The EU Seasonal Workers Directive is complementary to the EU Blue Card in the sense that both permits are issued to foreign nationals entering the EU with the purpose of employment, and they can both be obtained through a single permit procedure.

However, the nature of the two permits is different because the EU Blue Card is issued to highly qualified workers, whereas seasonal workers do not need university qualifications. Non-EU seasonal workers mostly work in the sectors of agriculture, horticulture, and tourism.

Who Is Eligible for a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

Individuals belonging to one of the categories below are eligible for a seasonal work permit in the EU:

• Citizens of an EU member state.
• Third-country nationals who keep their residence in a third country and stay legally for a temporary period in the territory of an EU member state for the purpose of carrying out activities dependent on the passing of the seasons based on a contract between them and the employer of the Member State.

What Kind of Seasonal Work Can I Perform in the EU?

With a seasonal work permit, you can choose to work in one of the following options:

• Farm.
• Agriculture.
• Fruit picking.
• Catering.
• Hotel.
• Hospitality.
• Summer camps.
• Ski resorts.
• Babysitting, etc.

What Are the Benefits of a Seasonal Worker Permit in the EU?

During the period of validity, a third-country seasonal worker is entitled to the following benefits:

• The right to enter and stay in the territory of the EU member state that issued the authorization.
• Free access to the territory of the EU member state that issued the authorization in accordance with national law.
• The right to exercise the authorized employment activity in accordance with national law.
• The right to equal treatment with nationals of the host Member State.
• Accommodation to ensure an adequate standard of living.

Can I Apply for a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU Without a Job Offer?

No, you cannot. In order to be eligible for a seasonal work permit in the EU, you first need to have a qualifying job offer in the EU member state you want to work and then apply for a seasonal work permit in the EU.

How to Apply for an EU Permit for Seasonal Workers?

When applying for a seasonal work permit in the EU, it is up to the Member State to decide whether you have to make the application yourself or whether your employer has to apply on your behalf.

The application procedure when applying by yourself for a seasonal work permit in the EU is as follows:

1. Find seasonal work in an EU State. Find a job offer in any of the member states of the EU before starting your application.
2. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the EU Member State you want to work in to make an appointment.
3. Collect the required documents to support your application.
4. Submit the documents and application to the diplomatic missions (embassy/consulate) in your home country.
5. Pay the application fee. The fee must be paid by your employer, but in case you pay the fee yourself, you will be entitled to be reimbursed by the employer in accordance with national law. The fees change depending on the country you are applying to.
6. Wait for the application to be processed. If approved, you can travel to the EU state to work.

This is just a general guideline on how to apply for a seasonal work permit in the EU, as application procedures may change from country to country.

If your employer has to apply for the seasonal work permit on your behalf, they have to apply at the relevant Immigration/Foreigner’s Center in the EU state. They must apply while you are still abroad.

Remember: When it comes to seasonal workers and EU Blue Cards (highly-skilled workers, researchers), you do not need to apply for a work permit and residence permit separately. You can get them both via the same procedure, known as the Single Permit.

What Are the Requirements for Seasonal Workers in the EU?

When applying for a seasonal work permit in the EU, you have to submit several documents to support your application:

• Seasonal Worker Permit Application Form. A fully completed application form with the required information and data.
• Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and must be valid for at least three months after your intended departure period from the EU. The passport must contain at least two blank pages.
• Photocopies of passport pages. Photocopy your passport pages with your personal information and signature and pages with previous visas.
• Two passport-size pictures. The photos must be recently taken and in accordance with the ICAO standards.
• Work contract or job offer. The document must state the duration of the work contract/offer and your annual salary.
• Proof you have obtained EU health insurance.
• Financial status. Proof you can financially sustain yourself during your stay.
• Letter from your employer. The employer hiring you has to write a letter declaring they are responsible for reimbursing any costs if you overstay and to prove that the position could not have been filled by an EU national.
• Police clearance. A police certificate from the country of residence stating that you do not pose a threat to the public policy, security, or health of the hosting state.
• Proof you have paid the application fee (depending on the country).
• Any other documents that the State’s relevant immigration authorities require.

What Is the Processing Time for a Seasonal Work Permit Application?

The competent authorities of the EU Member State you are applying for will notify you of your application status (approved/rejected) in writing no later than 90 days from the date you have submitted the application.

What Is the Duration of the Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

The duration of the seasonal work in the EU is regulated by the Member State and changes depending on the type of work you will do. However, the maximum duration of the seasonal work permit is limited to a period of no less than five months and no more than nine months in any 12-year period.

If the seasonal work in the EU expires, you must leave the territory of the EU Member State. But, if it expires during the ongoing procedure for extension or renewal, the EU Member State shall allow you to stay in their territory until a decision is made. This is valid only if you have submitted the application for extension or renewal within the period of validity.

Can I Extend My Seasonal Work Permit for the EU?

You can apply for an extension or renewal of your seasonal work permit while you are in the EU only if you do not surpass the nine months out of a year that you are allowed to. In cases of an extension or renewal, the EU Member State must take the necessary steps to ensure that you will not be obliged to interrupt your employment relationship with the same employer or prevent you from changing employer.

Are Seasonal Workers in the EU Entitled to Holiday Pay?

Yes, social workers in the EU are entitled to equal treatment with the nationals of the EU Member States in terms of working conditions, including pay and dismissal, working hours, leaves, and holidays.

How Many Hours Can I Work With a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

You can work for the same working hours as the nationals of the EU Member State you are working in. Usually, you are allowed to work a maximum of 40 to 45 hours per week. However, the maximum working hours can change depending on the branch you work in and the law of labor of the host country, as some EU countries have a longer working time.

Can Foreign Seasonal Workers Apply for Family Reunification?

No, seasonal workers are not allowed to apply for family reunification, despite the fact they will often work in the EU for months at a time.

Can foreign seasonal workers in the EU change employers?

Seasonal workers hired in an EU state can change employers once for the duration that their permit has been issued. That’s because the conditions offered to seasonal workers can be tough at times, and therefore a foreign worker should have the possibility of changing employment if he or she is not satisfied with the conditions provided.

Can Foreign Seasonal Workers in the EU Change Employers?

No, if you have a seasonal work single permit, you are not allowed to travel, work, or move to other states in the EU. You can only work within the state that has issued your permit.

However, the seasonal worker permit is a multiple-entry permit, so you can travel back and forth between your home country and the EU state in which you are working.

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During the processing time, the consulate may, in individual cases, ask you to submit additional information or documents or you may be contacted for an interview. Make sure to submit them too, since the submission of the firstly required documents does not guarantee you will be granted with a visa.

Schengen Visa Requirements

The required documents to apply for a Schengen visa are the following:

• Valid passport. The passport should fulfill some criteria, as follows:
  • The passport must have at least two empty pages in order to affix visa.
  • Must not be older than ten years (meaning it must be issued within the last 10 years).
  • Must be valid for at least three more months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen territory.
• Schengen Visa application form. The form asks for basic information as name and surname, date of birth, place, and country of birth. It also asks per current nationality, sex, marital status and details about your passport details (as the date of issue, expiration date, etc) information regarding the purpose of the journey, the type of visa you are applying for (single entry, double-entry or multiple entry), duration of intended stay, etc.
• Photography that meets Schengen guidelines. You must submit two identical photos, one pasted on the application form and the other submitted loose.
• Proof of paid Schengen visa fees. After you pay the visa fee, you will be issued a receipt. Keep it because you will have to show it in order to collect your processed application. In case of visa application rejection or if you withdraw your application, the fee will not get reimbursed.
• Travel Medical Insurance for your entire stay in Europe. The Schengen Area member countries have agreed on the minimum coverage of travel medical insurance, which is 30,000 Euro per person. The insurance has to cover the entire stay in the Schengen territory and all the expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment.
• Biometric Data. The biometric data of persons applying for a Schengen visa will be stored in a new Visa Information System (VIS). Exempted from the fingerprinting requirements are the below-mentioned categories:
  • Children younger than twelve years old.
  • Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible.
  • Heads of State and members of National Governments, their accompanying spouses, and their official delegation when on an official visit.
• Copies of previous visas. If you have traveled to the Schengen Zone before, with a passport that has already expired now (or is full), you should submit it together with the other documents to prove your travels. If you have more than two passport bring all of them. Do not staple them together, instead just tie them with a rubber band.
• Flight Itinerary. The flight itinerary is a detailed flight plan to and from the destination country within the Schengen Area you want to get a visa to visit, as a booked flight reservation, a hotel booking, package tour, etc. This does not mean you will have to purchase actual flight tickets before you receive your visa, only a flight reservation.
• A Schengen visa cover letter. In a cover letter, you explain your travel plan in details as to when you plan to visit the country, where you will stay and what you will do.
• Proof of financial status. You must show evidence that you will be able to financially maintain yourself during your stay in the Schengen territory. You should be able to prove that through a bank statement of the past three months, which must not be older than three days. The minimum amount required is different in each country, therefore you will have to consult with the relevant consular authority in your country.
• Proof of accommodation. The proof of accommodation for Schengen visa is a hotel booking usually. If you are planning to stay over at friends or family members, then you must submit a letter where they confirm it and explain that they have enough room for you. Depending on the country you are planning to visit, your host might also have to submit some extra documents as for example:
  • In France, the host must submit an original of the so called “Declaration d’Accueil” (guarantee document). The same applies if the host is from Luxembourg.
  • In Austria, the host must request the ‘“Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung“ at his/her municipality in Austria. He or she has to deliver this document to the Austrian Authorities not earlier than 30 days before applicant’s visa appointment date.
  • In Belgium, the original “Engagement de Prise en Charge – Verbintenis tot Tenlasteneming 3 bis” must be stamped by the municipality and have the embossed stamp by the foreign office.
  • Whereas in the Netherlands the host must submit the original “Bewijs van Garantstelling”, and also three salary sheets/reports and work contract of the inviting person. If the host is independent he or she must also submit the registration in the trade register of the company, the decision of taxation called “down aanslaginkomstenbelastingen”, an official document from the tax “Belastingdienst”, and its profit and loss account copy.

