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PROOF OF STRONG TIES IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR YOUR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION

Table of contents, introduction.

Hello, future Schengen explorer! If you’re gearing up to embark on a European adventure and need that coveted Schengen visa, one crucial aspect to focus on is demonstrating your strong ties to the Philippines . Consulates want assurance that you have compelling reasons to return after your European sojourn . Let’s delve into a comprehensive guide on what constitutes strong ties and how to present a compelling case in your visa application.

Embarking on international journeys often requires obtaining visas, and for Filipinos, demonstrating deep ties or rootedness in the Philippines is crucial for a successful application. Whether for a Schengen visa or any other visa category, here’s a detailed guide with practical tips on proving your strong connections to your home country.

Understanding Strong Ties

When applying for a Schengen visa, officials want to see evidence that you have significant connections to your home country , indicating your intention to return. Strong ties are the anchors that ensure you won’t overstay your visa . These ties can be social, economic, or familial in nature.

We face yet another inquiry in response to the question: How can you demonstrate to the Consul that you have no intention of engaging in illegal employment, violating local laws, or straining their resources? This is the scenario they aim to prevent, leading to the visa requirement and the intricate visa application process, particularly challenging for those hailing from developing nations. However, fear not, as I’m here to provide the answers to these concerns 🙂

Some Evidences of Your Rootedness in the Philippines

Certainly, proving your rootedness in the Philippines is vital for various applications, including visa applications.

You need to convince them that you will return to the Philippines. Insufficient evidence of deep-rootedness to your home country is also one of the chief reasons for visa denial. Here are some compelling pieces of evidence that can support your case:

1. Employment Stability:  original letter from employer confirming the position in the company, date of employment, salary for the last 6 months, and period of holidays granted (certificate of leave of absence). The letter must include the name and position of the person who signed the certificate, registration, and company contact details.

2. For Business Owners or Self-Employed:   confirmation of business registration, license, income tax return, business financial statement

3. Educational and Professional Credentials: proof of enrolment, a certificate from the school with confirmation of leave of absence, and a valid student’s ID card. You may also be requested to submit a student’s record book:

     > Recent certificate of enrollment from the school      > Letter authorizing the student’s absence from school

For professional credentials, include your professional license or certifications.

4. For Pensioners:  pension certificate indicating the amount of pension

5. For Solo Parents:       › A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated      › A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated      › Solo parent ID      › Barangay Certification as Solo parent      › Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking      › Money remittances to support your dependents

6. For Minors:       › Joint affidavit of both parents or legal guardians granting consent      › Photocopies of the passports of both parents or legal guardians      › Solo parent ID      › Birth certificate of the minor. Must be recent, original, and issued by PSA      › DSWD Clearance , if the minor is not traveling with either parent or legal guardian

7. Community Involvement:        › Certificates or letters of participation in community events or organizations      › Evidence of any contributions to local development.

8. For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family:      › A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticated     › If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens      › If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) 

9. Family Ties:      › Birth or marriage certificates for close family members.      › Family photos with accompanying explanations      › Previous passport stamps and visas.      › Entry/exit stamps indicating compliance with visa conditions.

10. Cover Letter or Letter of Explanation:  A well-crafted letter explaining the purpose of your trip, your ties to the Philippines, and your commitment to returning.  The cover letter details the purpose of your journey and your complete itinerary indicating all the places you plan to visit there. The cover letter is crucial to the success of your application; a well-thought-out and well-written cover letter gets you a higher chance of visa approval. Let us take care of your cover letter (and others such as sponsorship, invitation, and appeal); get our letter service here !

11. Philanthropy or Volunteer Work: Prove that you are doing something  “worthwhile”  in your country. By “worthwhile,” I mean that you are doing something in your country that keeps you so busy that you don’t even intend to find a job in your country illegally. This could include studying, volunteering at a non-profit organization, or training under a company. You can also include:     

     › Certificates or letters of recognition for charitable or volunteer activities.      › Any involvement in community service.

12. Cultural or Religious Affiliations:      › Certificates or letters from cultural or religious organizations.      › Documentation of your active participation in cultural or religious events.

13. Proof of Ownership of Properties Under Your Name: This can include Land Title, Car Registration, and/or Stock Certificate. If you do not have any, relax. This isn’t mandatory! 🙂 This only proves how ‘financially capable’ you are since you were able to purchase these valuable things.

If you’re young (early 20s), then it’s not expected that you already own properties; you can show proof of an apartment rental agreement instead. 

Final Thoughts

When proving rootedness for visa applications, authenticity is key. Provide comprehensive documentation, and ensure that your application tells a cohesive and convincing story of your ties to the Philippines. Remember, the goal is to satisfy visa requirements and genuinely reflect the essence of your connection to your homeland. Including various documents covering different aspects of your life—professional, financial, familial, and community—strengthens your case and assures officials of your commitment to your home country.

May your visa applications be smooth, and your journeys be filled with enriching experiences! 🇵🇭✈️

Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection

Here are the common reasons a Schengen Visa application gets denied:

• No clear travel purpose —a detailed cover letter is a must!
• Lack of strong ties —reevaluate your application and prove why you must return to your home country!
• Insufficient travel insurance coverage —make sure you get the right policy!
• No proof of financial means —convince them that you can afford your trip! Provide bank or credit card statements, VUL, investment portfolio, etc.
• Passport does not have 2 free pages —where will they attach the visa if your passport pages are already full? You should get a new passport before applying for a visa if there are no more available pages on your old one!
• No proof of accommodation —you need to prove them that you have a place to stay in the Schengen Area.

Recap and Tips

So, just a recap and a reminder , please don’t forget these TIPS: 

If you ever need help, you can avail my   visa application bundle , and I will be glad to help you through the process!

Let Us Be Your Partner in Your Schengen Visa Journey

Applying for a Schengen Visa can be overwhelming, with all the paperwork involved and confusing information from different sources. We understand that—we’ve been there and have done that!

But through the years, we gained experience and knowledge on the ins and outs of the Schengen Visa application. We’ve helped countless satisfied clients ; we would like to invite you to be one of them!

With our Schengen Visa services personalized to your unique needs and circumstances, we will make your visa application less stressful and laborious, and more promising. Contact us to schedule a consultation or for other inquiries.

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Schengen Visa Cover Letter

on 22 Nov, 2021

Guide To The Cover Letter For Your Schengen Visa Application

What is a schengen visa application cover letter.

A Schengen Visa Cover Letter (or Covering Letter) is a document written by you and addressed to the Schengen Embassy/Consulate along with the other documents you are required to submit. 

The letter should provide additional information concerning the purpose of your trip and your intentions to return to your country of residence. 

The letter acts as a personal introduction as it shows to the Embassy/Consulate officers a brief summary of your travel background (e.g., travel dates, employment background, etc.). 

In other words, your cover letter is a summary of your Visa application . 

Your Covering Letter For Schengen Visa Is The First Direct Contact Between You And The Embassy

The cover letter represents a way of communication between you and the embassy officer, in which you are explaining your reasons for your trip and why you should be accepted. 

Please note that some Embassies/Consulates have chosen to outsource the Visa application process meaning that you have to submit your application through an outsourcing company such as VFS Global. 

In this case, your cover letter is your only chance to communicate with the Embassy/Consulate officers and explain your details and the reason why you believe they should grant you a Visa as well as your intentions to only travel and not to overstay your Visa, as they will not be able to see you face-to-face.

This letter is not a mandatory requirement meaning that the applications that do not include it will not necessarily be rejected or delayed. 

However, we strongly recommend and urge you to submit it as it does more than make a good impression on the Embassy/Consulate officers and speed up your Visa application process – Your cover letter can significantly increase your chances of success because it summarises every item you have provided. 

You should submit a Visa application cover letter even if you have been invited by a partner company to the Schengen Region and you are applying for a Business Visa .

The Importance Of The Schengen Visa Cover Letter

The cover letter is an important document as it gives you the chance to introduce yourself and make your travel purpose clear. 

The letter is important for your application because:

● It gives you the opportunity to provide information that your other documents cannot provide.

Most of the documents that you must submit are official documents that cannot clearly highlight your travel background. 

In other words, your covering letter is the only document that can actually tell a story. 

Telling a story can be a powerful communication tool because the Embassy/Consulate officers can understand who you actually are and why you should get a Visa. 

● It helps the Visa officers save time and therefore speed up your application process.

Embassies/Consulates receive hundreds of applications weekly. 

Sometimes, those responsible for processing them do not have time and patience to figure out the purpose of the journey and the intentions to return to the country of residence by analysing all of the documents of each single Visa applicant. 

This does not mean that they do not check your documents carefully but they typically do it to determine if they show consistency. Therefore, this letter can simply make your application process easier for them.  

How To Get A Schengen Visa Cover Letter

Getting most of your Visa application documents depends on bureaucracy/laws in your country of residence/other people that must write and sign your documents. 

The cover letter is the only document that you must write and sign by yourself (together with the Visa Application Form and your day-to-day travel itinerary ).

Once you have gathered all of your documents, you can write the letter on your computer. 

We recommend you write it after you gather the rest of your documents because the letter should include a list of the documents that you are submitting for your application. 

Important: If you are not familiar with this type of letter, you can download one of our templates (please select the one that is the most relevant for your situation) and fill it out following our suggestions. Please contact us for further details.   

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Schengen Visa Cover Letter

Even though the cover letter should not be very long and must contain only key information about you as an applicant, there are several mistakes that you should avoid making. 

Also, do not forget that the cover letter does not have to be too long and the information on it must match the information on your other documents .  

Not all the below errors can lead to the rejection of your application but your chances of approval may decrease. 

Therefore, we strongly recommend you double-check your covering letter before submitting it so that you can be sure it does not contain one of the following mistakes:

• Not using logical arguments to explain the purpose of your trip and your intentions to return to your country of residence

Logical reasoning is a powerful tool not only for your covering letter but also during the interview with the Embassy/Consulate officers. 

Make sure you know how to explain the reason as to why you travel to the Schengen Region and your intentions to return to your country of residence. 

For example, “ I want to visit France because I like it ” or “ I want to visit France because it is a nice country ” are not logical reasons as to why you want to visit France (or another Schengen country). 

You should be more specific. For example: “ I want to visit France because I’ve been fascinated by French culture ever since I was a child ”. 

The same rule applies to the explanation of your intentions to return to your country of residence. Writing “ I will return to my country of residence because I cannot stay in the Schengen Region ” is not a logical reason as to why you will not overstay your Visa. 

You can write instead: “ I will return to my country on August 15 because my employer did not allow me to take more than 3 weeks off ” or “ I will return on September 20 because I must attend a vocational training course upon the request of my employer .”

• Providing the same information that is already outlined by your other documents

One of the purposes of your covering letter is to outline details about your trip that are not indicated by your other documents. 

For example, in case of a tourist Visa application you should not write: “ I will be travelling to France between October 20, 2020, and November 17, 2020, and I will stay at Hotel Lafayette in 23 Rue des Messageries, Paris .” 

Of course, this information is important because it shows relevant details about your trip but the Embassy/Consulate officers can easily understand your trip details by checking your flight and hotel reservations. 

As we mentioned above, you should try to tell a story in your covering letter (even though you have to maintain a professional tone). 

For example, you can write: “ I will be travelling to France between October 20, 2020, and November 17, 2020. I have chosen to spend almost one month in France as I strongly believe that I need time to visit the most important tourist attractions and get to know the French culture. I will stay at Hotel Lafayette in 23 Rue des Messageries because the hotel is located within walking distance of the most important places of interest in Paris.”   

• Submitting a cover letter that contains spelling mistakes

Not all applicants have an excellent command of English, and the Embassy/Consulate officers won’t judge you if you make some grammar mistakes (especially because it is highly likely that English is not their native language).  

But a covering letter that contains too many spelling mistakes and does not follow some specific layout rules (the way that words are set up on the page) will make the Embassy/Consulate officers believe that you do not have a sense of consideration for the event and are not respecting the application process (which is your Schengen Visa application). 

Therefore, you need to pay attention to the spelling, punctuation, capitalisation, and layout of the letter. 

Please read carefully the two cover letter sample paragraphs below (please note that none of them is a complete sample cover letter and you need a more detailed template/sample in order to write a cover letter for Schengen Visa application):

Sample 1: 

“Dear sir madam I would like to apply at your consulate general for a schengen visa for visit friend in Netherlands.

My name is raji anand. I will be travelling from new delhi to amsterdam between octobr 15 and November 17  My employer has already approved my vacation and leave from work for the duration of 1 months. I hold an Indian passport no xxxxxx and I have attached passport size pictures to these cover letters. please do not hesitate to contact me for more information !Thanking you in advance, Raji anand. ”

“Dear Visa Officer,

I would like to apply for a Schengen Visa upon my intention to visit the Netherlands between October 15, 2020 and November 17, 2020.

My name is Raji Anand and I am an Indian citizen. I will be travelling from New Delhi to Amsterdam to visit my close friend, John Smith, who has also provided a sponsorship letter to support my Visa application as he will be covering all of the expenses for the duration of this trip.

I have attached to this letter the following documents [List of documents] .

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any questions and clarifications.

Raji Anand”

Bad spelling and writing mistakes (like the ones in the first sample) will make you seem less credible and the Embassy/Consulate officers may believe that you do not have a sense of consideration for your application process. 

At the same time, attention to details such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalisation (as shown by the second sample that we provided as an example) will make the Visa officers think that you are an organised and responsible person who put effort into preparing the Visa application.  

• Not presenting the list of documents you are submitting in order of priority

Show the Embassy/Consulate officers that you are an organised person. 

You should mention the list of documents that you are submitting for your application in order of priority (and not randomly). 

Start with the documents that are mandatory for all applicants no matter their personal situation (application form, passport, insurance, etc.) and then add the documents that are mandatory according to the purpose of your trip (e.g., hotel reservations ,   flight reservations , and travel itinerary – if you are applying for a tourist visa) and the documents that are mandatory according to your personal situation (e.g., employment contract , No Objection Certificate (NOC) Letter from your Employer, payslips , your bank statements , etc. – in case you are employed and you pay the expenses for your trip by yourself). 

For further details concerning the Schengen Visa requirements and the order that you should keep when listing them in your covering letter, please check out this blog post.  

• Submitting a Cover Letter that does not align to information and facts provided in other documents

The details and reasons outlined within your cover lettering must align to the same information and evidence you have provided in every other document you are submitting. 

If you contradict or state a point in your letter that does not align to the documents you provide to the Embassy/Consulate, you could jeopardise the entire application, which may cause your Schengen Visa to be rejected.

For example, if in your cover letter, you outline that you are travelling to stay with your family who lives in Italy but you do not include an invitation letter or sponsor for accommodation letter from them, then it contradicts the information in your application. 

Another example is that you say you are traveling for tourism but then you have an invitation letter from a business in your documents. Or, when your passport number and other personal details in your letter do not match the details in your other documents.

Confused Where To Start?

If you are confused, worried or stuck, the best next step to take is to Get a Free Consultation .

