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

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Haz on 08/17/2012 at 5:56 am

Hello. Im planning to get a Shengen visa. I have a brother who works and assigned temporarily in Switzerland by his company in the Phils. and wanted to stay at his place. As a host, aside from letter of invitation and copy of his passport do you think he needs to present his bank statements even I will be the one to cover all the expenses of my travel?
- therese on 08/19/2012 at 9:51 am
  
  hi haz! i think it would be best if your consult a travel agency on this matter. they know best if you still need your brother’s financial document however, based from my experience, there’s a section in the schengen form (france) asking who will finance your trip and with this, you’re so right that only your financial document will be presented to the embassy even if you have a letter from your brother. but like what i’ve said, it is best to ask someone from the travel agency. and they can assess your other pieces of document too. it’s important that you comply with all the requirement needed and know by heart the detail that will be presented in the embassy. thank you!goodluck!
- Charm on 08/20/2012 at 12:50 am
  
  Hi Haz,
  
  I once applied for a shengen visa through invitation of my hubby who was my fiance that time. I was the one who paid my airfare and he covered everything here in Denmark. I attached his documents with mine that includes his payslips. But if you will cover everything, then you have to have a strong financial documents such as payslips and bank certificate. These are the financial docs that i submitted last year eventhough I am being hosted by my hubby.
  
  Goodluck! :)
jenny on 08/14/2012 at 4:37 pm

hi po ate wanderlass,
may question po ako..im here po sa netherland as au pair,mag end of contract na po ako sa september.im planning po to apply for schengen visa going to vienna,austria to process my visa going to canada..dun po ako ag process sa canadian embassy.question ko po san po kaya ako pwede mag apply ng schengen visa,and howw much po..and ilang days po bago makuha?thanks po..God bless po
mac on 09/02/2011 at 2:18 pm

Got an email from dutch embassy, stated that they forwarded our applications to the Ministry of The Netherlands for advise and will be inform in writing within estimated of 30 days. Nakakadepressed naman, i expect too much that they will grant us visa, do they anybody have the same experienced of mine sa dutch embassy? naapprove ba or denied yung visa? I thought tru completeness of docs and answered them consistently will approve your visa, pero di pala, or dahil its my very first time to travel and sa europe pa. Pls help me guys…
- Charm on 09/02/2011 at 4:18 pm
  
  Hi Mac, if the Duch Embassy forwarded your application to the Netherlands doesnt mean that it will be denied or there is a problem. Usually they do that just like what happened to my application in Norwegian Embassy for Denmark. They forwarded my application to the DIS (Danish Immigration Service) in Denmark for processing. All were complete and answered the questions well too. Mine took more than a month. Just take it easy. :) You can call them for ff-ups. If your sponsor is currently in Netherlands, then he/she can do the ff-up by him/herself so it will be faster. :)
  
  Good luck :)
  - mac on 09/02/2011 at 4:38 pm
    
    Thanks charm, really upset talaga ako kanina. Thank u again. Im praying that it will be approve. Thank u
    - Charm on 09/02/2011 at 5:05 pm
      
      No problem. Just keep it cool. hehe.. waiting will make you crazy thinking of so many things that might happen. Too many what if’s… :)
Charm on 09/01/2011 at 11:51 am

hi Aileen, you cant book one-way ticket of you applied for a schengen visa. Its different with spouse visa. If you will not be coming back, forfieted na yung return ticket mo. Ganun talaga… Just like me. Better to apply schengen visa (short-time) and then process your papers for spouse visa there so it will be much faster. If you will apply spouse visa here, it will take months prior to approval and needs more documents especially financial from your spouse kasi they need to be assured that you will not be added to the bummer who will be supported by the government.

Actually, I applied for a schengen visa in Norwegian Embassy for Denmark. I didnt submit the ticket reservation though I reserved a certain flight in a travel agency kasi my fiancee will be coming this September to fetch me so I have to have same flight schedule with his return ticket. Good thing with the agency, they can do the reservation and can monitor it. If you have to extend the reservation date, they will do it for you if you asked them to do so. Yun nangyari sken as the approval took longer than the expected normal processing time.

