Revision of Schengen Visa application fee

From now on applicants wishing to apply for a Short term or long term Schengen visa will have to shell out more money for the visa application from now on. Schengen visa application fee has been revised with effect from February 2020. Now the applicants will have to beer the cost of  €80 for every application submitted for Schengen visa. Previously the schengen visa application fee was €60 excluding the Vfs and courier charges. Children below the age of 6 still don't have to pay the schengen visa application fee whereas the children aged 6 to 12 will have to pay €40 instead of €35 which was levied previously.
This visa is needed to enter and visit European countries in the Schengen zone(26 countries) like Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Greece,France etc. This hike will effect not only Indian applicants but also the applicants from all over the world who are required to have a visa to enter Schengen area. This hike has been levied to upgrade the IT structure, maintain the world wide consular services and to maintain other related services.

Portugal Tourist Visa Requirements From India

About Portugal

Portugal is a western -southern country in Europe and shares its border with Spain. Its favorable location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many facets of its culture. Fish like salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the largest city of Portugal. The Algarve’s beaches are a major attraction for the tourists and attract tourists from all over the world. Places like Lagos are crowded with tourists and offer wide range of food, wines, beers and beautiful beaches. Most of the nation’s architecture dates back to the 1500s–1800s at the time when Portugal had a powerful maritime regime.

1. Portugal Visa Application form

Every applicant needs to fill his/her own visa application form. If a family of 4 is applying for Portugal tourist visa then they will need to fill and sign 4 visa application forms. If there are minor children travelling with the parents then the parents need to sign the visa application forms for the children. Visa application forms are available on the VFS website of the country you are applying to.

2. Photograph for Visa

Every visa applicant including minor children needs to furnish at least two identical photographs with the visa application. Generally one photograph is pasted on the visa application form and one is clipped on the passport with the application. The photograph must be:

·        Not older than 6 months

·        35*45 mm

·        The head should take 70-80 % of the photograph.

·        Colour photo with neutral expressions and white back ground.

3. Passport/s

A passport which is valid for 6 months or more and all the previous passports bound together with rubber bands.

4. Covering letter

A covering letter should state the purpose and duration of your visit in the Schengen area. A covering letter should include the details of the co-applicant, countries you will be staying in and who will be funding the trip. Covering letter should ideally be written on a letter.

5. Travel Insurance

A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.

6. Purpose of Travel/Stay

If the trip is a package tour, attach detailed itinerary or an air ticket reservation displaying your return to India.

7. Funds

Applicant should produce documents showing enough money to support yourself and your family financially throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can be the following:

·        A Bank account statement that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. Try to produce latest bank statement from the bank with seal and sign from the bank official. Some countries require 3 months bank statement and some require 6 months bank statement.

·        Bank account balance certificate with seal and sign of the bank.

·        Sponsorship letter by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months (some countries require attestation of sponsorship letter from local authorities).

·        A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

8. Socio-professional situation

·        Income Tax returns of last 3 years.

·        Salary slips in case of employees.

·        Appointment letter.

·        Leave letter/No objection letter from the employer.

·        Profession certificate of registration.

·        Certification of registration of Company.

·        Gst registration.

·        Leave letter from school in case of students.

·        Any other document demonstrating the applicant’s personal links to the country of residence (e.g marriage certificate etc.).

9. Visa Fees

For Correct Information on Visa application fee please visit the Portugal Vfs Website:

https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/Tourist.html

10. Visa Application Form

For Correct Information on Visa Form visit the Portugal Vfs Website:

https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/Tourist.html

 11. Document Checklist

For correct information about the documents requirements please visit Vfs Portugal:

https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/pdf/Tourist-Visa-Checklist.pdf (Delhi Jurisdiction)

https://pt.vfsglobal.co.in/pdf/New-TOURIST-VISA-CHECKLIST.pdf (Goa Jurisdiction)

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How I got My First Schengen (Switzerland) Visa?

