FILE SCHENGEN VISA 2019
Thailandblog regularly asks questions about Schengen visas† In this Schengen visa The dossier deals with the most important points of attention and questions. Good and timely preparation is very important for a successful visa application.
(File update: February 2019)
The Schengen visa
If a Thai wants to come to the Netherlands or Belgium for a holiday of up to 90 days, a Schengen visa is required for most situations. Only Thai people who hold a valid residence permit from one of the Schengen member states or those who hold a 'residence card for family members of a citizen of the Union' from one of the EU countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen member states. visits.
The Schengen area is a cooperation of 26 European member states that have a common border and visa policy. The Member States are therefore bound by the same visa rules, which are laid down in the common Visa Code, EU Regulation 810/2009/EC. This enables travelers to move within the entire Schengen area without mutual border controls, visa holders only need one visa - the Schengen visa - to cross the external border of the Schengen area.
Officially this visa is called one short stay visa (VKV), or visa 'type C', but also popularly referred to as 'tourist visa'. A residence permit is required for long stays (longer than 90 days), which is a different procedure that this file does not discuss.
The starting point: starting a visa application
You can apply for a visa at the authorities of the country that is the (main) destination of the trip. You apply for the visa through the embassy of this country or (and this is a voluntary choice) through the service provider designated by the embassy. For the Netherlands and Belgium this is an optional service provider Vfs global.
For the Netherlands you can contact:
– www.netherlandsandyou.nl/your-country-and-the-netherlands/thailand/travel-and-residence/applying-for-a-short-stay-schengen-visa
- www.vfsglobal.com/netherlands/thailand/
For Belgium you can contact:
- thailand.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-to-belgium/visa
– www.vfsglobal.com/belgium/thailand/
The main requirements
The most important requirements at a glance, of course it can differ per individual and application what exactly is needed. In general, the traveler (is also the visa applicant) shows that he:
- Is in possession of a valid travel document (passport).
– The travel document must be valid for 3 months longer than the end of the visa period, and may not be older than 10 years. - Can afford the trip financially: has sufficient means of support.
– For the Netherlands, the requirement is 34 euros per day per traveler.
– For Belgium, 95 euros per day if he/she stays in a hotel or 45 euros per day if the traveler is accommodated with a private individual.
– If the traveler does not have sufficient means, a guarantor (the inviting party) must stand surety. The income of this person, the sponsor, is then looked at. - Has papers related to the place of residence, such as a hotel reservation or proof of residence (accommodation) with a private individual.
- For the Netherlands, an original form 'proof of guarantee and/or private accommodation' must be completed for this purpose. This form must be legalized at the municipality.
- For Belgium, an invitation letter and an original guarantee statement legalized by the municipality.
- Have medical travel insurance for the entire Schengen area with a cover of at least 30.000 euros. Request this from an insurer who will refund the money (minus administration costs) in the event of a visa rejection.
- Has an option or reservation on an airline ticket. Do not book (pay) the ticket until the visa has been granted! A return (reservation) is immediately one officially recognized piece of evidence that makes the traveler's return more plausible.
- Makes it plausible that he/she will return to Thailand in time. It is a combination of evidence. For example, previous visas for (Western) countries, a job, possession of real estate and other matters that demonstrate a strong social or economic bond with Thailand, such as care for minor children.
- Has not been reported to the European authorities and does not pose a threat to public order or national security.
- A recent passport photo that meets the requirements.
- A completed and signed application form for a Schengen visa.
- A copy of all submitted documents. Tip: also scan everything so that the applicant and sponsor have a copy of all submitted documents (for example to show at the border).
Annex: Schengen Visa Dossier
If an applicant can submit the above papers, in most cases (about 95%) a visa will be issued. The decision official wants to be able to see that the traveler has a genuine travel purpose, that the trip can be financially justified and that the chance that the traveler will comply with the rules is greater than the risk of illegal matters such as overstay or labour.
However, you will have to take your time and make sure you submit the forms and supporting documents correctly. To assist with this is the extensive Schengen visa file below. This is a PDF file and therefore easy to open or print. The file tries to answer most questions and points for attention. The dossier concludes with two handy checklists drawn up by the Dutch and Belgian authorities.
- CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE FILE.
Finally, the author has made every effort to include the most recent information as accurately as possible. The file can be seen as a service to the readers and may nevertheless contain errors or outdated information. Therefore, always consult official sources such as the website of the Foreign Affairs or embassy for the most up-to-date information.
About this blogger
-
Regular visitor to Thailand since 2008. Works in the accounting department of a Dutch wholesaler.
In his spare time he likes to go cycling, walking or reading a book. Mainly non-fiction, especially the history, politics, economy and society of the Netherlands, Thailand and countries in the region. Likes to listen to heavy metal and other noise
Read the latest articles here
BackgroundOctober 9, 2024The scars of captivity
Culture28 September 2024Khun Chang Khun Phaen, Thailand's most famous legend – part 5 (final)
Culture25 September 2024Khun Chang Khun Phaen, Thailand's most famous legend – part 4
Culture23 September 2024Khun Chang Khun Phaen, Thailand's most famous legend – part 3
Great work again Rob! Thank you for selflessly guiding us through the jungle of regulations regarding a Schengen visa.
Many thanks Rob! Will soon have to start this procedure for the first time for my partner, and then it's great to be able to start well informed and prepared thanks to this file!
Nice work (y)
I am a guarantor for a girlfriend that I want to take with me to the Netherlands for a holiday
I have deregistered from the Netherlands and can therefore not collect a statement from the municipality
How are you then?
