OtterFillHow to fill in the Schengen visa application form
The Schengen visa application form is the single EU form you complete to apply for a short-stay visa, meaning a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Every traveller who needs a visa fills in and signs their own form and gives it to the consulate, or to the service provider the consulate uses, of the country they are visiting.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- Schengen visa
- Edition
- Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, as amended (uniform form with “Other” in field 8, in use since 28 June 2024)
- Issued by
- European Commission / Schengen States
- Form language
- English
- Who receives it
- The embassy or consulate of the competent Schengen country, or the service provider it uses
- Who fills it in
- Every traveller who needs a short-stay visa, each with their own form; a parent or legal guardian signs for a minor
- When to apply
- At least 15 calendar days before the trip and no more than 6 months before it starts
- What it allows
- A stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period; the consulate decides the number of entries and the validity
- Cost
- The form is free; the visa fee is a general EUR 90 for adults according to the Commission, with reductions and exemptions, so check the page of your consulate
What this form is
The harmonised application form, “Application for Schengen Visa”, is Annex I of the EU Visa Code. All Schengen countries use the same 33 numbered fields, so the form looks alike wherever you apply. It asks who you are, what your passport says, where you live and work, why and where you are travelling, who pays and who invites you.
The form cannot be changed and no fields or pages may be added, but your consulate may offer it online or in its own language. Check the website of the consulate first: it decides which language you fill in, whether you complete it online and print it, and how the signed form is handed in.
The form is a statement under which your data goes into the Visa Information System. You declare that everything is correct and complete, and a false statement can lead to a rejected application or an annulled visa. The consulate checks your answers against your passport and supporting documents.
Who has to fill it in
You fill it in if:
- You are a citizen of a country whose nationals need a visa for a short stay in the Schengen area: tourism, business, visiting family or friends, study, medical reasons or airport transit.
- You are applying for a minor: the form is filled in for the child, and the person with parental authority or the legal guardian signs.
- You are a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you fill in fields 17 and 18 and leave out the fields marked with an asterisk (*).
Use a different procedure if:
- You plan to stay longer than 90 days: long-stay visas are national visas with their own forms and rules.
- You are a citizen of a visa-free country: you do not need this form, but check whether a travel authorisation applies.
- You are applying for a residence permit: that is a national procedure.
Field-by-field instructions
Fields 1 to 11: About you
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 1Surname (Family name) | Your family name, exactly as in your travel document. | Copy it from the data page of your passport. The form says fields 1 to 3 must follow the travel document. If you have only one name, enter it here and see your consulate’s sample for field 3: the Commission’s Handbook says such a name is recorded as the surname. |
| Field 2Surname at birth (Former family name(s)) | The family name you were born with, if it is different. | Write your birth name if it is different from field 1, for example after marriage. If it is the same, follow your consulate’s sample. |
| Field 3First name(s) (Given name(s)) | Your given names, as in your travel document. | Write all given names in the order of the passport, without shortening or adding names. |
| Field 4Date of birth (day-month-year) | The day you were born. | Write it in the order printed on the form: day, month, year. Copy it from your passport. |
| Field 5Place of birth | The town or city where you were born. | Write it as in your passport or birth certificate. |
| Field 6Country of birth | The country where you were born. | Write the country’s name. |
| Field 7Current nationality / Nationality at birth, if different / Other nationalities | Your current citizenship, the one at birth if different, and any others. | Fill in the current nationality shown in your passport. Add the nationality at birth if it is different and any other nationalities you hold. |
| Field 8Sex | Your sex as shown in your travel document. | Tick Male, Female or Other. According to the Commission’s Handbook, Other is for travel documents that show a third gender, which the form offers since 28 June 2024. |
| Field 9Civil status | Your marital or partnership situation. | Tick one box: Single, Married, Registered Partnership, Separated, Divorced, Widow(er), or Other and write it in. |
| Field 10Parental authority (in case of minors)/legal guardian (surname, first name, address, if different from applicant’s, telephone No, email address, and nationality) | For a minor, the person who has parental authority or the legal guardian. | Fill it in only if the applicant is a minor. Write the surname, first name, address if different from the child’s, telephone number, email address and nationality of each person with authority. |
| Field 11National identity number, where applicable | The number on your national identity document, where your country has one. | Write the number if you have one. If your country does not issue such a number, leave it blank or write “not applicable”, as your consulate’s sample shows. |
Fields 12 to 16: Your travel document
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 12Type of travel document | The kind of travel document you will travel with. | Tick Ordinary passport for a normal passport. Tick diplomatic, service, official, special or other travel document only if that is what you hold. |
| Field 13Number of travel document | The number of that travel document. | Copy it exactly as it appears on the data page. |
| Field 14Date of issue | The day the travel document was issued. | Copy it from the data page, in day, month, year order. |
| Field 15Valid until | The day the travel document expires. | Copy the expiry date. The document must stay valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area and have at least two blank pages. |
| Field 16Issued by (country) | The country that issued your travel document. | Write the country’s name, not the office that issued the passport. |
