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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Alma Cacacho on 03/04/2013 at 6:01 pm

thank you very much for the info…God bless you.
mari on 02/22/2013 at 1:50 pm

hi wanderlass,really need your advice.my bf want me to visit him for tourist in italy and he will provide everything i need for the tour.my big problem is i dont have a work right now, what requirments should i get and for my bf as well.hope you can help me,
thank you and god bless!
- Cherry on 02/25/2013 at 6:40 pm
  
  Hi Mari! I have the same situation as yours except that i have my own business and i am planning to apply for schengen visa to italy this march. My bf will also provide almost everything but im also planning to submit my own financial documents as back up. When are you gonna apply for visa? In case you were able to apply ahead of me, can you share with me the process and the requirements included in the guaranty. Hope we can make it.
  - mari on 03/03/2013 at 10:50 am
    
    hi cherry!well im planning to apply this month and hopefully well work out. goodluck to us.
    - Cherry on 03/05/2013 at 9:36 pm
      
      Hi Mari! When is your appointment with the Italian embassy?and when is your intended departure? Did u book an appointment thru their website? How many days before they approved your request for appointment? In case, can u share with me your experience with the embassy? I am really at a loss now. Thanks
Jelly on 02/20/2013 at 11:30 pm

Hello All.. I stumbled upon this blog and it gave mixed emotion regarding Schgengen Visa application. How do you prove your rootedness? Do I really need 200k on my bank account? I’ve been employed on the same company for 5 years and have been saving for 2 years for this trip. Any advice you can give? I’ll be travelling September pf this year. Thanks!
- therese on 02/25/2013 at 10:07 pm
  
  hi jelly! hope all is well. based from our experience, financial capability plays a major role in achieving a schengen visa. to be safe, 500k/pax should be on the bank but still, i’m not really expert on this since i’ve been to europe just once. let’s wait for ms. wanderlass reply for more accurate details. enjoy europe!
- asianflip on 02/26/2013 at 1:16 am
  
  when i applied for my schengen visa i only had 150k on my bank account but i included other assets plus 2 credit cards.. btw im 28yo and single but when i applied for schengen visa i have a valid US visa and canadian visa i dunno if those other visas helped me in getting a schengen visa
aryanliddell on 02/15/2013 at 11:35 pm

Hello! Thank you for posting very useful information! I’m in Germany under the Status of Armed Forces Agreement (Military stuff)–unfortunately, it’s not valid for travel around Europe (so close yet so far!). Applying for a Schengen has been my other option, but I found out that Filipinos don’t need visas to enter Liechtenstein (Woot!). I read somewhere that you can also get a Schengen upon arrival at one of the Schengen countries–is this true? My plan now, if that’s true, is to just fly to Liechtenstein and get a Schengen (multiple trip) upon arrival there. It would be easier that way, don’t you think? I’m not really up to spending the extra euros for other EU visas.
I do hope you have information on my queries. The web does not have a lot of answers to my Schengen questions.
Best regards
- wanderlass on 02/19/2013 at 11:58 am
  
  I can’t give you a very valid reply because I have no idea about your Armed Forces status. Are you confined in a military base and not able to walk around Germany? If this is not the case, I don’t see why you cannot go to other schengen region because there is absolutely no border check between these countries. None. Not in the airport, train, bus station, or highway.
  
  As for the schengen on arrival, I doubt it is possible anywhere. But if you did find which frontier it is, please send me a message to let me know. I would greatly appreciate it.
  