The session takes 5 to 10 minutes, starts immediately and you will get our advice delivered to your inbox by a Visa Expert within 1-2 hours. This is not a video or phone call, it is just like a live chat, where we can understand your situation better and an expert shares what you should do next.

There is no commitment to use our services at all, we just provide you advice based on our assessment of your situation and give you the next steps you need to follow to get your Schengen visa.

Click the Free Consultation button below to get the information you have been searching for

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How to Get Schengen Visa in the Philippines (Freelancers + Solo Travelers)

• 8 minute read

Do you want to know how to get Schengen visa in the Philippines? Is it your first time to apply for a Schengen visa? Unlike other nationalities with stronger passports, it is a long process that needs mindful preparation. In this post, you will read 10+ easy tips to increase your chances of getting approved.

Table of Contents

Draft an itinerary, beef up your travel history, check the requirements + consulate policies, set a timeline for important dates, ace that “show money” dilemma – save, save, save, prepare a detailed cover letter, read the instructions and steps carefully, be consistent with the numbers, dates, and activities, provide as many relevant documents as you can, be honest and confident.

During the second half of August 2019, I was in Europe, visiting Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. I was supposed to go to Budapest and Amsterdam too, but loneliness got the best of me and I went home earlier than planned.  Prone to sadness when solo traveling? Read my post about it!

To be honest, applying for a Schengen visa as a solo female traveler and a Filipino freelancer was nerve wracking. It would’ve been costly if I got denied… because I already booked my tickets! Not advisable but I couldn’t resist the promo fares! Plus, my situation was already a huge red flag.

• Solo female  – “She might extend her stay and look for a job,” “she might marry a local for a visa,” or worse, “she might go TNT”
• Freelancer  – “She doesn’t have a ‘real job’ and might look for work,” “She doesn’t have a strong attachment to her country,” or in other words, “she has no reason to return”

But I did my research on how to get Schengen visa in the Philippines. I learned from the experiences of others like me. I made sure I’ve got every base and potential doubt covered, and my application was tight as it could be. So, here are the things I did that helped me get that Schengen visa from the German Embassy. 

Europe includes about 50 countries, and the Schengen visa covers  26 countries . Check if the country you want to visit is included.

If you’re traveling to more than one country, figure out how many days you want to stay in each. The country where you want to stay the longest is where you will apply for the Schengen visa. My point of entry was Berlin. I also stayed there the longest. So, I applied at the German Embassy.

Here’s a  complete budget guide to making your own travel itinerary .

Traveling in Europe is long term vision, and for most of us, it really is years in the making. For my Europe 2019 trip, I started planning and saving 2.5 years ago. While I waited for the right time, I made sure to collect stamps in my passport.

Then, when you apply for the Schengen visa, make your travel history apparent by arranging the details in a table. Always make it convenient for the consular officer going through your application. Here’s how I arranged mine.

Why do you need to have previous travel experience before going for a Schengen visa? To show that traveling is part of your lifestyle, decreasing any suspicion that you’re going to Europe to stay and work illegally. It also shows that you have the financial capacity as well as multiple evidences that you never overstay and “always come back home,” if that makes.

There are many visa-free countries for Filipinos. Since saving for Europe is the ultimate goal, ASEAN countries plus some Asian countries will be your best bet. Once you start building up your travel funds and getting extra savings, you can include Japan and Korea in the mix. 

Here’s a complete  list of the 64 countries Filipinos can enter without visa .

In general, there is no one answer to the question, “How to get Schengen visa in the Philippines” because requirements could be different in each country. So, always check the specific consulate website of where you intend to apply. For Germany, here’s the  list of requirements  for short stay (maximum of 90 days) visa for tourists above the age of 18.

• Identity:  Passport, passport-size photo
• Purpose of travel:  Itinerary, roundtrip tickets, confirmation of accommodations
• Financial coverage:  Bank statement, bank certificate, payroll (if applicable), any proof of income
• Rootedness:  Certificate of employment, letter of approved leave of absence, letters from clients, business registration, income tax return
• Health insurance  (minimum coverage of €30,000, pick from a list of providers the consulate provided)
• Visa fee  (to be paid upon application)
• Application form   (to be filled up online)

Find out whether you can submit the application to the consulate or you have to go through an agency. The German Embassy processes Schengen visa application, but slots are limited! I missed booking a schedule, so I went through their service provider, VFS.

I suggest, if you have everything ready and can go through the consulate, do so! You will save around P1,000 of agency service fee.

Dates are important because your documents need to be updated when you submit your Schengen visa application. Let’s say your trip is in August, you can already book for an interview slot three months before the date of your trip. 

That means, all statements and certificates should be ready by then. Now, when you plot your timeline, will you hit your target “show money”? Will your savings cover everything with an extra left behind after your trip? Of course, you wouldn’t want to be broke after traveling in Europe. If it’s doable, then set the plan in motion!

One of the most frequently asked questions when figuring out how to get Schengen visa in the Philippines is, “How much is ‘show money’?” Honestly, there’s no specific amount to target, just a range which highly depends on your itinerary. Here’s a list of expenses to consider when preparing your application.

• Plane tickets
• Accommodations
• Other transportation costs (trains, buses, cabs)
• Entry fees to attractions
• Daily travel costs (which depends per country:  see here )

Total everything so you will get a ballpark figure of how much you will have to save in addition to what’s already in your savings account. As for my two-week Europe trip across four countries, my initial batch of expenses (those I was sure of before application) were the following.

Roughly, the list above should have covered a part of the “daily travel costs” in Germany which is €45/day (around P2,521). Overall, my budget for the trip was around P100,000 to P120,000. Then, I made sure I had both buffer money and permanent savings to show the consul that I was financially capable in case something happened.

Obviously not one of the requirements, but a cover letter helps the consul officer understand the reason of your travel in your own words. It’s like a job application. The cover letter allows you to present yourself, explain why you want to travel, and give background about the documents you prepared, or lack of, for the application.

What to include in the cover letter for Schengen visa application? List all the possible red flags you think you have and address them one by one. Here are some best practices and see the actual letter I submitted to the German Embassy below!

• Introduce yourself, what you do, your source of income
• Share why you want to go to Europe and the specific countries you’re visiting
• Explain the documents you’re submitting
• Don’t leave anything up for misinterpretation
• Be formal and respectful

Also, a cover letter is great especially if you’re going through VFS since there’s no interview! 

To save you time and prevent your application from being denied, ensure that you filled up the form completely and according to the instructions provided. If you can’t fit all of the information, put a note that leads the consul to an attached document.

In my case, since I’m home-based, I put “PLEASE REFER TO COVER LETTER FOR EXPLANATION” under employer and employer’s address. In addition, since I was staying in more than one accommodation, I only included the information of my hostel in Berlin and directed the consul officer to the others with, “MINIMAL HOSTEL + PLEASE REFER TO DOCUMENTS.” 

Make sure that the number of days you’re applying for reflects not only your itinerary but also the dates on your plane tickets, accommodations, and entry tickets of attractions you pre-booked. In my case, the hotel reservations that I made were of course consistent with the days I was spending in each country. 

Don’t ask for 30 days when you’re only staying for 14 days. If that’s the case, just ask for 14 days. Don’t ask for multiple entry if you don’t need to. Generally, inconsistency is a red flag—a sign dishonesty.

I remember while I was submitting my requirements at VFS, the guy beside me was asking the local staff if it’s possible to request for a multiple-entry visa for 90 days since he intended to go back multiple times.

However, the documents he presented was good for one entry only. What he should’ve done, in my opinion, was asked for a single entry with the appropriate number of days, then put in his request and explanation in the cover letter (if he had one).

A tricky part while I was researching how to get Schengen visa in the Philippines was my work setup. It was a bit unconventional. I was working home-based for less than a year. So, to make my application stronger, I provided as many documents as possible.

• Bank statement
• Bank certificate 
• “Certificate of employment” (which included the nature of my work, my salary, my approved leave of absence)
• Business registration as a self-employed individual (even if it was registered just a month before I applied!)
• Income tax return (previous year, when I was still working in a physical office)
• Payoneer transactions
• Credit card statements
• Travel history

In your case, find out what documents you can show to prove your financial readiness. If you need certifications for projects completed and payments sent from your clients, ask! I’m sure your clients would be happy to help. My only tip here is you should draft the letter for them, so they only have to sign and scan! 

Whether in the documents you’re submitting or on the day of your interview (if you have one), just relax, stick to your itinerary, and be confident. But this is me assuming that you’re going to Europe just for travel and nothing else fishy! 

Honestly, before I submitted my application, I was ready to back down. First, because I was supposed to travel with my friends (but they weren’t able to make it). Second, just plain old negative and overthinking. And third, I didn’t want to get a refused/denied/rejected stamp on my passport. But I pushed through and I’m glad I did.

Knowing how to get Schengen visa in the Philippines lies primarily in doing your own research, planning ahead, and following rules diligently. If Europe is one of your dream destinations, then you really have to start preparing and saving now (if you haven’t already).

Are you traveling to Europe any time soon? I hope this post helped you a bit! Good luck! 

Paulene Lim

Paulene is a typical “jack of all trades, master of none." In her spare time, she reads non-fiction, plays with her cats, and explores the world one historical site at a time. More than anything else, she values experiences over material things.

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HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA & Other Frequently Asked Questions

We have made four European tours so far, two of them lasted 2 months. Hence, we receive tons of questions about getting a Schengen Visa. It’s quite expected. Europe is a dream destination for many, and the Schengen Visa is probably the most complicated visa there is. In this article, we’ll try to answer the questions we have been asked the most as adequately as we can.

However, bear in mind that we are writing based only on our own experiences and some contributions from our readers. The goal is to help other applicants have a better picture of the process. But we strongly encourage you to still contact the embassies for more updated info.

Anyway, it’s gonna be a lengthy post, so let’s begin.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

What is a Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Visa is a travel document that allows the holder to enter any of the 26 states that are part of the Schengen agreement. Think of it as an almost all-access pass to many countries in Europe, eliminating the immigration borders within the Schengen zone and the hassle of having to apply for a visa for each individual country.

What are the Schengen countries?

Here they are, all 26 of ’em.

Which embassy should I lodge my visa application?

It will depend on the purpose of your trip or your overall European itinerary. The rule is:

• If you’re visiting just ONE country, apply at the embassy of that country.
• If you’re visiting multiple countries, apply at the embassy where you will be staying the longest. For example, if you plan to spend 3 days in the Netherlands, 3 days in Italy, and 5 days in France, apply at the French Embassy.

However, some countries have additional rules. It is best to double check with the Embassy to be absolutely sure.

What if I’m spending equal number of days in different countries?

I’ll just copy-paste what the Dutch Embassy has to say about this:

“If you will be staying an equal length of time in more than one Schengen country and cannot designate one of these countries as the country of your main destination, you must apply for your visa at the mission of the first Schengen country you intend to enter .”

This means if you’re spending 3 days in Germany first, then 3 days in Italy and 3 days in France, you should apply at the German Embassy.

What are the requirements?

Schengen embassies usually ask for almost the same requirements. But there are some variations.

Here are the documents that are in common to all of them:

• Valid Passport
• Accomplished Application Form
• Recent Photo
• Proof of Available Accommodations (Hotel booking if no inviter, or invitation letter + citizenship/residency documents of contact abroad if invited)
• Photocopy of Passport stamps and visas
• Proof of Employment (ITR, Certificate of Employment for employees, and business registration documents and permits for self-employed)
• Proof of Financial Means (bank statements, bank certificates, land titles, etc.) Travel insurance covering the entire stay. Some require coverage for additional days.
• Identity Documents
• Complete Itinerary
• Flight Reservations

Some embassies add more to the list above, so make sure you check with the embassy that will process your application

For more details, here are the embassies that we have personally tried lodging our applications at.

• German Embassy
• Greek Embassy
• French Embassy
• Italian Embassy

What is the application process? What are the steps?

It varies from mission to mission. Some embassies, like the French and the Italian, employ a third party unit to handle most visa applications (VFS Global or VIA). Others take care of ’em in-house.

Here are the embassies I have personally tried:

I’ll be updating this part of the post to include a link to the processes per country. (Please check back later.)

Do we need to book flights before applying for a visa?

NO. Don’t book your flights yet. They only require flight reservations, not flight booking. Don’t pay for your flights yet. (Unless you grabbed promo fares at a seat sale.) Some travel agencies can reserve flights (often for a fee).

We recommend Gazelle Travel and Tours , a DTI-registered DOT-accredited travel agency. You can get flight reservations, hotel reservations, and travel insurance from them online!

For the rates and more info, read: ✅ FLIGHT RESERVATIONS FOR VISA

Is travel insurance really necessary?

The short answer is YES.

The long answer is still YEEEEEEESSSSS.

Some embassies, like the Italian Embassy, requires an additional 15-day coverage on top of the travel period. Make sure you know these little rules when purchasing travel insurance.

Where to get travel insurance?

You can simply purchase travel insurance online. I have tried Pacific Cross and Standard Insurance , and had no problems.

You can book Standard Insurance with Gazelle Travel and Tours too! You can use the same form we made for Flight Reservations. Just tick TRAVEL INSURANCE in the checklist on the form.

✅ MORE INFO HERE: TRAVEL INSURANCE

Can I book hotels on my own?

Yep. You can book via third-party websites, but book hotels with FREE Cancellation policy so you won’t be wasting money in case your visa gets denied.

What does a detailed itinerary look like?

Can i visit countries that are not in the itinerary i submitted.

Yes, you can, as long as it is within the Schengen Zone.

However, we encourage you to at least visit the country that granted you the visa.

Can I visit the UK using a Schengen Visa?

NO. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen Zone and does not honor the Schengen visa. They have their own visa policy.

If you want to visit the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other British territories), you will need to secure a UK visa. You can find more info here: UK Visa .

Can I visit other countries in Europe that are outside the Schengen Zone using the Schengen visa?

Yes, there are some non-Schengen countries in Europe that accept a DOUBLE or MULTIPLE ENTRY Schengen visa. Not all countries, but some.

Countries like Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo allow entry to holders of a valid passport with a valid MULTIPLE ENTRY Schengen visa (provided that the visa has been used to enter a Schengen country before).

Note that each country has certain conditions including the length of stay.

What non-Schengen countries can I visit in Europe with a DOUBLE ENTRY Schengen visa?

A DOUBLE ENTRY Schengen Visa (two-entry) is also accepted by Croatia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus provided that the visa is valid and that it has been used once.

I have tried entering Croatia and Montenegro with a two-entry Schengen visa. Double entry is also specifically mentioned on their official websites.

The Foreign Affairs website of Serbia does not specifically mention DOUBLE ENTRY but I emailed them and they confirmed that Serbia allows double-entry Schengen visa.

Again, note that each country has certain conditions including the length of stay.

If my application is approved, do I have to stick to the itinerary I submitted?

Ideally, yes, but not really.

There are no checkpoints between countries within the Schengen Zone, there’s no way for them to check. You can deviate from your original itinerary if you want. We made a number of changes to our itineraries on the two occasions we visited Europe.