Additional Schengen Visa Documents

Depending on your working status, you will have to submit some extra documents as follows:

• Evidence of student status – you have to prove that you are a student through some document. This could be the student card or a copy of the matriculation at the university and student index signed and stamped by the university and the current transcript of records. You will have to submit proof of sufficient funds for the entire stay in your destination country, that could be a work contract and bank account statement from your parents or host (if applicable).
• Evidence of employment – it can be an original signed letter from an employer or recent payslip.
  You will have to submit your employment contract and a vacation confirmation from your employer, aside of the bank statement.
• Evidence of self-employment – a letter from a solicitor, accountant or Companies House, which confirms your status.
• Evidence of retirement – Pension statements over the last 6 months.

Schengen Visa Requirements for Children Under 18

• The visa application form must be signed twice by the legal guardian/s.
• Unabridged birth certificate.
• If the child is traveling alone, he or she must submit certified parental consent by both parents.
• If the child travels with only one parent, the other parent must produce the notarized/certified consent.
• In case the single parent with whom the minor will be traveling holds the paternal authority alone, the relevant court documents must be presented (death certificate, divorce agreement or custody agreement).

NOTE: Be aware that the embassies or consulates do not accept an application without a previous appointment and most of them do not give information about pending cases by email or phone.

Each embassy or consulate reserves the right to request additional documents during your appointment or later, and also to summon the applicant for another interview.

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What is VIS?

The Visa Information System (VIS) is an IT system for collecting, processing and sharing information among the EU states pertinent to the management of the external borders.

The sole purpose of establishing the VIS is to make the sharing of information between the Schengen Area member states possible. It consists of a central IT system that is linked to the national system of each member state through a communication infrastructure and collects all of the information entered in the latter, thus permitting the Schengen countries to exchange visa data.

The central system registers every information that is entered in the national systems as decisions relating to applicants for short stay visas to visit, and also performs matching, primarily of fingerprints, for identification and verification purposes.

The VIS enables an easier way to verify the identity of the person presenting the visa at border checks in the Schengen territory thus avoiding fraudulent documents and fighting and preventing fraudulent behaviours such as “Visa shopping”. It also facilitates the process of visa issuance, especially for frequent travellers, and makes it easier to decide which of the European Union states is responsible for the examination of an asylum application.

The operational management of VIS is done by the EU Agency for large-scale IT systems, eu-LISA.

What are the Objectives of VIS?

The main objectives of the Visa Information System (VIS) are to improve the implementation of the common visa policy, consular collaboration and consultations between the central visa authorities through:

• Facilitating checks – by helping border guards to identify the identity of every person that presents a Schengen visa to them. And, also to identify persons with fake documents or no documents at all in the Schengen Area.
• Facilitating the issuance of visas – by helping the immigration authorities to confirm the identity of each applicant faster and more accurately. The VIS facilitates the visa-issuance process, especially for frequent Schengen Visa travellers.
• Fighting abuses – the VIS helps immigration authorities of each Member State to identify overstays, irregular migrants and also to fight and prevent fraudulent behaviours as “visa shopping” etc.
• Protecting Travelers – by identifying other travellers using someone else’s identity to enter the Schengen Area.
• Helping with asylum applications – facilitating the application of the Dublin II Regulation by making it easier to decide which EU state is responsible for the examining of an asylum application.
• Enhancing security – by preventing, detecting and investigating serious criminal offences as terrorist offences.

Collecting of Biometric Data – How Does it Work?

The biometric data that are collected and stored in the VIS, are valid for access by the relevant authorities of each member state, for no more than five years after their collection. After five years, this information shall be erased from the central and national systems too.

According to Art 5 of the VIS Regulation, the following categories of data shall be collected in the Visa Information System:

Alphanumeric data

Alphanumeric data on the applicant and on visas requested, issued, refused, erased, revoked or extended.

Photographs

A new photograph can be digitally taken at the time of the application or an already existing one can be scanned and then entered into the VIS. The photograph has to fulfill all of the standards set by the ISCO.

Fingerprints

When you submit your application form and other documents required for a visa, on the interview day, you will also have your fingerprints scanned. Then your fingerprints will be checked through the system. If you have ever had your fingerprints scanned in the Schengen territory for reasons like criminal offences, visa fraud, overstaying etc., then the VIS will transmit this information to the national system of the Member State which is processing your application.

There are some groups of people that are exempt from fingerprint collecting:

• Children younger than twelve years old,
• Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible,
• Heads of State and members of National Governments, their accompanying spouses, and their official delegation when on an official visit

Once fingerprint scans are stored in the VIS, they can be re‐used for further visa applications over a 5‐year period, therefore frequent travelers to the Schengen Area do not have to give new finger scans every time they apply for a new visa. However, in case of reasonable doubt regarding the identity of the applicant, the consulate shall collect again fingerprints within the 5 year period specified above.

It is a general rule that if you have new cuts or burns in any of your fingerprints, you will have to wait until they heal to get your fingers scanned.

When the traveller arrives at the Schengen Area external borders, his or her finger scans may be compared against those held in the database. In case of a mismatch, there will be further checks on the traveller’s identity.

Links to previous visa applications

If the traveller has visited other countries before, then his visas will be stored in the VIS. The date of entry and exit, and also the country and period of stay will be entered into the system.

Which Countries use VIS?

Every Schengen Area member country is using the VIS, in order to fully implement the common visa policy of this Area. Schengen Area Consists of 22 European Union Member States and four other associated states, part of the European Free Trade Association (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland).

Who Can Access VIS?

Only competent authorities have access to the VIS, for entering or consulting data. Every data entered by one of the Schengen member states is accessible for the visa authorities of the other Schengen member states only when examining applications. The duly authorized staff of visa authorities has the exclusive right to enter, amend or delete data.

The other authorities only have access to the visa for consultative reasons. These authorities are:

• National border authorities can access the VIS to verify the identity of the holder and the authenticity of the visa.
• National authorities carrying out checks inside Schengen States
• Competent national asylum authorities can access the VIS fingerprint database when determining the member country responsible or the examining of an asylum application.
• Provided that certain legal conditions are fulfilled: Europol and national law enforcement authorities The procedures for consultations under such circumstances are laid down in Council Decision 2008/633/JHA.

The Schengen member states have agreed that the VIS data cannot be accessed by a third country or an international organization.

How is VIS Data Protected?

Only a limited number of authorized staff of each Schengen Zone member state has access to the VIS data, and that with the sole purpose of performing their duties. There are strict rules on the protection of the data, which is kept in the VIS for only a maximum of five years.

On the other hand, every person has the right of getting the information about data on him or her in the VIS, and also to request in the correction of inaccurate data, if such thing happens.
There are also the National Supervisory authorities that monitor the lawfulness of the processing of personal data in each of the Schengen Territory member states.

Where Does VIS Operate?

The VIS operates in every country the residents of which need a visa to enter any of the Schengen Area member states, and where there is at least one embassy or consulate of the member states.

