General information
This information has been prepared by all Schengen European countries present in Pakistan and gives a general overview regarding applications for Schengen visas. For more specific information concerning tourist visa, private/family visit visa and business visa, kindly consult the relevant pages of this website.
GENERAL SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS
1) Who needs a visa and to which country can one travel?
Pakistani National and certain foreigners resident in Pakistan require a visa to enter the Schengen territory, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
This visa grants in general free mobility within the Schengen Territory for visitor’s/ business/tourist stays of maximum of 90 days per 180 days of the year.
2) Where do you apply?
You cannot choose at which mission of a Schengen country to apply.
You must apply at the mission of the country where your main destination (the main destination is the destination where the applicant intends to spend the longest time or where the main purpose of the intended journey is carried out) will be or, if this is difficult to determine (e.g. cruises, bus tours), you must apply at the mission of your first point of entry into the Schengen area.
Sufficient proof has to be submitted about the stay in the Schengen Territory.
3) Categories of visas (depending on length and purpose of stay)
- Airport transit visas: required by the nationals of certain countries.
- Short stay visa (“Schengen”) visa (1-90 days, one or multiple entry).
- Long stay visa: Visas for visits exceeding 90 days are national visas, and are issued by member states in accordance with national legislation (1).
4) Documentation to be submitted:
See footnotes
- Clearly and completely filled in and signed Common Schengen Application Form (available from consular websites, or consular offices)
- Passport, which must be valid for a period of at least 3 months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen states. Please ensure that the passport has 2 blank pages to affix visa (two passport copies of pages 1-4). Bring previous passports, if any, and attach with application copies on A4 size paper, or used pages.
- Three recent passport sized photographs in colour with a white background. Photographs should be taken within the last 6 months, no side pose, no hat, no veil, no Photoshop (2).
- Property document when applicable, with 2 copies, if you have any and English translation.
- Family registration records from NADRA.
- The Pakistani ID-Card.
- Proof of employment which mentions how long the applicant has been employed by his/hers employer. English translation must be provided.
- Granted leave of absence from his/hers work for the relevant number of days. English translation must be provided.
- If the applicant runs his own business, he/she must present proof of registration of the business with the relevant authorities and English translation of these documents.
- Tax papers for the previous 2 years = Payment tax/registration of company.
- Proof of employment: (e.g. letter from company stating continuing employment after period of leave and duration of vacation etc)
- If applicant is a student: letter from school/college/university confirming admission or attendance (3).
- A personal interview with the applicant maybe requested (4).
- The visa of the final country of destination (if applicable) must be obtained before applying for a Schengen visa.
Round trip air-ticket and itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Schengen state. Some Schengen authorities accept the itinerary when applying for the visa but request the original air-ticket when visa is collected (please check). - Proof of sufficient funds for duration of stay, e.g.: (min. amount required is different in each country - please check with the appropriate consular authority).
- Bank and credit statements for last 6 months in addition to previous year.
- Salary slips - 3 months prior.
- Tax receipt of foreign exchange purchased bearing applicant’s name.
- Traveller’s cheques.
- For credit cards, recent credit card statement.
- Cash will not be accepted as proof of foreign exchange.
A. Travel/health/accident insurance
A minimum medical coverage of Rupees equivalent Euro 30.000,00. Applicants must present insurance policy that states policy number, name of insured person, validity and schedule benefits. The insurance must cover medical attention, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation for medical reasons for all the Schengen countries.
B. Accommodation: confirmed hotel booking is requested (hotel reservation are not necessarily proof of confirmation.* For some countries birth certificate (person Bevis Sweden) is requested. If applicant is staying with a sponsor, the relevant authorities may request invitation letter from the host with copy of his/her passport or ID. Document that has been stamped by the relevant authorities may be requested (5).
C. For business: an official business invitation letter from the company of your main travel destination in a Schengen state as well as from the Pakistani employer stating the purpose of the visit must be presented. For conferences should be submitted: proof of registration and payment.
- Invitation from the business partner in Schengen Country should be also sent directly to the Embassy.
- Recommendation letter from the Chamber of Commerce.
- Recent correspondence between you and your Schengen business partner.
- Bank statement covering the last six months. In addition applicants are required to submit bank statement for the previous year. The applicants should present their personal bank statement as well as the company’s bank statement.
- Tax papers for the previous 2 years.
- Proof of registration of the business with the relevant authorities.
D. Certified parental consent, by both parents for children under 18 travelling alone. If the child travels with only one parent, the other parent must produce the notarized/certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the court judgments (NADRA) confirming this must be presented. Certain consular authorities require that both parents sign in the presence of a consular official. The Schengen State’s Consular offices reserve the right to request further documentation if deemed necessary.
Points A-D has To be submitted in original + extra copy
5. Procedural Advices and Legal Notice:
- There is no guarantee that a visa will be issued and no rights can be derived from the information obtained in the general Schengen visa information.
- Visa applications will be rejected if application forms are not fully completed and signed and are not accompanied by the above required documents.
- Procedure: It is the responsibility of the applicant to take note of the visa application requirements and to apply in time well before making travel arrangements.
- Entry into the Schengen territory: The possession of a visa is only one of the conditions for entry into the territory of the Schengen state. Should the Schengen State’s border authority refuse entry, no claim for reimbursement of the visa fee or airline ticket can be submitted. The border police at your Schengen destination may request the presentation of sufficient funds, a letter of invitation, hotel reservation and proof of medical insurance. Failure to present said funds/documents may result in entry being refused.
- For organized groups arrangements should be made well in advance with the relevant issuing authority.
- ** Fees and requirements are subject to change without prior notice.
All types of Schengen visas (from 12 years old): 80 Euro.
Children between 6 and 12 years old: 40 Euro.
National Long stay visas: Contact the issuing authority.
6. Fees are exempted for
Visa fees will be waivered for:
- Children under age 6.
- Spouses of EU/EEA citizens (EEA: Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein) and their children, under the age 21. Copies of spouses’ EU/EEA and Switzerland passport, Marriage/ Birth certificates etc. must be submitted with the application as proof of relationship with EU/EEA spouse/parent.
- Spouses of French nationals: “some categories of students” (as are also exempted: students who were granted internships from France - internships from the Pak govt, internships from the European union.
- Diplomatic passports.
- Service/official passports (except when used for private reasons).
Visa processing fees are not reimbursable if a visa is rejected.
- Does not apply to Finland as we do not issue long stay visas; instead of long stay visas we issue residence permits).
- Finland and Czech Republic only requires 1 photograph, France Embassy requires copies of all pages of the passport when the applicant submits his application to FedEx - as original is required only on the occasion of the fingerprints.
- Finland does not issue visas for students, they have to apply for a residence permit. Residence permit applications are filed in at the Embassy and are sent to Immigration Department in Helsinki and Finnish Immigration Department makes the decision on the application.)
Some Schengen/EU Countries requires if a Pakistani is married to a Schengen national, proof that the wedding is valid in the national law.
- Finland interviews all the applicants, only exceptions are people working for some big Finnish companies and going for business.
- FRANCE EMBASSY: if the applicant is accommodated by a host in France, a specific document, called “attestation d’accueil” is required.