But my only guidance is this: At your point of entry, know that you might be asked questions about your itinerary. At the very least, stay the longest in the country where you got your visa so you won’t run into trouble. They have the right to refuse entry even if you already have a visa.

Is a cover letter required?

No. But I highly encourage you to provide one especially if there will be no interview. You can explain the purpose of your trip further. Here’s a sample .

Are embassies really strict?

Yes, but some are more strict than others.

For example, in my travel circles, the Italian and Spanish Embassies are notorious for being extremely meticulous, while the Dutch and Austrian Embassies are known for being more forgiving and considerate.

Is there an interview?

Some embassies conduct a short interview, some don’t. Usually, when a third party company (like VFS or VIA) is involved, there will no longer be an interview.

Here’s what I know so far: Do the following embassies usually conduct an interview?

• Austrian Embassy – NO
• Czech Embassy – LIKELY
• Danish Embassy – NO
• French Embassy – NO
• German Embassy – NOT ANYMORE
• Greek Embassy (for Greece and Portugal) – LIKELY
• Italian Embassy – NO
• Norwegian Embassy – NO
• Spanish Embassy – LIKELY

Again, that’s usually . Some applicants will be called for an interview at the embassy when they need further clarifications. It really depends on many factors but mostly how strong your case is.

In many cases, even when there is no interview involved, personal appearance is sometimes required. It’s best to check with the embassy to be sure.

If your embassy requires an interview or you are called for one, just answer their questions truthfully and confidently . Don’t lie. Most of the time, they will know.

What are the usual questions they ask at the interview?

I asked my friends what were the questions thrown at them during the interview and here are the most common. True enough, when I applied for a Schengen Visa on two separate occasions, these were asked too.

• What is the purpose of your trip?
• How long is your trip?
• How long will you stay in (country)?
• What is your first stop?
• What countries are you going to visit?
• When will you leave?
• When will you be back?
• Will this be your first time in Europe?
• What countries did you visit on your first trip to Europe and for what purpose?
• Do you know anyone in (country)?
• Do you know anyone in any other Schengen country?
• Do you know anyone in the UK (United Kingdom)?
• How are you related to them?
• How did you meet?
• With whom are you traveling?
• How are you related to your companion?
• What do you do for a living? (Expect a lot of follow up questions about your job.)
• How long have you been with your company?
• Does your company know you’re taking this trip?
• Do you own properties in the Philippines (home country)?

Based on experience, most of the questions were about three things:

• the details of the trip , which means you must know your itinerary by heart
• my connections to anyone in Europe . In my case, I had none. I have no relatives or close friends there.
• my job and my rootedness in my home country . In both cases, they gravitated towards finding reasons for me to return to the Philippines.

Again, answer truthfully and confidently.

Note that these are just the common questions. They might still ask a lot of other questions relevant to your background and application.

How early should I apply for a Schengen visa?

You can apply up to 90 days (3 months) in advance. While most embassies process applications relatively fast, it is wise to give some time allowance just in case something doesn’t go as planned (e.g. they ask for additional documents). I consider “a month before” too tight. Two months should give you enough time to secure a copy of all required documents and fix a problem should it arise.

How soon do they release the visa after receiving my application?

Depends on the embassy. If things go smoothly, the French Embassy releases visas after 5-7 days, the Greek Embassy 14 days. Most of the time, the wait is shorter. Sometimes, when they have doubts, it can take much longer.

For example, when I applied for a visa for my second Euro trip, the German Embassy took only 6 days. My partner Vins, who was applying for the first time and didn’t submit an ITR, was asked to send more documents to prove his rootedness in the Philippines. He did submit the requested additional papers and finally got his visa after 3 weeks.

I have friends who waited for over A MONTH!

On the other hand, I have a friend who applied via the Austrian Embassy and got her visa after only 3 days.

So it really depends on the embassy AND your case.

How much money should I have in the bank to be approved?

No one really knows for sure what the minimum amount is. But remember this: You will be asked to submit flight and hotel reservations and a detailed day-to-day itinerary. So here’s the rule of thumb. Add the cost of the flights you reserved and the cost of the accommodations and EUR 60 per day of your stay.

What’s the EUR 60 per stay? Think of it as your pocket money. Embassies need to be assured that you can afford the trip. The French Embassy requires at least EUR120 per day if accommodations are not yet settled. But if accommodations are booked, some embassies require EUR 45 per day, some EUR50, some E55. To be on the safe side, use EUR60 per day.

Let’s use this as example. Let’s assume that your roundtrip flight costs EUR1000 and your total hotel stay costs EUR1200 and you’re staying in Europe for 10 days. That’s EUR60 X 10 days = EUR 600.

1000 (flights) 1200 (hotel) 600 (allowance) EUR 2800 – TOTAL

Of course, that can’t be the only amount in your account. You should have WAY MORE than that. You have to convince the embassy that you will still have a comfortable life to return to in the Philippines after the trip.

But my point is, don’t apply for a 10-day visit with only EUR 1000 in your bank account.

My personal policy is P10,000 per day + cost of flights & accommodations.

How long is the validity of the visa?

Depends on the itinerary you will submit and the embassy.

When I applied at and submitted a 5-day itinerary to the French Embassy, I was issued a visa that was valid for 15 days.

When I applied the second time and submitted a 53-day itinerary to the German Embassy, I was given a visa valid for 60 days.

When I applied at the Greek Embassy with an 11-day itinerary, I was given exactly that, 11 days.

When I applied at the Italian Embassy with a 46-day itinerary, I was given 90 days.

It’s pretty hard to tell, so make sure you take your itinerary seriously because you’ll never know how long you’re gonna get.

What are the usual reasons why applicants are denied a Schengen visa?

We created a video about that here:

I’m traveling to multiple cities. Do I need to submit train transfer and flight reservation within the Schengen area?

Some embassies require those, some don’t. You’ll know when you read their checklist.

In my experience, however, I have never submitted proof of train or bus booking. But I always submit flight reservations even for those journeys within the Schengen zone.

I’m traveling to multiple cities. Do I need to provide hotel reservation for all the countries I’m visiting or for the embassy’s country only?

If you’re staying at hotels, you must provide hotel reservation covering the entire duration of your stay within the zone.

If you’re staying in multiple countries, you must submit hotel reservation for all the countries where you will be staying, not just that one country.

Last updated: 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ • 1️⃣ • 1️⃣6️⃣ First up: 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 1️⃣ • 1️⃣5️⃣

Help us improve this post! If you have experienced applying for a Schengen Visa and you have more to add to this list, feel free to contribute information via the Comments Section below!

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[…] NOTE: If you’re planning to visit multiple Schengen countries, I suggest that you visit The Poor Traveler’s Schengen visa application FAQ page! […]

Very useful post Yoshke! So glad to know that there are no interviews for Norwegian Embassy :) Hopefully, I get to travel to Norway and Iceland early next year!

Have you heard of anyone being asked to report to the French embassy after the trip?

Hi Joeybelles, yep. Me. Hahaha.

Me too haha but it was at the Italian embassy

Hi, I am supposed to go to France with my family (husband and daughter) on the 1st of December for a 10-day tour. When is the best time to set an appointment for visa application?

Hello good day could I ask if once they have finished processing my visa application for France and my sponsor is my boyfriend is it possible that they will approved my visa ? My reason to come back in the Philippines is I will start my studies this January and also my sick mom. Thank you!

The Italian Embassy requires a travel insurance coverage of 15 additional days over and above your desired length of stay. FYI.

Thanks, Mae! We’ll add this to the post. :)

What are the different documents your partner submitted in lieu of his ITR? Thanks for your reply in advance.

Hi Maverick! He submitted invoices and certification from his clients. :)

I’m sorry. I’m clogging up this thread. Does he work online? If so, is it okay to declare that I am working virtually from home with paying taxes? :)

Yes to both questions. But don’t mention the online bit unless you’re asked about it. What do you do exactly? If you’re an online writer, just say writer. If you’re a digital marketing manager, just say marketing manager, so as not to invite more questions. :)

Thank you, Yoshke. I’m a Marketing Manager. By the way, is it easier to get a visa if you have a proof of accommodation from a citizen? This is greatly appreciated.

Saang embassy ka mag-aapply? Anong country?

If you’re declaring you’re going to Europe to visit a friend, yes, it will help. If you’re going there as a tourist, I recommend that you just reserve a hotel.

Embassies are often stricter sa applicants who have connections or kakilala in Europe than those na walang kakilala.

If this is not too much to ask. May I ask for the template of the certificate and invoice from his clients? :)

Thank you so much for your help. It’s really my first time and I can’t help but be nervous.

By the way, I am a student so I just get a certification from my school regarding my status.

Thank you so much. Sa French Embassy, Yoshke. They have declared full accommodation.

Regarding the visa validity in this post, will you know immediately upon visa approval how long you are allowed to stay in the schengen territories?

What if upon application i submitted a 10days itinerary, if ever approved, will they indicate there in my visa or passport- just 10days or a bit more days only? There will be no way for me to change it to 30days anymore if ever there will be changes in my trip?

Yes, the number of days will be indicated in the visa. :)

Not sure if it’s possible to extend or the process required for it.

I checked the link in step number 1 to fill out the application form and I believe we need to check the link because the link to the website is no longer there. Thanks. :)

Hi Maverick. The French Embassy implemented a new visa application process last month. We have yet to try the new process, but the new website is: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/

Hi guys! Im applying for a Schengen Visa over at the French Embassy. Is Agoda’s free cancellation policy really FREE (provided that I cancel on their specified “cancel for free before ____”)? Or would there be a surprise cancellation fee or other unprecedented fees? Dont know who better else to ask but you two. Thanks!!

They required me to go back to their embassy in 2001 after I returned from my tour of France. When I got to their office, they got my passport, took it to their back office, then handed it back to me after stamping ‘Expired Visa’ on my visa.

Me too. 2014 naman ako.

Hi! I am an OFW. my concern is about the ITR. I don’t have one. What should I do? But I had a TIN when I was still working in the Philippines.

Thank you for your blog. I read all of it including the comments. I was planning to apply for a Spain visa together with my mom and encountered this “Shengen visa”. But after reading this blog, I realized that I don’t need to apply Schengen (maybe someday). I got relevant information I need. Your blog really helps (thou different destinations to take). I just worry that that my mom is a senior citizen and she do not have proof of ITR or COE.Please give good advice on what relevant documents should I present in support for her application. Hoping for your advice. Thank you!

Hi Wilma, if you’re going to Spain, you will still need a Schengen Visa.

As for the reqs for senior citizens, I really have no idea. :( But I’m guessing you can submit a copy of Senior ID and bank accounts. Perhaps the COE/ITR may no longer be required for seniors. Again, these are all a hunch. Best to coordinate directly with the embassy.

Hi! I’m planning to visit my boyfriend in Belgium this year, may I ask if do I need to make my itinerary trip there for my visa application? Since I don’t have any plans once I get there. Also I will stay at his house so no need for hotel bookings. I just wanted to know thanks.

What if we are four person is the interview for schengen visa is individually or a group? We are applying to go in Switzerland

Hi Iza, we have no personal experience applying via Swiss embassy/consulate, so we don’t know. :(

We are from Philippines

Hi. If you’re traveling alone, will it be stricter? Considering I have all the requirements, which part should I be careful at? Is it better if I will be sponsored by someone from the country I will be visiting or just don’t mention anything at all? Thank you in advance.

Based on experiences of friends and our readers, they are stricter if you know someone in Europe. Traveling alone isn’t an issue for as long as you meet all the requirements satisfactorily.

Hi. Thank you for responding to my queries. Is it better if I join a certain tour package or I can do my DIY itinerary? Thanks again in advance.

DIY is fine. What we usually recommend is booking the flights and hotels on your own and then join group tours when you’re there.

But I think booking a tour package will give you better chances of approval sa visa.

Hi yoshke. Plan ko magapply ng visa next year since my mom wants to go to Turkey, baka magGreece and France na rin kami. Diba sa pagkuha ng visa may means of subsistence per Schengen country? Sa Greece nasa 60 euros and then sa France is 130 euros. Okay lang ba na pag kukuha ng visa ang sundin namin is yung sa Greece na 60 euros? Since dun din naman yung first point of entry namin and mas magstay longer. Or pag nilagay namin sa itinerary na pupunta kami France, kelangan din namin ipakita sa bank statement na may 130 euros per day kami for France? Thanks!

Hi Jane. Were you able to email the Greek Embassy for interview? My email is not getting through. I wonder kung may ganoong experience din and iba.

Yung rule ng embassy kung saan ka mag-aapply yung masusunod. So rule ng Greece if sa Greek Embassy ka mag-apply.

Hi! i just want to ask, we’ll be going to Paris (4days)-Rome (3Days) – BArcelona (3 Days). we’ll be coming from london then going to Paris. Our flight is Manila-London-Manila. Do I have to submit the flight details (London to Paris), (Paris to Rome) (Rome to Spain) and (Spain to London)? I’m hesistant pa kasi to buy the tickets. maybe flight reservations muna for europe?

Hi Donna, flight reservations lang muna. Aside from Manila-London tickets mo, pinaka-important yung Schengen entry and exit flights (London-Paris, Spain-London) kasi they need to see how you’re going to enter and leave the Schengen area.

But yep, wag ka muna bili tickets. Flight reservation muna.

Hello Yoshke – Sana matulungan mo ako. I can’t decide if I’ll stick to my plan A or plan B. Ganito kasi iyong Mom ko ay nakapasa na ng visa for Schengen. Aside from naipresent niya lahat, ininvite din siya ng Tita ko. Ngayon, my father wants me to join her as this will be her first time leaving the country alone. Nag-ayos na ako ng requirements kaso nahihirapan ako pagdating sa itinerary. My Plan A is – Sundin iyong itinerary na napresent mo sa taas w/o mentioning na I applied because of my Mom. Itinerary will be Belgium-Amsterdam-Paris-Belgium. My plan B is – I’ll mention that I’m applying to accompany my Mom. My itinerary will be a month in Belgium (which might sound crazy?)

Ano sa tingin mo mas okay?

Hi Hill. It depends on a lot of factors. What’s your current employment and personal financial status? If you don’t declare that bit about your mom, will you be applying as a tourist or as someone still invited by your tita? If you apply as a tourist, can your docs prove you can support a trip that long?

My top-of-mind advice is to just be honest and transparent. Just say you’re accompanying your mom. It sounds like a valid reason, to begin with.

Hi! Regarding “details of the trip” did the embassy asked you where exactly are you going in each country and when? did they asked you randomly or in order?

Sa German Embassy, yep, they asked about specific activities pero hindi sa lahat ng countries, konti lang. And yep, randomly.

Sa Greek Embassy, they asked about each activity in the itinerary, per day, in order.

