What is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area.
Schengen visas come in 3 forms:
- single-entry visa – allowing you to enter the Schengen area once;
- multiple-entry visa – allowing several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid;
- airport transit visa – allows you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights. It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.
To visit Europe, you’ll need to meet the requirements for a Schengen visa, which allow you to
visit 29 EU and Schengen member countries without additional visas:
- Passport: A valid passport that’s valid for at least three months after your departure from the Schengen area
- Visa application form: A completed and signed application form
- Photo: A recent photo that meets ICAO standards
- Medical insurance: Insurance that covers emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation
- Supporting documents: Documents that show your purpose of stay, financial means, accommodation, and intention to return home
- Fingerprints: Your fingerprints will be collected unless you’re exempt
Other requirements may include:
- A photocopy of previous passports and visas
- A travel reservation or return ticket
- A work certificate and salary, plus three recent bank statements
- Proof of family relationship if you’re staying with a family member
- Proof of housing conditions if you’re staying with a family member
VISA REQUIREMENTS:
If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa, you need to provide the Embassy with:
1 – Application form – The form should be completed legibly in capital letters and signed by
the applicant or in case of children under 15, by the legal guardian. Two signatures are needed
at the application form in respective parts (field no. 37, and the final part of the form). Each
applicant must present a SEPARATE APPLICATION FORM and a SEPARATE SET OF
DOCUMENTS even for children travelling on a parent’s passport!
More information on how to obtain an application form.
Arrival/departure dates mentioned in the application form must be IDENTICAL to those
mentioned in all supporting documents (e.g. Travel Insurance, Proof of Transport, Invitation,
Accommodation). Two signatures of the applicant are required on the third page of the
application form.
2 – Passports – The current passport must be valid for a minimum of 90 days beyond the
validity of the requested visa. Applicants who do not have a residence permit in Pakistan must
apply for a visa in their home country. Please, kindly bring also all your previous Pakistani
passports.
The current passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and it must have a
minimum of 2 blank visa pages in order to affix the visa.
Remark: As from the 19th of July 2013, pursuant to Article 5 §1 of the Schengen Borders
Code, note that third-country nationals, both those who require a visa and those who do not,
when travelling for intended stays of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days in the
Schengen area, must hold a valid travel document satisfying the following criteria:
· its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from
the territory of the Member States or, in the case of several visits, after the last
intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States.
· it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.
The applicant must also provide a photocopy of the passport data page.
3 – One recent passport photograph (with light/ideally white background, not dark! size:
not smaller than 3,5cm x 4,5cm, with proper position of the face – please attach your
photograph with glue, do not staple).
4 – Relevant supporting documents (for the list see below)
5 – The applicable current visa fee – information on exact visa fees
In accordance with the Schengen current legal regulations which relate to
administrative charges, a visa fee is charged at the time of submission of an application for a
Schengen visa. The fee is non-refundable even in the case of a visa not being granted
or an issued visa not being used for any reason. The fee has to be paid only in EUR. The
Embassy receives the fee only in cash.
6 – Fingerprints – The Embassy collects fingerprints of all visa applicants, with following
exemptions:
· children under age of 12 years
· persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible
Further exemptions given in the Visa Code are irrelevant for the applicants at the Embassy:
7 – Proof of valid travel insurance and receipt – Applicants must provide their travel
insurance certificate, the receipt and the Terms and Conditions pages. Quotations for
insurance are not taken as proof of cover. The insurance should state that it covers all medical
expenses including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation for the period of your stay
in the Schengen area. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Member
States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay. The certificate should state the
name of the person/s covered, the period of cover and the level of cover. The insurance
certificate must be brought with you as the policy number alone will also not be taken as
proof of cover. The insurance company must be registered in either Pakistan or the Schengen country. The minimum coverage is 30 000 EUR.
