1. What is a concept of Schengen Countries / Schengen Zone?

Schengen Area, named after “the Schengen Agreement” signifies a zone where 26 different European nations, acknowledged the abolishment of their internal borders with other member nations and outside, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, goods, services, and capital, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting criminality by strengthening common judicial system and police cooperation.
This has made ease for passengers to travel to any one or several Schengen countries on a single visa issued by any one Schengen member country. Borders of these countries only exist on Map but in reality in terms of visas these are borderless countries, it is like moving within the same country.

2. List of 26 Schengen Countries?

List of 26 Schengen countries is as below

• 1 Austria
• 2 Belgium
• 3 Czech Republic
• 4 Denmark
• 5 Estonia
• 6 Finland
• 7 France
• 8 Germany
• 9 Greece
• 10 Hungary
• 11 Iceland
• 12 Italy
• 13 Latvia
• 14 Lithuania
• 15 Luxembourg
• 16 Malta
• 17 Netherlands
• 18 Norway
• 19 Poland
• 20 Portugal
• 21 Slovakia
• 22 Slovenia
• 23 Spain
• 24 Sweden
• 25 Switzerland
• 26 Liechtenstein

3. If passenger is travelling to various Schengen countries in one journey, then from which country visa needs to be applied?

In such cases, criteria to apply visa will depend on First Port of entry / Maximum Duration of stay / Main Purpose of Travel, below examples will make this point more clear
a) Criteria of First Port of Entry applies - If Passenger is travelling to France, Greece, Switzerland & Germany & his First Port of entry is Paris, France & Duration of stay is equal in all 4 countries then, as his First Port of entry is France, visa has to be applied from France.
b) Criteria of Maximum duration of stay applies - If Passenger is travelling to France, Greece, Switzerland & Germany & his First Port of entry is Paris, France & but his duration of stay is maximum in Greece then even though First port of entry is France as he is staying for maximum no. of Days in Greece, visa has to be applied from Greece & not France
c) Criteria of Main Purpose of Travel applies - If Passenger is travelling to France, Greece, Switzerland & Germany & his First Port of entry is Paris, France & Duration of stay is equal in all 4 countries but his main purpose is to attend Conference which is happening in Germany & also to visit other countries for Tourism purpose then here even though First port of Entry is France, Main purpose of his travel lies in Germany & hence German visa has to be applied

4. Is it necessary to have Personal Appearance for Visa submission?

from 02nd November 2015, Schengen Countries have started Biometrics process for visa submission, so every applicant has to go personally to VFS (Visa Facilitation Center), a body appointed by Consulates OR in some countries directly he has to visit Consulate/Embassy for completing Biometrics procedure i.e. to capture Finger Printing, palm printing, Live photo.

5. Is biometrics being one Time process?

As per the Standard Rule set by Schengen authorities, Biometrics is valid for 59 months & it is applicable for all Schengen countries & it can be easily identified from VIS remark on your visa issued after your First biometrics done, so if you have completed your Biometrics earlier for Schengen visa after 02nd November 2015 then you need not do it again for your subsequent Schengen visa application.
But here again few countries will require applicant to come every time for Biometrics whenever they apply irrespective of criteria of 59 months OR few countries follow 59 months’ criteria but may call passenger for Biometrics again if there is some problem in Biometrics details captured in Visa Information System
So it is better that you check with our chillontrip Visa Expert team before you apply for your visa.

6. Where we can get details of Locations of VFS Centers & Consulates / Embassy?

Please get in touch with our chillontrip visa Team, they will provide you all necessary details.

7. Whether all Schengen countries have VFS presence?

Majority of Schengen countries operate through VFS but still there are few countries which don’t have presence of VFS in those cases, Passengers will have to go personally to respective Consulate / Embassy office for completing Biometrics process
Lithuania, Poland & Slovakia don’t have VFS presence, they operate directly from Consulate/Embassy

8. Do we need to take prior appointment for Visa OR we can go as Walk in?

Yes prior appointment is a must before you go to VFS Center/Consulate/Embassy, Appointment can be taken from VFS Site & countries which are not supported by VFS then directly from their consulate’s site. Passengers can’t go as Walk in for Visa submission.

