Schengen visa

A holder of a Uniform Schengen visa can travel to all 26 member countries of the Schengen Area.

It is important to note that though most of the Schengen countries are in the European Union, you should not confuse the Schengen Area with the EU.

If you are planning to study, work, or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, then you must apply for a national visa of that European country and not a Schengen Visa.

You can find more information about the Schengen Visa system here.

Below is a summary of how to apply for a Schengen Visa.

Where to apply

You must apply to the embassy or consulate or visa centre for the major destination country you intend to visit (the country you will visit for the longest time).

If you are not a resident in Oman, you must apply in the country where you are resident to the embassy or consulate or visa centre of the major country you intend to visit.

To establish which country to apply follow these rules:

• If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy, consulate or visa centre of that country.

For those visiting more than two Schengen countries:

• If you will be spending an unequal amount of days in each country then you should apply at the embassy, consulate or visa centre of the country where you will spend most days.
• If you will be spending an equal amount of days in each country then you should apply at the embassy, consulate or visa centre of the country where you will first arrive.

When to apply

Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates need to process a Schengen visa, you must time your application carefully.

The earliest you can file a visa application is six months before you start your planned trip.

The latest you can file a visa application is at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.

The recommended time to file a visa application is at least three weeks before your trip.

Appointment

You need to book a Schengen visa appointment in order to proceed with your application.

For most Schengen countries you can book an appointment online. For others you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.

Application form

Download the application form here and fill it correctly and honestly.

Use only capital English letters. Please answer all the questions, otherwise your application will not be accepted; children’s and minors’ applications must be signed by the parents.

The Schengen visa application form has the same format no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.

You will have to give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:

• Your personal information
• Information on your background
• Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area
• Other details regarding your trip.

In order to complete and submit the form correctly, follow these tips:

• Download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.
• Do not leave any boxes blank. If you feel that, there are boxes that do not correspond to your case, fill them with N/A (Not Applicable).
• Remember to print the form twice. Sign both of the copies at the end.
• If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign in the corresponding column of the application form.

Make sure you fill out all required boxes. You can find some clear instructions on how to fill-in the visa application form here.

Required documents

The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application.

These documents fall into two groups.

The first group is the standard required documents, which include:

• The visa application form
• A valid passport
• A clear copy of both the passport’s personal data page and Oman residence visa page
• Two recent, identical photos with a bright coloured background
• Medical and travel insurance policy – an original and a copy. The insurance should cover the places and duration of the stays in all Schengen countries. The insurance must provide a minimum of 30,000 Euros to cover the traveller, including the repatriation of a person to Oman in case of emergency
• Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area
• Proof of accommodation (a copy of a confirmed reservation for a hotel or an invitation – full page)
• Proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements for last 6 months)

The other group is the visa specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other.

In addition, some of the Schengen member states have their own extra requirements for visa applicants.

Check here for the list of documents required for the Schengen visa application.

This includes the standard requirements, as well as the visa-specific requirements for each visa type.

For non-Omanis, a letter from the sponsor and a copy of a valid labour card is required.

For business purposes, a letter of invitation from the inviting company (in Europe) is required. The letter must be original or sent directly from the company to the embassy via fax or e-mail.

For children and minors (under 18 years) an authorisation from the parents signed by the parent allowing a minor to travel (with or without parents). A copy of the father’s and mother’s passports must accompany the authorisation.

Visa interview

On the day of your appointment, arrive early at the facility where you will be interviewed. There you will meet a visa official to whom you need to hand the required documents.

During the interview, you will be asked personal questions about your whereabouts, the intended trip and other travel details.

Make sure your answers are clear and correct, and that they comply with the information in the application form and the other documents. The interview may last around 10-15 minutes.

Some of the questions you might be asked during the interview include:

• Which countries in the Schengen Area, are you planning to visit?
• Do you have any family members or friends living in Europe?
• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Who will pay for your visit?
• Are you married? If yes, what does your spouse do? For how long have you been married?
• Do you have any children? If yes, how old are they, what do they do?
• How long are you going to stay in Europe?
• Where are you going to stay?
• What is your educational qualification?
• Which company do you work for?

Payment

You will need to pay a non-refundable fee of 80 Euros when applying for a Schengen visa.

Children and some other specific categories will have to pay either reduced fees or no fees at all, depending on their situation.

For more information click here.

Result of application

It usually takes no more than 15 days for processing a visa, there are times when this process can take much longer. That period can be up to 45 days in some countries concerning some citizens.

If your visa application is denied, study the reason why they grant you a visa and try to fulfil it the next time you apply. If you think that your application was correct, and the decision on its refusal was a mistake, you can appeal the visa rejection.

You can find more information on making an appeal here.