In the month of June 2019

"You can't apply for a Schengen visa as of now”........ I was told by few so called agents or consultants whom I visited for advice before applying Swiss visa for myself, my wife and my son. I had a travel history however my wife and son had no travel history. 

I was a taken aback by their advice and decided not to apply for the Schengen visa. 

Mandatory Documents required by the Agents:

1. An ITR of more than 7 lacs.

2. GST certificate.

3. Property documents.

I had none of the above documents. I had been filling my ITR for the last 7 years however it was not close to 7 lacs. I am an Advocate and therefore I didn’t have the GST certificate and live with my parents therefore property documents are in the name of parents (as in most of the families in India). Someone told me to get the property documents (deeds) transferred in my name and wait till next year before filing my Schengen visa. Therefore I dropped the idea of applying Schengen visa in the month of June 2018.

In The month Of July 2019

In the month of July 2018 i made my mind to apply for the Swiss visa after going through the document checklist of Swiss Embassy which didn't make any of the above so called required documents mandatory for the Schengen Visa.

I applied with the following documents along with my wife and son on 12/July/2019 in the Chandigarh vfs:

1.  Application forms duly dated and signed.

2.  Appropriate size photos.

3.  New and old Passports.

4.  Covering Letter.

5.   Copy certificate of Enrollment as an Advocate in Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (license of Practice).

6.   Copy of identity proof of Advocate registered with District Bar Association, Jagadhri.

7.   Original Account statement of my savings account with Punjab National Bank and Bank  Balance certificate of my savings account with Axis Bank.

8.   Income Tax Acknowledgement for 3 years ( Myself and my wife)

9.   Leave letter of my wife from her college.

10.  Bank account statement of my wife.

11.  Copies of valid Credit cards in my name.

12.  Copies of passports of my wife (Shweta) and son (Rayirth Mahajan).

13.  Travel Insurance with coverage of 30,000 Euros (50,000 UDSD) inclusive of repatriation and  medical emergency for each applicant.

14.  Return flight ticket bookings.

15.  Prepaid Hotel booking reservations as proof of accommodation in Switzerland and France.

We applied in the Chandigarh vfs on 12/July/2019 (Friday) and my application reached the Swiss embassy on 16/July/2019 and on 17/July/2019 I received an email from the vfs Delhi that our passports have been received back from Swiss embassy and dispatched from vfs Delhi to my home address.

Finally our passports were received through Blue Dart Courier service on 19/July/2019 with the Swiss visa stamped for the duration we mentioned in our covering letter. Below is my Swiss visa on which I traveled to Switzerland and Portugal in the month of August 2019.

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Switzerland Tourist Visa Requirements

About Switzerland

Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps. Its cities contain medieval quarters, with landmarks like capital Bern’s Zytglogge clock tower and Lucerne’s wooden chapel bridge. The country is also known for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned.

1. Swiss Visa Application form

Every applicant needs to fill his/her own visa application form. If a family of 4 is applying for Switzerland tourist visa then they will need to fill and sign 4 visa application forms. If there are minor children travelling with the parents then the parents need to sign the visa application forms for the children. Swiss visa application forms are available on the VFS website of the country you are applying to.

2. Photograph for Visa

Every visa applicant including minor children needs to furnish at least two identical photographs with the visa application. Generally one photograph is pasted on the visa application form and one is clipped on the passport with the application. The photograph must be:

·        Not older than 6 months

·        35*45 mm

·        The head should take 70-80 % of the photograph.

·        Colour photo with neutral expressions and white back ground.

3. Passport/s

A passport which is valid for 6 months or more and all the previous passports bound together with rubber bands.

4. Covering letter

A covering letter should state the purpose and duration of your visit in the Schengen area. A covering letter should include the details of the co-applicant, countries you will be staying in and who will be funding the trip. Covering letter should ideally be written on a letter head .

5. Travel Insurance

A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.

6. Purpose of Travel/Stay

If the trip is a package tour, attach detailed itinerary or an air ticket reservation displaying your return to India.