However, it did not start operating on the same day or even the same year, in all the embassies and consulates of the Schengen Area member states in the world. Instead, it started operating gradually, country after country, as follows:

• North Africa – October 2011,
• Near East – May 2012,
• Gulf region – October 2012,
• West and Central Africa – March 2013,
• East and Southern Africa – June 2013,
• South America – September 2013,
• Central and South-East Asia and the occupied Palestinian territory – November 2013,
• Central and North America, the Caribbean and Australasia – May 2014,
• Turkey and the Western Balkans – September 2014,
• EU’s Eastern Partnership countries – June 2015,
• Russia – September 2015,
• China, Japan and neighboring countries – October 2015,
• South Asia region – November 2015.

Schengen Information System (SIS)

The Schengen Information System (SIS) has been established by the Schengen member countries in order to have a highly efficient large-scale information system that supports external border control and law enforcement through cooperation between the countries.

The system enables competent authorities as police to enter and consult alerts on certain categories of wanted or missing persons. Each alert contains information about particular persons and objects, and also clear instructions on what to do when not found. Its main goal is to help in the preservation of internal security in the Schengen zone in the absence of internal border checks

Its main purposes are as follows:

• Border controls cooperation
• Law enforcement cooperation
• Cooperation on vehicle registration

The Schengen Information System operates in the European Union member states, aside of Ireland and Cyprus, and the 4 Schengen associated countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland).

However, there some limitations in the use of SIS for some of the EU countries:

Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia are yet not part of the Schengen Area, therefore, they still face restrictions, which will be lifted as soon as the three of these countries become part of the Schengen Area.

Ireland is still carrying out preparatory activities to connect with the SIS.

Cyprus is not yet connected to the SIS since it has a temporary derogation from joining the Schengen area.

European Dactyloscopy (EURODAC)

The EURODAC is Europe’s first asylum fingerprint database. It has been established in 2003 and consists of a central system that gathers all of the fingerprint data registered by the national systems in the Schengen member countries. Every person that applies for asylum in the EU has his fingerprints registered in this system.

One of the key achievements of this system is that allows the member states to compare fingerprints linked to criminal investigations, for the purpose of prevention, detection, and investigation of serious crimes and terrorism.

The first reform package of the EURODAC was introduced in May 2016, proposed the use of other biometric identifiers as facial recognition and collection of digital photos.

The first fingerprint database was set in German, two years after the Dublin convention in 1992, and the EURODAC was established after more than 10 years later as a result of frequent migrant flows in Europe.

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The European Union has adopted common standards regarding the visa application photos, which are the same as the mandatory specifications for passport photos that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency operating under the United Nations, has stipulated.

Schengen Visa Photo Requirements

Your Schengen Visa photo should be:

• Taken within the past six months.
• Photo size should be 35x40mm. Close up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70–80% of the photograph in sharp focus.
• Taken with a plain light-colored background.
• In color.
• Have a neutral face expression. The mouth must be closed (no obvious grinning or raised eyebrows).
• You must look directly at the camera.
• Have appropriate brightness and contrast.
• Be taken with uniform lighting.
• With no ink marks or creases.
• Show your eyes open and clearly visible.
• No hair across your eyes should be shown in the picture.
• It should be showing both edges of your face clearly.
• Must not show shadows or flash reflections on your face.
• No red eye.
• No sunglasses allowed.
• No caps allowed.
• Colored lenses are not allowed.
• No big accessories that cover some part or of your face are allowed.
• Digital makeup is not allowed.

Photo Quality Guidelines

Head Position

Glasses

If you wear glasses, then the photograph must show your eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the glasses, and no tinted lenses. Try to avoid heavy frames, and try to wear lighter framed glasses if possible. Make sure that the frames do not cover any part of your eyes. If you can, it is recommended to remove the glasses. Pictures with sunglasses on are not accepted.

Head Coverings and Hats

One is not allowed to wear head-covering in his or her photo except for religious reasons. However, facial coverings are not allowed for any type of reasons, therefore your facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown in the picture.

Photo Background and Quality

The background of the photo must be clear and one colored. You should be shown alone with no chair backs, toys or other people visible, or even hands or fingers. You should be looking at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.

Photographs that are taken with a digital camera must be high-quality color and printed on photo-quality paper at high resolution.

Children’s Photos for Schengen Visa

When it comes to baby photos, there is no agreed standard between the Schengen countries. However, the rules for baby passport photos are relaxed slightly by most countries due to the difficulty in especially getting babies under one year old to look at the camera.

Under 6 months old

Babies under 6 months old can be photographed while lying down or sitting on a baby chair. The background must be a suitable one color sheet. The requirements stipulate no visible support like hands.

It is okay if the eyes of the baby are close, or if they are opened the baby does not have to look at the camera. This is because it is harder to get a baby look at the camera. It is also okay if baby’s mouth is opened in the picture.

Under five years old

The rules are also relaxed for children under the age of 5. Children under this age do not need a neutral expression in their Schengen photos, and their head does not necessarily have to be straight. However, the color of their eyes should be clearly visible in the photo though not necessarily looking at the camera.

Where to Take a Visa Photo?

Usually, you can take a photo at any photographing studio in your city. Most of them have all of the instructions and usually, take these pictures according to the standards specified above. However, take care to ask if they take pictures according to the Schengen visa photo requirements just to make sure.

There is always at least one photographing studio near the embassy or consulate that takes pictures to conform the ISCO standards, but usually, they charge you with higher prices for their service.

You may take the picture by yourself at home, just be careful to fulfill all of the above-mentioned criteria.

Applications with photos that do not match the ICAO specifications will probably be rejected by the consulate or embassy officials. Therefore, applicants are advised to follow the guideline above.

(Photos are taken from www.diplomatie.gouv.fr)

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The card facilitates the admission of non-EU highly skilled professionals into the EU. It intends to simplify the procedures and improve the legal status of those already in the EU.

The permit authorizes its holder to enter, re-enter and stay in the country that has issued it. Their family members can accompany them. The EU Blue Card holder and their family members are entitled to freedom of movement within the EU.

The EU Blue card holder enjoys equal treatment with the nationals of the Member State where they have settled. Yet, they can only work in the sector they are concerned about.

If a third-country national holds an EU Blue Card, after 18 months of regular employment, he or she can move to another EU member state to take up employment. He or she must notify the authorities there within one month of their arrival. Note that Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are not part of this program.

Where Can I Work With an EU Blue Card?

EU Countries Issuing the EU Blue Card

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Although the EU Blue Card is recognized by 25 EU member states with the same basic criteria applying for all, there are minor additional criteria set by each member state for its own.

EU Countries Not Issuing the EU Blue Card

Member states that have opted out of the EU Blue Card Directive and as a result do not issue the EU Blue Card are:

• Denmark
• Ireland

Other states in the European Union not issuing the EU Blue Card are the EFTA member states:

• Norway
• Liechtenstein
• Iceland
• Switzerland

EFTA member states participate in the single EU market through the EEA agreement while Switzerland operates by a bonding bilateral agreement with the EU member states in regards to free market and the sharing of services.

Who Needs an EU Blue Card?

If you are wondering if you need an EU Blue Card to work in an EU country as a highly skilled, do not rush to apply immediately. There are nationals of some countries are exempt from obtaining this residence permit.

Here is the complete list of countries that need to apply for an EU Blue Card.

What is the Minimum Salary Threshold for the EU Blue Card in 2022?

The salary depends mostly on the company you have been admitted to. But, there is the salary threshold which shows the minimum salary that is respected and protected by the law.

*Unchanged from the previous year

EU Blue Card Eligibility Criteria

Start the application process to get a Blue Card, by checking if you are eligible. When applying for a Blue Card the applicant must meet the following conditions:

• Have a Master’s Degree or equivalent.
• Have at least 5 years of experience in your field.
• Have a work contract or a job offer for highly qualified employment for at least one year.
• Meet the minimum salary threshold in the EU country in which you want to work.
• For regulated professions: proof that the national legal requirements are met.

In case you lose your job within the first three years under a Blue Card, you will have three months to find another job. Or else you will have to leave the country.

EU Blue Card Requirements

The required documents for an EU Blue Card are as follows:

• Application Form. It must be filled by either you or your employer with honest and correct information. Print the form twice and sign both copies at the end.
• A valid passport. Valid for at least 15 more months beyond your planned date to leave the EU. Is must not be damaged. It must have at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix visa, as well.
• Copies of important passport pages. These are the first pages with your details and the pages with visa stickers and stamps.
• Previous passports. If you have any older passports, you will have to submit them too. If you have more than one old passport then tie them together with a rubber band.
• Two photos. They must be identical and meet the ICAO standards. The photos must be in color, with white plain background and taken within the last three months.
• Work contract with an EU employer based in the country you wish to work in. It should be signed by all parties involved. It must be valid for at least one year, meeting at least the minimal required wage.
• Proof of professional level. A university diploma is required as a proof of professional level. It is compulsory to also show proof of continuous 5 years professional work experience in your field.
  • In case of regulated profession – present the acquired certificate.
• Up-to-date CV.
• Proof of application fee payment.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Proof that your salary exceeds the average in the hosting state by 1.5 times or 1.2 times for professions in shortage
• A written declaration by your employer. This is a document written by your employer stating reasons of employment and the benefits gained by this act. As a sponsor it is sufficient to write a declaration stating that the employee meets all conditions and requirements important to the employer.
• Proof of no threat to the public policy, security or health of the hosting state.