Fields 17 and 18: Family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 17Personal data of the family member who is an EU, EEA or CH citizen or a UK national who is a beneficiary of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, if applicable | Details of your family member who is an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a UK national protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. | Only if you are such a family member. Write that person’s surname, first names, date of birth, nationality and the number of their travel document or ID card. Otherwise leave it blank. |
| Field 18Family relationship with an EU, EEA or CH citizen or a UK national who is a beneficiary of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, if applicable | How you are related to that citizen. | Only for family members. Tick spouse, child, grandchild, dependent ascendant, registered partnership or other and write it in. |
Fields 19 to 22: Where you live and work
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 19Applicant’s home address and email address / Telephone no. | The address where you live, with the email address and telephone number the consulate can use to reach you. | Write your full home address, then an email address you check and a telephone number. |
| Field 20Residence in a country other than the country of current nationality | Whether you live in a country other than the one of your nationality. | Tick No if you live in your country of nationality. Tick Yes if you live elsewhere, and write the number of your residence permit or equivalent and the date it is valid until. |
| Field 21Current occupation | Your current job or position. | Write your job title or situation, such as employee, self-employed, student or retired. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens skip it. |
| Field 22Employer and employer’s address and telephone number. For students, name and address of educational establishment | Who you work for, or the school you attend. | Write your employer’s name, address and telephone number. If you are a student, write the name and address of your school or university. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens skip it. |
Fields 23 to 29: Your trip
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 23Purpose(s) of the journey | The reason for your trip. | Tick the boxes that apply: Tourism, Business, Visiting family or friends, Cultural, Sports, Official visit, Medical reasons, Study, Airport transit or Other. Tick what your supporting documents will show. |
| Field 24Additional information on purpose of stay | A short extra explanation of the purpose of your stay. | Add one or two lines if the box does not say enough, for example the name of an event or of a course. Otherwise keep it short. |
| Field 25Member State of main destination (and other Member States of destination, if applicable) | The Schengen country that decides your application: the one where you will stay longest or where the main purpose of the trip happens. | Write the main destination, then any other Schengen countries you will visit. If the stays are equal, either country can be the main destination. If no main destination can be determined, it is the country where you first enter. |
| Field 26Member State of first entry | The Schengen country whose external border you cross first. | Write the country where your flight or road route first enters the Schengen area, which can differ from your main destination. |
| Field 27Number of entries requested | How many times you want to enter the Schengen area. | Tick Single entry, Two entries or Multiple entries. The consulate decides how many entries it grants. The declaration on the form says you are aware of the need for adequate travel medical insurance for your first stay and any later visits. |
| Field 27Intended date of arrival of the first intended stay in the Schengen area | The day you plan to arrive for your first stay. | Write the date you plan to cross the border for the first stay. It should match your itinerary and your supporting documents. |
| Field 27Intended date of departure from the Schengen area after the first intended stay | The day you plan to leave the Schengen area after that first stay. | Write the date you plan to leave. Do not plan more than 90 days of stay in any 180-day period. |
| Field 28Fingerprints collected previously for the purpose of applying for a Schengen visa | Whether your fingerprints were already taken for an earlier Schengen visa application. | Tick No or Yes. If Yes, add the date and the visa number if you know them. Fingerprints taken in the previous 5 years can be reused, and if you leave this blank and do not remember, they may be taken again. |
| Field 29Entry permit for the final country of destination, where applicable | A permit to enter the final country of your journey, if that country is outside the Schengen area. | Fill it in only if your trip continues to a country that requires one. Write who issued it and the dates from which and until which it is valid. |
Fields 30 to 32: Host and costs
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 30Surname and first name of the inviting person(s) in the Member State(s). If not applicable, name of hotel(s) or temporary accommodation(s) in the Member State(s) | The person you will stay with or visit, or else the hotel or other place where you will stay. | Write the inviting person’s surname and first name, or the name of the hotel or accommodation, with the address, email address and telephone number. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens skip it. |
| Field 31Name and address of inviting company/organisation | The company or organisation that invites you, for a business or an organised visit. | Write its name and address, the contact person’s name, address, telephone number and email address, and the company’s telephone number. If nobody invites you, leave it blank. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens skip it. |
| Field 32Cost of travelling and living during the applicant’s stay is covered | Who pays for your travel and your living costs during the stay. | Tick by the applicant and the means of support (cash, traveller’s cheques, credit card, pre-paid accommodation or transport), or tick by a sponsor and say who, with their means of support. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens skip it. |
Field 33, place, date and signature
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Field 33Surname and first name of the person filling in the application form, if different from the applicant | The person who filled in the form, if it was not you. | Fill it in only if someone else, such as a relative or a travel agent, completed the form. Write their name, address, email address and telephone number. |
