Schengen Visa for Philippine Passport Holders

Posted by wanderlass | Mar 16, 2011 | visa challenge |

Updated August 2018

Applying Schengen Visa from French Embassy Online

The process in applying for Schengen Visa through the French Embassy has changed since I applied in 2007 and 2011. It is now more efficient with the submission of documents done online.

Every information you need is now available on the new France-Visas website. After filling the visa application form, you will be redirected to the on-line appointment and tracking systems of VFS Global.

Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of the states in the Schengen Region in Europe. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.

Schengen Region

The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

The Schengen area consists of the ff countries

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic.

As of 2014, valid Schengen visa (type: double or multiple entry), who have already entered the Schengen area, may travel to the following without additional visa and may stay for period equal to the remainder of the time for which the Schengen visa is valid.

– Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania

Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of these Member States. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.

When to apply for Schengen Visa?

Applications can be made earliest three (3) months before the planned entry.

How much is Schengen Visa?

The visa-processing fee is EUR 60. The fee is non-refundable even if application is unsuccessful.

What are the requirements in applying Schengen Visas?

1. Signed and filled up Schengen Visa Application Form (click this) with photo attached, plus 1 additional photo.

Photo Specification

Color photo taken against white background;
Clear and of good quality;
Printed on normal photographic paper;
45 mm high x 35 mm wide in size
Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering
The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.

2. Valid passport with 3 months validity from the end of visa duration. Photo copy of valid and former visas, if any.

3. Cover letter explaining the purpose of your trip and detailed itinerary. If you don’t have this, you have to write one on the spot before they will accept your requirements. Here is the cover letter addressed to the Honorable Consul I made in 2007.

4. Details of your trip

Round trip ticket reservation. Reservations only.
Itinerary of the whole duration including departure and arrival dates.
Accommodations – hotel vouchers, seriously. If you’re staying with a good friend who is a French resident/national, then you need them to provide you with something called Attestation d’accueil (Certificate of Board and Lodging) and your host’s national identity card or residence permit.

Why I said good friend? Because it’s a lot of trouble for them to get this. If you have a French national host, just cut and paste below list for the document you needed from them. These are basically records of their existence in France such as title of property or contract of lease, utility billing statement as address proof, bank statements, medical records, pay slip, and finally they have to go to the city hall to have all these certified. Like I said, lots of trouble. :)

The attestation d’accueil is a form needed to be presented to the City Hall with the following documents:

la carte nationale d’identité ou le passeport, ou la carte de résidence

livret de famille de l’hébergeant

justificatifs de domicile (EDF-GDF, facture Télécom, facture Eau)

titre de propriété (taxe foncière) ou de location (taxe d’habitation)

contrat de bail ou descriptif du logement

2 derniers bulletins de salaires ou justificatifs divers de ressources mensuelles (retraite, CAF)

dernier avis d’imposition ou de non imposition

noms, prénoms de l’étranger, date et lieu de naissance, adresse exacte, n° du passeport et sa copie, copie du document justifiant le lien de parenté s’il y a lieu

attestation d’assurance médicale de l’hôte

un timbre spécifique dit « timbre OMI » d’un montant de 15 euros, il sera demandé à l’issue d’une réponse favorable. Disponible dans les perceptions et chez les buralistes.(Attention : il faut autant de timbres que de personnes accueillies sauf s’il s’agit de l’accueil d’une même famille avec des enfants mineurs).

5. Proof of employment

Certificate of employment stating monthly salary and approved leave of absence.
If self employed, official business registration for current and previous year.

6. Proof of Income

Income Tax Return
Recent Bank Certification
Photocopy of the last 3 months statement of Account of the same bank account.
If someone other than yourself is paying for the the trip, then submit financial document of the sponsor instead.

7. Identity / Marital Status:

Photocopy of First page of Passport and all relevant obtained visas
Authenticated birth certificate from NSO. If married, bring photocopy of your marriage contract.

8. Travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your intended stay with minimun coverage EUR 30,000. The medical policies must state the following points :

Medical attention and treatment will be given in case of illness or accident

The injured or ill traveller can be transported home for treatment + body repatriation in case of death

The insurance coverage is a least 30 000 euros (50 000 US dollars)

The insurance must be valid for all 25 Schengen member states which should be listed on the policy

The insurance company must be re-insured, the name of the re-insurer and his TOLL FREE phone number must be listed on the policy

The policy must allow CASHLESS SETTLEMENTS of claims. The name of the company in charge of such settlements and their toll free number must be clearly stated on the policy.

Where to Buy Travel Insurance in the Philippines

I used to buy insurance with an agent, but I now buy Travel Insurance through Pacific Cross, World’s Nomad

How long does it take for Schengen Visa to be released?

About The Author

wanderlass

Lilliane is the lass who wanders. She travels the world on a quest to live a life not ordinary. An avid traveler, photographer, and scuba diver, she once traveled continuously for 14 months around the world, took over 20,000 photos, and spent too much money on a liveaboard dive trip in the Galapagos.