*Note: To prepare and gather the required documentation, such as the recognition of qualification or translation of documents and other similar documents, you will need approximately 4-6 months. Some member states may be quicker although you will need to keep this detail in mind when interested to apply.

Application Process for an EU Blue Card

The application process for an EU Blue Card differs from one EU country to another. The Member States are free to decide whether the application for the card has to be made by the third-country national and/or their employer.  Most of the member states require candidates to apply by setting appointments at the appropriate Embassies or Consulates in their home countries; few member states offer online applications.

The EU Member States can also set an upper limit of the third-country nationals that can enter their country under an EU Blue Card. The application fee payment for issuance is 140 € while 100 € for the renewal of the EU Blue Card. After handing in the application, you may have to wait for a maximum of 3 months/90 days until processing is complete.

EU Blue Card Application Processing Time

The maximum processing time for issuing an EU Blue Card is 90 days.

EU Blue Card Validity

The standard period for which a Blue Card is valid, is three years. If your work contract gets extended, you can renew your EU Blue Card accordingly.

If the work contract you have is valid for more than a year but less than three years, then you will be granted an EU Blue Card valid for that period (i.e. 30 months).

After the expiration date of the EU Blue Card, you are granted 3 additional months in order to provide you with a sufficient amount of time to extend or find another job, should circumstances change.

In case you are applying for the EU Blue Card renewal, you should provide a copy of your earlier EU Blue Card

While your application is being processed, which may take up to 90 days to complete, you are allowed to legally work and reside in the hosting state.

What Can You Do With as an EU Blue Card Holder?

Amongst many exceptional advantages gained by becoming an EU Blue Card holder, presented below you may find an overview of the key beneficial components:

• Equal work and salary conditions to national citizens,
• Free movement throughout EU,
• Social rights, including education, economic, cultural, human, health rights,
• Family reunification and
• Permanent-residency rights.

All benefits except for housing, loans and grants are provided to the EU Blue Card holders.

EU Blue Card holders are allowed to go back to their home countries or other non-EU states for a maximum of 12 consecutive months without losing the EU Blue Card ownership.

You can apply for the permanent residency permit after 33 months of working in the first hosting state, or 21 months if B1 language level knowledge is achieved.

EU Blue Card Rejection Reasons

Your application for a Blue Card may be rejected based one or more of the following:

• You have not met the eligibility criteria.
• Your application was based on incorrect or false information.
• You are considered a threat to public policy, public security or public health of the EU.
• A national or EU worker or an already present non-EU citizen could fill the vacancy.
• Your employer has been found guilty for employed irregular migrants without documents.
• Your home country lacks qualified workers in your sector.

You have the right to appeal against the decision of rejection or withdrawal within three weeks of the decision’s arrival – an attorney can also appeal on your behalf.  The hosting states’ competent authorities will determine the court and the time where the appeal may take place. If you do not apply before the deadline, you will be rejected.

How can my family join me in applying for the EU Blue Card?

Depends on whether your family applies at the same time as you. If applying simultaneously then you can include them in your online application. If not, they can fill their own online application.

Can I get permanent residency through the EU Blue Card?

Yes. You must work for 33 months in the hosting state or 21 months while also earning the B1 language certificate which enables you to qualify for the permanent residency permit earlier. Furthermore, if you work in different EU member states and gather 5 years of work experience altogether then you are a strong candidate for the permanent residency permit.

What happens if I lose my current job while an EU Blue Card holder?

If this happens, then you are allowed to stay unemployed for 3 months in order to find a new job otherwise your EU Blue Card may be withdrawn and you may be asked to leave the hosting country.

What is a Recognized Qualification?

The process of evaluating differences or the equivalency of professional and vocational qualifications obtained in foreign countries compared to the ones obtained within the specific hosting state is known as the Recognition of Qualifications. The intention is to determine whether there are differences in the content and the duration of such qualifications. Such procedures are governed by the Federal Law. The EU directive on the recognition of professional diplomas/qualifications is effective since 2005 and it enables the recognition of EU diplomas while also granting free access into the labor market.

Should there be differences among the training obtained and the one relevant in the hosting state, then compensatory measures set out by the competent authorities must be completed successfully.

For students that have completed their qualification programs in any of the EU member states, there is no need for further recognition of qualifications or compensation measures.

Examination certificates are issued once the compensatory measures in training have been completed.

For obtaining recognition of qualifications, fees range from 200 to 600 €. In case of requirements for translations, notarization, or other documents – charges may rise.

How to compensate your trainings or qualifications?

Regulated occupations

These are occupations that you must have a license, certificate or be registered with a regulatory body/agency in the location you plan to work. These occupations have their own standards of practice and have the authority to self-regulate their professions.

In order to practice occupations regulated by law, such as Craftsmanship, Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Psychotherapists, Veterinary, Nurse, Obstetrics, Lawyer, Notary, Teacher, Engineer, Medical specialists, and other similar, it is necessary to meet certain standards by undergoing State examinations or Compensatory measures regarding knowledge and professional ethics.

Compensatory measures

Compensation measures refer to the measures recommended to undertake for the recognition procedure to be completed. You may be required to complete an additional training, work experience or exam. More specifically, it refers to the compensation of substantial gaps and significant differences among non-EU trainings and trainings n the hosting EU member state.

Non-regulated occupations

For practicing a non-regulated occupation, you do not need a state license, certificate or registration. You should be educated and/or experienced in order to practice your knowledge and skills. Dual system professions are part of this category since the certificates obtained are both for theoretical and practical trainings.

Dual system professions/occupations

Professions that require learning by doing in both theoretical and practical trainings are considered dual system professions. Also, vocational trainings which require work experience as well as learning are known as such professions.

How to Apply for Qualification Recognition?

For qualification recognition, you must apply from your home country.
First, apply for the license to use the specific title of your profession. You may undertake compensatory measures if significant differences are found. If valued as equivalent, you are free to move on to the labor market right away. Your professional experience will also be considered during the recognition procedure. The significance of your qualification is measured by the content and the duration of courses.

A fee, dependent on specific rules and laws of the hosting state, ought to be paid.

The documents you need when applying:

• Identity card or passport,
• Training qualification certificate or diploma,
• Relevant work experience proof and
• Skills (trainings or similar)

Individuals with non-regulated professions are required to provide proof of at least 2 years of correlating work experience.

What is the Integration Agreement?

The Integration Agreement is intended to offer an ease for non-EU citizens by providing language courses and other helpful integration tools in order to enable taking part in the social, economic and cultural life in the hosting state. There are various helpful integration points within each member state on many diverse topics:

• Introduction of newly-arrived immigrants and recognized refugees
• Civic participation
• Indicators
• Handbook on Integration European exchange of information and good practice
• Mainstreaming immigrant integration
• Housing in an urban environment
• Economic integration
• Integration governance of substantive and methodological topics for exchange
• European exchange of information and good practice
• Mass media and integration
• Awareness-raising and migrant empowerment
• Dialogue platforms
• Acquisition of nationality and the practice of active citizenship Immigrant youth
• Education and the labor market

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As an EU citizen, you will need to get a pre-settled or settled status to keep living in the UK without restrictions, even after the divorce of the UK from the EU. To receive any of these UK residence statuses, you are required to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme from March 2019 until June 30, 2021.

Still there are exceptional cases when you as an EU citizen can remain in the UK after Brexit, without having to get pre-settled or settled status. This is possible if you are an Irish citizen or an EU national with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or with Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE).

What is a Pre-settled and a Settled status?

Pre-settled and settled status are meant for EU citizens and their family members (EU and non-EU) to remain in the UK even after Brexit.

These statuses of EU citizens in the UK are verifiable only through the online service. If you will be issued a pre-settled or settled status in a physical document, you must be applying from a foreign country and you don’t have a biometric residence card.

What Does This Mean for EU Citizens Who are Already in the UK?

Your stay as an EU citizen in the UK without a pre-settled or settled status will be illegal as of December 31, 2020. This rule includes also EU spouses of the British citizens.

If you are a family member (EU or non-EU) of an EU settled or pre-settled citizen in the UK, you can apply to join them through the same scheme, even after the deadline.

