Schengen Visa from Pakistan and countries can you visit with it

From anywhere around the world, you can apply for a Schengen visa. The visa is the most common type of visa used for a short stay in Europe. 

You can explore twenty-six European countries with a single passport with this visa. Getting the visa of Schengen for your European vacation grants you 90 days of stay in Europe. Here is a list of best visa agents for Schengen in Pakistan.

 

So, let’s begin to know the unique features and services that Schengen visa offers to its holders. Before that, you should know about the Schengen area; it is a name given to refer to all 26 European countries who have signed to become part of this zone. 

 

 

These countries have abolished every kind of border restriction for free movement across all European countries for different purposes, and tourists have ease of general travelling across Europe.

 

Schengen covers an area of the European Union where people can travel freely across most European countries. It is the largest passport-free zone for member states citizens and non-EU nationals. Read Canada Immigration Process for Pakistan.

Due to pandemic and high covid rates in some countries, restrictions on entry and exit are subject to your approved vaccination and country-specific quarantine requirements. According to prevailing circumstances, the rules regarding visa approval can change for some countries.

The concerned visa allows travellers holding Schengen passports to stay in any of the Schengen European countries for 90 days from the date of entry. There are three Schengen visa categories: single, double, and multiple entry visas.

Single Entry 

You can enter the Schengen territory only once, and you cannot come back once you leave the Schengen area. 

Double Entry

You can return multiple times after leaving the Schengen zone, not exceeding the traveller allowed days in the Schengen area.

Multiple Entry

Thirdly multiple entry visa is flexible, and its holder enjoys the luxury to come back to Schengen country as many times as he likes after he leaves for as long as it does not exceed more than 180 days or the visa time limit allowed.

Importance of Schengen visa:

The value of a Schengen visa lies in the fact that you can live up to 90 days in any one of the twenty-six European countries of Schengen area without any formalities of crossing the border from one European country to another.

 

 

The most significant advantage of having a Schengen visa is that you have the liberty to enter, travel and leave any Schengen country at any time of your stay.

If you intend a more extended stay, more than 90 days, you will have to apply for a national visa of that country and not a Schengen visa.

All member countries of the Schengen zone issue Schengen visa as follows

• Austria

• Czech Republic

• Finland

• Germany

• Hungary

• Italy

• Liechtenstein

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Poland

• Slovakia

• Spain

• Switzerland

• Belgium

• Denmark 

• France

• Estonia

• Finland

• Greece

• Iceland

• Latvia

• Lithunania

• Malta

• Norway

• Sweden

• Polan

• Portugal

 

All citizens from third world countries need to obtain a visa before going to Europe. Non-EU /Schengen state citizens must present specific documents at the Schengen port of entry.

 

On arrival to the Schengen area, you need two documents to enter, a valid passport and a Schengen visa. Be careful and double-check that you obtain an entry stamp on your passport from the border officer during entry or exit; otherwise, you can face a fine later during passport checking later on.

You need to prepare a list of specific documents for entry in the Schengen area. Mainly the required documents depend on your purpose of access, duration of stay and visa type.

The following is the checklist of documents you need to have for any future travels concerning the Schengen area:

1. Visa application form

The visa application form needs to be completed and signed by the applicant 

2. Two Recent Passport Size Photos 

The visa application requires you recent passport size photos not older than three months

3. Round Trip Itinerary 

It must mention all the dates and flight numbers regarding entry and exit from the Schengen area.

4. Passport 

A valid passport including at least two empty pages  along with having validity of at least three remaining months after the concerned date you wish to leave the Schengen area 

5. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is essential for any medical emergency having at least 30,000 Euros coverage.

6. Accommodation Proof 

You need to prove where you will be staying throughout your stay in Schengen. You can provide hotel or hostel booking details, rental contract or host invitation letter at whose house you will be staying.

7. Proof of Financial Support 

You must prove you can bear your expenses throughout your stay in the Schengen area. You can verify through a bank account statement or sponsorship letter from anyone confirming that they will support your Schengen trip.

8. Proof of Paid Visa Fee 

The visa fees are usually 80 euros for adults and 45 euros for children aged 6 to 12 years old. There are several other documents needed depending on the employment status of visa applicant like for employees, students, retirees, unemployed, unmarried to EU national, some additional documents are required.

9. Traveller Biometrics 

Information like fingerprints to be provided for VIS (Visa Information system) for verification for providing Schengen Visa.

10. Previous Visa Copies

You will give previous visa copies of Schengen visa and passport for verification.

11. Schengen Cover Letter for Visa 

Cover letter explaining your intention and purpose for staying in Schengen country 

You have to file your application at the embassy or consulate of your destination country in which you plan to travel. If you intend to go to more than one Schengen state, submit your application at the concerned embassy, where you will stay longer or enter first.

Usually, the embassy takes ten working days to process your Schengen visa application, but it can take up to 2 months if there is some particular situation with the applicant’s case.

 

It is generally advisable to apply for a Schengen tourist visa two weeks before your international trip to the concerned country embassy.