Supporting documents to be submitted BY ALL APPLICANTS:
1 – Proof of residence:
· for Pakistani Nationals: copy of Pakistani identity card (CNIC);
· for non-Pakistani Nationals: proof of legal residence in Pakistan as appropriate (such
as long stay visa, and/or residence or work permit);
2 – Proof of means of transport:
· flight reservation of air ticket (return or round trip) from/to Pakistan and the Member
State of destination;
· if trips include several stops in the territory of the Member States, reservations of
intra-Schengen itinerary (train, flights, car rental);
3 – Proof of lodging:
· reservation of accommodation for the entire duration of the stay in the territory of the
Member States (hotel, aparthotel, holiday home, camping, youth hostel); or
· if residing with family, friends and sponsor, proof of sponsorship and/or private
accommodation with the exact address specified; it is advisable to have the proof of
sponsorship and/or private accommodation by the Immigration Authority (the
formal form can be obtained by your host at his local town authorities Schengen country.
4 – Proof of financial means and ties to the country of residence:
4.1 Family Registration Certificate (FRC) issued in English by NADRA (Pakistan National
Database and Registration Authority), including all members of your closest family.
4.2 Main proofs of financial means
· bank statements showing movements in at least last six months, duly signed and
stamped by the bank (the statement/s must show your name and address and the
statement date should be less than 15 days old at the time of your application; the final
balance should reflect the real financial situation of the applicant); if submitting a
company’s bank statement, do not forget to enclose also your personal bank account
statement (covering transactions of at least last 6 months);
· National Tax Number Certificate (or proof of exemption if applicable); and
· Federal Board of Revenue acknowledgement of tax returns for the last two fiscal years
before the application date;
or, if one of the above cannot be produced,
· other proof, supported by documents, of income generating assets or other means of
subsistence as applicable;
Please note: Cash will not be accepted as proof of funds.
4.3 Additional and specific proof of financial means or ties with country of residence,
depending on the status of the applicant:
If the applicant is employed:
· payslips for at least last three months before the application date;
· copy of the employment contract;
· an employer’s letter (NOC) stating the approval for leave of absence, specifying the
dates of absence, position and salary of the employee, duration of employment,
purpose of absence, contact number of employer.
If the applicant is a company owner or self-employed:
· certificate of registration of the company;
If the applicant is a civil servant/government employee:
· Non Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Administration/public service
employing the applicant stating the dates of the intended visit (for travel others than
those for official purposes – see point 2);
If the applicant is retired:
· pension statements for at least the last six months;
If the applicant is sponsored:
· proof of sponsorship;
If the applicant is a dependent from another applicant:
· if the proof of family relationship cannot be established by the Family Registration
Certificate (FRC) required under point 4.1, proof of family relationship through
national civil status records;
If the applicant is a minor travelling with one or none of the parents/legal guardians:
· birth certificate with official translation in English (i.e. done by official translator)
showing both parents’ names;
· proof of consent by one (if travelling with the other except in case of a single parent
having sole duly attested custody or guardianship) or two parents in an affidavit with
details of the planned trip and name of sponsors/guardians during the trip – verified
signature of the parent/s is obligatory;
· copy of the non-travelling parent(s) Pakistani identity card(s) (CNIC(s)) and
passport(s);
· proof of enrolment at school and the NOC from the school with exact dates of travel;
· copy of the Court order establishing family relationship or guardianship for the
purpose of the intended detailed trip (when applicable);
If the applicant is a student:
· proof of enrolment at university and student’s card;
· Non Objection Certificate (NOC) from the University stating exact dates of travel of
the student.
Documents to be submitted (in extra to those listed above) depending on the purpose of travel:
Business:
· invitation on company/organisation letterhead (or even better an official invitation on
the form provided by the Czech Immigration Authority) detailing identity of person
invited (name, position), purpose of visit (e.g. meetings, conference, factory visits);
dates and itinerary; and
· documentary evidence of business relationship (copies of invoices, shipments,
correspondence); or
· in case of participation in commercial fairs: entry tickets and/or stall booking with
payment receipt; or
· in case the trip is intended for media reportage, copy of press card, letter of sending
media organisation detailing purpose of the trip and name of journalist (s) or, for free-
lance journalists, evidence of professional activities.