Even if you are an EU citizen with a permanent residence right in the UK, you should apply to get the status of a settled person after December 31, 2020. You, however, will not need to give evidence of the continuous period spent in the UK, or to pay the respective application fee.

If you are an EU citizen living in the UK with an ILR, you may switch your status into a settled person, but you are not required to. With an ILR you are allowed to stay in the UK indefinitely.

How to Qualify for a Settled or Pre-settled Status?

As an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, you will qualify to be issued a settled status in the UK, only if you have lived there for five continuous years, or you will start living there as of 31 December 2020.

In case you have lived in the UK for less than five continuous years, you can only get a pre-settled status until completing five continuous years of residence, for becoming a settled citizen.

When your continuous period of stay in the UK is calculated, your stays out of the UK are added up only if they are not more than six complete months in each year. Stays up to one year are exceptionally counted, if you have left the UK for an important issue such as to study, birth of a child, professional training, serious disease, death, and similar. Likewise, stays of any length are calculated if you have left the UK to attend a compulsory military service.

Rights of Pre-settled and Settled EU Citizens in the UK

Your rights are guaranteed in the UK if you hold either a pre-settled or a settled status as an EU citizen even when the UK officially leaves the European Union.

Settled

With a settled or pre-settled status, you can:

• Bring your family members.
• Get a job.
• Get benefits and pensions.
• Leave the UK and return here for as many times as you need.
• Receive healthcare services of the NHS.
• Enroll/continue studying.
• Become a British citizen after five continuous years spent in the UK.

Moreover, your children born in the UK while you hold a settled status will be automatically granted with British citizenship.

Pre-settled

As a pre-settled person you can exercise equal rights as settled persons, although you aren’t yet settled.

With a pre-settled status, you are given eligibility to remain for up to five years in the UK. After this time spent legally in the UK, you can become a settled citizen.

Your children born while you have a pre-settled status will automatically be British citizens if their second parent is either a British citizen, a settled citizen, has a valid ILR or ILE, or a right to adobe in the UK.

Who Can Settle in Less Than Five Continuous Years Spent in the UK?

To be able to settle in the UK in less than five continuous years of life in the UK you must fall into one of the following:

• Sudden permanent disability. You must have been employed/self-employed before this.
  • The permanent disability must be caused by an accident or illness.
  • You must have lived for two years right before this in the UK. If not, you must be a spouse/civil partner of a British citizen.
  • You are a family member of such an EU citizen.
• Early retirement/reaching the state pension age.
  • You must have been constantly employed. Otherwise, you must have lived for three continuous years. In the last year before retirement must have been self-employed.
  • You are married/civil partnership with a British citizen.
  • You are a family member of such EU citizen.
• Employment/self-employment in another EU state.
  • You must have lived, employed or self-employed in the UK for three continuous years before this.
  • You have not permanently left the UK, as you return here at least once in a week.
  • You are a family member of such EU citizen.
• Death of your EU family member.
  • Your EU family member must have been employed/self-employed right before their death.
  • You must have been living with your EU family member right before their death.
  • Your EU family member must have lived here for at least two years right before their death.
  • Cause of death of your EU family member must have been a work-related accident/ illness.

Do My Family Members Get the Same Status?

Your non-EU family members can obtain the same status as you, if they qualify to do so.

Here is a list of non-EU family members who can take up the same status as you in the UK:

• Your spouse/civil partner.
• Your partner in a long-lasting relationship. This is not a marriage/civil relationship.
• Children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren of yours/your spouse or civil partner. They must be younger than 21.
• Dependent children of yours/your spouse or civil partner. They can be of any age, as far as they are not independent persons.
• Dependent parent/grandparent/great-grandparent of yours/your spouse or civil partner. They can be of any age, as far as they are not independent persons.
• Other dependent family member of yours/your spouse or civil partner. Only if they have a UK residence card based on your relationship you have with them.

Family Members Living Outside the UK

Your family members living outside the UK up until 31 December 2020 may join you after this date, and get the same status as you in the UK, if they qualify to do so.

Here is a list of circumstances under which family members living outside the UK may join you after Brexit and take up a pre-settled/settled status as you in the UK:

• They must be your spouse/civil partner, a partner in a long-lasting relationship, child/grandchild, or a dependent parent/grandparent.
• They must have been your family member before 31 December 2020.
• They must continue being your family member even after coming to the UK.

Settled Status for EU Citizens Younger Than 21 Years Old

If you are an EU citizen younger than 21, living in the UK you will likewise receive the pre-settled or settled status in the UK, if you qualify to do so. You must have a parent/their spouse/their civil partner is an EU national.

The application in such case must be carried by you, your parent, grandparent or legal guardian.

Requirements of Applying for Settled and Pre-Settled Status

You must make the application for the settled or pre-settled status using an online form.  If you complete five years of continuous residence in the UK before June 30, 2021 you are advised to apply directly for settled status on this date or after. If your complete years of continuous residence in the UK are less than five years before such date, you must apply for a pre-settled status first.

If you are a family member of an EU citizen, you are encouraged to make the application for pre-settled or settled status together with your EU family member, for a faster decision.

Supporting evidences of your application are accepted in a scanned version through the online form. However, you may also send them in physical format through the post office.

Here are the documents that you must provide, when applying for the UK pre-settled or settled status:

• Documents showing your identity and nationality.
  • Your valid passport/national ID Card.
  • Your valid passport/Biometric Residence Card. (If you are a non-EU family member of an EU citizen).
  • One recent digital photograph of yours.
• Evidence of your continuous residence in the UK. They must display the activities you have exercised in the UK in five years of your continuous stay in the UK.
• Utility bills.
• Formal letters received by post.
• Evidence of your self-employment.
  • Registration for self-assessment with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
  • Business records. Showing profits and costs for tax return.
  • P60s by including tax and national insurance contributions.
  • Income tax documents.
  • National insurance documents.
  • VAT registration documents as a self-employed person.
  • VAT registration certificate.
  • VAT returns containing the VAT registration number. In the form of a printout and accompanied by a copy.
  • Documents of self-employment operations.
  • Documents of an active trading activity.
  • Documents of involvement in a business partnership.
  • Documents of involvement in a business with limited activity.
  • Documents of a franchise.
• Evidence of your employment.
  • P60 of the five latest years. (Or, the following documents).
  • Three pay slips for every year.  They may be monthly or weekly.
  • Employer’s letter. Confirming the employment periods and a yearly salary of the EEA national. (If you cannot send any of the aforementioned documents, send the following ones).
  • Acceptance of resignation letter.
  • Employment tribunal decisions.
  • Formal employment agreement.
  • Letter of termination of the employment.
  • P45given – given to a worker when leaving the job
• Evidence of your self-sufficiency.
• Evidence of your studies.
  • Certificate of enrollment in studies/Formal letter of an accredited education provider. It has to show the duration of your studies, study subject, qualification to be received upon completion.
  • Bank statements of each study year/certificate of scholarship award.They have to show payments of student fees, or covered study costs by scholarship.
  • Invoices issued by the respective education provider.
• Evidence of your travels.
  • UK border entry stamps in your passport.
  • Flight or train tickets of your travels towards the UK.
• Evidence showing your relationship with the EU citizen living in the UK. (If you are a non-EU family member of an EU citizen).
• Certificate of birth/adoption.
  • Certificate of marriage/civil partnership.
  • Passport/national ID card of your EU family member living in the UK.
  • Evidence showing that your EU family member lives in the UK.
  • Biometric information. (If you don’t already have a biometric residence card).You need to submit your photograph and fingerprints at the application center in the UK.
• Previous criminal history. (If you are older than 18). The information and evidence you provide will be inspected by authorities using the UK’s crime databases. Involvement in minor crimes, are not expected to affect your application. If you have been involved in major crimes, the decision on your eligibility is taken counting your personal circumstances. If you have been imprisoned, you may be eligible but you need to spend five continuous years of lawful residence in the UK after the date of your release.
• Adoption court order/equally recognized document of adoption. (If you are a parent of an adopted child).

Additional Documents

Additional documents to send if you are applying for settled status in less than five continuous years:

• Sudden permanent disability.
  • Letter issued by a medical doctor/medical consultant confirming a permanent disability.
  • Letter issued by a medical doctor/medical consultant stating causes of disability are related to their work performed.
  • Proof of your employment/self-employment right before disability.
• Early retirement/reaching the state pension age.
  • Official retirement letter with all retirement details. Has to be issued by the employer
  • Letter from the pension provider authority, plus bank statements. To confirm the receipt of the pension payment.
  • Proof of your employment/self-employment.
• Employment/self-employment in another EU state.
  • Proof of employment in another EU state.
  • Work contract with an employer in another EU state.
  • Bank statements showing receipt of salary.
  • Paid contribution.
  • Proof of residence of the EU family member in another EU country.
  • Rental contracts.
  • Utility bills.
  • Formal letters received by post.
• Death of your EU family member.
  • Certificate of death.
  • Proof of employment/self-employment of your EU family member before their death.
  • Proof of having lived together right before their death.
  • Proof of residence in the UK of the EU family member right before their death.
  • Letter issued by a medical doctor/medical consultant stating causes of disability are related to their work performed.

