From anywhere around the world, you can apply for a Schengen visa. The visa is the most common type of visa used for a short stay in Europe.
You can explore twenty-six European countries with a single passport with this visa. Getting the visa of Schengen for your European vacation grants you 90 days of stay in Europe. Here is a list of best visa agents for Schengen in Pakistan.
So, let’s begin to know the unique features and services that
Schengen visa offers to its holders. Before that, you should know about the Schengen area; it is a name given to refer to all
26 European countries who have signed to become part of this zone.
These countries have abolished every kind of border restriction for free movement across all European countries for different purposes, and tourists have ease of general travelling across Europe.
Schengen Visa Area:
Schengen covers an area of the European Union where people can travel freely across most European countries. It is the largest passport-free zone for member states citizens and non-EU nationals. Read
Canada Immigration Process for Pakistan.
Schengen Visa and Covid:
Due to pandemic and high covid rates in some countries, restrictions on entry and exit are subject to your approved vaccination and country-specific quarantine requirements. According to prevailing circumstances, the rules regarding visa approval can change for some countries.
What is a Schengen Visa?
The concerned visa allows travellers holding Schengen passports to stay in any of the Schengen European countries for 90 days from the date of entry. There are three Schengen visa categories: single, double, and multiple entry visas.
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Single Entry:
You can enter the Schengen territory only once, and you cannot come back once you leave the Schengen area.
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Double Entry:
You can return multiple times after leaving the Schengen zone, not exceeding the traveller allowed days in the Schengen area.
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Multiple Entry:
Thirdly multiple entry visa is flexible, and its holder enjoys the luxury to come back to Schengen country as many times as he likes after he leaves for as long as it does not exceed more than 180 days or the visa time limit allowed.
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Importance of Schengen visa:
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The value of a Schengen visa lies in the fact that you can live up to 90 days in any one of the twenty-six European countries of Schengen area without any formalities of crossing the border from one European country to another.
The most significant advantage of having a Schengen visa is that you have the liberty to enter, travel and leave any Schengen country at any time of your stay.
If you intend a more extended stay, more than 90 days, you will have to apply for a national visa of that country and not a Schengen visa.
Schengen Visa Country List:
All member countries of the Schengen zone issue Schengen visa as follows
• Austria
• Czech Republic
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Denmark
• France
• Estonia
• Finland
• Greece
• Iceland
• Latvia
• Lithunania
• Malta
• Norway
• Sweden
• Polan
• Portugal
Eligible For Schengen Europe Entry:
All citizens from third world countries need to obtain a visa before going to Europe. Non-EU /Schengen state citizens must present specific documents at the Schengen port of entry.
On arrival to the Schengen area, you need two documents to enter, a valid passport and a Schengen visa. Be careful and double-check that you obtain an entry stamp on your passport from the border officer during entry or exit; otherwise, you can face a fine later during passport checking later on.
Schengen Visa Requirements from Pakistan:
You need to prepare a list of specific documents for entry in the Schengen area. Mainly the required documents depend on your purpose of access, duration of stay and visa type.
The following is the checklist of documents you need to have for any future travels concerning the Schengen area:
1. Visa application form
The visa application form needs to be completed and signed by the applicant.
2. Two Recent Passport Size Photos
The visa application requires you recent passport size photos not older than three months.
3. Round Trip Itinerary
It must mention all the dates and flight numbers regarding entry and exit from the Schengen area.
4. Passport
A valid passport including at least two empty pages along with having validity of at least three remaining months after the concerned date you wish to leave the Schengen area.
5. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is essential for any medical emergency having at least 30,000 Euros coverage.
6. Accommodation Proof
You need to prove where you will be staying throughout your stay in Schengen. You can provide hotel or hostel booking details, rental contract or host invitation letter at whose house you will be staying.
7. Proof of Financial Support
You must prove you can bear your expenses throughout your stay in the Schengen area. You can verify through a bank account statement or sponsorship letter from anyone confirming that they will support your Schengen trip.
8. Proof of Paid Visa Fee
The visa fees are usually 80 euros for adults and 45 euros for children aged 6 to 12 years old. There are several other documents needed depending on the employment status of visa applicant like for employees, students, retirees, unemployed, unmarried to EU national, some additional documents are required.
9. Traveller Biometrics
Information like fingerprints to be provided for VIS (Visa Information system) for verification for providing Schengen Visa.
10. Previous Visa Copies
You will give previous visa copies of Schengen visa and passport for verification.
11. Schengen Cover Letter for Visa
Cover letter explaining your intention and purpose for staying in Schengen country.
Where to submit Schengen visa application?
You have to file your application at the embassy or consulate of your destination country in which you plan to travel. If you intend to go to more than one Schengen state, submit your application at the concerned embassy, where you will stay longer or enter first.
How early can you apply for a Schengen visa?
Usually, the embassy takes ten working days to process your Schengen visa application, but it can take up to 2 months if there is some particular situation with the applicant’s case.
It is generally advisable to apply for a
Schengen tourist visa two weeks before your international trip to the concerned country embassy.
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