Good luck :)
- Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 12:10 pm
  
  Hi Charm,
  
  Thanks for sharing some info on visa processing. You’re right, kaya nga tourist visa ung inaplyan ko kasi pag spouse dw sobrang tagal and dami requirements. So on my case kelangan talaga round trip flight reservation? Kung ganun, ok lang naman sa kin as long as ma aproved ung visa ko bahala na ma forfeit ung pabalik ko. Kasi gusto ng fiancee’ ko mag stay na ako for good dun.
  - Charm on 09/01/2011 at 1:40 pm
    
    Yep, it should be a round ticket. Once you are approved, they will require you to submit the eticket number for the return upon claiming your visa plus the insurrance too. Within 90 days na nandun ka, apply ka na kagad for the spouse visa or the reuninification (for spouse or family relative) para for good ka na dun. If hindi kasi naprocess yun kagad, you have to be back here (thats what I know) :)
    
    Just prepare all the financial documents that you have to show them and prove to them that you will be back here and make your answers to the questions firm and realistic so there will be no hesitations na hindi ka babalik especially that married na kayo. :) Yun lang naman ang important :)
    - Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 6:55 pm
      
      Exactly, un talaga plan namin ng fiancee’ ko process kami dun within 3months para for good na. I’m praying for the positive & smooth processing of my visa.
      
      Very informative talaga ung mga sinabi mo. It will really help me. Thanks Charm :-)
      - Charm on 09/02/2011 at 8:13 am
        
        Just pray and have faith. :) visa application will make you go crazy especially while you are waiting for the decision. :) As long as your documents are complete and answer them smartly, you dont have to worry. Minsan kasi iniiba nila yung isang question just to find out if there is consistency with what you are saying. Ginawa s’ken un. Haha..
        
        Good luck :)
mac on 09/01/2011 at 11:34 am

sana di tourist visa ang inapply mo, u should apply i think spouse visa, sa website kasi ng cathay, diretso na kagad sa payment, unlike tru call, reserve lang. May ibibigay silang date kung kelan mo sya pwedeng bayaran, pag di mo nabayaran yung reserve booking mo, automatic cancelled na sya. It doesnt matter naman as long naipresent mo na sya sa embassy eh, kung approve yung visa mo, u are free to choose which airlines u like to book with. Then alam ko u should undergo an exam, MVV exam here para maging residence ka sa NL, at makapag work ka din dun, i search a spouse visa online para sa NL, pero MVV lang ang lumalabas eh. Pero try mo ring tawagan emabssy and inquire for that.
- Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 12:02 pm
  
  Pag magpa reserve bah ako, mabigay ba agad nila ang flight reservation? Mga ilang days din ung ibigay ng Cathay pacific para di ma forfeit ung reservation ko? Tourist visa ung inaplyan namin kasi mostly pag spouse visa matagal tlaga ang processing, dami pang mga requirements. Thanks Mac.
  - mac on 09/01/2011 at 1:04 pm
    
    yes, maeemail kagad sayo, i think one week din yung allowance nila para bayaran yun reserve ticket mo, pero my advise is magpareserve ka pag malapit na yung appointment mo sa embassy, ako a week before my appointment saka ako nagpareserve, for me, u dont need travel agent, u can monitor ur own ticket naman eh. Ako rin lang lumakad lahat ng papers ko, di na ako nagpaassist sa travel agency.
    - Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 1:11 pm
      
      Okey Mac. Thanks sa lahat ng info :-)
      
      Good Luck to us!
      - mac on 09/01/2011 at 1:14 pm
        
        yeah good luck, my visa result will be on sept 6, pick up ko yung docs and passport ko sa embassy. Hope they will grant us visa. Ur welcome, if u have other questions, feel free to ask ok?
mac on 09/01/2011 at 8:46 am

Yes tourist visa rin. Nagkita na ba kayo ng sponsor mo? Kung nagpunta na sya dito, hingi ka sa kanya ng photocopy ng stamp ng immigration ng passport nya, proof na nagpunta talaga sya dito. Kasi hiningi rin sakin yun. Sa reservation bookings, sakin nagpareserve ako sa cathay pacific, tawag ka lang sa kanila 757-0888, sabihin mo lang kelan yung intended departure mo at balik dito but make sure na 90 days lang including yung stop over. Kasi sakin sumobra ng 3 days so i have to call again the airlines to ammend that. Tapos email nila sayo so u can print it out and attach to ur application. Lahat ng pwede mong isubmit iaattache mo na, para wala na silang tanong tanong sa docs mo.Photocopy of first page ng passport ng fiance mo, try mo rin iaatach certificate of singleness mo, tapos kung nakabook sya ng hotel dito hingin mo rin yung print out ng booking nya, pati yung ticket booking nya papunta dito, pati mga billings nya sa hotel ,hingin mo rin then attach mo sa application mo, if u have credit card, attach mo rin SOA nito at least 3 mos. Lastly photocopy all the docs u have bago ka pumunta ng embassy para pag may hiningi sayo meron ka ng kopya, para di ka na maghanap pa ng xerox machine.
- Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 11:23 am
  
