What are the list of requirements for a Schengen visa application? What documents do I need to submit? And what do these documents mean? While each country and embassy may have slightly different requirements, the following is a list of standard documents you will need to provide. You should bring the original as well as at least one copy or multiple copies when applicable.
I wrote a very detailed guide with a lot of tips and tricks so bookmark it for your visa application.
Read each section carefully for tips and tricks on how to fulfill each Schengen visa requirement. Note that the list below is applicable for 90-day short-stay Schengen visa application only. If you're moving to Europe to work or study, the list will be different!
Obviously you can't apply for any kind of visa without a passport! You need a valid passport that has two blank pages for the embassy to affix the visa. It should also be at least 6 months valid after your final day in the Schengen country. For example, if you are flying back from Europe on September 30, 2017 then your passport should be valid until March 30, 2018 which is 6 months after your arrival date.
Some European embassies are fine with 3 months validity though. But the longer the passport validity, the better. For example, the German embassy requires at least 6 months validity while the French embassy requires more than 3 months validity. Important note: The remaining validity of the passport is counted from the day the applicant intends to leave the Schengen area.
If you're applying for a new passport, make sure that you have organized getting it before scheduling your Schengen visa interview. It could mess up your application if your new passport doesn't arrive on time before your visa interview.
