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 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?
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How to Apply Japan Visa in the Philippines
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How to Apply UK Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Tongan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Korean Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply South African Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Romanian Visa in the Philippines
Hello Wanderlass,
I would like to ask you if what do you think about my case, I’ve just had an interview recently this month and was denied. I don’t know if I will appeal or apply again. The last time I told the embassy in my application that I’m not going to school for now.Because the intended date was from July to October but after 90days I will go back to school as an Octoberian. My boyfriend were thinking that we should enroll to show them I’m really coming back. What do you think should I and my boyfriend do so we could be together this summer time in his country as that’s the only time he have through out the year? Thanks!
hi ICC, mas maganda kung nka enroll k kc mbibigyan k ng school mo ng certificate of enrollment isa kc yan s malakas n katibayan n babalik k pilipinas..student din kc aq bli ngrant visa q knina q lng nkuha..
hello jayson, thanks, yep e mageenroll pa lang ako. So na deny ako last time tingin mo it will be okay for my case o lalo lang lalala gawa ng mga “haka-haka” ng mga ilang tao dun sa embassy? Last time kasi they asked me if I was a student I said no kasi di pa ko enroll at mag Ooctoberian talaga kasi dapat ako at sana mageenroll ako pagbalik ko pa.
Congrats pala sayo =))) Have you showed them your financial capacity too or sa tito mo lang?
Kelan pala ang alis mo? Nakabook ka na? Ilang days ka dun? =)))
hi ICC.
thanks, s july 15 alis hanggang july 29 lng.bli 2 weeks lng aq s dun. mganda yan kc malakas n katibayan yan n may babalikan k p dito. nope wla aq pinakitang bank statement tito q din wla pkita my kinuha lang xang form s alien office s germany tpos yun lng yung pnadala nya skin tpos ok nmn lahat ng documents kya ng wait aq ng 2 weeks kinabahan aq kung anu yung declaration form yun pla n pagbalik q ng pilipinas dapat mag report aq s embassy pag expired ng visa q..hingi k s school mo ng leave of absence ilagay dun kung kelan k mawawala ska kelan k babalik tapos cerificate of enrollment ndin dapat my dry seal yung school mo. goodluck mgrant kdin..
hello Jayson,
Thanks much! Lapit nadin pala ang alis mo. =) Ano mga questions sayo ng embassy? Ano pala mga documents na pinasa mo sa kanila? Kailangan ng leave of absence? Hindi ako magstudy ngayong June e, would it be possible? to ask for a leave of absence from them? Ikaw kasi sponsor mo tito mo, ako ung bf ko.. tapos 2 weeks ka lang ako hinihingi ko 90days if ever pwede din sigurong 60days lang. Wish me the best of luck ha? Slamat ng marami.
hi guys,,approved visa q kinuha q s german embassy :) mababait tao nila s german embassy :) goodluck din s mga kukuha ng visa
Hi Jayson, may application kasi ako ng Schengen Visa sa July 4, pwede mo ba akong bigyan ng eksaktong check list ng mga kailangan? Nasa akin na naman lahat ng papers kaso I want to be sure. Thanks. At, ung Medical Clearance? Hiningan ka ba?
sure..:) e2 yung mga sinubmit q nun kaso sponsor lang aq ska student p.
1.Passport
2.visa application form
3.Proof of relationship with the sponsor
4.Proof of reservation of a round-trip flight
5.Formal Obligation (original and a Xerox copy) (“Ausländerbehörde”) gling s alien office s germany
6.Two current passport pictures
7.health insurance
8.School certificate (for pupils), University certificate: proof of enrollment (for students), if applicable a written exemption from studies by school or university,
yan yung mga pinasa q pa xerox mo lahat kc hihingan k nila ng mga xerox copy
ndi aq hiningan ng medical clearance at bank statement.. goodluck sa pagkuha mo ng visa..
ito yung website nila d2 lahat ng requirements
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/2637834/Daten/1059703/MB_visitor_visa_jan11.pdf
Thanks ha. All checked nanaman ako, sana nga maapprove. hehe :)
last question, i think i missed this one. Ano ung proof of relationship? anung document yun? pano kung friend ko lang yung magisponsor sakin? :S Kinabahan ako bigla…
okayyy thanks.. anu FB mo? LOL
how did you get health insurance and how much is it?thanks
hi John, tito q ndin kumuha ng health insurance q kasam n s pinadala nya my mga list dito ng mga insurance co. look mu nlng s taas..:)
@ Joseph, print out k ng conversation nyo s yahoo mail,messenger, skype, passport nya xerox lng,kung pumunta n xa s manila print nya din yung tatak s passport nya.,
hi jayson, my family is planning to come and visit germany next year. sa hotel kami mag stay duon kelangan paba namin kumuha ng sponsorship letter or invitation letter? how about ung insurance saan namin kukuninun?? i Hope you can help me.. salamat…. Ning
hi jayson! nag-submit ka rin ba ng bank certificate, ITR, etc. aside sa fact na tito mo ang magssponsor ng trip mo? thanks & congrats! =)
thanks.. nope wla aq sinubmit the bank certificate at ITR.khit yung s tito q l din sinubmit. ang sinubmit q lang yung kinuha ng tito q s alien office formal obligation lng..
Hi guys I know my result just before the swiss embassy in manila tell it to me lol…i got it from the embassy in bangkok and its DENIED!
“The application of Schengen Visa has been rejected. We will send the
decision together with notice of receipt by mail to Swiss Embassy in
Manila. So, if you would like to make an appeal, please send us back the
notice of receipt, appeal letter (original document) and supporting
documents.”
So this is life :).ts not the right time for me to be in sweden.I will know why when the swiss embassy in manila send me a letter or email but i guess its because me and my bf know each other for only 7 moths and seen each other once…So i will just try next time.What important is that we love each other and will meet here in the philippines soon again.