2,197 Comments

Newer Comments →

ITguy on 04/06/2011 at 12:30 pm

hi miss wanderlass. i lodged my Schengen visa application today for Sweden thru the Swiss Embassy. i had complete docs and was able to answer the swiss interviewer’s questions satisfactorily.

ill be in europe for about 15 days. entry and exit point in sweden amd then to germany and france.

my bestfriend who’s on a scholarship in sweden is my sponsor. i will stay with him in stockholm, at a friend’s in berlin, and in a youth hostel in paris. everything else, i will shoulder. i showed them my bank account which is a little over P250k.

am earning quite handsomely here in manila so am not worried they doubt ill come back to manila (ie. magTNT). am a little worried about my financial statement that i gave them. the bank account i provided them has a bit more than P200k. do u think that’s enough to score me a visa for the 15-day stay?

(my aplogies if this is a bit long. and thanks in advance) :)
- wanderlass on 04/06/2011 at 4:58 pm
  
  I think your 200K savings should be enough. And if you provided your payslip and certificate of employment, you should have no problem getting a 15days visa. Good luck to you! :)
  - ITguy on 04/27/2011 at 6:10 pm
    
    i got the visa! :) thanks again for the help, wanderlass.
amillah on 03/18/2011 at 5:15 pm

Thanks lil! I’ll be there for just 10 days.We’re gonna visit an eco-neighborhood in Malmo, Sweden, but I wanna make a side trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen. Exciting!

I found the photo requirements, so I had my photo retaken already haha. And will make the cover letter just in case.
- wanderlass on 03/22/2011 at 11:16 pm
  
  The letter could be a French thing, but it’s always better to be over prepared than under. =)
  - isabelle on 04/02/2011 at 12:56 pm
    
    hello.. I just want to seek advice from you guys.. Im planning to apply in austria for schengen study visit visa. My aunt sponsored me and already got the acceptance letter from german school. It was only two months admission but im planning to extend my study there more 3 months.. Is it possible for the embassy to give me visa more than 3 months validity? thanks.. hope you guys could help me
    - wanderlass on 04/04/2011 at 5:01 pm
      
      There’s a specific visa for “studying”, so to avoid disappointment, you should apply for the right visa. You can also look into visa for “family visit” since your aunt is sponsoring you. You just need to give proof of affinity.
      
      I was told by the 411 girl at the French Embassy that there exists no tourist visa more than 3 months.
pinoy boy journals on 03/18/2011 at 10:09 am

bookmarked this post. super helpful. i can’t find a clean and comprehensive guide to getting a schengen visa. this post nails it. Thanks again!!! Good job, i love your blog!
- wanderlass on 03/18/2011 at 12:22 pm
  
  Thanks Jerik. Happy to be of use. :)
Candie on 03/18/2011 at 8:22 am

Bwahahaha yuck!!! Filipina speaking English in French accent??!? Now that’s twisted hahaha!!! Thats weirder than guards at the US embassy thinking theyre Americans! Tsk tsk
- Katrina on 08/15/2011 at 7:01 pm
  
  Hi, regarding the Filipinos speaking English with a Frech accent, i know someone who works for an embassy. They are encouraged (read: required) to speak with that accent. Something to do with authenticity or whatever. Don’t sneer on them, they are not doing that just for kicks. And please bear in mind that an Embassy is an extension of the jurisdiction of whatever country they are in. Whatever their policies are, if strict or whatever, it’s entirely up to them. Their standards are not the same as in the Philippines. That’s why the guards particularly at the US embassy are strict.
  - Katrina on 08/15/2011 at 7:03 pm
    
    Sorry, i meant to write French. Typo. Anyway, good blog, very informative. Thanks.
  - wanderlass on 08/16/2011 at 8:38 am
    
    I cannot believe you that they are required to speak English with a French accent. Because the French people were even trying to get rid of this accent.
amillah on 03/17/2011 at 5:40 pm

also, the whole process is so tedious compared to the other way around (europeans to phils)…hay.
amillah on 03/17/2011 at 5:38 pm

hi lil,
i’m currently applying for the schengen for a study visit through the embassy of switzerland. there is no mention in their requirements of the cover letter, birth certificate, or the non-smiling photo (i have a smiling one, hahah). were these actually listed, or you just found out there?

also, my travel time is a few days (+5 days) over the actual study visit, which is sponsored. do you think i need proof of hotel
reservation for this?

thanks for posting!
- wanderlass on 03/17/2011 at 6:01 pm
  
  Hey Amillah, I think you have nothing to worry about if you have an invitation. I also think 5 days is fine. They normally give you a few days more than your intended time for allowance (emergency, getting sick, stuff). They gave me 40 days for my 30 days itinerary.
  
  As for the cover letter and photos. I picked that from the French Embassy website. Actually there are many official document requires expressionless photos. I didn’t bother about the cover letter the first time. I made a cover check list but was rejected. I didn’t see it in the Belgian Embassy.
  
