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VISA VAULT 
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European   Union  

  Service Options

  • Business Single

  • Business Single 

  • Business Multiple

  • E Visa - 3 days  

  • E Visa Tourist Single

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Greece

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What Documents are Required

for a Schengen Visa?

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The following list of documents are required for any general short-term Schengen visa application: These are subject to change on nationality of passport presented and Current pandemic Guidelines: Restrictions on movement may also be in place at local level - we advise you consult with your travel agent as to best routeings and access once inside the EU.

 

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  • Two recently taken photos must be attached. Both photos must be taken within the last three months, according to the visa photo requirements.

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  • A valid passport. Not older than 10 years and it should valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).

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  • Round trip reservation or itinerary. It must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use the visa consultation services like this one. These guys can handle most of your visa requirements such as flight itineraries, hotel reservations along with free consultation over email.

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  • Travel insurance policy. A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death. The Insurance policy can easily be purchased online from AXA SchengenMondial Care or Europe Assistance.

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  • Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This can be one of the following:

    • A hotel/hostel booking.

    • A rental agreement.

    • A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.

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  • Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen. This can be one of the following:

    • Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.

    • Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.

    • A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

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GET FLIGHT ITINERARY & HOTEL BOOKINGS FOR ANY VISA. FREE CONSULTATION.

Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, Schengen embassies around the world require some specific documents from the visa candidates depending on their employment status as well as several additional documents depending upon the type of Schengen visa applied for.

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General Visa Requirements According to Applicant’s Employment Status

Specific required documents, based on the visa applicant’s employment status are as following:

  • For employees:

    • Employment contract.

    • Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.

    • Leave permission from the employer.

    • Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

  • For the self-employed:

    • A copy of your business license.

    • Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.

    • Income Tax Return (ITR).

  • For students:

  • For retirees:

    • Pension statement of the latest 6 months.

  • If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

    • Confirmation of Employment letter, no older than three months, from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date.

    • Spouse’s valid passport.

    • An official marriage certificate.

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The 26 Schengen countries are;  

 

AustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandItaly, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, MaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSweden, and Switzerland.

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Note

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  • Four of them – members of the EFTA, implement Schengen acquis through specific agreements related to the Schengen agreement.

    • Currently, the Schengen Area consists of 26 member countries. All of these countries are located in Europe, from which:

    • 22 members fully implement the Schengen acquis,

  • Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are associate members of the Schengen Area but are not members of the EU. They are part of the EFTA and implement the Schengen acquis through specific agreements related to the Schengen agreement.

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  • Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City have opened their borders with, but are not members of the visa-free zone.

  • The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone even that they are located outside the European continent.

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  • There are five more EU members, that have not joined the Schengen zone: Ireland – which still maintains opt-outs and Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus – that are seeking to join soon.

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Tips - Schengen Process

Figure out which Schengen visa type you need

  • Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types:

  • Transit visa

  • Tourism visa

  • Visa for Visiting Family or Friends

  • Business visa

  • Visa for Culture and Sport activities

  • Visa for Official Visits

  • Study visa

  • Visa for Medical Reasons

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Find out where you need to apply

  • Depending on how your destination country in Schengen has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, you will have to file your Schengen visa application at one of the following:

    • Their embassy

    • One of their consulates

    • A visa centre to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission

    • The embassy / consulate of another Schengen state to which the embassy                                                                           of your destination country has outsourced visa submission

  • By your “destination country”, we mean the country where you need to lodge your application, according to the Schengen rules.

  • These rules are as follows:

  • If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy / consulate / visa centre of that country

  • If you are going to visit more than 2  Schengen countries, file your application as follows :

    • At the embassy / consulate / visa centre of the country where you will spend most days, if you will be spending unequal amount of days in each

    • At the embassy / consulate / visa centre of the country where you will step first, if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each

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Best time to book an appointment

  • Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates worldwide need to process a Schengen visa, you have an appointed period within which you can file your visa application.

  • The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as following:

  • The earliest you can file a visa application: six months before you start your planned trip.

  • The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.

  • The recommended time to file a visa application: at least three weeks before your trip.

  • Book a Schengen visa appointment in order to proceed with your application.

  • Most of the countries give you the chance to book an appointment online. On the other hand, in others you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.

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Complete application

  • Download the application form and fill it correctly and honestly.

  • The Schengen visa application form has the same format no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.

  • You will have to give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:

  • Your personal information,

  • Information on your background,

  • Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area,

  • Other details regarding your trip.

  • In order to complete and submit the form correctly, pay attention to the following tips:

  • Download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.

  • Make sure you fill out every required gap. Here you can find some clear instructions on how to fill-in the visa application form.

  • Do not leave any columns blank. If you feel that, there are columns that do not correspond to your case, fill them with NA (No Answer).

  • Remember to print the form twice. Sign both of the copies at the end.

  • If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

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Gather Your documents

  • The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. Usually, these documents are categorized into two groups.

  • The first group is of the standard required documents, which include:

  • The visa application form.

  • Valid passport.

  • Two identical photos.

  • Travel insurance policy. You can easily purchase it online from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.

  • Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.

  • Proof of accommodation.

  • Proof of financial means, etc.

  • The other group is of the visa specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other. In addition, some of the Schengen member states have their own extra requirements for visa applicants.

  • Check our list of documents required for the Schengen visa application, which includes the standard requirements, as well as the visa-specific requirements for each visa type.

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Attend interview

  • On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the facility where you will be interviewed.                                             There you will meet a visa consular to whom you need to hand the collected documents, as required.

  • During the interview, you will be asked personal questions about your whereabouts, the intended trip and other travel details. Make sure your answers are firm and correct, and that they comply with the information in the application form and the other documents. The interview may last around 10-15 minutes.

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Pay - You will need to pay a non-refundable administration fee

  • The member countries have synchronized the visa fees; therefore, they are static and unchangeable until decided otherwise by the Schengen states.

  • Currently, a Schengen visa fee is €80 per person. Children and some other specific categories will have to pay either reduced fees or no fees at all, depending on their situation. Check the list of Schengen visa fees, their reductions and exemptions to see if you belong to any of those categories!

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0203 745 9798

The Elite Service  Group
P.O Box 52723, London, EC1P 1XQ
info@eliteconsular.co.uk

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