7. Funds

Applicant should produce documents showing enough money to support yourself and your family financially throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can be the following:

·        A Bank account statement that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. Try to produce latest bank statement from the bank with seal and sign from the bank official. Some countries require 3 months bank statement and some require 6 months bank statement.

·        Bank account balance certificate with seal and sign of the bank.

·        Sponsorship letter by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months (some countries require attestation of sponsorship letter from local authorities).

·        A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

8. Socio-professional situation

·        Income Tax returns of last 3 years.

·        Salary slips in case of employees.

·        Appointment letter.

·        Leave letter/No objection letter from the employer.

·        Profession certificate of registration.

·        Certification of registration of Company.

·        Gst registration.

·        Leave letter from school in case of students.

·        Any other document demonstrating the applicant’s personal links to the country of residence (e.g marriage certificate etc.).

9. Visa Fees

For Correct Information on Visa application fee please visit the Swiss Vfs Wesite:

  https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/switzerland/india/english/#Tourist

10. Visa Application Form

For Correct Information on Visa Form visit the Swiss Vfs Wesite:

 https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/switzerland/india/english/#Tourist

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General Tourist Visa Rules for Schengen Countries

Introduction

Schengen area is comprised of 26 countries like Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, Estonia and Greece etc. Over the last few years more and more tourist’s visas are being applied by Indians for the Schengen countries for tourism and Leisure.Applying a Schengen visa can be a little tormenting for the applicants as there are certain requirements which are needed to be fulfilled by the applicant to attain the Schengen Tourist visa. Every country has its own document requirements however here you can find information regarding the documents that are needed by almost all the Schengen countries to issue a visa from India. At present you can apply for a Schengen visa 3 months ahead of your purposed travel (which is expected to change in near future) and you should apply to the country where you intend to stay for maximum days.

Type of Visas:

Schengen Visa, type C: for entry and a stay of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days, for example in the context of tourism, a visit, short-term language studies, etc.

·        For a stay involving gainful employment a work permit is also required.

·        National visa, also known as type D: for longer term stays. (More than 90 days). 

1. Country Specific Visa Application form

 Every applicant needs to fill his/her own visa application form. If a family of 4 is applying for Switzerland tourist visa then they will need to fill and sign 4 visa application forms. If there are minor children travelling with the parents then the parents need to sign the visa application forms for the children. Country specific visa application forms are available on the VFS website of the country you are applying to.

2. Photograph for Visa

Every visa applicant including minor children needs to furnish at least two identical photographs with the visa application. Generally one photograph is pasted on the visa application form and one is clipped on the passport with the application. The photograph must be:

·        Not older than 6 months

·        35*45 mm 

·        The head should take 70-80 % of the photograph.

·        Color photo with neutral expressions and white back ground.

3. Passport/s

A passport which is valid for 6 months or more and all the previous passports bound together with rubber bands.

4. Covering letter

A covering letter should state the purpose and duration of your visit in the Schengen area. A covering letter should include the details of the co-applicant, countries you will be staying in and who will be funding the trip. Covering letter should ideally be written on a letter.

5. Travel Insurance

A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.

6. Purpose of Travel/Stay

If the trip is a package tour, attach detailed itinerary or an air ticket reservation displaying your return to India.

7. Funds

Applicant should produce documents showing enough money to support yourself and your family financially throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can be the following:

·        A Bank account statement that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. Try to produce latest bank statement from the bank with seal and sign from the bank official. Some countries require 3 months bank statement and some require 6 months bank statement.

·        Bank account balance certificate with seal and sign of the bank.

·        Sponsorship letter by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months (some countries require attestation of sponsorship letter from local authorities).

·        A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

8. Socio-professional situation

·        Income Tax returns of last 3 years.

·        Salary slips in case of employees.

·        Appointment letter.

·        Leave letter/No objection letter from the employer.

·        Profession certificate of registration.

·        Certification of registration of Company.

·        Gst registration.

·        Leave letter from school in case of students.

·        Any other document demonstrating the applicant’s personal links to the country of residence (e.g marriage certificate etc.).

E-mail: asrconsultingservices@gmail.com