When I tried to bring my Filipina girlfriend to Greece, back in 2011 I think, I asked the Greek embassy about the requirements for the visa. They were vague, not specific, they just said that the girl needs to have a high-salary stable job like a doctor or lawyer, and much money in bank, and a credit card, etc,,, even if I officially invite her and host her and pay her food etc. I guess that the embassy is afraid of illegal immigration and makes the visa impossible for most Filipinos. Eventually, I married the girl, and then she applied for spouse visa and now we live happily in Greece.

Hi Vassili,

Happy to hear about your happy marriage with your Filipina wife. I myself will be married to a Portuguese in May and eventually we plan to get a spouse visa for me to live together in Portugal. I would like to ask if your Filipina wife, when she applied for spouse visa was it much easier and what were the requirements? Thank you & God bless!

Hello! Thanks for posting these very useful and detailed info. May I ask what if we are booked via Airbnb? Do we declare it sa itinerary? I saw in the checklist there’s an attestation or something needed pa? Thanks in advance!

Yep, you can declare AirBnB. We did before, wala naman naging problem. Just submit the reservation confirmation.

Saang embassy ka nag-aapply pala?

Hi, Yoshke! Just a question. For the bank statement, diba its 60 Euros per day + budget for flight + budget for accommodation. Yung sa accommodation ba, is it ok if yung budget is half na of the total expenses for the accommodation given that hati kami ng partner ko with the accommodation expenses? :)

Hi Gelo, I’m afraid they don’t see it that way especially if hindi family member kasi applications are often assessed individually.

Also, yung 60 euro per day, that’s the minimum but having that doesn’t guarantee anything. I’m pretty sure they’re looking for much more than that (kasi hindi believable or ideal for them if yun lang ang fund ng account). If French Embassy ka pala apply, their standard now is 120 euro per day.

Hello, everyone! I just want to ask if there will be an issue if I didn’t fly to Schengen country; though, I got my Schengen visa? Then, I want to re-apply new visa and fly this time? Please, any advice. Thank you.

Hi Ayesha, I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m publishing your comment pa rin just in case other readers have an idea. :)

Hi good evening.. i find this very useful. And please Allow me to ask if i need an ITR since my visit is funded by my friend? Shall i need this for proof of rootedness here in Philippines? Thanks

Yes and yes. Even if your trip is sponsored by someone else, you will need to prove rootedness.

hi, im travelling to Mexico and may lay over sya sa Paris. didnt know na need ko ng Transit Visa and in 5days aalis na ako. i scheduled an appointment sa French embassy on bukas for that. Madali lang ba marelease ang transit visa and hindi sila strict?, huhuhu pls advise

Hi Chinitakee, naku, I have no idea kapag transit visa.

hello, do you have any idea if what to do or what does it mean kung over 15days na yong processing? i mean i applied last month June 11 (considered holiday nung June 12 and June 15) they said it will start ng June 13 na counted as 1st day. i don’t think kulang mga docs ko since we checked it sa Via.ph na completed naman. im worried kasi my flight is on July 16:-/ 1 almost a month na processing grabe. thank you so much.

Saang embassy ka nag-apply?

hi i just got my Visa today and this is what they said,

1)The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and the conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.

2)your intention to leave the territory of the Member Stated before the expiry of the visa could not be ascertained

what is this means? im thinking sa french embassy nlng magapply, :(

Saang embassy ka nag-apply? Italian? The Italian Embassy is known for being super strict.

I think medyo clear naman yung reasons na sinabi nila sa pag-deny. Hindi nila sure if babalik ka ng Pilipinas before mag-expire ang visa. Usually, kapag ganyan, it’s a matter of proving rootedness (stable employment, properties in PH, etc). Madalas din na denied kapag may kakilala ka dun sa Europe tapos hindi clear ung connection mo sa kanya, hindi clear ang purpose ng trip, and hindi strong yung ties sa PH.

Hindi enough na complete yung docs. They have to find it satisfactory.

Good Evening! Tanong ko lang kung family ba mag apply ng schengen visa (italian embassy) d pa rin guarantee na ma approve? Family kc sabay na aalis ksama fiancee ko at fiancee ng kapatid ko. They can present ITR, bank statements, coe, etc. Pero problem ko lang sa parents ko kc senior citizen na cla, at wala sila itr or coe. Ako nalang nag sponsor sa kanila kase OFW ako. May 100k naman sa bank accounts nila para ma present namin sa embassy. May alam ka na ba ngayon kung ano pa kelangan documents na i.submit ng mga senior citizens? Gagawa pa kasi ako ng letter of support, lagay ko don na ako ang nagbayad ng lahat ng tickets namin at ako magbabayad ng hotel accommodations namin. Lahat kami may experience na travelling around asia. ako at mama ko may experience na din sa europe. Sa italian embassy kami mag apply kc don ung entry namin, at sa itinerary namin for 15 days nasa loob lang kami ng italy at lilibutin namin lahat ng tourist spot cities. Pero baka d namin i.follow ung itinerary.

Hi Poy, an affidavit of support would be great. Submit also a copy of their senior ID.

I haven’t tried applying via Italian embassy so there’s not much advice I can give. All I know is, based on experiences of my friends, they’re very thorough and strict.

hello po sau…ako po ay ofw sa hk..i met a guy from ..he ask me to visit him…sb nya he will sponsor me…10 days tour….hanapan papo kaya ako ng bank statement..

Great infos. :) By the way I have a question, I have a stable job naman here in Ph. And I have visited 10 countries already mostly Asia and I still have a valid visa sa Australia. My recent trip was Japan. I am planning to apply Schengen Visa Pero this time medyo “urgent” kasi. Now my problem is in my bank nasagad yung amount meaning around 10k nalang ang natitira. Pero May makukuha akong enough money para sa mga pautang ko na Pwede ko na magamit for my Europe trip. Pwede kayang bank certificate nalang ang I present instead of bank statement? Baka kasi magdoubt yung embassy if May biglaang malaking amount na idedeposit.

Hi Jen, usually ni-rerequire nila both. Sa French, German, and Greek embassies, kelangan talaga. Di ko lang alam sa ibang embassies. :(

Hi, Yoshke!

I’m planning a trip to Portugal in January 2019. If possible na mas maaga ko makuha yung visa ko if nag-start ako mag-apply by October (since hinihintay ko pa yung release ng passport ko). Possible kayang pwede kong mas agahan ang alis ko? Thank you! :)

Hi Mhai. Visa for Portugal visit is processed by the Greek Embassy and they’ve been pretty swamped lately. Try to email them first and check for their earliest available appointment.

Hi Yoshke! Im planning to appy for a schengen visa via french embassy, but will travel to multiple cities, ask ko lng re: don sa “number of days of travel”, kailangan ba yong buong travel sa Europe ang ilalagay don or ung no. of days lang namin sa France? we’ll be staying for a total number of 21 days (multiple cities) pero we’ll be staying for 4 days lang sa France.. Thank you for your answer. Your blog really helps me a lot.

Hi Mhay, ang alam ko, yung buong stay mo sa Europe (within the Schengen zone).

Hi Yoshke, My boyfriend invited me for a vacation in his place. NORWAY. So we are planning to process the application for visa. He will shouldered all my expenses for that vacation thus will send invitation, sponsorship and guarantee letter. My question is do i need to submit any proof of my financial status. Coz at present im unemployed, no bank cert or record and No credit card. Your reply would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi Elie. Yes, you will still need to submit proof of your own financial status kahit na sponsored yung trip.

Hello Yoshke,

I just want to reply on this nessage cause I just went through the same thing recently. My Norwegian boyfriend will sponsor my trip to Norway and he sent the invitation letter, Guarantee form and other needed documents. We just followed all the instructions and documents na need isubmit sa checklist. Since sponsored nya no need na for me to submit bank statements or proof of financial status (basta ma meet ng mag sponsor sayo yung minimum income pre tax per year) and when I submitted our application after 2 days I was granted a tourist visa for 3 months. Ang nakikita ko importante is nag meet na kayo before in person (they want to see na totoo yung relationship nyo) and n ma meet ng sponsor yung min. income pre tax to prove na kaya ka niya isponsor and ma prove mo na babalik ka sa Pinas yung rootedness malamang ma aapprove ka. Hope this helps

Thanks for sharing, Zee!

My name is Fatima. I just want to ask a few questions to clarify.

I am very eager in applying for Schengen Visa via Germany Embassy. I applied earlier this year, unfortunately, I got denied Now, I wanted to reapply and make sure that I provide the details in the most proper way. However, I heard some dark rumors about it. T_T I wanted to clarify if this is truth or not.

My German boyfriend is the one sponsoring this travel. We’ve planned this travel for quite a long time already. However, we were advised by friends that we should not say that our relationship is a “boyfriend-girlfriend” one since it will automatically makes the embassy refuse my application. This makes me very confused since I already submitted files before stating that he is my boyfriend. Would it be easier if I say this time that he is my friend? Does it make a change or should I stick to the truth that he is my boyfriend?

I understand that this is beyond your control but I would be very happy to hear an opinion from you. Thank you very much in advance.

Best Regards,

Hi Fatima, yes, I believe they’re much, much stricter if you’re invited by someone especially if boyfriend-girlfriend. When they denied your application, did they tell you the reason?

I’m asking because I don’t think changing it to “friend” will make that much of a difference. It’s risky too because you already said he’s your bf before. When you declare that you know someone in Europe, they’re going to take a closer, stricter look at your “rootedness” — that’s your ties to PH, employment, properties in your name. If wala ring nag-change sa rootedness mo — meaning, you’ll still be submitting the same docs — I don’t think maaapprove yung application this time around.

But again, that’s just my hunch. Some people na na-deny, what they do is they apply sa ibang embassy na lang as a tourist, not a visitor. Not that I recommend it because it’s also a risk and it only works if okay yung rootedness and finances mo.

I find your blog helpful, thank you! I will be applying a Schengen Visa at Italian Embassy this month and I stumbled about Flight Reservations. Does Gazelle Tours offer 2 week reservation of flight because apparently, Italian visa has approximately 2 weeks processing time. What happens if the flight reservation expires while the application is being reviewed? My another concern is that I will be spending Christmas and New Year with my Mother and brother ( they are legal residents there ) but I am thinking it will be a more complicated process ( since Italian Embassy has thorough and strict process as you have mentioned ) that’s why I will be applying as a tourist instead. I had used schengen visa issued by Singapore last 2016 (back when I was an OFW ) so this is the first time I am applying in the Phils. What’s your take on this? As you have applied with several embassies, I would appreciate your opinion on this ;)

Thank you Yoshke, it means a lot! Btw, I am following you on IG and your travel adventures are really great! :)

Hi Moshi! Thanks for your comment. Here are my answers:

What happens if the flight reservation expires while the application is being reviewed? —- How long the airline can hold the reservation depends on the airline and class. Iba-iba kasi ng policy ang bawat airline. The thing is, most airlines now can hold reservations for only 24-48 hours. And I think the embassies know that. We’ve had flight reservations na nag-expire while being processed but hindi naman nagka-problem. Pero French, Greek, and German embassies yun. Hindi ko lang sure sa Italian Embassy. My guess is, it doesn’t matter to them kasi alam din naman nila yun and feeling ko, mas concern nila ung rootedness, finances and employment kaysa dun. At the very least, sana hindi pa expired nung time na nag-submit ka ng documents. You can ask the agency to issue the ticket the day before your appointment.

I will be applying as a tourist instead. —- Even if you apply as a tourist, you’re still going to be asked if may relatives ka sa Italy. Parang mas dubious or suspicious if apply ka as a tourist pero may immediate family members ka dun. Baka mas maka-affect negatively? Huhu, di ko alam. Pero uyyyy, opinion ko lang ‘to ha. I’m in no way an expert in this, lalo sa Italian Embassy kasi di ko pa natry dun.

I’m planning to get a Schengen visa and your post is very helpful for me. Thanks a lot.

You’re welcome! Thanks too for visiting! Good luck with your application.

Is it a good idea if I will tell on the cover letter the main reason I will visit Europe is to visit my boyfriend’s family? 4 years na kami together and he went here already and I never met his family. I wanted to be more personal with getting the visa. Negative ba yun for embassies?

Hi Den, I’m not sure. Usually, they subject applications na may romantic connection sa Europe to further scrutiny, but at the end of the day, if strong yung proof of relationship and kaya namang magstand on their own nung financial/rootedness status mo, pwedeng maapprove pa rin naman.

I have a terminal illness and I am planning to visit Lourdes , France .My nephew will accompany me kasi nga sick ako. Should we apply our visa together? Paano kung magkaiba ticket nmin pabalik ,sya uuwi ng Pinas , ako babalik ng Saudi(I’m still working) Medyo hindi ok ang rootedness ng nephew ko sa pinas.

If you’re both applying here in Manila, the French embassy through VFS Global will treat your application separately, but you could state in your cover letter that you will be traveling with your nephew. This happened to us (husband and wife) when we applied last year, I had to write an impromptu cover letter for my wife, and photocopied several documents because I assumed wrong i.e., since we’re a couple, shared documents will do (experience with UK embassy).

You will also need to tweak your itinerary and make it appear that you will both leave the Schengen area together i.e., same outbound tickets.

Will you be applying from Saudi? Kasi if so, di ko alam ang process pag sa Saudi.

If from PH naman, ito yung process: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2018/01/france-visa-requirements-schengen-appointment-vfs-manila/

Di ko sure pero ang alam ko, individually talaga ia-assess yung application. In your nephew’s case, best na ma-explain na lang dun sa form or you can even write a cover letter explaining the purpose in detail.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. :( Hindi kasi ako ganun ka-familiar pag group application via French Embassy kasi solo lang ako nag-apply.

Hi yoshke! Ngwwork ako currently sa family business nmin. So wla akong employment certificate. Small business lng kc sya kaya wla ng certification na ganyan..Pwd ba explain sa cover letter na family business sya? Tpos present ko na kapatid ko mayari? Tpos support letter nlng from him?

Hi Kim, ang idedeclare mo ay sponsored ka ng kapatid mo pero walang proof or legal document na pagmamay-ari yung business ng kapatid mo or na nag-ooperate ang business?

Medyo mahihirapan po maapprove kung ganyan kasi naturally cynical ang mga embassies. Kailangan ng paperwork lalo na pag business, kahit small business pa yan.

Meron nman pong mga permits and dti…so pwd ko sya ideclare na mgsupport sakin dba? Ung support letter ba dpat notarized?

Best if may ITR kasi dun makikita yung finances ng business.

Yep, best if notarized.

Hi… Mas madali ba mag k shengen visa if sasama sa group tour? Kaso nga lang mas mahal.

Mas may chance pero not a guarantee kasi kahit group tour, individually pa rin inaassess ang application most of the time.

Hello :) Regarding with the sponsorship case, do the requirements for sponsor need to be all original copy? like the invitation letter as well as his bank statements? Can it be just sent thru online by my sponsor or it has to be shipped? Also, what if I reserve for a flight ticket for p300 for a certain agency, the actual price is 68k compared to the online actual price which is only 45k, should I go for the agency price when my visa approves? this is for the Italy trip. thanks so much :)

yes, submit original copies.

You always have the option to cancel or hindi tumuloy sa nasa flight reservation mo after the visa processing.