  Good luck on your trip! How long will u be for?
Mhe-anne Ojeda on 03/16/2011 at 7:04 pm

very helpful Lil. i have all these visas and never thought how tedious the process in getting them because i got mine when i was still connected with the bureau of immigration and the US-INS and embassies extend courtesies. I commend your generosity in both time and knowledge in sharing this!!
- Diyosa on 05/14/2016 at 2:03 pm
  
  Hello there guys I just lodge my appointment last May 12,2016 at the German embassy,
  I was applying schengen visa,I have a bit mistake about the application because the lady there in counter 2 told me that is not look like an application then she gave me a form to fill up again,then after that I submit all the documents,HEALTH INSURANCE cover 90 days,a TICKET(RETURN FLIGHT),BANK STATEMENT of my BF,HAND WRITTEN INVITATION,CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT,a photo copy of my BF residence I’d and his passport except the LETTER OF OBLIGATION,the lady in counter ask me if my bf sent this letter too and I said NO only his hand written invitation,she ask me some question also about me and bf ( is this kind of interview?)and What should I do there in Germany? I answer her in a calm way.(even I was so nervouse that day) in my application I forgot to put my email only my telephone number,but in the 2GO OR I fill it up too I put my cellphone number and address. They get all my documents and leave my passport there in the embassy and then she said only this is 3 to 5 days. ARE THEY GOING TO CALL ME or should I come back there after 3 to 5 days? Do you think guys I’ll be granted? I’m so nervous coz my departure will be next month June 2,2016…Your responds will appreciated,..God bless you guys and to those who are still applying Good luck!!!
  - Jem on 05/14/2016 at 2:11 pm
    
    Di ka muna dapat bumili ng ticket, there are agencies na nag aallow ng reservation ticket with out any payments para hindi sayang if ever.
    - Diyosa on 05/14/2016 at 2:38 pm
      
      Hello Jem,thank you for your reply, yung bf ko kasi bumili ng ticket at health insurance ko.
Berniemack HabagatCentral on 03/16/2011 at 5:40 pm

Question though, are they also particular with “financial standing” requirements or do we also need “show money?” Although I don’t see it in the requirements but I’m quite paranoid about this, especially when it comes to that other visa. Thanks.
- wanderlass on 03/16/2011 at 5:53 pm
  
  It is required. It’s at #6 of the requirement. Proof of income. You basically need to show you are capable of supporting yourself in the duration of your stay. I remember submitting credit card last 3 months statements. I’ll add it to the post later. (I’m fixing this ugly formatting) How much is enough? It’s not really stated but my guess would be you should have more than (100$ per day x duration of stay). It doesn’t make sense that you’ll be spending all your savings for this trip. Although that’s what going to happen to me.. hehe.
  - Ruth Margaret Digan on 06/30/2011 at 3:38 pm
    
    do i still need proof of income if the one who invites me will shoulder al my expenses during my stay in their country?
lakwatsera de primera on 03/16/2011 at 5:31 pm

I’ll tweet it Lil :)
- wanderlass on 03/16/2011 at 5:45 pm
  
  thanks, claire. :)
aleah on 03/16/2011 at 4:21 pm

This is very useful, Lil. I’m bookmarking it :) Thanks!
- wanderlass on 03/16/2011 at 4:25 pm
  
  feel free to spread it like radiation :)
  - Melody on 08/30/2012 at 3:26 am
    
    Hello po…my name is melody..kadarating ko LNG po dito sa uk using spouse visa po.pano po b aq mkakapagapply ng schengen visa dito sa uk?mbigyan po kaya aq ng visa?thank u po.
    - wanderlass on 09/19/2012 at 3:22 am
      
      Apply lang you sa embassy ng country you wanna go to
      - jane on 02/07/2014 at 1:47 am
        
        Miss iclear ko lang yung sa photo kasi dpat cream background or light grey not really plain white? Gagamitin ko din sana kasi yung ginamit ko sa US VISA Thinking to go to Prague..
      - Marifel on 04/10/2014 at 2:44 pm
        
        Hello, I am planning to travel to Italy on 2015 with my daughter as tourist. It’s my 2nd time. We are both working and I just want her to see and experience the culture for 2 weeks. What is our chance? I appreciate your advise. And if you have any suggestion to increase our chance of getting the visa.
      - cazhie on 06/13/2014 at 10:06 pm
        
        hi im student need ko pa na ng leave of absent if i finest 1st semester and continue ko ung 2nd semester ko sa june ulit tnx
      - artee1100 on 03/11/2015 at 9:04 pm
        
        Hi wanderlass. My wife and I were able to secure Schengen visas from the Embassy of Netherlands here in Manila last year. However, we only went to Paris due to a change in plans. Is it possible to apply for visas again from the Embassy of Netherlands? Will they hold it against us for not traveling to Amsterdam as originally planned? Will they be able to check that we didn’t go to Amsterdam at all? Thanks for your reply.