How To Schedule Your Appointment for Schengen Visa

If you are traveling to a Schengen country for the first time, applying for a visa is one of the first requirements. Although visa application can be stressful, I have helped you figure out the best way to schedule an appointment for Schengen visa.

This is because scheduling an appointment is not a phone call or an email away. With the recent japa waves, the embassy has only a few slots for visa appointments. I will teach you how to schedule an appointment for Schengen visa, what to expect, and what to do.

Keep reading as i unveil the best way to go about this visa appointment.

Know this Before Scheduling an Appointment for Schengen Visa 

Before taking you on how to obtain you’re appointment for Schengen visa, I will take you through a few things that will guide your decision. Here they are:

How Much is the Cost of a Schengen Visa?

The cost for a Schengen visa application is as follows:

The above statistics may change depending on the current exchange rate.

What is a Schengen Visa Appointment?

A Schengen visa appointment is the arrangements you make to enable you to apply for your Schengen visa. During the appointment, you must submit every necessary document to guide the decision of the visa officials in giving you the visa.

You don’t just wake up to visit the embassy for the submission of your documents. You must schedule an appointment first. The documents help the officials have the necessary information to make a fair decision. Sometimes, they may ask you to attend an interview as a further condition for offering you the visa.

Gathering of Required Documents

It would be best to leave enough time to gather your supporting documents for the appointment for Schengen visa. The earlier you start the appointment, the better. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the time could stretch longer than necessary. One week ahead of the appointment is enough to put your documents together.

Schedule Your Schengen Visa Appointment and Start the Process

Once you gather the relevant documents, the next step is to schedule the appointment. The sooner you start the application process, the more time you will have to complete the visa requirements. Hence, you can start three months before your intended departure date.

What documents do I need for the Schengen Visa Appointment?

You must present standard documents relevant to obtaining the visa during your appointment. Ensure not to forget any of them because that could lead to your visa denial or an extension of the processing time.

You will need the following documents for the appointment of your Schengen visa:

• A completed visa application form
• A passport must be valid for at least three months with two blank pages.
• Valid passport photo
• Proof of residency
• Travel itinerary
• Hotel booking or proof of accommodation
• Proof of funds
• Schengen travel insurance
• Proof of flight booking

Other Schengen visa requirements may include the following, depending on the visa type:

• Visa sponsorship letter
• Birth/marriage certificate (proof of civil status)
• Employment contract
• Letter from employer
• Invitation letter
• Proof of enrollment in school

You may also visit the embassy website for the checklist for the type of Schengen visa you are applying for.

If you are traveling with a minor, check out the following requirements:

• Birth certificate, which both parents must sign. However, a family court order is required if only one of the parents is in custody of the child.
• Certified copies of parents’ passports or identity card
• A notarized parental or guardian authorization is required if the minor travels alone.

What do I Expect During My Appointment?

You will need a few things during your appointment. The first is the submission of your documents. Once you submit them, the next step is the visa interview. The interview questions depend on the type of visa you need. However, some of the questions could be the following:

• What is your marital status?
• Are you traveling alone or with someone else?
• Do you have health insurance for this trip?
• Have you traveled out of the country before?
• Do you have any sponsors for your travel?

After the interview, you will provide your biometrics (fingerprints and image capturing) and pay your visa fee. After payment, your application is officially tendered.

How Easy is it to obtain a Schengen Visa Appointment?

Obtaining a Schengen visa appointment in this post-COVID-19 era may be challenging. The reason is that after lifting the COVID-19 restrictions, there was a rush to obtain a Schengen visa. Thus, the embassies are struggling to meet the demands. But your case will differ if you follow the procedure and submit your documents on time.

What if I can’t get a Schengen Visa Appointment?

If you apply for the Schengen visa at the wrong period, your application will be rejected. However, the appointment slots for the Schengen visa open in mid-September. So, target your travel to that period. But if you can’t wait, you can travel to another country, depending on your preference.

How to Schedule Your Appointment for a Schengen Visa

A few ways to schedule your appointment for a Schengen visa include:

Call the embassy: This is the first and easiest option to schedule an appointment. However, it may not always work out.

Email the embassy: This approach is straightforward, but getting the feedback you need may take some time. So, I don’t recommend contacting them via email.

Schedule an online appointment: visit the embassy website to schedule an appointment. However, the issue is that some embassies may not provide an English translation of the appointment.

Go through another embassy: If your appointment needs urgent attention and the closest embassy is unavailable, you may need to contact another embassy. However, scheduling the appointment may require extra charges. You may also need to travel a farther distance to make it happen.

Read Next: How To Apply For Schengen Visa From Nigeria?