  Okey Mac, thank you. Yep, nagkita na kami nung nagprocess kami papers sa civil wed. Buti na lang na keep ko lahat ng bookings nya. Tapos this September balik sya uli for the civil wed.Bale sabayan na rin nya ako sa appointment ko sa embassy after we got married. Ung sa Cathay Pacific bah, wala silang website? Tapos anu ung arrangement nyo sa flight reservation,since d pa din naman natin alam kung when e released ang visa natin. Tapos ung sa amin kasi balak namin ng fiance’ ko di na ako balik pinas, one way ticket lang ung kunin ko kasi magpakasal din kami dun within that 3months visa so I can file a temporary residence. D bah magtaka ang embassy nyan na one way lang? Mag-asawa naman kami upon filing of visa.
mac on 08/31/2011 at 3:05 pm

Hi guys, had my interview at Dutch embassy last august 23, 2011. Maayos naman ang naging interview. I called the embassy today for follow up and they say its still for evaluation our papers. Hope it will granted us visa, kasi pinababalik kami ng sept 6. Wish me luck guys….
- Aileen on 08/31/2011 at 3:18 pm
  
  Hi Mac,
  
  Same din kasi tau ng Embassy, I have an appointment next month. If ever ung call time mo @9am, exact time ka ba talaga nila e entertain? And how long would it take for the interview? Could you give me some tips and info on your experience? Thanks a lot.
  - mac on 08/31/2011 at 4:23 pm
    
    Hi aileen, no, kahit na call time mo is 9am, they will give u a number,our appointment
    was 10am then natawag kami almost 11am na, so kahit 9am ang call time mo, first come first serve basis sila, so agahan mo na lang para maaga ka ring matapos. Ng dumating kami number 10 pa lang tinatawag ng computer, number 21 and 22 kami, so we waited for an hour para matyawag number namin. Tapos, 5 mins interview lang, di nman ganun katagal, tinanong lang nya regarding sa work mo, sa salary mo, kung sino sponsor mo sa NL, tapos ano relasyon mo sa kanya. Then pag may kulang sa docs mo bibigyan ka nya ng letter para iaccomplish mo sya tru email or fax. Then she will collected a visa fee, ang binayaran ko is 3,630.00, pero nagbabago daw yun depende sa rate ng currency, so better check sa embassy by calling them at 786-6655 m-th 2-3.30pm then fri 12-1.30pm lang ang pwede silang tawagan, then the lady ask if u want to pick up ur docs aor send it to u by courier. Magbibigay din sila ng date kung kelan mo pwede kunin kung pick up sa embassy mismo. Hope it will help u. Goodluck.
    - Aileen on 08/31/2011 at 6:56 pm
      
      Thank you very much Mac, very informative. Tourist visa din bah inaplyan mu? Tourist visa ung sa akin eh and my sponsor ako from my Fiance’. Aside from invitation letter from the sponsor, travel insurance, proof of income of the host, flight reservation. What are the other docs pa ang kelangan o ung nasubmit mu? Anyway, about sa flight reservation un ang kulang ko eh aling airlines or travel agency ka nagpa reserve ng flight? Hirap kasi pag magpa book na ng flight, d pa natin sure kung approved/denied ung visa.
Angelica on 08/31/2011 at 12:25 am

hi… try mo qatar airways… just call them few days or a day before your interview… they will email your reservation… no fee… hope it helps…
Aileen on 08/30/2011 at 5:01 pm

Hi Wanderlass,

May alam ka na website for free flight reservation? kasi di pa naman kasi sure kung ma approve ung visa. Sayang kung magpa booked na.

Thanks
- Angelica on 08/31/2011 at 12:23 am
  
  hi… try mo qatar airways… just call them then few day or a day before your interview… they will email your reservation… no fee… hope it helps…
  - Aileen on 08/31/2011 at 6:08 am
    
    Hi Angelica,
    
    Okey, I’l try to search Qatar Airways. Thanks for sharing your idea :-)
  - Charm on 08/31/2011 at 9:16 am
    
    Hi Aileen, try to find a travel agency and do reservation. That is what I did as I have to have a certain flight schedule. Once your visa is approved, then you can already book it.
    - Aileen on 09/01/2011 at 12:13 pm
      
      HI charm,
      
      Anu ung travel agency mu? Thanks
Vilma ginzales on 08/30/2011 at 4:59 am

Hi if she already had the interview I don’t think it’s s big deal still regarding her hotel booking just in case they would ask to make it easier ask the hotel Yo send her an adjusted hotl booking through fax or email just in case embassy would. Ask she hot something to show I believe what is really important is the documents she have submitted I sm having my appointment on the 8th of September. Pray your friends application would go dmoothly