9. Can I go to any VFS Center for Biometrics?

Schengen Countries consulates follow Visa Jurisdiction (Geographical Coverage of each Consulate), Place of Residence of Applicant continuously for last 6 months will decide his jurisdiction for Visa & then he can go to any VFS Center which is falling under his Visa Jurisdiction, below examples will throw more light on this
a) If Applicant is based in Mumbai & for some work / meeting he has travelled to Delhi & wants to apply for France visa, in this case as passenger is residing in Mumbai, his jurisdiction for Visa is Mumbai & not Delhi & hence even though France VFS Centers are present in both Delhi & Mumbai, he has to apply for his visa from Mumbai VFS center & not Delhi
b) If applicant’s passport is issued from Mumbai but for last 6 months he is staying in Chennai wants to apply for France Visa, in this case as he is based in Chennai for last 6 months, his visa jurisdiction is Chennai & hence he has to apply visa from Chennai VFS & not Mumbai VFS
c) Countries which have only one Embassy in New Delhi, they don’t have any jurisdiction in such cases Applicant can go to any VFS Center nearby to his residence.

10. If I am in possession of valid Multiple entry Schengen visa on my old passport, then whether can I travel by carrying my both passports?

This will vary from Country to Country, some Schengen countries will allow Applicant to travel by carrying both Old & New passport, if visa is valid on Old passport & some countries will require applicant to transfer the visa from Old passport to New passport.
We suggest you check with our chillontrip Expert team on this before you travel.

11. If Long Term Multiple entry visa is valid on my current passport before Biometrics process started?

In this case, you can very well travel on that visa even though it was issued before biometrics process started.

12. What are the different types of Schengen Visa?

"C" visa (Short Term Visa):  which is for a stay up to 90 days per 180 days in Schengen area, it can be issued for Tourism, Business, Transit, Family Visit etc. depending upon your travel.  The visas can be issued either as single, double or multiple entry visa. The double or multiple entry visas can only be granted for frequent travellers (Will be at the discretion of Consulate, depending upon Previous Travel History of Applicant)
National "D" visa: long term visa for a stay over 90 and up to 365 days. Please note that the national visa allows to stay in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days per each 180 days.
The National visa is usually granted as multiple entry visa.

13. What is Transit Visa?

If passenger is travelling to any Third country and transiting through an Airport in Schengen territory will require to take Airport Transit Visa (A) Category, provided he does not need to clear Immigration & does not leave International Transit Area, but if for any reason if applicant wants to clear Immigration then He has to take Short Term Category (C) Visa Passengers who are in possession of Valid Multiple entry visas to USA/Canada can transit without Visa through Schengen Airport but it is always advisable to check whether Transit Visa will be required or not as this will depend on so many factors like How many hours you have a transit halt, Which Airline you are travelling, whether you are changing Airports / Terminals / If you come out of the Airport etc.
We suggest you check on this with our chillontrip expert Team.

14. Whether visa process is common for all Schengen countries?

Visa process is common in almost for all Schengen countries but as far as Visa Form is concerned some Schengen countries require applicants to lodge online Application form on their website & other few countries will accept Manual (Handwritten Forms) but rest of the process will remain same.
List of Schengen countries which require Online Application

• Belgium
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Greece
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia

15. Visa for Iceland & Liechtenstein is processed from where?

Iceland & Liechtenstein don’t have separate consular Missions in India, Visas for Iceland will be processed by Denmark Embassy & visas for Liechtenstein will be processed through Switzerland Embassy. Visa forms & requirements applicable for Iceland & Liechtenstein will be same as applicable for Denmark & Switzerland respectively.

16. What options are available for collection of passport?

 

There are 2 options for Collection of passports
i) Counter Collection - Applicant will have to go personally to respective VFS Center for collection of passport OR he can authorize any other person in his blood relation to collect on his behalf.
ii) Courier Collection – Applicant can opt for Courier facility where VFS will dispatch the passport to either Customer’s Residence address OR Office address at additional cost.
Most of the Schengen Missions don’t allow Travel agents or Third parties to collect the passport on behalf of their clients.

17. What is Mobile Biometrics facility?

Mobile Biometrics facility has been introduced by VFS for convenience of passengers, here if Applicant does not want to visit to VFS Center, then he can opt for this facility where he can give his Biometrics at his own residence or office at convenient date & time, where he needs to make prior booking by sending mail to VFS & then VFS team will come to his place & complete Biometrics process.
This facility is chargeable.

18. How many days before can I apply for my Schengen Visa?

Maximum 3 months before your travel date, Applicant can apply for Schengen visa, before that it will not be possible to apply for Visa.

19. What is the Processing Time for Schengen visa?

Processing time may differ from Country to Country but generally Schengen Visa takes around 15 Working Days to process excluding the day of submission at VFS