Thanks for replying. I asked the same question to Youtube vlogger, Lyka Krystle the same day I asked you and she confirmed that FYI, its not me who will submit the invitation letter, my sponsor will email it instead along with his bank statements and passport/ID photocopy to the Italian embassy. That means a physical copy is never a thing in this situation at all, so theres no need to waste a paper here. As an applicant, I dont need to do anything else aside from helping my sponsor to fulfill the 3 main requirements. Long story short, all sponsor’s requirements go directly to the embassy, done by the sponsor.

Thanks for sharing!

Good luck with your application.

I will be applying at the Italian Embassy. The itinerary I will be submitting is MNL-FCO-MNL only. But after I get my visa, am I allowed to change my itinerary to MNL-FCO ( 8 days)-CDG ( 3 days)-GVA ( 3 days)-MNL? Will I get into trouble at the airport/immigration for changing the itinerary?

Hi, I am planning to apply for Schengen visa to visit a friend in Belgium, un balak mamasyal lang sa France and Spain after a week s Belgium with her family. I have my own house, travelled few times s US and asian countries, pro wala ako work now, I got 2 kids (filipino-american) and married sa american. My friend will be sending me invitation and sponsorship letter din already signed by the mayor s Belgium. Plus his bank statements and stuff. Nakapag travel na dn kami together twice s SG. My US visa will be expired next month but I am planning to renew it next week. I am just super nervous sa EU visa ksi wala ako work. Ano kaya ippsa ko mga requirements other than the papers na ippadala. I hope somebody can help me please.

Hi Leah, naku, di ko po alam anong pwedeng alternatives pag unemployed. :(

Really insightful article. Just wanted to ask if you know anything about fresh grads applying for a Schengen visa? My sister and I are graduating this June and plan to go to Europe with our mother around October as a graduation gift. Is it true that it is much harder for our applications to be approved since we won’t be employed yet or enrolled anymore? We will be taking a gap break before applying for jobs (which will most likely be after the trip).

Our parents will be sponsoring our entire trip, and we have a good travel history (at least 1-2 international trips every year). I already have a Schengen visa from my school trip to Italy last summer, but my sister only has a 5 year visa from Japan. Thank you and hope to hear from you!

Hi Sofia, I think it’s possible to get a visa pag fresh grad lalo na kung family trip sya. You can explain that it’s a graduation gift and since kasama nyo naman yung parents/sponsors, mas believable yun if sabay-sabay yung pag-apply nyo. Bukod sa usual requirements, submit na lang din kayo ng proof na kakagraduate nyo lang recently.

Saang embassy kayo apply?

We plan to apply at the Dutch or Italian embassy. Anyway thanks for the reply, that eased my thoughts!

Hmmm. Di ko pa natry mag-apply sa Dutch or Italian Embassy ha.

Hi there. What option on the airline website should I select or go to if I’ll have multiple trips. For example, my itinerary is MNL-ROME-PARIS-BERLIN-MNL. Please help me. thanks.

Hi Mark, depends on the airline. Some airline websites allow MULTI-CITY booking.

Another workaround is to book via a 3rd party website like Skyscanner, Traveloka, Expedia.

Hello, would u know if czech embassy is strict?

Hi K-Anne. No idea. :(

hello, what if na deny ako sa French embassy and after 6months I will apply in Austrian embassy,can I still visit france for tourism?

“My partner Vins, who was applying for the first time and didn’t submit an ITR, was asked to send more documents to prove his rootedness in the Philippines. He did submit the requested additional papers and finally got his visa after 3 weeks.”

Hello, may I ask what additional documents s/he was asked to submit in lieu of the ITR? :) I am recently employed as an individual contractor / consultant so I haven’t sorted my BIR taxation yet. Thank you!

Hi Aya, they called him and asked him to submit COE and ITR from previous employers instead and property titles.

Hello, my father invited me to join his family to go on a month trip to EU. Will be there for a month if approved. He will be sponsoring our trip since he has a stable company. If ever, I will be travelling with my father, step mom and 2 baby step brothers. They already had several visas including Schengen before, while me I am unemployed. I used to have a Japan visa for a year. I have a daughter here in PH who will not be joining us due to school. I’m wondering if theres a high possibility that I will be approved?

Also, schedule will be this May 14 or 16. How long does the processing will take? (Italian Embassy) coz I have a booked flight to Bangkok on June 5 :(

Thanks Yoshke!

I haven’t tried applying via Italian Embassy so I can’t say. :(

In general though, the chances of approval depend on a lot of factors playing together: employment, finances, rootedness and (sometimes) travel history.

Me and my husband plan to travel to EU this coming septermber for our 12th anniv for 14days. I work as a web dev online (homebased) no ITR and my husband works with his current employer for more than 6 years na din which is previously homebased din pero now kumuha na sila ng office here. No ITR din si husband currently pero meron sya Form 2307 – Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source. Is that okay na kaya to submit + COE, payslips? Ang balak kasi namin sya na lang ang magsubmit ng lahat ng requirements. I’ll declare na lang na im a housewife / no income and sya magshoulder lahat ng expenses para i dont need to submit any other req’s(proof of income) na since i dont have ITR. We have few properties owned and car din and has 2 kids pero kami lang ni husband ang magtravel to EU. Prev travel was HK, SG, MY, South Korea(ME), Japan, Shanghai – all with family. Sa tingin mo malaki ang chance namin maapprove? My brother is also a resident in Norway pero magappply kami as tourist not sponsored tho magvivisit kami sa kanila since on our planned travel kasabay din namin ang parents ko since they want to visit my brother in norway.

Hi ahb19, we can’t assess po and predict your chances without having a really good look at your documents. Depende kasi yan sa napakaraming factors. It’s not enough na meron ka nung required docs, need din nila iconsider ano ang laman ng mga docs na yun. So we really can’t say.

Hi. On the application “Which Schengen country you will enter first?”

I have a layover on a Schengen country, yun ba ilalagay or yung destination mismo? Many thanks

I am a Philippine passport holder. I will be in the US in April next year and I’m planning to go to Spain from there in July also next year. Can I apply for a schengen visa from there in the US?

hello there, Is it true that Austrian embassy is more lenient than other embassies in the Schengen area? I also have concern regarding freelance job and my ITR, I just registered my part time job last june and im applying for visa this oct. and that would mean I cant provide an ITR this October for my part time job (fashion design), what should I do?

I have a fulltime job though and could provide complete papers for this, I just needed more reasons for the “rootedness” thingy.

Hi Jessie, I haven’t tried applying via Austrian Embassy but my friends who have said they are indeed more lenient.

Is your full-time job stable? Can it support your lifestyle and your trip? According to a travel agency that I consulted before, sometimes, if the full-time job can stand on its own, it’s better to not mention any part-time or freelance work because they just complicate things. I don’t know if it’s good advice, but it makes sense to me.

Hi Yoshke! Thanks for the guide. We are planning to have a month long multi-country honeymoon trip in Europe next year at April. We plan to apply after our wedding in February. However, I can’t seem to find in the internet what is the best way for our case: we will enter first in Madrid, spend the longest in Germany, travel to other neighboring schengen countries, then from Paris to London and spend our last days there before heading back to Manila.

Therefore, we need to apply for 2 visas, one schengen through the German Embassy, and one UK Visa. Do you have any idea or suggestion which is better applied first? The schegen or the UK?

Hi Clarice,

No idea. I haven’t tried applying for a UK visa yet kasi. But my friends na pumunta ng UK + Schengen area, they applied for UK visa first. Not sure if that’s right, but that’s what they did.

Is it valid to arrive to other country , where I do not have any booking .

Is a reservation for a return flight to the Philippines a specific requirement or just a flight reservation to a non-Schengen state? For example, last destination is Berlin. Is a Berlin to Manila flight required or can you book a flight from Berlin to, say, Tel Aviv?

hi. im planning to visit russia and schengen. which visa should i apply first? thanks.

Hi,if everything was sponsored do i still need my bank certificate and bank statement?

Yep. All the more reason for them to look for your bank cert and statement.

More info here: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2019/07/visa-immigration-boyfriend-girlfriend/

HI. Can I apply for a schengen visa from the US even if I’m not a US citizen?

Hi! what are the documents that needed to be authenticated by DFA in applying for a Schengen visa?

May i ask if paano mag schedule ng appointment for a family of 6? parang up to 2 applicants lang pwede ko ilagay per account sa vfsglobal :( or baka may mali lang akong ginawa?

Hi Chi, saang embassy po yung ina-applyan nyo?

Hello I wanted to ask because I’ve already sent an email to the Greek Embassy for my Portugal trip this December and I haven’t received an email back. I sent it October 7 and I only got an auto message from them. How long should I wait or should I call them? I really don’t know who else to ask regarding this. I’ve been reading your blogs its been very helpful to me. Thank you so much!

I think it’s okay if you call them because it’s been over 2 weeks.

Hello. Will it help if i show credit card statements? Sa korea kasi wala ako pinakitang bank certificate, Platinum credit card lang na 1.5M ung limit. So for example i only i have 100-150k sa bank at the time of application and then i present it together with the credit card… will it compensate ung low balance ko sa bank?

Hi Bernie, yes, the credit card statements can surely help. But not sure if sapat yung 100-150K sa bank. Minsan may mga naaapprove na ganyan but they’re more the exception than the rule. Schengen embassies are a lot stricter than the Korean Embassy. And depende rin sa length of trip mo. :)

Hi there, im planning to apply schengen visa this coming December. I just want to ask first if ever i get denied (wag naman sana) can i apply immediately to other schengen visa embassies? or do i have to wait a certain time before reapplying

Hi James, you can apply at another embassy immediately. :)

Thanks!! also if im planning to present an affidavit of support from my parents for this trip, i also need to present their bank statement & bank cert? Aside from my own bank statement and bank cert? tama ba

Yes. If you’re going to declare you’re going to be sponsored by someone else, you should be able to prove that your sponsor can afford it.

Also do I need to provide birth certificates to prove our relationship and does it have to be the original copy? Thanks in advance!

Hi James, di ko sure if needed pa. Best to call VFS or the embassy na lang. :S

Hi Yoshke and Vins,

Super love your blog! It’s so useful!

I have a have applied for a Schengen visa twice thru a travel agent but got refused twice din :( I think it’s because my intention was to visit Norway and the travel agents suggested that I should go apply at the French Embassy and Swiss Embassy (ang sad kasi I have a history of refusals na tuloy) I would like to re-apply. Should I address the fact that I have applied previously and was refused? I want my application to be as honest as possible and I am doing it on my own na without the help of travel agents.

I will be sponsored din kasi. Any advise?

Hi Kimberly,

I think you have to disclose that you have been refused a visa before. (I’m guessing this will be asked on the application form.)

Question, who is your sponsor? Is it someone living in Norway?

hi, ask ko lang po sa visa application form for italian embassy… ano ang ilagay sa SURNAME AT BIRTH (Formerly Family Name) if N/A po ba if lalaki yun mag-aapply?

Yung ginawa ko, sinulat ko lang din yung last name ko dahil male.

1.Surname (Family name): DIMEN

2. Surname at Birth (Formerly family name(s)): DIMEN

ok, thank you po… another question po dun sa cost of travelling & living during the applicant’s stay is covered by whom? Kc yung husband ko po kc yung kasama ko sa trip tapos join account namin yun isa-submit na bank certificate. ano po ang ilalagay ko by the applicant or sponsor? tpos paano po ilalagay yung name ng husband ko if ever. pwede po ba dalawa ang ilagay… by the applicant and by a sponsor ang ilagay?

Hi Joy, in theory, pwede pareho. Pero in practice, depende yan sa kung OK ang employment and rootedness documents mo. In my opinion, if OK naman lahat, complete naman, satisfactory naman sa tingin mo, mas OK if self-funded yung trip.

Pero if may problema yung sayo tapos maganda naman yung kay husband, pwede rin naman si husband.

Sa palagay ko lang po yan.

Hi there. Just want to inquire On what i must do with my Schengen application. I was denied of it last May 15, 2018 but biometrics were taken. Is it safe for Me to declare on the form that my biometrics were indeed taken on said date even if i was denied? Im applying in January 2020 at the allegro center (italian visa).

Hi Weng, di ko alam kapag ganyang case. Pero yung experience ko, kahit na nakuhanan na rin ako ng biometrics dati, kinuhanan pa ako ulit. In-ask ko ung staff kung bakit ako kukunan ulit. Sabi nila, safer daw kasi na kuhanan na lang para di na bumalik in case hindi readable yung dati.

We are applying at the Italian embassy for our trip on March 27-apr8 (arrival march28 departure apr7) is it that we have to add 15 days additional when we buy travel insurance? Coz im confused if the coverage should cover the addl 15 days or we really have to indicate the addl 15 on the travel insurance?

Hi Weng, here’s the policy of the Italian Embassy: “Travel Health Insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 euros ( with 15 days allowance beyond travel period) for expenses for emergency hospitalization and repatriation expenses, valid throughout the Schengen area.” ambmanila.esteri.it/ambasciata_manila/en/informazioni_e_servizi/visti/turismo_0.html

That means that your insurance should cover March 27-April 22. (Actually di ko sure kung until 22 or 23 dapat.)

Hi Yoshke, Thank you for this article. I always go back to this post for information. Very helpful! I do have a question though. My sister and I have plans to apply at the Austrian Embassy. For the cover letter, do we need to provide one for each of us? Or one cover letter lang for both of us? Thanks

Hi Louise, yes, because applications are assessed individually.

Hi! I am applying for a schengen visa from the Czech Republic in Manila. My main purpose is to meet my boyfriend’s family. I met my boyfriend in the US, and he has been in the Philippines, so this time, I would like to do the same for him. My dilemma is, if I should apply for the visa with an invitation letter from him or just apply for the tourist visa all by myself. After a series of research, I found out that acquiring an invitation letter from him would take at least one month (due to some paperworks from the Foreign Police and document transit,) and I’m kinda running out of time cause my initial plan is to travel in March. Currently, I’ve had visas from Japan, Korea, and a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa from USA. I also have a job, and enough money for the trip. Do you think there is a chance that my application will be approved? Should I mention that I am there to visit someone, or just tell them that my purpose is to mainly travel?

Hi Katrina,

Applying with an invitation often makes the application a lot more complicated. That’s why in my travel circles, it is widely believed that if your finances, employment and rootedness are great, better to apply without it. The only catch is you will need hotel reservations for that.

Hey guys! Your website has been a great source of info for me, great job! Alas, here’s a little query I gotta ask. I will be traveling to Norway on March, and I applied for the visa here in our country. I plan to visit China for a few days first, then depart for Norway from there. But I worry that passport control in Norway will question why I departed from China, not from the country that issued my visa (PH). Does point of departure matter when entering the Schengen Area? Have you guys encountered or heard of similar situations? Thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

I don’t think it matters, unless hotspot sa kanila ung destination. But I think China is fine.

When we fly to the Schengen Zone, we usually come from Singapore. We stay in SG ng 2-3 days before ung flight namin. Di naman sya problem.