How Much Does it Cost to Apply Under the EU Settlement Scheme?

It is expected that EU nationals will be waived from paying a fee to settle in the UK after BREXIT.

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For some, traveling is easy. You buy a ticket, and that is it. For others, traveling includes applications and processes that are often confusing and time-consuming, in particular when it comes to traveling to Europe.

If you are living in the United States, and you do not know what procedures you should follow to enter Europe, this article will make it clear to you.

Do I Need to Apply for a Visa to Go to Europe?

Currently, US citizens do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit Europe. However, they will need to apply for an ETIAS starting November, 2023, in order to be permitted to enter any of the Schengen states. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System and is quite similar to the American ESTA.

You will have to apply for a Schengen visa from the US prior to your trip if you belong to any of the following categories:

• You have been rejected visa-free entry in Europe despite being:
  • A US passport holder
  • A passport holder of one of the countries that have a visa-free agreement with the Schengen Area
• You are a national of one of the countries that have not established a visa-free regime with the Schengen states yet

Please keep in mind that you will be able to get a Schengen visa from the US only if you you are a Green Card holder. In case you are there on a visa, you will not be able to apply for a Schengen Visa. Instead, you will have to go to your country of residence in order to be able to apply.

When Should I Submit the Schengen Visa Application From the United States?

You cannot just file your visa application whenever you want to. The earliest you can submit your Schengen visa application is three months prior to your trip to this region. The latest you can do so is two months prior to the date of your planned trip.

However, the most advisable time to file your application is three weeks prior to your trip to the Schengen zone.

How to Apply for Schengen Visa From USA?

Though it might sound like tons of work and requirements; in fact, applying for a Schengen visa from the US is simple, especially if you fulfill the eligibility criteria. As a start, in order to get your application ready, you need to figure out a couple of things as:

1. Choose the type of Schengen visa that you need.
2. Determine where to file your application.
3. Fill the Schengen Visa Application form.
4. Book an appointment.
5. Collect the required documents.
6. Show up at the appointment.

Types of Schengen visas available for applicants in USA

Applicants from the United States can apply for the following visas, depending on the purpose of visiting the Schengen countries:

• Tourist Schengen visa.
• Transit Schengen visa.
• Business Schengen visa.
• Visitor Schengen visa.
• Cultural Schengen visa.
• Medical treatment Schengen visa.

Where to apply for a Schengen visa in United States?

Just because the Schengen states have a common visa policy, it does not mean you can file your visa application at whichever Schengen embassy in the United States.  There are strict rules on where an applicant shall file their application. Before you schedule an appointment, decide:

• How many Schengen countries will you visit?
• If you are planning to visit more than one country:
  • How much you will remain in each?
  • In which country will you step first?

Visiting one country in Europe

If you are going to visit only one country, then file your application at the embassy/consulate/visa center of that country in the United States. For example if you want to visit France, you should submit your application at the nearest French mission (Embassy or Consulate).

Visiting more than one country in Europe

On the other hand, if you will be visiting more than one country, then file your application at the embassy/consulate/visa center of the country in which you will spend most days. If you plan on spending equal time in all the countries that you will visit, then you should apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country you will land first.

Choosing the mission that processes visa applications

In addition, depending on how your destination country has regulated visa submission, you may have to submit your application at their:

• Embassy.
• Consulate.
• Visa Center.
• Embassy/consulate/visa center of another Schengen country to which your destination country has outsourced visa submission.

Aside from that, in the US, each embassy and each consulate have their own jurisdiction area. This means that where you need to file your application also depends on the jurisdiction area under which you fall.

Fill in the Schengen visa application form

After determining where to apply, you can download the Schengen visa application form from the Embassy/Consulate website. It is free of charge, so you need to make sure not to get scammed by paying for it.

You will have to answer questions for basic information such as your name, date of birth, country of birth, passport number, and nationality; and questions regarding your trip, such as where will you stay, for how long etc.

Book an appointment

After completing the application form you will have to book an appointment with the embassy or consulate in the United States that will handle your application.

Collect the required documents

Here are the documents that you need to submit to apply for a Schengen visa from the USA:

• Schengen Visa Application Form. The form is the same for all countries in Schengen. Fulfill the form with correct information and print it twice. Sign both copies at the end.
• Valid passport. Your passport must be valid for another three months beyond the date you plan to leave the area. It must not be older than ten years and have at least two blank pages.
• Two identical photos. It must not be older than 3 months and fulfill the requirements for a Schengen visa photo.
• Schengen Travel Health Insurance for Europe. In the minimum amount of €30,000, that covers any medical emergencies and repatriation in case of death.
• Proof of Accommodation. You must submit documents through which you prove where you will be staying throughout your time in the Schengen states. That could be:
  • a hotel booking,
  • a letter of invitation, or
  • a rent agreement.
• Flight Itinerary. A document through which you prove you have a saved seat in your flight from the United States to Europe. It also contains the dates you enter and leave Schengen.
• Cover Letter. A letter in which you explain your whole trip in details, what you will be doing, the places you will be visiting, etc.
• Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have the means to support yourself throughout your whole trip in the Schengen Area.

Depending on your employment status you will have to submit the following documents:

• If you are an employee, you need to submit:
  • Leave permission from the employer.
  • Employment contract.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.
• If you are self-employed, you need to submit:
  • A copy of your business license.
  • Income Tax Return (ITR).
• If you are retired, you need to submit:
  • Pension statement of the latest 6 months.
• If you are studying at a US university, you need to submit:
  • Proof of enrollment.
  • No objection letter from School or University in the US.
• If you are unemployed and married to a US citizen, you need to submit:
  • Your spouse’s Confirmation of Employment. This document should be issued by the employer of your spouse and must indicate details as the position held by your spouse within the company, as well as the starting date.
  • Spouse’s valid passport.
  • An officially translated marriage certificate. If your marriage certificate is not in English, translation is required. This translation must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy of the country where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in US. In case this Certificate was issued outside the EU, it must bear a stamp by the Foreign Office of the issuing country, or its Embassy in the US.

In addition, you will have to gather specific documents depending on the purpose of your visit.

Remember that despite the fact the Schengen states have a common visa policy, some of the countries may have extra requirements.

Show up at the appointment

Every applicant must show up at the appointment on time, and cannot send someone over to attend the interview on their behalf. Underage applicants must be accompanied by their mother/father/legal guardian.

Providing the documents

At the appointment you will have to submit the file of documents that you have collected to support your application. The visa official will go through your file to make sure that you can proceed with the interview.

Biometrics

If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will have to submit your biometrics. You will have your fingerprints and facial image taken.

The visa interview

The interview lasts around ten minutes. Throughout this time, you will have to answer the questions the visa interviewer asks.

They will ask you about your background, the reasons why you wish to visit the Schengen Zone and other questions related to your trip.

Verifying the details

After the interview, the information that you provided will be entered into the online system and you will receive a printed copy of your application. This process usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. After you get the printed form, you should verify that all the details are correct and sign the form.

Pay the application fee

The fees for a Schengen visa are the same, no matter where you are applying from. Currently, the fee for a Schengen visa for adults is $69 and $40 for children under 12. Children below the age of 6, are exempt.

In addition, there are categories of people who are exempt from paying the fee, or who only have to pay a lower fee.

Keep in mind that in case of visa rejection or application withdrawal you will not be able to get your money back.

In Case of Schengen Visa Denial

In case you have your Schengen visa application from the United States denied, you can always reapply by fixing the mistakes made during your application. When you get the news on visa denial, the embassy will also provide you with reasons why you were rejected from getting a visa.

You can also appeal the decision by writing a visa rejection appeal letter.

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Depending on the policy you choose, travel insurance can also protect you from losses due to trip disruptions, such as a delayed flight, if you need to cut the trip short, or personal liability.

Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Schengen Visa?

Yes, if you need a visa to travel to Europe, then you will have to get travel insurance because it is a mandatory part of the visa application process. Simply said, if you do not have a valid insurance policy, then the Embassy will automatically reject your request for a visa.

On the other hand, if you do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area, then it is not strictly necessary to be insured (although it is still highly recommended!).

