Visa for Europe – Types, Application Procedure and More

If you intend to visit Europe for vacation, business, studies or any other reason, you will be required to apply for a suitable European visa as per the purpose of your visit. Visa is one of the most important travel documents to have in your travel bag before setting out for your destination European country. The visa application process for getting a Europe visa is quite simple but a bit lengthy. The type of your Europe visa and the application process will change not only as per the purpose of your visit but also the European country that you plan to visit. 

Types of European Visas

Europe comprises 44 different countries. Some of these countries can be visited with a Schengen visa while others will require you to get a separate visa specific to the country and the purpose of your visit. the Schengen region comprises 26 some of which are European countries. The countries that are a part of both the Schengen region and the European union can be visited using different types of Schengen visas which are explained below:

Uniform Schengen Visa (USV)

A USV allows the holder to stay in or transit through Schengen countries freely. The visa is valid for a maximum of 90-day-long stay in 6 months, counting from the entry date. There are two types of Uniform Schengen visa – category A and C:

Category A Uniform Schengen Visa

This visa allows the holder to pass through the Schengen countries’ international zones. It is also known as the Schengen airport transit visa. Holders of this visa can only pass through the Schengen international zones without entering the Schengen area to get to their final non-Schengen destination. 

Category C Uniform Schengen Visa

This is a short-term visitor visa allowing the holder to stay in the Schengen region for a short duration as per visa validity. Category C Uniform Schengen visas can be divided into three categories:

Single-entry Visa

The single-entry visa allows you to enter a Schengen state once for a limited time period. Once the visitors leave the country, this visa expires automatically even if the holder has not spent the entire allowed duration of their visa.

Europe Double-entry Visa

Double-entry visas allow the holders to enter the Schengen area twice. You can only visit the Schengen area again if your visa is still valid. It expires once you leave the state for the second time or if the allowed number of days have been exhausted.

Europe Multiple-entry Visa

You can travel to any Schengen country numerous times with a multi-entry Schengen visa. Your stay should not exceed 90 days for every 180 days. Multiple-entry Schengen visas come in three different validities – 1 year, 2 years and 3 years. 

Limited Territorial Validity Visa (LTVV)

LTV visa holders can enter only Schengen State that has issued their visa. Visitors will not be allowed to enter any other Schengen states not mentioned on their limited territorial validity visa. Holders of this visa are not allowed to transit from other Schengen states either. 

Category (D) National Visas

A National Visa is a “D” category visa applicable for long stays in Schengen countries. You can get a national Schengen visa if you wish to Schengen countries for studying, working or residing in one of the Schengen counties. Schengen national visas can be attained as a single entry, double entry or multiple entry visas.

Types of Schengen Visa as per Travel Purposes 

• Airport transit visa 
• Transit visa 
• Tourism visa
• Visa for visiting friends and family
• Business visa
• Official visit visa 
• Visa for medical reasons 
• Visa for study purposes
• Cultural, sports and film crew visa                 

Since several European countries are not a part of the Schengen area, you may have to obtain separate visas for your visit. Your choice of visa will depend on the country you are visiting and for what purpose. Countries like Armenia, Ukraine, Monaco, Ireland, Serbia, Turkey, etc. are not a part of the Schengen area and will require the visitor to get specialised visas for entry. 

Europe Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa

Visitors must have a valid travel insurance plan to get a Schengen visa for European countries. In addition to that several other European countries that are not a part of the Schengen area, for example Turkey, also require the visitors to get a travel insurance plan before entering. Let’s cover the requirements for mandatory Europe travel insurance for the Schengen visa. 

Travel Insurance for Europe Visa

As per the requirements set by Schengen visa authorities, every traveller planning to visit Schengen states must have a travel insurance plan with an emergency medical assured sum worth EUR 30000 at least. This travel insurance plan should be applicable to the entire Schengen region. Listed below are some other attributes that your Schengen travel insurance for Europe visa should have:

• Minimum medical coverage of at least EUR 30000 covering emergency medical treatment.
• Shall be valid throughout the Schengen area.
• Medical expenses, repatriation due to serious sickness and death should be covered.

If you buy comprehensive travel insurance for Europe visa, make sure that it covers all the necessary needs in addition to the mandatory requirements set by the visa authority. Following are some travel insurance benefits you can look out for in your Schengen travel insurance for Europe visa:

• Trip cancellation cover
• Flight delays and cancellation 
• Coverage for lost/stolen passports and luggage
• Trip curtailment cover   
• Personal liability cover
• Cover for lost or delayed checked-in baggage

The following factors may influence the cost of your Schengen travel insurance for Europe visa:

• Age:

Premium tends to be higher for older travellers purchasing a travel insurance plan.

• Comprehensiveness:

More comprehensive plans attract higher premium rates.

• Duration of Validity:

Plans with a greater number of vacation days cost higher than other plans.

How to Get Travel Insurance Online for Europe? 

You can buy travel insurance for a Europe visa online in a few simple steps using the official website of Policybazaar.ae. We have an abundance of top comprehensive travel insurance plans from several popular travel insurance companies in the UAE. You can easily research, compare and purchase your plans using our user-friendly unified platform. Simply follow the below mentioned steps to purchase Schengen travel insurance for a Europe visa from our website:  

• Fill out the lead form available on our official travel insurance page and submit it.
• You will be redirected to the quotes page once you submit the lead form. 
• Compare and choose a policy from the options on the quotes page as per your travel needs.
• Open the application form for the plan you choose and fill out the information required. 
• Choose the riders you want and provide the essential documents. Pay the premium and complete the purchase of your Schengen travel insurance for European visa.

