What are conditions for the granting of a Schengen visa?
Issuance of Schengen visas is regulated mainly by the Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), as well as by the bilateral visa facilitation agreements between the European Union and third countries.
In order to obtain the detailed and up-to-date information on conditions of submission of the application for a Schengen visa the competent diplomatic mission should be contacted. The general information below may not cover all visa requirements or exemptions applicable to the specific territory. The extent of supporting documents submitted with the visa application may vary, depending on the existing visa facilitation agreements, local conditions, and rules agreed on within the local Schengen cooperation of the Member States. Exemptions may apply to visa fees and deadlines for processing of the visa applications.
Schengen visas for family members of the citizens of EU/EEA and Swiss Confederation are granted under special and simplified conditions.
When should I apply for a Schengen visa?
A visa application should be submitted well in advance, but not earlier than 6 months before the start of the intended visit. The visa application should in principle be lodged at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit, taking into account the deadlines of the diplomatic mission for making a decision on the application.
The decision-making procedure may take up to 15 calendar days. In individual cases, where further scrutiny of the application is necessary, the deadline may be extended up to a maximum of 30 calendar days. Exceptionally, where additional documentation is required, the deadline may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days.
In case of the nationals of the third countries, which have concluded the visa facilitation agreements with the European Union, the decision on the visa application is made within 10 calendar days.
In case of the family members of the citizens of EU/EEA and Swiss Confederation, the decision on the visa application is made as soon as possible, in an accelerated procedure, within 10 calendar days.
Visa facilitation agreements:
Albania*, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (partially suspended from 12.11.2021), Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Moldova*, Montenegro*, North Macedonia*, Russia (suspended from 12.9.2022), Serbia*, Ukraine*
*Holders of biometric passports are exempt from visa obligation.
It is the applicant's responsibility to submit his application in time and to take the necessary precautions to respect the deadlines where an appointment system for submission of application is in place. When submitting visa application the applicant should also take into consideration that the diplomatic mission may need to carry out the prior consultations with central authorities of other Member States. The central authorities consulted shall reply within seven calendar days after being consulted.
Third countries whose nationals or specific categories of such third country nationals who are subject to prior consultation