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

← Older Comments

Newer Comments →

JD on 06/03/2011 at 2:17 pm

I had my interview this morning. The guy is the one who interviewed me. He is kinda rude and looks like he doesn’t believe a thing that I’ve said. Especially the allowances indicated in my Cert of Employment. So I told him, “You can always call and check with my manager”. And then he smirked. Turned off his mic for a sec and said something to the woman in Window 3. He was friendly and all to the girl he interviewed prior to me, just because the girl speaks French fluently. A travel agent who was there assisting his clients said the guy’s name is James and is the one who is a bit strict in giving validity of Visa, and the woman in Window 1, named Jasmine, is really mean but generous. I really hope they’ll give me a visa *sigh*.
maricar on 06/02/2011 at 1:16 am

Hi..need ko lang po ng advise again..I been to FDA today kasi supposed to be is releasing ng passport ko today but pagdating ko dun they told that i still need to wait for 10 working days or more but my problem is sa JUNE 10 na yung appointment ko sa Switzerland embassy…Sabi sakin sa DFA try ko na lang daw explain sa embassy yung cause ng delay ng passport ko pero nag aalanganin ako kasi since its my first time ,wala man lang ako old passport and im afraid na baka mapagalitan lang ako kapag pumunta ako dun without my passport..please help me ano po ba dapat ko gawin???flight reservation ko kasi is JUNE 30…im so worried na po..please i need some advise //thanks
- wanderlass on 06/02/2011 at 11:42 am
  
  I guess you have no choice but to reschedule your interview with Swiss embassy.
Dani on 05/30/2011 at 3:31 pm

Hi! Your website is so helpful, although I stumbled upon it too late. I’ve been going on a mini VISA hunt as well and so far, I’ve gotten US and UK. My French appointment earlier today was horrific. Our kababayans manning the tables were truly the most unprofessional, impolite people I’ve come across. Out of all three processes, this was the most harrowing and only because of how utterly bastos the people were. The US Embassy staff was levels higher in their professionalism and disposition. The French Embassy staff were tossing my papers and shoving them back at my face, asking what uni I graduated from, didn’t look for things with their eyes but with their mouths, interrupting me mid-speech, saying inane and irrelevant things, scolding me for nothing. The woman also had her bra coming out her shirt, which was practically unbuttoned all the way through. Disgusting and unprofessional, they need to come down from their high horses. In the real world, sino ba sila? Front desk lang, feeling consul na.

Please tell me that they don’t make the decision on whether or not your visa is approved.
- wanderlass on 05/30/2011 at 5:02 pm
  
  i don’t think they’re the ones making decisions. they’re only receiving them and checking making sure you have complete requirement. that’s true they’re snooty. i was told also one time that he has no time to go thru my stuff so i have to take it out. pero later when he found that my invitation came from a mayor in Paris, he suddenly became very kind.
- AJ on 05/30/2011 at 8:50 pm
  
  @Dani Window 1? Haha ganyan po talaga. Though Windows 3 and 4 are sort of kinder…Hopefully they approve visas objectively.
  
  Just wait til the releasing date, there’s a chance they will make you come back just to leave your passports, then ask you to come back the next day just to get it–only because it is almost lunch break. As if we don’t wait in queue for them or skip breakfast.
rose on 05/27/2011 at 11:37 pm

Lil, sorry i will ask again, if i can get a schengen visa, can i travel to Mayotte Island too since Mayotte is also part of France but its near in South Africa na. One more thing do i need two Attestation for France and in Mayotte Island? last question : Is is OK that my boyfriend aunt will give me the attestation since my bf is in Mayotte not in France. thank you lil, sorry so many questions. salamat talaga.
Frenchie on 05/25/2011 at 2:48 pm

