Basic documents

The basic documents are as follows:

Passport: a passport, the validity of which must exceed that of the visa by three months

Form: completed visa form

Insurance: valid travel insurance

Business: (a) invitation from a firm or an authority to attend meetings, conference or events connected with trade, industry or work, (b) other documents which show the existence of trade relations or relations for work purposes or (c) entry tickets to fairs or congresses.

Tourism or private visit: invitation from the host if staying with one or supporting document from the establishment providing lodging or any other appropriate document indicating the type of accommodation.

Training: certificate of enrolment at a teaching institute for the purposes of attending vocational or theoretical course in the framework of basic and further training.

Other: invitations, entry tickets, enrolments or programmes stating, wherever possible, the name of the host organisation and the length of stay or any other adequate document indicating the purpose of the visit such as a summons, a medical appointment or the proof of an organised trip.

Documents supporting the conditions of the trip

The applicant must also provide the document pertinent to the conditions of the intended trip:

Accommodation: hotel reservation, lease or title-deed, in the applicant's name, to a property situated in the country to be visited. Where the traveller states that he or she shall stay at a person's home, the Consulate shall verify whether the applicant will actually reside there, either by checking with the national authorities or by requiring that a certificate be presented which vouches for the commitment to accommodate.

Transport: airline return ticket, currencies for petrol or car rental.

Other documents

Visa applicants may have to provide evidence of social ties with his or her country, a proof of his or her professional status (work contract, attestation of leave) or a parental authorisation for minors travelling without their both parents.

Proof of funds

Available funds must me proportionate to the length and purpose of the trip and to the cost of living in the Schengen State(s) to be visited. To this end, most Schengen countries have set out daily reference amounts.