Tourism and Visit Family and Friends:
· proof of sponsorship / invitation (originally signed) – it is advisable to have the proof
of sponsorship / invitation by the Czech Immigration Authority (the formal form can
be obtained by your host at his local town authorities in Czech Republic); and
· photocopy of both sides of the inviting person’s ID or
passport copy and copy of residence permit if your host is not Czech; and
· if the applicant is visiting a close relative, proof of family relationship through copy of
the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) issued by NADRA (Pakistan National
Database and Registration Authority), proof of family relationship through national
civil status records; and
· if the applicant is the spouse of the intended visited person, marriage certificate (Nikah
Nama) and Marriage Registration Certificate issued in English, by Union Council of
residence, or other proof as applicable for religious minorities
· in case the applicant intends to visit more Schengen countries, travel plan.
Incentive package tours
· letter of organising entity (company, department, association, academic institution,
etc.) detailing the objective of the incentive package tour, conditions that have been
met by beneficiaries (and indication whether or not beneficiaries include dependents)
as well as a definitive list of participants, stating for each name, surname and date of
birth as in passport.
Short term study, research or internship and practical trainings
· letter of receiving organisation (academic institute or enterprise) stating the duration
(exact dates) of the studies, internship or practical trainings, topic of study or research,
and in the case of internships and practical trainings, name and position of the mentor;
· proof of affiliation or employment (letter and student card from an academic or
research institution, or letter from employing company stating the purpose of
internship or practical trainings); and
· proof of personal income or income of the parents or other means of subsistence as
stated above (see part Supporting documents to be submitted BY ALL
APPLICANTS).
Sports competitions
· letter on official letterhead of the national federation featuring information on the
competitor/athlete, including his/her Pakistani Identity Card (CNIC) number, his/her
national ranking, mentioning the sport event where participation is intended, and/or
names and position of people accompanying competitor/athlete if applicable;
· invitation to participate from organizers located in the territory of the Member States
and evidence of enrolment in the event and programme;
· evidence of insurance covering a sports event, covering potential injuries incurred
during training or competition.
Medical treatment
· medical certificate from a medical doctor or medical institution stating the need for a
specific treatment to be received in an establishment located in the territory of the
Member States; and/or
· an attestation stating the need for the treatment to be delivered by the physician
accredited with/or designated by the Member State consulate and whose consultation
fees will be paid by the applicant;
· letter on official letterhead from the receiving medical establishment confirming that
the specific treatment can be performed on the patient who had given his/her consent
accordingly;
· proof of sufficient financial means to cover the expected comprehensive treatment and
proof of pre-payment of the expected comprehensive treatment if applicable;
· correspondence between the sending and receiving medical practitioners or
establishment describing the arrangements made for the specific medical treatment
including expected arrival of the patient and expected duration of the treatment, as
well as describing the name of the patient’s attendant(s) if applicable as well as
facilities extended to them during the stay of the patient; and
· in case of transplants, certificate of registration on the national list of patients awaiting
transplants, issued by the surgical team who intends to undertake the operation.
Official Fee:
As of 11 June 2024, the fee for a Schengen visa has raised from EUR 80 to EUR 90 for adults and from EUR 40 to EUR 45 for children aged six to below 12 years. The fee for nationals of Cabo Verde under the corresponding visa facilitation agreement has increased from EUR 60 to EUR 67,50. Visa fees under other visa facilitation agreements remain the same EUR 35.
However codified EU code /law applies over all EU States in terms of visa policy/rules, however there might be some different requirements varies each EU country to country.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to schedule of appointment for free consultation session with our Immigration Lawyer for handling your planned visit.