Hi! I already have an appointment with VFS Global this friday. My parents paid for the accomodation and my airfare tickets but pocket money and everything else will be shouldered by me. Does that count as sponsorship po? I will be travelling with my parents but they are coming from the US po kasi so ako lang magisa ang nag-apply for Schengen Visa. Would really appreciate your reply. Thank you!

Which embassy po?

Yes, that counts as sponsorship. You can declare that your accoms/tickets will be sponsored by parents but other expenses by yourself.

Since you’re applying on your own, it would help to write a cover letter explaining that you will be traveling with your parents so they know it’s a family trip and get a better picture of your case.

France embassy po. If I declare na accoms/tickets sponsored by parents will they ask for documents ng parents ko even if other expenses will be mine? Wala po kasi local bank parents ko puro US banks if ever manghingi sila ng documents of my parents.

Hi, will they give the documents back together with the passport once approved? Thank you very much.

Based on my experience with the embassies of France/Italy/Greece/Germany, they will only give you back the passport.

Hi Yoshke, Ask ko lang nung nag apply kaba may old passport ka? If yes, need mo rin ba ibigay yung old original passport pag apply or photocopy nalang nung old passport then yung mga stamps and visa mo before? Thank you so much!

Hi Dharleigh,

Sa experience ko, kung tama ang pagkaalala ko:

sa Italian Embassy, hindi kinuha ung original na old passport.

sa Greek and German Embassies, kinuha nila.

sa French, hindi ko na matandaan talaga.

Best talaga na dalhin na lang din para if kunin, dala mo. Ibabalik naman yan din sayo on the spot if hindi kailangan.

I have an online job and Im a tax evader, lol. I havent been paying TIN and what not since 2016. Haha. I travel around for 1-2 months straight usually (but I always come home because of family and friends). I feel like Im a sketchy case in the embassy’s eyes.

Do you think it would suffice that I provide them with 1 savings account with sufficient cash, 1 everyday-use account, a life insurance policy and my parents business permit to show I have financial capability and still coming back?

Hi. Could you also create an article for applying for Schengen Visa for freelancers. Especially on the requirements part. A lot of people now are switching to being freelancers so that will be super helpful

Thank you. This is such a useful information. Godspeed.

Hi ask lang po what if there’s a reason na hindi talaga pwedi magtravel Yong bf ko kasi it’s about his health problem Kaya hindi sya makapagtravel sa phillipines because of his health problems we never met yet possible ba ma approve Yong visa if ipa kita ko Yong medical record nya???

Hi Junelyn. It’s really very difficult to know kapag ganitong unusual case po. Limited din po kasi experience namin.

hi, question lang po. What if I will present 5 days itinerary in France (entry point) and 3 days itinerary per country on Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal during visa application But after getting my French Schengen visa, changed my itinerary to 3 days France, 5 days italy, 5 days greece. Will there be a problem if nangyari ito?

Kindly give me referrals as to where can we get flight reservation for schengen visa application. I have big trust on your recommendations. I recently booked spectrum of the seas cruise, with your vlog i booked directly to the carribean. I have saved travel agents fees. I love your vlogs. Kindly reply. Thanks

Try Gazelle Travel and Tours po at [email protected]

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GUIDE: How to Get a Schengen Visa from the Philippines

Includes pro tips! by WindowSeat.ph | December 20, 2023

Every wanderlust wishes to travel to every country, and if not all, at least most of them. This means going from one continent to another, meeting new people, trying out new food, seeing new sights, and getting to know different (maybe even odd) cultures and histories.

While that sounds interesting and fun, you must have the proper documents and traveling papers before you can pack a bag and go. Some countries, like America, Australia, or Cambodia, only need the basic requirements for you to be able to travel there. However, countries in the Schengen Area require a specific kind of visa for you to travel around Europe.

But don’t you worry; the most common questions asked when applying for a Schengen Visa are debunked below:

What is a Schengen Visa?

It is the travel document you need to go to the countries in Europe’s Schengen Area : Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This visa will allow you to travel from one Schengen area to another. Just make sure not to go beyond the travel period time stated in your visa! 

Unfortunately, not all European countries are part of the Schengen Area. Countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and the United Kingdom are not covered by the Schengen Visa and require different visa processing.

What type of visa do you need?

The Uniform Schengen Visa allows you to stay in the member states for up to three months or 90 days every six months. This is best for tourists who only want to travel for a short time period.

Under this visa, you must specify if your visa allows you for a single, double, or multiple entry in the country/ies you hope to visit.

Schengen Visa categories

Category A (Airport Transit Visa) allows you to travel from one non-Schengen state to another through a connecting flight in a Schengen state airport.

Category B (Transit Visa) , meanwhile, allows you to go through the Schengen countries by car, coach, or plane to a non-Schengen country within five days.

Category C is for a short-term visa, allowing the traveler to stay in a Schengen state for a certain period of time.

Then there’s also the Limited Territorial Validity Visa , which allows you to visit one state or certain states within the Schengen Area.

The National Visa , however, is best for those who wish to study, work, or migrate to one of the Schengen countries.

How long can I stay in the Schengen Area with my approved visa?

Filipino  tourists with an approved Schengen Visa can stay in the member states for up to three months or 90 days within a six-month period .

*In this guide, we will provide information regarding obtaining a Schengen visa as a tourist. 

Tourist Schengen Visa requirements

What are the requirements you need to have in order to obtain a Schengen Visa?

• Print-out of duly filled and signed application form, which you’ll find on the website of the country you’re applying to or from third-party agencies
• A passport, which is valid for at least three months
• Two biometrical passport photos are attached to the application form
• Visa fee of 80 Euro, 40 Euro for applicants from 6-12 years old
• Flight and hotel reservations for the entire stay
• Bank statements for the last six months or a  formal obligation according to §§ 66-68 AufenthG with a confirmation of the declarant’s financial capacity by the local Immigration (“Ausländerbehörde”)
• Proof of rootedness in the Philippines (e.g., work contract and bank statements showing transfer of last six monthly salaries), proof of student enrollment, marriage certificate, etc.
• Proof of health travel insurance
• Cover letter  stating reasons why you wish to visit the Schengen area.

How much is a Schengen Visa application?

Applying for a tourist Schengen visa should set you back EUR80 or approximately PHP4,888 . Children between the ages of 6-11 have a visa fee of only EUR40, or approximately PHP2,444, while children between the ages of one to five are free of the visa fee.

Are there other expenses?

Travel health insurance is needed, especially for the elderly or people with predetermined medical conditions, to cover up or help with any medical expenses during your trip.

Travel insurance is also a must in order to make up for losses experienced during the trip, like lost luggage, cancellation of flights, or travel agency bankruptcy.

Travel Insurance 101: Here’s Everything You Need to Know Travel Insurance 101: Here’s Everything You Need to Know WindowSeat.ph | Jul 26, 2017

Now, the pro tips:

• All transactions must be done through the corresponding embassy of the country you wish to visit. Be sure to set an appointment at least 15 days before your planned departure. The earliest you can apply is three months before your scheduled trip. Do it as early as you can!
• Always hand in the documents yourself to the legit clerks and personnel to avoid travel scams.
• Answer the interview questions about your travel truthfully.
• Always purchase your ticket after you have been granted a visa and after personally obtaining it from the agency.
• You can always return to the embassy to extend your stay in the Schengen country.
• Some countries of entry require a list of countries you’ve visited in a given time frame (usually five years). The more countries you visit and visas you acquire, the bigger your chances are of getting a Schengen visa.
• Bring your updated/financial documents (e.g., Income Tax Return, bank statements, land titles, car registration documents, and/or audited financial statements if you have a business).
• When choosing which country to apply for, choose the country where you intend on staying the longest. For example, you plan on spending two days in Amsterdam, three days in Germany, and five days in France. Submit your application to the Embassy of France in Manila .
• If you have countries to visit within the same number of days (e.g., three days in Amsterdam and Germany), submit your application to the country you plan to enter from Manila.

How long does the Schengen Visa application process take?

The Schengen Visa processing usually takes about  15 days  and can extend up to 30 days.

For more information regarding the visa application, visit the official embassy website of the country you plan on sending your application. Safe travels!

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Schengen Visa Cover Letter for Multiple Entry in 2024 [Samples Included]

What is a schengen visa cover letter.

A Schengen Visa cover letter is a letter accompanying your visa application. It is addressed to the consulate or embassy where you are applying and provides additional information that is not covered in the application form.

For multiple-entry visas, the cover letter serves as your opportunity to explain why you need to travel frequently to the Schengen Area.

Why is the Cover Letter Important?

The cover letter is your personal introduction to the visa officers. It offers a glimpse into your travel intentions, your ties to your home country, and your financial capacity.

Given that visa officers have limited time to go through each application, a well-crafted cover letter can make your application stand out.

For multiple-entry visas, in particular, it’s essential to justify why you need to enter the Schengen Area multiple times.

How To Write Your Schengen Visa Cover Letter For Multiple Entry

1. Personal Details: Begin with your name, passport number, and date of drafting the letter. Address the letter to the consulate where you’re applying. If you don’t know the specific name of the visa officer, “To whom it may concern” is acceptable.

2. Introduction: Start by specifying the type of visa you’re applying for – in this case, a multiple-entry Schengen visa. Mention your travel dates, the first Schengen country you’ll be entering, and the main purpose of your visit.

3. Travel Itinerary: Since you’re applying for a multiple-entry visa, you should provide a detailed itinerary of each intended visit. This includes entry and exit dates, countries to be visited, accommodation details, and the purpose of each visit.

4. Purpose of Multiple Entries: Clearly justify why a multiple-entry visa is necessary. Are you attending a series of business meetings spread over months? Do you have family in two different Schengen countries that you plan to visit frequently? Be concise and precise.

5. Financial Proof: Reiterate that you have the necessary funds for all your visits. Attach bank statements, salary slips, or sponsorship letters as evidence.

6. Ties to Home Country: This is to assure the visa officers that you will return after your visit. Mention your job, properties, or family ties that would compel you to come back.

7. Conclusion: Conclude by stating that all the provided information is accurate. Express gratitude for considering your application and provide contact details for any further required information.

8. Signature: End with your signature and name.

What Is The Difference between Single and Multiple Entry Visas?

When planning a trip to the Schengen Area, it’s essential to understand the difference between single and multiple entry visas. Here’s a breakdown:

• Single Entry Visa: This visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen Area once. Once you exit the Schengen territory, the visa expires, regardless of its original validity duration. It’s ideal for travelers with a straightforward trip plan without multiple entries and exits from the Schengen Area.
• Multiple Entry Visa: As the name suggests, a multiple entry visa permits the visa holder to enter and exit the Schengen Area multiple times within the visa’s validity period. It’s suitable for travelers with business or personal reasons that necessitate multiple trips within a short timeframe.

I’ve been granted a multiple-entry Schengen visa before. Do I still need to submit a detailed cover letter for my next application?

Yes, even if you have previously been granted a multiple-entry Schengen visa, you are still required to submit a detailed cover letter for your next application.

This letter should clearly state the purpose of your visit, your travel plans, and any other pertinent details.

The cover letter is a crucial part of your application as it provides the consulate with context about your travel intentions and assures them of your compliance with visa regulations.

How many trips can I make with a multiple-entry Schengen visa?

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you to make several trips within its validity period. The number of trips is not explicitly limited; however, you must adhere to the 90/180 rule.

This rule states that you cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

Ensure that your travel plans comply with this restriction to avoid issues at border control or future visa applications.

Do I need to provide detailed itineraries for all my intended trips when applying for a multiple-entry visa?

While applying for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, it’s advisable to provide a detailed itinerary for your first trip.

For subsequent trips, a general outline of your travel plans, including approximate dates and purposes, is usually sufficient.

It’s important to demonstrate that you have a clear plan and purpose for your travels within the Schengen area.

However, you are not expected to provide an exhaustive day-by-day itinerary for every trip you might make under the visa.

Tips for a Compelling Cover Letter

• Be Concise: Visa officers prefer direct and straightforward letters. Avoid unnecessary details.
• Provide Clear Justifications: Since the multiple-entry visa is not granted as frequently as a single-entry, your reasons for needing multiple entries should be compelling and clearly stated.
• Attach Supporting Documents: Although the cover letter mentions all details, always attach relevant documents like invitation letters, flight bookings, or hotel reservations for each visit.

What Are the 4 most common Rejection Reasons?

Obtaining a multiple-entry Schengen visa can be slightly more challenging than a single entry, mainly because one needs to provide a convincing reason for requiring multiple entries. Common rejection reasons include:

• Insufficient Documentation: Not providing enough evidence to justify the need for multiple entries.
• Lack of Travel Insurance: Inadequate travel insurance that doesn’t cover the entire duration of the trips planned.
• Previous Visa Violations: If you’ve overstayed on a previous Schengen visa or violated visa terms, it might impact your new application.
• Inconsistent Information: Discrepancies in the application or between the cover letter and supporting documents can raise suspicions.

Sample Schengen Visa Cover Letter for Multiple Entry

Schengen sample business cover letter.

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa for Business Purposes

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa for business purposes, spanning from [start date] to [end date].

I am [Your Job Title] at [Your Company Name], and my purpose of travel revolves around attending multiple business meetings, trade fairs, and conferences scheduled throughout the year in various Schengen countries, mainly [Country 1], [Country 2], and [Country 3].

Given the nature of my job and the business collaborations we have in the Schengen area, frequent visits are essential. A detailed itinerary of my first trip and a brief outline of subsequent trips are attached.

My company, [Your Company Name], will bear all the expenses of my trips, and I assure you that I will not exceed the 90-day limit within the 180-day period.

Enclosed are the necessary documents, including the letter from my employer, hotel reservations, and travel itinerary. I kindly request you to grant me a multiple-entry visa.

Thank you for considering my application.

Schengen Sample Tourism Cover Letter

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa for Tourism

I wish to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa as I intend to explore various Schengen countries over the course of the year. My primary destinations include [Country 1], [Country 2], and [Country 3].

I am particularly keen on experiencing diverse European cultures, landscapes, and festivals. While my first trip will majorly focus on [specific activities/places in Country 1], I am planning subsequent trips around notable events like [Event 1 in Country 2] and [Event 2 in Country 3].

Enclosed are my travel plans, hotel reservations, and other necessary documentation. I am self-financing my trips and have attached proof of funds to assure you of my financial stability.

I assure you of my return after each trip and compliance with the visa regulations.

Warm regards,

Schengen Sample Visiting Family Cover Letter

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa to Visit Family

I am reaching out to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, as I plan to visit my [Family Relation, e.g., “sister”], [Family Member’s Name], who resides in [City, Country]. My visits are scheduled around significant family events, including [Family Member’s] wedding, [another event], and [yet another event].

While my first visit is primarily for the wedding set for [specific date], the subsequent trips are to spend quality family time and partake in the mentioned family events.

Attached is the invitation letter from [Family Member’s Name], alongside other necessary documentation. I have also provided financial proofs to demonstrate my ability to support myself during my stays.