  It is not possible to apply schengen visa while in Germany?
  - aryanliddell on 02/19/2013 at 6:57 pm
    
    No. We are not confined. We can travel around Germany and can easily cross borders, but I just want to be safe than sorry, you know. Don’t want to ruin this vacation by ending up in jail. Haha.
    I’ve called their immigration office and I guess I’d have to apply for a Schengen here in one of the EU embassies in Germany. Do you know anything about Schengens that are valid for a year? That’s what I want to get.
    - joe on 02/20/2013 at 9:09 am
      
      Hi aryanliddell,
      
      I think you can compare your status with most of the Latin American Citizens ( Mexico, Chile etc.) They are visa free entry to Spain, because of their historical ties with Spain, but they need a visa to other Schengen countries. In theory they can crossboard since no boarder checking, but need caution once they are caught entering other country without the visa. . I remember when I asked some pinoys if I don’t need to bring my passport, so it will be safe in my hotel vault, they caution me that there are some policemen, specially in train that do random checking of identity. This is true specially in Italy. I know that we don’t need a visa to Liechtenstein, but you can’t go through it without passing other schengen country.
    - wanderlass on 02/25/2013 at 6:20 pm
      
      My Filipina friend working in the Spanish Embassy holds a one-year visa. I doubt you’ll be able to get one.
Aki on 02/15/2013 at 7:23 pm

Need help po!me auntie ako sa u.s na nagyayayang pumunta sa france nka booked n cya ng hotel n gusto nya mgkita nlng kme sa france ok lng po b na kmuha nkme ng airplane ticket bgo mainterview or bgo kmiha ng shengen visa?
Cydtheresa on 02/15/2013 at 3:56 pm

Wandelass, is a bank account statement really necessary in applying for a Schengen Visa even if you have a sponsor?
Aivan on 02/12/2013 at 9:04 pm

Hi! Can you recommend online hotel reservation companies like Agoda and Booking.com where we can reserve without cancellation fees/changing dates fees? Thank you!
- wanderlass on 02/13/2013 at 1:20 pm
  
  It’s better to make reservation directly at the hotels. There are those that allow free cancellation 24-48hours before.
  - cherry on 03/14/2013 at 2:08 am
    
    Hello Ms. Wanderlass!
    
    I just want to ask something regarding personal submission of requirements. I requested/booked for an appointment through the website of the Italian embassy, date of which is on the 19th since it was the earliest available date. My question is, is there still a necessity for the embassy to confirm/approve my request for appointment, or should i just come to the embassy on the date stated on my request? I’ve been calling their call centers but the representative told me to ask the embassy about it. I emailed the embassy to know the status of my request, but got no response. pls enlighten me for i am really bothered about this considering that it’s nearly 3 days before the date of appointment. Thanks in advance
gc on 02/10/2013 at 8:09 am

hi therese! very informative blog post, thank you!
Question, roughly around how much do Travel insurance companies charge you for Travel insurance for less than a week’s (say 3-5 days) travel? thanks!
- wanderlass on 02/13/2013 at 1:38 pm
  
  maybe less than 1000
- therese on 02/25/2013 at 9:56 pm
  
  hi gc! thanks for taking time reading my post and you’re most welcome! we got bluecross as our travel insurance,however, i’m not familiar with 3-5 days coverage but i guess it should be less than 3k php. and it depends on the age also. happy travel!
  - therese on 02/25/2013 at 9:57 pm
    
    hi!yes, ms.wanderlass is right..it should be less than 1000.thanks!
jo on 02/08/2013 at 1:59 am

hello po miss wanderlass. i have an invitation from france.gusto nila kukuha ako ng tourist visa to france.my problem are the medical insurance,bank statement for the past 6 months.pwde ba ako kukuha dito sa pinas ng medical insurance for certificate purposes only? thank you po
Rudy on 02/07/2013 at 9:28 am

Hi Wanderlass

I just want to know if the date that we should apply in the insurance should be from the time we depart from manila or the time we arrive europe until the date we leave europe or until we arrive manila? coz one day additional in insurance application is already big amount of money since we are four travelling..hoping for your reply..thank you very much.

Rudy
- therese on 02/07/2013 at 10:21 am
  
  hi rudy! to be sure, the insurance coverage should be from the time you depart manila until the time you get back in manila. travel insurance must be presented on your interview in french embassy and it’s part of the requirement. other travel agencies like where we got our (st. raphael travel & tours) offered to issue insurance just for “interview” purposes and if we get our visa’s that’s the only time to pay.they have specific time coverage and i don’t think it’s a per day basis.hope this will help.thanks and enjoy your travel!