Europe Visa Eligibility

Europe visa eligibility depends upon several components including your citizenship. If you are a UAE citizen with a valid UAE passport, then you can stay in European countries visa-free for up to 90 days within six months. Given below are some other conditions applicable to European visa eligibility:

• UAE passport holders who have previously been denied visa-free travel to the Schengen states cannot get visa-free entry. They must obtain a relevant visa for their stay. 
• Foreigners staying in UAE on a permanent or temporary residence permit must also get a relevant visa if:

1. They are citizens of a state with a visa-free regime agreement with Schengen but have been denied visa-free entry to Europe
2. They are nationals of a region that does not have a visa-free regime agreement with the Schengen countries

• All visitors must obtain the relevant visa if they wish to stay in Europe for more than 90 days. 
• Minors applying for Europe Schengen visas must obtain additional documents like No Objection Certificates signed by both parents, birth certificates, passports of parents, and more.

Documents Required for Europe Schengen Visa Application

The documents listed below are required for obtaining a Europe Schengen visa and other European visas: 

• Visa application form filled appropriately as per the type of visa you require
• Your original passport with validity of at least six months with  copies of all the passport pages that contain your personal information
• Two identical passport-size photographs taken within the last three months 
• Copy of Hotel Reservation as proof of accommodation. You can also provide an invitation letter from a host if you will be staying at friends’ or family members’ home 
• Documents of an appropriate Schengen travel insurance for Europe visa
• A medical certificate issued by your doctor within the last three months confirming you are healthy 
• Visa fee payment receipt 
• Your flight reservation details with return tickets
• Bank account statement for the past 3 months
• Sponsorship letter in case a host is sponsoring your trip 
• A cover letter describing the purpose of your visit to Europe and your travel itinerary for the trip 
• Copy of your Emirates ID

Additional Documents Required to Apply for European Student Visa

• No objection certificate from school or university
• Admission proof in a European university
• Fee receipts for the admission 
• Proof that you would be financially stable to afford the program:
  • Bank statement for last 3 months
  • Sponsorship papers
  • Scholarship documents, if any

Additional Documents Required for European Visa for Minors

• Birth certificate of the applicant
• Custody decree in case of single parent
• Consent letter in case child is travelling alone or with one parent

Additional Documents Required for Europe Transit Visa

• Flight ticket for the final destination
• Visa for the nation you are travelling to

Documents Required for Europe Visa to Visit Relatives and Friends

• Travel Itinerary
• Invitation letter by a friend or relative living in Europe
• Affidavit of support from your relative or friends in case you don't have enough funds to manage your expense during your visit to Europe

Documents Required for Europe Business Visa

• Employer's letter from home country (UAE in this case) 
• Invitation letter from the company you have business within Europe
• Bank statement for the last 6 months
• Job contract if you are a contractual worker 
• Your business license copy if you are self-employed 

How to Apply for a Europe Schengen Visa?

You can apply for your Europe Schengen visa by following the below-given steps:

• Figure out the location of the embassy or consulate of the country you need a visa. 
• Schedule an appointment for your visa application submission. Most embassies and consulates do not entertain visa applications without an appointment. 
• Visit the embassy/consulate as per your appointment, submit the application documents and get your visa interview scheduled. 
• Attend the interview as scheduled. 
• Wait for a response from the embassy. Collect your visa on the date allotted if your application is approved. 

Keep the below-mentioned things in mind when submitting your visa application:

• You must provide evidence of eligibility for the Schengen Europe visa you apply for. 
• All applicants over the age of 12 are required to schedule an appointment with the visa centre/embassy to complete the biometric enrolment process and submit their application documents in person.
• Incomplete, ambiguous, or unsigned applications may be rejected. Visa application costs are non-refundable and must be paid in cash at the time of application. 
• It will take around 15 days to process your Europe Schengen visa application. You will get a response from the embassy regarding your case once the application has been processed. 

Europe Schengen Visa Fees

Take a look at the fee structure of Europe Schengen Visa

How to Check European Visa Status?

Tracking your Europe Schengen visa application is quite simple. If you have applied for your Europe Schengen visa at one of the designated visa centres in the UAE, you can track your application status using the official website of the concerned centre. Use your visa application number and other required parameters to establish your identity to get the status of your visa application. In case of visas for European countries that are not a part of the Schengen region, you can check the status from the official website of the country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE, if available. Or, you can use the website and tracking portal of the authorised visa application centre you use for your application. Note that you can only use a certain tracking portal if you used it for your application. You may also receive an SMS or email confirming the submission of your visa application. These confirmation messages will contain a tracking link for your visa application. You can use this link to know the status of your European visa application status.

Conclusion

The type of visa you apply for will be determined based on the purpose of your visit: student, business, job, investment, family reunification, tourism etc. A valid Schengen insurance plan is mandatory to get your European Schengen visa and for several other European visas as well. You can apply for your visa at the appropriate embassy/consulate or the online application platforms of authorised visa centres in the UAE. Your Schengen travel insurance of Europe visa can be obtained online via our website Policybazaar.ae. make sure that your application is error-free and that all the required documents are present before submitting it. You can monitor the status of your Europe visa application via SMS or online at the official website by entering your reference number and last name. Policybazaar will help you apply for a Schengen visa for Europe in the UAE.

Policybazaar UAE – Helping you navigate the wilderness of the insurance world!

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