A tourist visa covers short trips for travel and holidays. In Schengen countries it is a type C visa allowing up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The core of the application is simple: show why you are going, how you will pay for it and that you will return.
Below we walk through the steps and the points where applicants most often stumble. Document lists vary by country and employment status, so confirm the final list on the official page of the country you apply to.
Which documents are required for a tourist visa?
The core documents are the application form, a biometric photo, your passport, travel medical insurance, flight and accommodation bookings, proof of income and employment, and recent bank statements. For Schengen, the passport must be valid for at least three months after your return, issued within the last ten years and have at least two blank pages.
Employees add an employer letter and payslips; business owners add company registration and tax documents; students add proof of enrolment; retirees add pension documents.
How much money should be in the bank account?
There is no single magic number. Each country sets its own daily minimum, and these amounts are updated over time. What matters more than a high balance is an account that is regular and explainable.
A lump sum deposited a few days before the appointment, without a clear source, undermines trust and is a frequent refusal reason. If someone else pays for the trip, add a sponsor letter and the sponsor’s income documents.
What should travel insurance cover?
For a Schengen visa, insurance must provide at least EUR 30,000 of cover, be valid in all Schengen states and cover your entire stay, including emergency treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation.
Policy dates must match your flight dates; even a gap of a few days can make the file incomplete.
When should you apply?
Under Schengen rules you can apply from six months to 15 days before travel. A decision normally takes 15 calendar days and can extend to 45 days. In summer, getting an appointment can take longer than the decision itself, so plan a few months ahead.
The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, plus the application centre’s service fee. Confirm the current amount before applying.
Which consulate should you apply to?
Apply to the country you are visiting. If you visit several Schengen countries, apply to the one where you stay longest; if stays are equal, to the country you enter first.
Applying to a country you will not really visit because appointments are easier creates an inconsistency that can harm this and future applications.
Why are tourist visas refused?
The most common reasons are an insufficiently proven purpose, inadequate means of subsistence, doubts about your intention to return and documents that contradict each other, such as leave dates that differ from flight dates.
After a refusal, read the stated reason and fix the gap instead of resubmitting the same file.