Goodluck to everyone ! I know this is the BEST FOR NOW :)
are there any study visa here na nag aapply sa italy?
please help me,kung how much ang ipapakita na bank statement.
la bang mkakasagot ng tanong q dito? medyo ninenerbyos ndin kc q sana my mkasagot nmn..thanks
hi lil! i’m just curious, how much money am i supposed to show in my bank certificate, given the fact that my sister is inviting me & she will cover all my expenses? thanks!
purple.z3lle: Mine , I had 230K and 30K on my other bank account. I had presented certificates for each of my bank accounts, however, I was not able to submit the 3 months bank statements for each. I was assuming kasi na ok na yun bank certificates. Better if you present bank certificate and 3 months bank statements for whatever bank accounts you have. Good luck.
naku! mine was only less than 100k sa bank account ko, since my sister’s sponsoring everything… you think it has a big gravity on the embassy’s decision? now i’m worried…
thanks Maria Isabel for the useful info… God bless :)
Yes you need the statements – they need to see movements in your bank account. Just presenting a big sum in your balance will not do, anyone can easily borrow money to deposit for show. People get denied for this.
Yes you need the statements – they need to see movements in your bank account. Just presenting a big sum in your balance will not do, anyone can easily borrow money to deposit for show. People get denied for this.
Hi Carla, i have only almost 200k in my bank account..but the movements of my account is good coz i am using it to my sideline business. but i didn’t declared it to the embassy..as of now is more than 200k na. I hope, it can help to approved my visa. I will just know on July 5.
hello rose,
my friend has more than 600k in her 2 accounts. plus a rnning business and a career. the hell they denied her!
this is not to discourage you. but i think they are crazy.
@rose – hello, what do you mean you didn’t declare?
BTW my officemate just got her visa today too – no travel history and only showed her payroll account with less than 50k in it but got approved.
@melo – just curious – what did they ask your friend and what’s her profile? French embassy is super strict daw talaga :( sayang naman kasi I think the appeal takes long diba? She didn’t ask about the appeal process?
she didnt ask, but the agency who handles and assisted her said its 10days too. just another cover letter stating why you are making an appeal. she is singble but getting married on december. she just openned a salon business 2 month old palang but complete with docs and ITR ofcourse.
basta pina isipan lang siya na hindi na babalik. duhhhh
Hi Carla and Melo, I didn’t declare na meron akong sideline business. as in all about my job lang kc almost 6yrs na ako sa company. at i have a travel history around Asia only.
Melo, what happened bakit na denied xa eh laki ng amount niya sa bank…nagbigay ba xa ng statement of account?
Carla, before ba u got your visa, tinawagan kaba ng embassy?
complete nga siya sa statements. bank account…. passbook, bank cert, bank book , checking, etc. lintek…. ano pa kailangan nila. kawawa naman friend ko. all she wanna do is have the grandest vacation before she gets married.
maybe, i will suggest to forget about france. and try other countries. any suggestion?
@Carla , nope..no calls yet from them…as what i know the more they call you,the bigger a change u get a visa? am i right?
@rose – no call but I’ve already gotten visas in the past from them. Did you get a call?
@melo – I noticed a lot of unmarried girls who are travelling alone get denied. BTW I’m also unmarried and travel alone most of the time. It’s unfortunate but we also have to consider na andami din kasing naggrant ng visa pero nagiillegal immigrant so nagiingat lang din other countries. Go nalang to Egypt, nice pa dun :)
if your sister is sponsoring you, you should present her financial capabilities. but if she’s a resident in france and will be getting attestation d’accueil, then she should say that she’s covering everything.
hi lil! i also presented her cert of employment, bank cert & all her docs as well including the attestation she sent me.. i hope they would suffice my application… its just a month trip from july 1-30.. whew! i’m really having cold feet..
Hi there.. this is very useful. My appointment is on July 05 and I think this post has given me tons of ideas about it.Just a question though, I will be sponsored by a French couple.. Will they still be very strict on my bank cert? What do u think?
Thanks.. :)
I think it’s still safe to have money because one of the girl here (in this comment thread) was denied even if she was sponsored.
hi wanderlass, ask q lang kung yung naeexperience q ngaun ok lng kc dapat kahapon dumating yung passport q pero letter from the german embassy dumating skin kompleto n nmn lahat ng papers q l nmn X n nkalagay dun s letter for other documents pero ang my X yung personal q dw kunin s embassy yung passport q saka sign din dw aq ng declaration form d q tuloy kung grant b or denied tourist visa q. sponsored din kc aq lahat ng gastos sagot ng tito q.
Yes. Thank you for replying. I hope everything works well. I am so excited to attend the Celtic festival in Brittany and to see Mt. St Michel. hayyy…keeping my fingers’ crossed. :)
hi gudeve,
ask q lang sana kung lam nyo tong situation q kc dapat knina yung release ng passport q papadala s air21 pero nreciv q knina letter lng galing s german embassy n personal q dw kunin yung passport q at sign ndin dw aq ng declaration form knakabahan n aq d q alam kung grant or denied b.. sna my same situation dito thanks po..
uyyy, nag-apply ako sa german embassy kanina.. eh hindi din binalik passport ko, makukuha ko daw after 2 weeks… wala namang binigay na exact date…. :((
hi… ask ko lang po.. anyone have tried belgium???
and need na po ba yung insurance pag isasubmit na yung requirements?
thanks
same requirements for all schengen regions
@rose what did the consul ask you?
Hi Mica, be ready about your relationship sa host coz dun maraming questions. like, if you plan to get married, when did u meet him, where and you have children and if he has children..those normal questions for the relationship. update ko kau d2 after July 5, if ano result ng visa ko.