Lil, just one more thing, do i need to get the attestation d’accueil( original) i submitted to the embassy when I interviewed? Do i need to present it when I get to Europe? Thanks
- wanderlass on 05/25/2011 at 10:51 pm
  
  they’ll return it to you because u need to present it at the border.
- Vilma on 07/16/2011 at 6:52 am
  
  hi where do we get this Attestation d’accueil?
  thnax so much
  - wanderlass on 07/16/2011 at 5:50 pm
    
    the person who invite you will have to secure that
teresa on 05/24/2011 at 5:42 pm

hello Good afternoon to you Wanderlass :)

I have a problem and wondering about my Schengen visa application for Norway, I used the application portal to make lease processing time, whats what they said to me.I passed my supporting documents to the Norwegian consulate in Cebu last My 11, 2011,and pay extra 2000 pesos so they can send my supporting documents right away to the embassy manila, I under that the embassy manila received my supporting documents after 1 week they email me that My application is now being processed last May 18, 2011, until now I don’t receive any email from the embassy. they said using application portal the processing time is faster that ordinary application, my first application takes only 5 days after they received my supporting documents. but that time they reject my application due to lock my requirements.
until when should I wait for the decision?? please give me idia!
thank you very much to you and God Bless :)
- wanderlass on 05/24/2011 at 6:08 pm
  
  I don’t know how long the waiting is, but I suggest you follow-up on the consulate and ask for a commit date when you should call again. I’m not familiar with this portal thingy because I apply personally at the embassy.
JD on 05/24/2011 at 5:06 pm

Hi Lil! Another question, in French embassy how many days my Travel Insurance should cover my travel if my intended trip is for 14days only? One insurance company (Assist Card) said it should be 45Days, while Chartis said 30days is enough. TIA!
- wanderlass on 05/24/2011 at 6:07 pm
  
  I think 30 days should be enough. I use Chartis too.
  - Angelica on 06/24/2011 at 7:55 pm
    
    how much po Chartis Insurance? thanks
    - wanderlass on 06/24/2011 at 11:41 pm
      
      it depends on the duration. u have to call to ask. mine for 6 months is about 12,500 pesos
maricar on 05/24/2011 at 2:33 am

hello again…i just want to ask if may fees pa po bang babayaran sa airport and how much?and do i need a show money?visit visa apply ko and by sponsorship..please inform nyo ko..its really my first time and totally wala akong alam..thanks
- wanderlass on 05/24/2011 at 9:33 am
  
  There is 750 airport fee before you depart and you need to submit your attestation d’accueil when you arrive Europe.
  - maricar on 05/24/2011 at 2:26 pm
    
    ah okei thanks again kasi dun sa invitation letter ko nakainclude dun na dun ako titira sa house ng boyfriend ko..salamat ha..very helpful ang site na to..
  - Vilma on 07/16/2011 at 6:46 am
    
    Hi Ms.Wanderlass yuo are truly wonderful for sharing insight about getting visas thank yuo for yuor generosity. I have an australian partner and i got a multiple australian visa i got no job and when we applied for my aussie visa he provided all the documents but he was still working then in manila. He is currently in Paris now can he invite me and provide same documents we presented at Australian embassy? according to the consultaion i had before all i need is his financial support iterinary,hotel booking under our names is that all? no police clearance NBI needed? hope yuo get to answer my questions and yes insurabce is needed may i ask what elese is missing?
    - wanderlass on 07/16/2011 at 5:45 pm
      
      pls look at the list. =)
JD on 05/23/2011 at 9:10 am

Yes you are right about the rebooking, plus the ticket is free:) But it’s difficult to get approved annual leave from my employer. Anyway, thanks. I’m so excited and nervous. Hope the embassy will give me a schengen visa. *crossing my fingers*
lj on 05/23/2011 at 7:48 am

hi! thanks for this very helpful site! I applied for a schengen visa at the italian embassy. they advised me to buy a ticket after some deliberation so that probably means I got the visa right? Supposed to get my passport back via courier(2go) last friday, may 20, but i never got it. sigh.. i hate this waiting game.