate the required duration of the visa on dates other than the dates for which they have travel insurance or accommodation. Such errors, in particular when made intentionally, may automatically result in the rejection of the visa application.
Fourth, the applicant does not have the “correct” travel insurance.
Failing to buy travel insurance with the thought “nothing will happen to me” is a huge mistake. The embassy does not care how often a tourist gets sick and whether he puts himself at risk in this or that situation, insurance must be in the amount of 30,000 euros. In the event of death, it will cover repatriation.
In many cases, travelers get travel insurance for a shorter period of time than they plan to spend in the EU, or buy it with less coverage than required. In cases where insurance does not cover repatriation in the event of death, no matter how much it covers other accidents, the requirement for travel insurance is considered not met.
Fifth, the application is too sooner or too late.
Like everything else, the application time is also governed by the Schengen Visa Code. According to him, the earliest time to apply is six months before the intended trip, and the latest is 15 working days before it. Trying to apply a year in advance, for example, will not end well, even in overcrowded embassies, experts have warned.
The same goes for late filing. People who previously received a visa within a very short period, i.e. five days in a particular embassy, and believe that a late submission of the next visa application will not make a big difference, risk getting a delay or even not accepting a visa application at all.< /p>
Sixth, applying to the wrong embassy, consulate or Visa Application Center.
Another very common mistake among people who plan to visit several Schengen countries with one visa is applying to the wrong embassy. In cases where a tourist wants to visit two or more Schengen countries with the same visa in a continuous trip, the application must be made as follows:
- At the embassy of the country he intends to visit first if he plans to stay in each country for an equal number of days. In other words, if there is a plan to stay five days in Austria, five days in Germany and five days in France, the entry to the Schengen area will be through Austria. You also need to apply at the Austrian embassy.
- At the embassy of the country in which the tourist will stay the longest, if you want to stay in each country for a different number of days. Simply put, if the traveler intends to stay three days in Austria, five days in Germany and seven days in France, then he should apply to the French embassy.
Seventh, no cash to pay the registration fee.
In general, this is not an error that can lead to visa refusal, but may cause unnecessary problems. So, on the day of the interview, many people do not take cash with them to pay the Schengen visa fee, believing that they can pay by card or online. This is not possible as all embassies, consulates and visa application centers require travelers to carry the exact amount required to obtain a visa in cash. Trying to pay with large bills can also be a problem, especially if you are one of the first applicants of the day. For each applicant, it is better to have the exact amount to avoid headaches.
For those who care about a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “Nutritionist says how much sugar is in the most popular fruits.”