Home > How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in 2026

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in 2026

Millions of people go to the Schengen zone every year, a collection of 29 popular countries in Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and more).

While some travelers don't need a visa for short trips to the zone, many travelers do, and that's where Schengen visas come into play.

Whether you're planning a short vacation, a business trip, or a family visit, applying for (and actually receiving) a Schengen visa is the first part of the process. Without one, you won't be able to go on your trip after all.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to apply for a Schengen visa, covering everything from where to apply and the necessary documentation to even answering your frequently asked questions. We'll even share a bit about Schengen travel insurance, as it is one of the most important parts of the application process (it's actually mandatory).

Applying for a Schengen visa doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you know what will be expected of you going in.

What you're applying for

A Schengen visa is a document that allows you to travel to countries in the Schengen zone.

For many non-EU travelers heading to Europe (such as Indian or Chinese citizens), a Schengen visa is mandatory. The most common Schengen visa is for short stays (stays less than 90 days in duration).

Once approved, you can travel freely across the Schengen countries without needing a separate visa for each country and without having to pass through border control between them (just when you first enter the area).

To get a Schengen visa, you have to go through the formal application process, which takes a few weeks (on average).

An infographic showing which citizens need a visa to visit Europe

How to apply for a Schengen visa

The Schengen visa process is multi-step, but it's the same regardless of your nationality (if you're an Indian or Chinese citizen, for instance).

That said, the process can differ, so make sure you follow the instructions of your visa application center or consulate.

Step 1: Select your destination

It all starts with knowing where you're going - this means knowing which country you're applying for.

When you apply, you don't just apply "to enter the Schengen zone." You have to apply to the country you're planning to visit.

If you are planning on visiting multiple countries, that can cause some confusion. Still, there is a simple answer.

If you're visiting one country and one country only, apply to that country.
If you're visiting multiple countries, apply to the country you're going to first.

So, if you’re traveling to Portugal first, then Spain and Italy after, for example, you should apply for a Schengen visa for Portugal, per the Portugal Visa Guide.

Some websites may claim that you should apply for a visa for the country that you'll be spending the most time in, but this is only true if you're applying for a long-stay visa (a visa for more than 90 days).

List of Schengen visa requirements (infographic)

Step 2: Gather all of the required documents

Your visa application is made up of a series of documents.

Most of the time, your visa application will ask you to provide the following documents, but keep in mind that they may ask you for supplementary information too.

A valid passport: To apply for a Schengen visa, you must have a passport.
A Schengen visa application form.

Passport-sized photos: You'll need to provide a photo for your visa.

Infographic: Schengen travel insurance requirements

Proof of travel insurance: Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen visa applicants.

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Download your compliant Schengen insurance certificate today.

Travel itinerary: You’ll need to provide the dates you will be entering into and leaving the Schengen area. Typically, you need to show a flight reservation (so, your airline tickets).
Proof of financial means: As part of your application, you will need to show sufficient funds to cover your stay.
Proof of accommodation: Visa officers want to make sure that you have somewhere to stay in the Schengen area.

Schengen visa costs infographic, updated for 2026

Visa fee payment: The payment depends on which visa you’re applying for.

Step 3: Start the online process and schedule your in-person visa appointment

Some countries have a visa application process that begins online, such as France, for example (theirs is called Visa-Wizard). If that’s the case, you need to start the process there.

Other times, you begin the process directly with the visa application center. Your destination's official Embassy website should have the details on how to get started.

Once you have all of your documents prepared (and physical/original copies of each), it will be time to book your visa appointment. Generally, you need to book your appointment ahead of time. This is one of the reasons you'll see the same piece of advice everywhere: start the visa process early.

Only so many slots are available, and visa appointments book up very quickly - especially during the peak seasons.

Currently, an in-person appointment is mandatory for Schengen visa applications.

Step 4: Attend your visa appointment and submit your biometrics

There are two things you need to make sure that you do: arrive at your appointment on time and with all of the required documents.

The purpose of your in-person appointment is to:

Check to make sure that your application is complete (that it has all of the required documents).
Collect your fingerprints and sometimes a digital photo (biometrics).
Submit your visa application.

Depending on where you live, it’s very common to have to travel out of town for your visa appointment. This is because visa centers and consulates are usually located in major cities (LA, Houston, NYC, etc.).

You won't find out whether or not your visa will be approved at your appointment.

While the officials at visa application centers check your application for how complete it is, they don't decide who gets a visa and who doesn't. In fact, they don't play any part in the decision-making process and don't have any sway or influence.

Only embassies/consulates can decide.

Step 5: Wait for your visa application to be processed

Visa processing times vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the country you’re applying to, seasonality, and more. Typically, processing takes up to 15 days.

For long-stay visas, application approval times vary and can take longer, even multiple weeks.

A visa offer at the embassy will manually review your application. If they find that they need supporting documents to make their decision, you may be asked to provide supplemental information. For example, you could be asked to provide an employment letter.

If you're asked to provide more information, it doesn't mean that your visa application has been denied. But it doesn't mean it has been approved either.

It just means that officials need a little bit more information to make a decision.

Make sure you respond to any official requests quickly because they won't be able to make a final decision until everything is in their hands and reviewed.

Will my visa be approved or denied?

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell whether or not your visa will be approved until it's in hand.

It can be tempting to read about visa rejection rates to try to glean information. While these rates do exist, they're not at all reliable indicators of what your outcome will be.

Step 6: Receive a response

Once your visa has been processed, you’ll either receive your passport in the mail or a notification to pick it up (depending on where you live and the specific center you went to). If approved, your visa will be inside of your passport (on one of the "blank" passport stamp pages).

Make sure to double-check all the details on the visa sticker, such as your name, travel dates, and the number of entries (single or multiple).

List of countries in the Schengen zone in 2026

The Schengen visa application process is the same for each country in the zone. Check out our visa guides for each country in the Schengen area here:

About your Schengen visa

Once approved, your Schengen visa will have a start date and an end date. These are the dates when your visa is valid, meaning when you're permitted to be in the Schengen zone.

On top of that, your visa will say whether or not you're allowed one entry, two, or multiple. This depends on the specific visa you applied for.