I am committed to adhering to the visa’s terms and will ensure not to breach the 90/180 day rule.

I humbly request the grant of a multiple-entry visa and thank you in advance for considering my application.

Best regards,

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How soon after my first trip can i revisit the schengen area with a multiple-entry visa.

There’s no minimum waiting time between visits. However, ensure you don’t breach the 90/180 rule, which limits stays to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.

If I am granted a multiple-entry visa but my travel plans change, can I use it as a single-entry visa?

Absolutely. A multiple-entry visa provides you with the flexibility of multiple visits, but there’s no obligation to use it more than once.

Will travel restrictions due to the pandemic affect the validity or use of my multiple-entry visa?

Travel restrictions are subject to change based on the prevailing situation. It’s advisable to check current travel advisories and the official guidelines of the specific Schengen country you intend to visit.

In case of visa rejection, can I reapply immediately?

Yes, you can reapply if your visa application is denied. However, it’s crucial to understand the reason for rejection and address it in your subsequent application to increase the chances of approval.

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Applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in the Philippines

If you will be visiting the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days – for a holiday, to do business or to see family, for example – you can apply for a Schengen visa. Follow the steps below to apply in the Philippines.

Step 1: Check before applying  

Before starting your application, check whether you need a visa for the Netherlands and, if so, where you can apply for it.

Do I need a visa?

Not everyone needs a visa to visit the Netherlands. If you’re unsure what applies to you, check whether you need a visa to visit the Netherlands .

If you plan on applying for a Schengen visa for Latvia, check with the embassy of Latvia to find out what visa requirements apply to you.

Don’t need a visa?

If you don’t need a visa for the Netherlands, see what documents you do need to travel to the Netherlands.

Check what you need to travel to the Netherlands

Diplomatic, service or official passport?

If you have a diplomatic, service or official passport, you usually need a Schengen visa to enter the Netherlands. Even if you don't need a Schengen visa for another Schengen country (such as Sweden or Switzerland) due to the principle of reciprocity.

Where can I apply for a visa?

To apply for a Schengen visa in the Philippines, go to the VFS Global application centre in Cebu or Makati. You can only submit an application there if you live in:

• the Philippines
• the Marshall Islands

If you live somewhere else, go to the page Applying for a Schengen visa and select the country where you live to find out where to submit your application. If you still want to submit your application in the Philippines, first check if that’s possible.

Check whether you can apply for a visa outside your country of residence

I want to visit more than one Schengen country

If you want to visit another Schengen country besides the Netherlands, check whether you should apply for a visa for the Netherlands or the other country.

Find out which Schengen country you should apply for a visa for

Step 2: Gather the documents you need

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Which ones you need depends on your purpose of travel.

Which documents do I need?

On the VFS Global website you’ll find a checklist with the documents you need based on your purpose of travel.

Find out which documents you need

Family member of an EU/EEA national or Swiss national?

If you are travelling with a family member who is a national of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, or you’re travelling to visit that family member, you may be eligible for free Schengen visa facilitation.

Find out whether you are eligible for visa facilitation

Step 3: Make an appointment

Once you have all the documents you need for your Schengen visa application, make an appointment at VFS Global. You can apply for your visa up to 6 months ahead of your trip. Apply no later than 45 days before your trip.

If you are crew on a seafaring vessel, you can apply for your visa up to 9 months before your trip.

How do I make an appointment?

Make an appointment online at VFS Global in the Philippines

• Making an appointment is free of charge. Do not make an appointment with an intermediary because they will charge you money.
• If you are applying for visas for multiple people, make a separate appointment for each person.

Can someone else submit my application for me?

You must appear in person at your appointment to submit your application, even if you’re under 18.

You don’t need to appear in person to submit your application if:

• you have applied in person for a Schengen visa within the past 5 years (59 months), and:
• you submitted a photo with that application, and:
• your fingerprints were taken for that application (only applies if you are 12 or older).

If you meet all 3 conditions, you can have someone else submit your application for you. The appointment must be under the name of the person submitting your application.

If you are not certain whether VFS Global has your fingerprints on record, you should submit your application in person. VFS Global cannot check this for you.

How can I change or cancel my appointment?

To change or cancel your appointment, contact VFS Global in the Philippines .

Step 4: Go to your appointment

Go to your appointment at VFS Global, and bring all the documents on your checklist from step 2 with you, plus the checklist itself.

See the address of VFS Global in Manila

What happens at my appointment?

At your appointment you:

• submit the documents that are on your checklist, together with your passport
• provide your fingerprints (only if you are 12 or older)
• answer questions about your trip
• pay the visa fees
• indicate whether you want to collect your passport (with visa affixed) or have it sent to you
• receive a reference number to track the status of your application

How much does a visa cost?

See the overview of consular fees in the Philippines to find out how much a visa costs and what forms of payment are accepted. In some situations you are not required to pay.

Find out in which situations you do not need to pay the visa fee

You will always need to pay service costs to VFS Global.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

You’ll usually find out within 15 calendar days whether your application was successful. Sometimes it can take longer and may take up to 45 calendar days.

Find out more about processing times for a visa application

How can I track the status of my application?

When you submit your application you’ll receive a reference number from VFS Global that you can use to track the status of your application online .

Step 5: Collect your passport or have it sent to you

You will receive an email once your application has been processed. The email won’t say whether your application was successful. You can collect your passport or have it sent to you. If your application was approved, the visa will be affixed to a page in your passport.

Having your passport sent to you

If you choose to have your passport sent to you, you’ll discuss at your appointment how to arrange this.

Collecting your passport

If you choose to collect your passport, you’ll discuss at your appointment when you can collect it. You can also have someone else collect your passport for you.

If you collect your passport yourself, bring the following with you:

• a valid form of ID
• the proof of payment provided by VFS Global

If someone else collects your passport for you, they must bring the following with them:

• a signed letter from you authorising them to collect your passport

Check the information on your visa

Check whether the information on your visa is correct. Your name and the visa’s validity period, for example.

Find out more about the information on your visa

If any of the information is incorrect or you can’t use the visa, for example because the period of validity is later than the dates of the plane tickets in your application, contact the Netherlands embassy in Manila.

Email the Netherlands embassy

What if my application was refused?

If your application wasn’t approved, you’ll receive a letter stating why. If you disagree with this decision, you have several options.

Find out what you can do if your visa application was refused

Step 6: Prepare for your trip

With your Schengen visa you can travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country. You must show the visa upon departure and arrival.

Border control may also ask you for other documents. Find out what other documents you need in the checklist for travelling to the Netherlands.

Check what you need for travel to the Netherlands

Do you have a question about making an appointment at VFS Global or about the status of your application?

Contact VFS Global in the Philippines

Do you have a question about something else?

Contact NetherlandsWorldwide

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HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA WITH A PHILIPPINES PASSPORT 2022

• November 15, 2022 November 22, 2022

[SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION GUIDE: ITALIAN VISA FOR FILIPINOS]

For most, Europe is an absolute bucket list destination. With its rich history, charming towns, impressive architecture, varying landscapes, and ease of transport – it’s a destination that offers so much. No wonder it’s a dream for many!

For Philippine passport holders like me, it can be a bit of work to turn this dream into reality.

Last March 2022, I finally decided to apply for a Schengen visa. I planned to spend most of my days in Italy so I applied for an Italian visa with PIASI VIA Center. It took a lot of effort to DIY my visa application, but definitely doable and not to mention absolutely worth it!

I was a first-time applicant with no travel experience outside of Asia. So I was over the moon when I received my visa in just 4 days! Honesty and preparation really did it for me.

If you’re planning to apply for a Schengen visa but have no idea where to start, you came to the right place. I’m just as excited to share with you my application experience and tips. Below is my 5-step guide on how a Filipino citizen can apply for a Schengen visa. Let’s jump right to it!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional travel agent and in no way affiliated with Schengen visa processing agencies. What I’ll share are guidelines and tips that worked for me. Applying for a visa is on a case-to-case basis, so nothing will ever guarantee your approval. My best piece of advice? Honesty is the best policy, always.

About Schengen Visa

5-step application process, step 1: identify the type of visa, step 2: choose the right embassy to submit a visa application, step 3: schedule an appointment online, step 4: prepare the required documents, step 5: submit documents and biometrics, frequently asked questions (faqs), 1. how long does it take for the visa to be processed, 2. how soon can i apply for the visa, 3. what did you include in your cover letter, 4. how much did you spend on the visa application, 5. should i pay for a plane ticket to guarantee my approval, 6. should i book my accommodations already, 7. how much money should i have in my bank account, 8. do i need to travel to other countries first, 9. how long is the validity of the schengen visa, 10. how do i create a travel itinerary, 11. i am applying with my family (group applications). should we prepare a separate set of documents for each member, 12. if my visa is approved – is it okay to change my itinerary and not follow the submitted one, 13. what are the most common reasons for visa refusals.

Having a Schengen visa lets you travel to 26 European countries with no border control, making it the largest free travel area in the world. It’s one of the most sought visas among Philippines passport holders.

A Schengen visa holder can travel to the following 26 European countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Polan, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

There are different types of Schengen visas, varying according to purpose (tourist, visit, etc.) and number of entries (single, multiple, etc.).

Generally, short-stay visas are those issued by visa service providers – embassies, consulates, and appointed external agencies. It allows the holder to stay or travel freely within the Schengen territory for less than 90 days over a 180-day period.

This guide is for those applying for a tourist and visit visa, both under the category of short-stay visas.

Tourist VS Visit

A t ourist visa is for tourism or holiday purposes, while a visit visa allows you to visit family or friends living in the Schengen territory.

The basic requirements needed for both tourist and visit visas are more or less the same – cover letter, proof of rootedness, accommodation information, etc. So if you’re applying for either type, make sure to read on!

Single VS Multiple

Single-entry means you can enter the Schengen territory only once. If you leave, your visa will no longer be valid even if the validity period is not yet over. In short, any exit is final.

A multiple-entry visa allows the holder to enter and leave as many times as they want, within the validity period given.

Note that I mentioned Schengen “territory” and not “country”. It’s a common misconception that with a single-entry visa, you can only enter one country once and cannot go back after.

The Schengen area has no internal borders so having a single-entry means you are free to leave and re-enter a country as long as it’s within the territory.

For first-time applicants, it’s ideal to apply for a single-entry visa if you have no intention of going outside the territory and traveling back. In my case, I applied for a single-entry visa but I was luckily approved for a multiple-entry the first time.

Applicants should choose the embassy if:

• The country is the sole country of destination
• In case your trip includes multiple Schengen countries, choose the main destination in terms of length or purpose of stay
• In case no main destination can be determined, choose the country where you’ll enter the Schengen territory

Your choice of embassy should reflect on the documents that you submitted.

For example, I applied at the Italian embassy because I planned to spend most of my travel days in Italy. To prove this, I submitted documents of my Airbnb reservations in Milan, Florence, and Rome.

Official agencies handling the Schengen visa processing in the Philippines:

PIASI VIA Center – Italy

BLS International – Spain

Greece Embassy – Greece and Portugal

VFS Global – The rest of the Schengen countries

My experience was with VIA Center. I’ll share the step-by-step process of scheduling an appointment with them. As for the rest, I included links below that will direct you to the appointment page for the specific country.

Applying with VIA Center: Italy

Italy visa application with VIA Center

VIA Center contact: 02.85720235 / 02.85720238 / 09998896021 / 09175763103

With VIA Center, you can only book an appointment by calling their lines and speaking with a representative. I called their hotlines and the officer asked for the following details, so make sure to keep them handy:

• Contact: number and email
• Passport details: passport #, birthday, date of issue, and validity date
• Countries/cities you’ll visit
• Travel dates
• [Group Appointment] Travel companion/s – if applicable, be ready with their contact and passport details as well
• Your preferred date for visa application

After this, I received an email from VIA Center that contains the following:

• Appointment confirmation with reference number
• List of required documents to submit
• Schengen application form – print the form and fill it out
• Two pdf files of family/friends visit visa checklist – even though you’re applying for a tourist visa, make sure to print these two files and submit them during your appointment, this will serve as the consulate’s checklist for the documents you submitted.

Applying with BLS International: Spain

For Spain visa applicants, you may directly book an appointment thru the BLS International website . All applicants are required to book an appointment online prior to application submission. No walk-ins are allowed.

The application form and requirements checklist is downloadable here . It is recommended to submit your applications with BLS at least 2 months before your travel dates.

Spain Visa Application Centre Contact: +632-8271-2196

Applying with Greece Embassy: Greece and Portugal

The Greek embassy represents both Greece and Portugal for Schengen visa applications.

Applying with VFS Global

VFS Global’s website is straightforward and provides step-by-step info on how to apply for a certain country. To start your application, go to VFS Global – select which country you’re applying from and the country of destination. Or just click the link for the respective country below:

Austria , Belgium , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Hungary , Iceland , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Slovakia , Switzerland , Sweden

On the new web page, you should be able to do the following:

• Register for an online account (linked to the country of your choice) where you will be guided through the whole process by on-screen explanations
• Log in to your VFS account, and click ‘Start New Booking’
• Application Details: ‘Manila Center’, ‘Short Stay’, ‘Tourist/Visit’
• Your Details
• Book Appointment: enter your preferred slot
• Services: pick out an additional service you prefer
• Review and Pay

When your payment is confirmed, you’ll receive an Appointment Confirmation email along with the letter of your appointment, which you need to print and bring with you on your application date.

If you are part of a family or group, you’ll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group. 

Note: Make sure that at this point, you have at least started drafting a rough itinerary and preparing your documents. Make sure that you have enough time to complete your requirements until your application date.

I listed below everything that I submitted to the embassy. It may sound overwhelming for first-time applicants so I wrote a separate guide explaining each item off the list. Check out my comprehensive Schengen visa requirements guide .

• Cover letter
• Accomplished Schengen visa application form with photo (glossy picture)
• Invitation letter
• Copy of proof of identity
• Proof of relationship
• Hotel booking reservations
• Photocopy of current and previous passports – with visa and stamps
• Certificate of employment (COE)
• Leave permission from the employer, also called as the “no objection letter”
• ITR (BIR 2316)
• Payslips from the last 6 months
• Bank statements from the last 6 months
• Bank certificate within the month of your scheduled appointment
• Other proof of investments, assets, etc.
• Credited card statements from the past 6 months
• If applicable: proof of prepaid accommodations, transports, flights, etc.
• Travel health insurance (and proof of covid certification)
• PSA documents
• Flight reservations/booking
• Detailed Itinerary

It’s okay to submit documents that are not listed on the requirements.

The list of requirements sent by the embassy is not the end-all-be-all. If you think that you have relevant supporting documents that solidify your purpose of travel and strong ties, then I say go for it.

Once you get to the visa application center, you will be queued. When it’s already your turn, the officer will review all your documents and assess if it’s complete, as instructed by the embassy.

Once cleared, you will proceed to the biometrics. Lastly, you’ll pay the visa processing fee at the cashier, where a receipt and a tracking number will be given.