Also read: List of countries that require travel insurance.

Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements

The Schengen visa travel insurance plan must meet these requirements:

• It should cover at least €30,000 for medical expenses and emergency evacuation.
• It should be valid in all 27 countries in the Schengen Zone.
• It should be valid for the entire duration of time you are in Europe.

Luckily, because it is required at Embassies for the visa application, most insurance companies offer policies designed specifically to meet these requirements.

Companies such as Europ Assistance and MondialCare offer travel insurance certificate that is required by Embassies when applying for a Schengen visa.

Proof of Purchased Health Insurance for Schengen Visa

When you apply for a visa, the Embassy will ask to see proof of purchased Schengen travel insurance. This usually goes by the name of “travel insurance certificate” and your insurance company will give it to you when you subscribe to one of their plans.

If the Embassy you apply to has certain specific requirements about the insurance certificate, then just contact your insurance company and they will most likely give you a certificate suited to your situation.

What Should the Schengen Travel Insurance Plan Cover?

Make sure your plan covers:

• Cost of medical treatment. This includes:
  • In-patient and out-patient medical treatment.
  • Doctor visits.
  • Hospitalization.
  • Surgery.
  • Prescription medication.
  • Emergency dental care.
• Cost of repatriation or evacuation. If you become gravely ill or get into a serious accident which requires medical attention from your home country, then travel insurance covers the cost of repatriation. It also covers repatriation in the event of death.

This is what a basic policy has to cover to be valid for a visa application. However, some insurance companies also offer additional, more comprehensive coverage, such as insurance for your trip or liability.

What Other Liabilities Are Covered in My Travel Insurance Policy?

Other than the basic Schengen travel health insurance (for medical and repatriation costs), some insurance companies will also cover other liabilities and risks associated with the trip, such as:

• Assistance in the event of illness. For example, if you get sick, the insurance company pays for someone to travel to be with you (their flight ticket, hotel stay, etc).
• Trip cancellation. If you need to cut your trip short due to unforeseen circumstances, then the insurance policy will reimburse some of your prepaid expenses.
• Flight delay. If your flight is delayed, the insurance company will cover food and accommodation expenses as you wait for another flight, but only for long delays.
• Loss/theft of baggage. If your baggage is damaged, lost or stolen (through no fault of your own) the insurance company
• Personal liability abroad. If you cause personal injuries to someone or property damage while you are in Europe, the insurance company covers some of the cost.

What Does Schengen Insurance Not Cover?

In most cases, you will not have travel insurance coverage in the following situations:

• If you need medical treatment due to a pre-existing condition such as diabetes, cancer, or any lingering previous injuries.
• Medical treatment that is not an emergency.
• If you need medical attention as a result of intoxication (alcohol or drug consumption).
• If you need medical attention because you took part in adventurous or extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, motor racing, etc.
• If you need medical attention as a result of a natural disaster.
• If you have travelled to an area that is considered high risk (there is conflict, political unrest, an epidemic, etc).

What Are the Companies Offering the Best Schengen Visa Insurance?

Here is a list of companies offering the best travel insurance for Schengen Visa:

• Europ Assistance.
• MondialCare.
• Insubuy.
• AXA Schengen.
• Dr-WALTER.
• Bupa.
• Allianz.

How To Buy Schengen Visa Insurance?

Most insurance companies operate online, so you can simply purchase a travel insurance plan directly from their website. To purchase one, visit the company website, look for the “Get a Quote” or “Start Now” button, and:

1. Complete the online application form. You have to give your name, nationality, age, destination, and the dates of travel.
2. Select which plan you want. There is usually more than one plan available. You can read the benefits of each plan to find one suited to your needs. For example, if you purchase through Europ Assistance one of the leading insurance companies, there are two available policies you can subscribe to.
3. Make the payment. You can usually pay by a credit/debit card or through PayPal. The cost of the insurance plan depends on the information you provided (age, length of trip) as well as the plan you chose.
4. Download and print the Insurance Certificate. You need this to hand in to the Embassy when you apply for a visa. It will be in PDF format.

Other options

Even though purchasing travel insurance online is the easiest and most convenient option, there are other methods as well:

• Through a local insurance company. You can just visit the offices of an insurance company in your country, request a Schengen insurance policy, and purchase one.
• Through your tour agency. If you will visit Europe via an organized tour, the agency may offer you a complimentary insurance policy added to the overall price. Be mindful of these offers, because they may inflate the price of the policy and not give you adequate coverage. If you have the option, always read the policy beforehand – and if you don’t like it, see if you can opt-out.

How Do I Get Schengen Visa Insurance From the USA?

If you are from the USA, you can get travel insurance for your trip to Europe in the same way as everyone else – by purchasing a plan online. Companies like Europe Assistance or MondialCare make it possible to subscribe to travel insurance through their website and get the Insurance Certificate as a downloadable, printable, electronic file. If you need a visa, you can just submit this Certificate to the Embassy.

How Exactly Does Travel Medical Insurance Work?

Travel health insurance protects you from financial losses as a result of medical emergencies while you are visiting Europe. If you have a valid insurance policy during your trip, then when you seek medical attention, the insurance company will take over the costs. There are two ways it usually works:

1. The hospital sends the bill directly to the insurance company. You do not need to pay anything upfront.
2. You pay the bill yourself, then make a claim with the insurance company to reimburse you. Make sure to save the bill you receive from the hospital.

If you are in an emergency situation, make sure to contact the assistance center as soon as you can so that they can help you or inform you on how to proceed.

How Much Does Schengen Medical Travel Insurance Cost?

There are three main factors which affect the price of your travel insurance policy:

1. Your age. The cost of the insurance policy increases along with your age. For example, older individuals (especially over the age of 60) have to pay higher premiums for the same insurance plan than someone who is younger.
2. The duration of your trip. Usually, insurance companies calculate the cost of the policy on a daily basis. So, the longer you plan to stay in Schengen, the higher the price of your policy.
3. The maximum coverage limit. There are usually 2-3 insurance plans you can choose from, regardless of the insurance company. As such, the basic plan with health insurance coverage of up to €30,000 will be cheaper than the one with maximum coverage of up to €100,000 or more.

However, Schengen insurance is not usually too expensive in comparison to the overall price of the trip. For a one-week trip, in general, you would pay between €20 to €50, depending on the policy.

Should I Purchase Schengen Health Insurance If I Have Domestic Insurance?

Yes, you do. If you have domestic insurance (for example, you are an American citizen travelling within the US.), but you also plan to travel to Europe, then you will have to get a Schengen visa insurance plan to cover you abroad. Domestic insurance plans have coverage only within the country they were purchased in, and do not cover international travel.

Can I Get a Refund If My Schengen Visa Application Is Refused?

Many companies offer you a refund of your insurance policy if you do not receive a Schengen visa, but not all. Usually, you can learn whether or not you can get a refund by looking at the FAQ section on a company website, or by contacting them directly.

Does Schengen Medical Insurance Cover me for Countries That Are Not Part of the Schengen Area?

Usually, Schengen insurance is aimed only at the countries within the Schengen Area. However,  if you plan to travel somewhere outside the Schengen Zone, you can get an international travel insurance plan or an additional insurance plan aimed specifically at those countries.

Will I Get Covid-19 Coverage When Buying a Schengen Visa Travel Insurance?

If you get sick with Covid-19 while traveling, most travel insurance companies will cover your medical costs only if you follow the travel recommendation set by your country or the destination country, as well as those by the World Health Organization.

In other words, if you visit a place which has travel bans in place or a high number of Covid-19 infections, then you likely do not have coverage for coronavirus.

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22 of these countries are European Union member states and four other countries are part of the European Free Trade Association, which are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein.

EU Member States With Opt-outs

The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member that refused to sign the Schengen Agreement, prior to the 2004 enlargement. Ireland and the UK  have formed a Common Travel Area with passport-free travel for their citizens and the three British Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, that are outside the European Union.

Since Britain refused to sign the agreement because it is easier for an island nation to maintain borders, while Ireland assessed that it was not in its interest to end the travel agreement with Britain and reestablish the border checks.

Prospective Schengen Area Members

Though 22 out of 27 European Union member states are part of the Schengen Zone, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia—have not yet been admitted to the Schengen area.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has to solve the Cyprus dispute before joining the borderless territory of Schengen. On the other hand, although Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007, their bid to become part of Schengen has been rejected by the Council of Minister on September 2011.

Whereas Croatia was requested to conduct a technical evaluation which started in July 2015. On June 2017 it joined the SIS II for law enforcement cooperation, and the further progress is a political issue.

Are European Microstates Part of the Schengen Zone?