| Place and date | Where and when you signed. | Write the place where you sign and the date you sign. |
| Signature of applicant (signature of parental authority/legal guardian, if applicable) | Your signature, confirming the declarations printed on the last page. | Sign yourself. A minor’s form is signed by the person with parental authority or the legal guardian. An unsigned form is not valid. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Member State | A country that applies the Schengen rules and issues Schengen visas. |
| Travel document | Your passport or another document that lets you cross borders, which must be valid for the whole trip. |
| Residence permit or equivalent | A document that allows you to live in a country other than that of your nationality. |
| Parental authority | The legal right of parents, or of a guardian, to act for a child, which includes signing the child’s application. |
| Registered Partnership | A legally registered partnership that is not a marriage, as recognised by the law of the country concerned. |
| EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement | The agreement under which some family members of UK nationals have the same simplified rules as family members of EU citizens. |
| Sponsor | A host, company or organisation that pays for your travel and living costs. |
| Single entry / Two entries / Multiple entries | How many times you can enter the Schengen area on the visa: once, twice or any number of times while it is valid. |
| Airport transit | Passing through the international area of an airport in a Schengen country without entering the country. |
| Travel medical insurance | Insurance covering emergency medical care, hospital stays and repatriation, required for the whole Schengen area. |
| Visa Information System (VIS) | The EU database in which your application data, photograph and fingerprints are stored for a maximum of 5 years. |
| Service provider | A company authorised by a consulate to collect applications and biometric data on its behalf. |
| Commercial intermediary | A private agency, such as a travel agent, that lodges applications for others; it cannot collect fingerprints. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Applying to the wrong country
Apply to the country where you will stay longest or where the main purpose of the trip happens; only if you cannot tell, to the country where you first enter. A consulate that is not competent returns the application and the fee.
- 2
Writing a name that differs from the passport
Fields 1 to 3 must follow the travel document. Do not translate, shorten or reorder names, and do not leave out a second given name.
- 3
Leaving the form unsigned
The form must be filled in and signed to be admissible. For a minor, the parent or guardian signs, and each person on a shared passport needs a separate form.
- 4
Applying too early or too late
Lodge the application at least 15 calendar days before you travel and no more than 6 months before the trip starts. Check whether your consulate needs an appointment.
- 5
Using a passport that is not valid long enough
It must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave and have at least two blank pages. Renew it before you apply.
- 6
Forgetting field 27 or the dates
Tick the number of entries you want and write the arrival and departure dates. The dates must fit your itinerary and the 90 days in any 180-day period.
- 7
Skipping the fingerprint answer in field 28
Tell the consulate whether your fingerprints were taken for an earlier Schengen visa. If you leave it blank and do not remember, you may be asked to give them again.
- 8
Filling in the asterisk fields as an EU family member
Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens fill in fields 17 and 18 and leave out fields 21, 22, 30, 31 and 32.
- 9
Correcting a printed form by hand
Some missions only accept the form completed online and printed with its barcode, and do not accept manual corrections. Fix errors in the online form and print it again.
- 10
Entering data that your documents do not support
Your answers about purpose, host and costs must match your supporting documents. The form warns that false statements can lead to rejection, annulment of the visa and prosecution.
Questions and answers
Is the Schengen visa application form free?
Yes, the form itself is free and says so in its heading. The visa fee is separate: the Commission gives a general fee of EUR 90 for adults, with reductions and exemptions for some groups, and a service provider may add its own charge. Check your consulate’s page for the amount that applies to you.
Which country do I apply to if I visit several?
Apply to the country where you will spend the most time or where the main purpose of your trip happens. If you cannot tell which is the main destination, apply to the country whose external border you cross first.
How early can I apply?
At least 15 calendar days before you travel, and no more than 6 months before the trip starts. Some consulates use an appointment system, so look at the consulate’s website well before the 15-day point.
Do I upload the form or hand it in?
It depends on the consulate. Many ask you to complete it online or in a PDF, print it, sign it and bring it to your appointment with your passport, photograph and supporting documents. Follow the instructions of the country you apply to.
What do I write if I have only one name?
Follow your passport. The Commission’s Handbook says a single name is entered as the surname and “not applicable” is entered for the first names. Ask your consulate if it has a different rule.
Which language do I fill the form in?
The Schengen country decides. Some missions accept only the language or languages named on their page, for example German or English.
How long does it take to get a decision?
According to the EU’s information sheet, an application is decided within 15 calendar days, and in individual cases this can extend up to 45 days. The consulate may need more time when it has to examine the application further.
Is the visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?
Generally no, and the form says so. The fee is returned if the consulate you applied to is not competent or if the application is inadmissible.
Does a visa guarantee I can enter?
No. The form states that a visa is only one of the conditions for entry, and those are checked again at the border. You may be asked to show documents about the purpose of your trip and your means of support.
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