• Makati: PIASI VIA Center, 3F Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave Ext. Brgy. Magallanes, Makati City, Metro Manila
• Cebu: Unit 1004-B 10F, Keppel Center Samar Loop corner Cardinal Rosales Ave., Cebu Business Park, Cebu City

BLS International

• Spain Visa Application Centre, Unit 1903, 19th Floor, Philippine AXA Life Center, 1286 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Contact: +632-8271-2196

Greece Embassy

• Unit 701 SEDCCO I Building, Rada 120 , Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Postal Code 1229
• Makati: VFS Global Visa Application Center Makati, 2305, Ecoplaza Building, Mezzanine Floor, Don Chino Roces Ave, Ext, Makati City, Metro Manila
• Cebu:  VFS Global Visa Application Center Cebu, 5F Unit 503, Kepwealth Center Samar Loop, cor Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu City
• Be at the visa center at least 30 minutes before your appointment as they will let you in 15 minutes prior.
• Bring cash – it’s the only mode of payment accepted at VIA Center.
• It’s ideal that you wear a plain light top with a collar, in case you’ll have your photo taken.
• Organize your documents; keep them in order. Staple the documents with multiple pages, use paper clips when organizing by sections, and bullet clips for bigger sections.
• Arrange your documents in order as instructed by the embassy. This is included in the email when you scheduled an appointment.

Congratulations! You’re all done with your application and the only thing you can do up at this point is to wait for your passport to be delivered with that sweet Schengen visa sticker!

My friend and I applied together and we received our passport with the stamped visa just 4 days after we submitted our requirements. After a month, my sister who was unemployed at the time, received hers 2 weeks after her application.

On average, the regular processing time is about 2-4 weeks.

You can already apply for your Schengen visa as early as 6 months from your intended travel date. Note that a month before your travel date is already cutting it too close!

I wrote a separate blog post explaining how to write an effective cover letter .

My expenses as of March 2022:

Php 1,440 – Everything I paid for the Bank Certificate (usually Php 250 per certificate) and some pages of Bank statements. I have 4 accounts from 4 different banks

Php 2,890 – Travel insurance for 30 travel days

Php 5,966 – VIA Ph visa processing and handling

Total: Php 10,326

As I said, nothing will ever guarantee your approval because it’s on a case-to-case basis.

In my case, I already bought a ticket. I do not advise this though because it can be risky – you can do this only if the flight has flexible refundable terms, otherwise, I suggest you go for dummy flight bookings/reservations. Taking a screenshot of your desired flight also worked for some.

As required by the embassy, yes. Booking for accommodations also supports your submitted itinerary.

Luckily, booking accommodations have less financial commitments. There are a lot of flexible booking options out there where you won’t need to enter your card details yet or you can fully refund your money just in case. The most common platforms are Agoda, Booking.com, and Airbnb.

There’s no specific answer to this, but a safe amount would be at least 6-digits worth, not including airfare. Make sure that the amount reflects on your ADB (average daily balance).

Your spending allowance in Europe can reach up to Php7,000 to 10,000 per day including accommodation, so multiply this by the number of your travel days. Make sure you still have a ‘comfortable’ amount of money after your Eurotrip, as the officers will most likely factor that in. Blowing up all your money for the trip can be seen as a red flag.

If you have someone to sponsor your trip, the financial burden will shift to your sponsor so he/she will need to show financial capacity documentation and prepare a notarized Affidavit of Support (AOS).

Before applying for a Schengen tourist visa, it’s important to establish that you are a regular traveler first. The easiest way to do this is by traveling to the neighboring Asian countries because they don’t require visas and they’re relatively affordable destinations.

Is it possible to be approved even though it’s your first time traveling out of the country? Yes, it’s possible. Is it possible to be rejected even though you’ve already traveled to several countries? Yes, anything is possible.

Again, nothing guarantees anything. The approval of your visa depends on a lot of factors, but it pays off to build on the ones that can strengthen your application. Having a track record of traveling to different countries and not overstaying is definitely an advantage.

It depends on what your travel itinerary looks like. So make sure to create an itinerary that you’ll actually follow.

If you have a strong application, they can give you more than what you applied for. In my cover letter, I asked for a validity period of 15 days which is just enough to cover my trip. But they gave me 30 days validity instead.

Having a detailed itinerary shows that your travel days are organized and well-planned. It also implies that you’re more likely to stick through it. If you’re applying for a tourist visa, you should already have cities you’d like to visit in mind by now.

I wrote a creating-an-itinerary guide and template that you can use. Refer to item #11 on that blog post.

Yes. Schengen visa applications are assessed and treated individually .

For example, If you all have the same itinerary and accommodation bookings, make sure that each family member gets their own copies of the booking.

There are no internal borders within the Schengen territory so it’s technically doable. However, it’s advisable that you at least enter or leave the territory through the country that processed and approved your visa application, with respect to the embassy.

Weak rootedness – you are unemployed/newly resigned, there are no documents from your employers that you are on official leave and that you’ll be back working with them after your vacation leave / you have no business, etc.

Insufficient funds – the money you have doesn’t match how much you can potentially spend based on your detailed itinerary and activities, no track record of good financial standing, low average daily balance (ADB), etc.

Unsupported purpose of travel – your itinerary is not realistic, you don’t have accommodation bookings and no proof of tourism activities.

Honesty is the best policy.

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Cover letter sample for Business Visa

March 27, 2019

EMBASSY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

< your name>

< your city>

Subject: Subject: Puja XXXXXXX, Indian Passport No: XXXXXX, Schengen Visa for Visit Friend/Family

I <your name> have been invited by our partner company XYZ to attend a series of business meetings scheduled to take place in Frankfurt, Germany. The business tour will commence on 9 th of April, 2019 and end on 25th May, 2019. I will depart from Frankfurt, Germany to New Delhi, India on December 26. The total duration of my business trip is 7 weeks and 4 days.

My details are mentioned below.

Name Passport No.            Date and Place of issue     Date of expiry

Following documents have also been attached to support my application:

Bank statement of last six months

Invitation letter

Passport copy

Company bank statement of the last 6 months.

I request you to kindly issue me a single entry visa.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully,

<your name>

Cover Letter Sample for Medical Visa

Cover letter sample for Medical Visa

Subject: Subject: Puja XXXXXXX, Indian Passport No: XXXXXX, Schengen Medical Visa

I would like to apply for a Schengen Medical Visa upon the recommendation of my doctor XYZ for treatment at Germany’s LMN hospital. The Schengen Visa is required from April 9 to April 24, 2019.

I was diagnosed with PQR. I’ve sent my reports to Mr. DEF and he has agreed to treat me.

I’ve made all payments in advance whereas my employer has also granted me leave against the aforementioned date.

Hospital acceptance letter

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Flight Itinerary For Visa We provide verifiable flight reservation, hotel bookings and travel insurance for your visa application for any country without buying actual ticket.

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We at Flight Itinerary For Visa simplify the visa documentation process for you by providing verifiable documents at market competitive prices. Our services include Flight Reservation/Itinerary , Hotel Bookings or Proof of Accommodation , and Travel Medical Insurance . We also provide free templates for cover letters , sponsorship letters and invitation letters . Besides, we offer these services having a quality second to none. In case of any query, read our FAQs section and if the ambiguity persists, feel free to contact us through our 24/7 Live Chat Box.

Furthermore, we provide in-depth peep to our audience regarding ever-evolving and ever-changing visa’s rules and policies through our Blog section. If you want to have proper acquaintance with visa policies, visa documentation, visa requirements or any other related topic, just click on our Blog section and type the keyword (s) in the search box to get detailed answers to your queries.

Want to get flight itinerary, hotel bookings and travel insurance for visa application? We at Flight Itinerary For Visa can get it done for you on very short period of time anywhere in the world. Acquire verifiable documents for your visa application from us to save both your hard-earned money and time. 

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Schengen visas.

Schengen Visum, © colourbox

Please note that processing of Schengen visa applications will take approx. 14 calendar days from the day of application.

Your application must be submitted personally at VFS Global in Manila or Cebu . Once you have obtained all necessary documents, please register for an appointment here .

Incomplete applications will be decided by the Embassy on the basis of the documents that were submitted, and may be rejected. The processing time of your visa application will be shorter if your documents are complete upon submission of the application.

Please include one set of copies of your supporting documents with the print-out of your application form, along with the original documents.

Please submit the following documents for your application, one original with one copy of each original in paper format A4:

• Your valid passport. Please note: Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your return from Germany.
• One print-out of your duly filled and signed application form which must to be downloaded here .
• Two biometrical passport photos, with one glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.
• Visa fee 80 Euro, payable in PHP (40 Euro for applicants from 6-12 years; no fees for applicants under 6 years and for spouses or minor children of German or EU nationals)
• Invitation letter
• Proof of the financial coverage of the cost of your stay: Your original bank certificate and bank statements for the last six months or your host’s formal obligation according to §§ 66-68 AufenthG by the local immigration authority = (“Ausländerbehörde”)
• Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines: Work contract and bank account statements showing the transfer of your last six monthly salaries (if you are employed), proof of your registration and commercial activity of your company as well as income tax returns and bank account statements for the last six months (if you are self-employed) or school certificate / proof of enrollment (if you are a pupil or student). Please submit the original land title, if you own a property. If you are married and / or have minor children: Please submit PSA marriage / birth certificates.
• Travel History: If you already travelled to a Schengen country, please submit a copy of your Schengen visas
• If you are a first time traveler to Germany, please submit an informal declaration explaining your willingness to return to the Philippines before the expiration of your visa: What exactly will be an incentive for you to return to the Philippines and can you submit proofs for these circumstances?
• Proof of your travel health insurance. For a list of companies which meet the minimum requirements, please see here: Recommended List of Insurance Companies PDF / 110 KB . If you choose a travel insurance from a different company, the insurance documents must show that all the listed requirements are met.

Additional documents for children (minors):

• Personal appearance of the parent(s) having the legal custody, with their passports or identity cards. If a parent with legal custody lives abroad and cannot appear at the Embassy: Written declaration of consent from that parent, with an authentication of his signature by the German Embassy competent for his residence or by a local German authority.
• If the child’s parents were married and one parent is deceased: PSA death certificate
• If the child’s parents were married and if one parent has the sole custody: Divorce or Annulment court order stating the court’s decision concerning the legal custody
• PSA birth certificate of the child

Please note:

Birth certificates must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Please visit either PSA Helpline or PSA Serbilis for further information. The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign documents which were neither issued in the Philippines nor in Germany must be legalized or have an apostille.

Documents which are not in German or English language need to be translated by a recognized translator. For details, please see here

Please note that the Embassy can request further documents.

If a child (minor) is travelling without the parent(s) having the legal custody, a travel permit may be necessary. Please contact the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after you receive the visa.

After receiving the visa, please inform yourself regarding possible exit requirements on the part of Philippine authorities and bear in mind that the Embassy can offer neither advice nor support in this matter.

• Visa fee 80 Euro, payable in PHP (no fees for spouses or minor children of German or EU nationals)
• Official invitation letter with letter head of the company in Germany explaining the purpose of your travel
• If you are travelling on behalf of your employer / company: Company letter confirming purpose of business travel. Additionally: if a Philippine company is funding the trip: covering letter with original bank certificate (statements not needed) of the company’s bank account (not the applicants’).

If the inviting German organisation / company is covering the cost: covering letter stating that all costs will be borne by the German company according to § 66-68 AufenthG (German Aliens Act)

• Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines: Confirmation of employment with salary (if you are employed) or proof of your registration and commercial activity of your company as well as income tax returns and bank account statements for the last six months on bank paper (if you are self-employed). Please submit the original land title, if you own a property. If you are married and / or have minor children: Please submit PSA marriage / birth certificates. If you already travelled to a Schengen country, please submit a copy of your Schengen visas.

Documents which are not in German or English language need to be translated by a recognized translator. For details, please see here .

• Itinerary, preferably handwritten, stating only the places and durations of stay (i.e. Berlin 28.10. – 05.11.2023; Amsterdam 05.11. – 08.11.2023) and corresponding hotel reservations. The itinerary and the hotel reservations must be consistent with your actual travel plan.
• Proof of the financial coverage of the cost of your stay: Your original bank certificate and bank statements for the last six months or a formal obligation according to §§ 66-68 AufenthG with a confirmation of the declarant’s financial capacity by the local Immigration (“Ausländerbehörde”)
• Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines: Work contract and bank account statements showing the transfer of your last six monthly salaries (if you are employed), proof of your registration and commercial activity of your company as well as income tax returns and bank account statements for the last six months (if you are self-employed) or school certificate / proof of enrollment (if you are a pupil or student). Please submit the original land title, if you own a property. If you are married and / or have minor children: Please submit PSA marriage / birth certificates. If you already travelled to a Schengen country, please submit a copy of your Schengen visas.
• If you are a first time traveller to Germany, please submit an informal declaration explaining your willingness to return to the Philippines before the expiration of your visa: What exactly will be an incentive for you to return to the Philippines and can you submit proofs for these circumstances?

Additional documents for children who are less than 18 years old :

If a child is travelling without the parent(s) having the legal custody, a travel permit may be necessary. Please contact the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after you receive the visa.

Visitors or exhibitors of fairs

• Two biometrical passport photos, with one glued to each application form. The second photo will be returned to you.

If you are an exhibitor: Exhibitor’s Pass or confirmation letter of the fair that you are registered as an exhibitor

If you are a visitor of the fair: Entry Pass and a confirmation letter from at least one exhibitor of that fair regarding your business appointment with him at the said fair

• Promotional or informational material of the fair
• Documents regarding the economic activity of your company, which must be related to the respective fair, for example your company’s information brochure for your clients
• Proof of accommodation

If you are travelling on behalf of your employer / company: Company letter confirming purpose of business travel.

Proof of funds:

If a Philippine company is funding the trip: covering letter with original bank certificate (statements not needed) of the company’s bank account (not the applicants’).

• Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines: Work contract and bank account statements on bank paper showing the transfer of your last six monthly salaries (if you are employed) or proof of your registration and commercial activity of your company as well as income tax returns and bank account statements for the last six months on bank paper (if you are self-employed). Please submit the original land title, if you own a property. If you are married and / or have minor children: Please submit PSA marriage / birth certificates. If you already travelled to a Schengen country, please submit a copy of your Schengen visas.

Seamen (only for boarding a ship in Germany which travels in international waters)

• Your valid passport. Please note: Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the expiry date of your visa.
• Visa fee 80 Euro, payable in PHP

POEA Employment certificate and guarantee letter from the local German shipping agency, confirming vessel name, port of embarkation and that it will assume all costs that may occur during your travel, both not older than 12 months

The crew list

Seaman’s book

Proof of your travel health insurance for the duration of your first stay in Germany. For a list of companies which meet the minimum requirements, please see here . If you choose a travel health insurance from a different company, the insurance documents must show that all the listed requirements are met.

Declaration of Travel Health Insurance filled and signed by the seaman, which can be downloaded here

• Copies of previous Schengen visas
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