Though Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City have no border controls with the Schengen countries that surround them officially they are not part of the Schengen Area. While Monaco has an open border with France, the Vatican City and San Marino have an open border with Italy.Andorra retains border controls with both France and Spain and accepts Schengen Visas (multiple-entry visas only).

On the other hand, Liechtenstein which has been a Schengen zone member country since 2011, does not issue visas but recommends visitors to apply for a visa at other Schengen countries.

Territories of Schengen States Outside the Area

The Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira are the only countries which are part of the Schengen Zone, while they are not located in the European continent. The territories of the European Union Members that are outside of Europe, are exempted from the European Union.

For example, the French overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion, and the overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin as well, are part of the European Union but do not part of the Schengen Zone.

The six Dutch territories in the Caribbean and the Danish territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland as well are neither part of the European Union or the Schengen Area.

Schengen Area Border Policy

The essential features of the Schengen Area which are based on the elimination of borders between the European member countries are as follows:

• The member countries do not carry out border checks at their internal borders and also carry out harmonized controls, based on clearly defined and jointly agreed with criteria at their external borders.
• A citizen passing from one Schengen country to another Schengen country does not need to undergo border checks, which means he or she does not have to show a traveling document at the borders.
• However, an identification document (ID or passport) is necessary at ports and airports.
• The Schengen member states are obligated to remove all obstacles in order to enable a fluid flow of the road traffic.
• Police checks may be carried out only with the purpose to prevent possible threats to public security.
• Within the area, there is an increased police operation, in particular through hot pursuit, cross-border surveillance, as well as the establishment of joint police centers and teams.
• Also, the Schengen member countries have common rules for the non-Schengen countries’ citizens applying to cross the EU’s external border, including common asylum policies.

Temporary reintroduction of internal border control

The Schengen rules still allow national authorities of each country to exceptionally and temporarily reintroduce internal border controls in case of a serious threat to security or of serious deficiencies at the external border that can put the overall functioning of the Schengen area at risk. This is regulated through the Regulation (EU) No 1051/2013 that the EU has adopted.

Criteria to Join the Schengen Zone

The non-Schengen Area countries that wish to become members need to fulfill some criteria in order to be able to join the area. This is regulated by the Council Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013. Among the main and most important conditions are:

• The candidate country is responsible to control the external borders of the area on behalf of the other Schengen states and for issuing uniform short-stay visas (Schengen visas)
• The candidate country is capable to efficiently work with the other Schengen states in order to maintain a high level of security after the removal of internal border controls
• The candidate country can apply the set of Schengen rules, as rules on land, sea and air border controls, visa issuing, police cooperation, and personal data protection
• And lastly, in order to join the Schengen Area, the candidate state must connect to and use the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS).

Applicant countries have to undergo a “Schengen evaluation” before joining the Schengen Area. There is also something called a Schengen Evaluation Mechanism, which controls the member countries, whether they are carrying their duties as they are supposed to. Approximately, each year 5 to 7 member states are evaluated through visits by the Commission teams of experts. After each visit a Schengen Evaluation Report is drawn up. If it identifies any weakness on the evaluated country, then recommendations for remedial action are presented.

What is the Visa Policy of Schengen Area Countries?

The European Union member states have a common list of the countries, the nationals of which need a visa in order to enter the Schengen territory. The EU decides on visa exemptions case by case.The Schengen states also have common rules for issuing short-stay Schengen visas, which are valid within the entire Schengen area. These visas allow a person to stay and travel in the territories of Schengen states for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period.

Depending on the purpose of your travel the embassy or consulate of your Schengen destination country will issue you the appropriate visa.

How Can I Gain Entry Into the Countries of the Schengen Area?

To enter a country in the Schengen Area you must present some additional documents at the Schengen port of entry. If you have already obtained a visa for the Schengen area, you need to show your passport with the Schengen visa sticker to the official at the Schengen port of entry. However, they might also ask for proof of purchased Schengen travel insurance and some evidence of accommodation in Europe.

Schengen Area Security System

Technology plays a crucial role in the Security System of the Schengen Area, in the reinforcement of external borders and the collecting, processing, and sharing of information that is relevant to external border management. Read more about the Schengen area security systems here.

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What is the European Union?

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 member countries in the European continent. It has a single internal market through a standardized laws system that applies in all member states. The EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within the internal market. 

The core values of the EU are human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, human rights, and the rule of law. Its primary goals are to promote peace, freedom, justice, economic and social security among EU countries. 

Brief History of the European Union

The idea of a unified Europe began with Ancient Rome when a few European states were considered the central rulers in Europe. However, it wasn’t until 1920 that this theory started to take form when economist John Maynard proposed the notion of a single labor market. 

Eventually, France and Germany first proposed the concept of a common European trade area five years after World War II. The purpose of creating such a union was to create a peaceful region in Europe that collaborated in economic terms. 

Later in 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed by six founding members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands— creating the common European market. In 1972 Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined. Seven years later, the first European Parliament was created.

In 2009, the EU countries signed the Treaty of Lisbon, which increased the powers of the European Parliament. Moreover, the treaty gave the EU more powers on border control, immigration, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, and police cooperation. 

Currently, the EU is the largest trade block globally and the biggest exporter of manufactured goods and services. At the same time, it’s a leading door of humanitarian aid, committed to helping victims of natural and man-made disasters worldwide.

How does the EU work?

The EU functions based on the rule of laws agreed on by all member countries, which together run the four key EU institutions as listed below:

• The Council of the European Union. Consisting of the Heads of State or Government of EU countries, the Council of the European Union is responsible for setting the policies and the new legislation. 
• The European Parliament. EU citizens elect the MEPs, who represent their interests to the Parliament in return. Plus, within the Parliament, all the laws proposed by the Council are debated and approved. 
• The European Commission. The EU Commission represents the EU interests’ and the EU as a whole. In addition, it’s responsible for executing the laws.
• The Court of Justice. This legal body interprets EU laws to make sure they are applied in the same way in all EU countries. It also settles legal disputes between national governments and EU institutions.

EU Countries List

Following is the complete list of EU countries and their accession date into the block: 

Countries In the Process of Joining the EU

The following countries are still under negotiations to join the EU in the future: 

• Albania 
• North Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Turkey

Potential countries that have yet to begin the negotiation process include Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Differences Between the EU and the EEA

In terms of membership, the sole difference between the EU and the EEA is that the latter consists of three more countries, which are:

• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway

The EEA was established to connect the EU’s internal market to countries in the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). As a result, the EEA members are not obliged to implement EU policies on common agriculture and fisheries, customs union, the standard trade policy, foreign and security policy, etc.

Differences Between the EU and the EFTA

EFTA stands for the European Free Trade Association, which has four member states as listed below:

• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

None of the EFTA members are part of the EU. However, EFTA has negotiated access to the EU single market and has partially accepted EU laws relating to single market access. 

The EFTA doesn’t have EU-style standard policies, such as agriculture, fishing, transport, and regions. It has no plans for the sort of economic and political integration implied by Eurozone membership.

Are the EU and the Schengen Area the Same?

The EU and the Schengen Area are two separate concepts. While the first covers its member states’ political and economic aspects, the latter is primarily focused on providing international visitors access to Europe. Additionally, there are 27 European Union countries, whereas the Schengen Area consists of 22 members of the EU and four EFTA countries. 

Differences Between the EU and the EUROZONE

The Eurozone is a subgroup of the European Union, consisting of the member states that use the same currency; the Euro. However, not every member of the EU agreed to use one monetary value; that is why there are still many countries in Europe that use their local currency.

Here is a list of the countries that belong to the Eurozone:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain

Membership Conditions for EU

Any European country has the right to apply for EU membership— provided they meet the following criteria:

• Have a functioning democratic government that guarantees and protects the fundamental rights of its citizens and minority groups. 
• Have a stable market and economic foundation that enables them to participate in the EU market.
• Be able to follow the EU laws and policies in every aspect.

In addition to these essential criteria, each new member must pay the membership fee— negotiated during the joining process. However, due to a complicated political situation, the EU has put additional conditions on some countries, i.e., Balkan countries.

What Benefits Do the Countries in the EU Enjoy?

EU members enjoy many benefits, some of which are:

• The freedom of movement of goods, labor, and capital. 
• The opportunity for economic growth. 
• The free movement of EU citizens between member states. 
• Consular protection of EU citizens during international travels. 
• Social and physical security under EU laws.

Can Member Countries Leave the EU?

Yes, under EU laws, any member country who wants to revoke its membership can do so. However, the process may take a few years, during which there will be a transitional period until the exit agreement is finalized. The only country that has exited the EU is the United Kingdom— officially no longer in the EU since December 2020.

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