Thanks to the agreement on a single visa area, crossing Schengen borders is subject to unified rules, which may differ only slightly in some states. The basis for obtaining the appropriate permission to cross the border is an application. The decision that the consulate will make may depend on the correctness of its completion, and therefore knowledge of how to correctly fill out the application form for a Schengen visa in 2017 will be useful.

It is quite logical that the process of applying for a visa begins with the preparation of a set of papers for the diplomatic mission of the country of the planned trip. According to the rules, the guest is obliged not only to cross the border of this state first, but also to spend most of the visit on the territory of this country.

The main focus of the package of documents should be on the application. Statistics show that most of the refusals were received precisely because it was filled out incorrectly.

First, let's look at the requirements that the Schengen visa application form must comply with:

  • The information must be presented in English, Russian or the official language of the country to whose consulate the documents are submitted. Please note that not all signatory countries accept the application in Russian;
  • Regardless of which language was chosen, the applicant’s initials must be written in Latin and match their outline in the passport. It is necessary to indicate in Latin letters the name of the hotels, as well as information about the inviting persons;
  • Only the left part of the form must be completed, the right part is intended for consular employees;
  • The form should not contain corrections, strikeouts or blots. Under no circumstances should you resort to the help of a proofreader to correct what you have written;
  • the information must be reliable;
  • The application form for a Schengen visa must be filled out completely and do not contain empty sections or lines. If the question does not apply to the applicant, you should still write “no” or put a dash through.

Even before you start filling out the form, check the individual requirements that the consulate of the country where you are going may put forward for this document.

Fill it out yourself or use the services of an intermediary?

The easiest way to organize a trip is to contact a travel agency, which will take care of all issues, including filling out an application. Often such a service is provided by tour operators free of charge, since it is already included in the price of the trip.

But what if you are planning a business trip or, say, a guest visit? It is in this case that the dilemma becomes relevant: turn to intermediaries or do everything yourself? In the first case, be prepared for the fact that every time you turn to specialists you will have to pay money for something that you can completely do on your own.

The latter is supported by the fact that the application for a Schengen visa has a single template developed by the Visa Code of the Schengen Union. This means that whatever the purpose of your entry to Schengen, you will have to fill out the same form. In this regard, it will be more rational to study the intricacies of entering information into it once and save money.

How to enter information

The main rule for drawing up the form is that the applicant must write by hand, in legible handwriting, using only printed capital letters. Typewritten applications will also be accepted for consideration. A visa application can be obtained from the consulate of the country where the application will be submitted.

To avoid mistakes, carefully study how to correctly fill out the Schengen visa application form:

  1. You can simply copy your full name from your foreign passport. Date of birth is written with a hyphen.
  2. The place of birth must be indicated as it is indicated in the passport.
  3. In the marital status and gender column, you must check the required boxes.
  4. The section regarding the travel document requires the applicant to indicate the type of passport, the date and place of its issue, and the period when its validity expires.
  5. In the “address” column, you should indicate the coordinates at which the applicant actually resides, even if they differ from the place of permanent registration. You should also include your mobile phone number.
  6. Many people are interested in the question of what should be indicated if the applicant lives outside the Russian Federation. For this purpose, there is a special column in which you need to indicate the address in the Schengen visa application form where the applicant is permanently staying. In addition, it is also necessary to indicate the details of the document that makes the applicant’s legal residence in another country.
  7. Information about the profession and place of work is also important. Regarding the latter, it is important to indicate not only the name of the organization, but also its address and telephone number. Students in this section indicate information about the educational institution.
  8. In the “Purpose of visit” line, check the box you need. It is important that it truly corresponds to your true intentions.
  9. Pay attention to the sections in which you need to indicate the country of residence and the state of entry. In some cases they may not match. When traveling by car, for example, you will not get to Italy until you have passed through a number of other countries.
  10. The next few points will be devoted to such issues as the frequency of the requested stamp, the duration of stay in the zone, the date of entry and exit from it. If the applicant submits an application for a multiple visa for a period of one year or more, the duration of stay column indicates 90 days.
  11. Please note how to fill out an application for a Schengen visa if the visit is carried out by invitation: here it is important to indicate information about the inviting party - initials, residential address, telephone number.
  12. The most important issue is the financial issue, so pay attention to the section where you need to indicate the source of financing.

If you have relatives in Europe, this must also be reported.

When filling out the form by hand, do not neglect the rule regarding which pen to fill out the Schengen visa application form with. Typically, only black or blue ink is used for this. But it is better to give preference to the latter, since a number of countries accept applications filled out by them.

The document is completed by the personal signature of the applicant, with which he certifies that:

  • all information provided is true and accurate;
  • be sure to purchase insurance;
  • agrees to the use of his personal data within the framework of the Unified Visa System.

Please also pay attention to how to correctly sign the Schengen visa application form. The applicant's strokes must not go beyond the allotted space, otherwise the application form may be declared invalid. The signature must be the same as in the passport.

Fill out a form for your child

Needless to say, every foreigner entering the Schengen zone must have his own visa permit, regardless of age. This means that even if your child is still very young, he will still need his own visa.

A Schengen application form for minors is also required in the package of papers for the consulate. Parents are responsible for filling it out.

As in the previous case, this can be done by hand or by typewriting in compliance with all the requirements listed above.

In addition, you must adhere to the following rules:

  • in a special section you should indicate information about the parent who is filing a petition for the child;
  • where financial support is concerned, it is necessary to indicate that all expenses are covered by the child’s representative;
  • in the profession column - write “no profession” or “student/school student”.

The Schengen application form for the child is signed by the parent who entered the information into it. But there are several nuances that you should be aware of:

  • the Czech consulate will ask that a child over 15 years old also sign on the form along with one of the parents;
  • But in Austria, both parents must sign if the child has not yet reached 14 years of age. Older teenagers are already signing with their father and mother.

The completed application form for a Schengen visa for a young traveler is submitted in one package for the whole family.

What to remember when filling out an online application

It has become quite common practice that an application for a visa permit must be completed online. In this case, there are no special differences in filling out, because the form looks absolutely identical to the one issued by the consulate. To access the form, you simply need to go to the website of the consulate you are interested in and find the “online application” section. Typically this method is used to request short-term tourist visas.

How to print the form correctly

The issue of printing the form will require special attention. First, after filling out the document, you need to save it on your computer. Give the file a name and select the folder in which it will be stored.

Since the application form includes 4 pages, the question arises, how many sheets should I print out the Schengen application form on? According to the rules, information must be placed on two A4 sheets on both sides. The consulate will not accept a document in the form of 4 sheets of the application form. Another sheet will be needed to print a page with a barcode about completed registration on the site. Filling out the form manually does not imply the presence of such information.

The applicant can sign the application after the Schengen visa application form is printed. The same applies to forms that were filled out using technical means.

By taking into account all the listed subtleties, you can easily avoid inaccuracies and thereby ensure a positive decision on your visa request.

Filling out the Schengen visa application: Video

Attention! Due to recent changes in legislation, the legal information in this article may be out of date!

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