I also have trouble booking a ticket with the airline…they just want me to pay
Where can I get that provisional reservation done while waiting for Visa?
Dank U
Dear Pete,
This can be done through the embassy. See page 16 of the PDF:
We both live in Thailand, how do we arrange accommodation/guarantee?
With regard to the means requirement, the foreign national could demonstrate that he owns sufficient
has money (which is actually in the name of the foreign national). Do you stand as a Dutch/Belgian partner
living in Thailand guarantor? Then fill in the guarantor part of the forms via the embassy.
The stay in Europe can be proven with either a hotel reservation (ed) or with proof
of your own living space there. If a third person is providing accommodation, leave them the papers
arrange for accommodation with your own municipality. Again: the accommodation provider and
guarantor may be two different persons.
You can go to various companies for reservations, do so by contacting them by telephone or e-mail instead of 'just' booking via the website. See page 14:
Do I have to buy a flight ticket in advance or is a reservation sufficient?
Never buy a ticket before you have received the visa! But choose one of these options:
– Call or email the European or Thai office of an airline of your choice
(e.g. EVA Air, KLM, or Thai Airways) and request an option on a trip. You can then
take an option/reservation free of charge or at a low cost. This expires automatically after
a few weeks if you do not make and pay a final booking. A valid option or
reservation is sufficient for the application of a visa. You make when the visa is granted
until the final booking and payment of the ticket.
– Visit a Dutch or Thai travel agency and let them arrange a reservation.
– Visit a visa office and let them arrange the reservation of the trip.
– Doesn't that all work? Then choose to book a ticket online, but with the latter
Don't pay steps yet! Instead, take a screenshot of the intended
flight and add it. So don't pay.
See also this reader question:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/lezersvraag/schengenvisum-aanvragen-en-vluchtgegevens-overleggen/
This update has been shelved longer than intended. Feedback remains welcome, for example when the first Dutch visa stickers appear with Bangkok instead of Kuala Lumpur. A further update of the file will probably follow towards the end of this year.
Here's why: In 2014, the European Commission announced plans for new rules to make things more flexible. For example, there would be a special tour visa, shorter processing times and the visa would become free for family members. Many Member States had objections to this flexibilisation/liberalisation. After years of wrangling between the Commission and the Member States, the Commission decided in April 2018 to withdraw this plan.
Instead, a new proposal has been written with more measures to combat unwanted migration. The costs of a standard visa will also increase from 60 to 80 euros and the costs for a visa for young children will increase from 35 to 40 euros.
Direct access to an embassy will no longer be a right, which means that (unlike now) use of an external service provider such as VFS Global may become mandatory. On the other hand, people will not be able to submit an application 3, but 6 months in advance. And there will now be fixed rules when a member state must issue a multi-entry visa (MEV): after 3 single-entry visas within 2 years, the foreign national must obtain a 1-year MEV, then a 2-year MEV and finally a 5-year MEV .
The European Parliament approved the new visa rules last January, although not all obstacles have been overcome before the European Commission plans to officially publish the new rules. After publication, it will take another 6 months for the rules to take effect. Now I don't know how fast all the cogs turn, but even if there is a lot of momentum behind it, I think that is autumn 2019 or from 2020 at the earliest.
Of course I will adjust the file by then.
Resources and more:
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/nieuwe-schengen-regels-mogelijk-niet-zo-flexibel-als-eerder-aangekondigd/
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190129IPR24505/new-rules-for-short-stay-visas-ep-and-council-reach-a-deal
- http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-towards-a-new-policy-on-migration/file-revision-of-the-common-visa-code
I legalized the “Proof of Guarantee” at the embassy because I was in Thailand. It was 3 years ago, so I don't know if that's still possible.
Thanks, thanks, thanks.
For the lot of work.
Very valuable.
Thank you Rob,
Coincidentally, I started this procedure last week to take my Thai wife to Belgium for the first time,
When I couldn't find my way through the internet and the links of the embassy, I sent the following e-mail to the embassy.
Excellent
I would like to go to Belgium with my Thai wife in June 2019 for a stay of about 2 weeks. She has never been there. She does have a travel pass.
What should I do to get a visa for her, I can't figure it out through your website.
Do we have to come to the embassy in Bangkok for this, and what documents do we have to provide ourselves with, or can that also be done by e-mail.
Do I have to be in possession of the flight tickets already?
Please provide necessary information.
Thank you in advance.
And the answer I got was short with an attachment pointing to their links where I couldn't find my way.
Sir,
The application must be submitted personally by Ms. to VFS in Bangkok. You will find the instructions in the attachment.
Yours faithfully,
I think I'm a step forward now
Thanks again
Last year I applied for a visa for my Thai wife. The Belgian embassy was not difficult. I didn't even have to pay anything for this visa.
Hopefully it will stay that way because in 2020 we will return to Belgium.
If you are Dutch (or any other EU nationality except Belgian) then you fall under the special rules. They say that the visa must then be issued free of charge, with a minimum of papers and ASAP. See the section in the file on EU family (page 24) or see:
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index_nl.htm
If you are a guarantor, you must meet a certain regular income requirement.
What about if you have little or no income, but are financially wealthy?
Jan Beute.
They don't look at power. Or you must have so much capital that the interest alone meets the income requirement. If you have a low income, you or someone else (who does have enough income) can act as guarantor or the foreign national can show sufficient money himself. See also page 15.
If the foreign national is a financial guarantor for himself, then one wants to be sure that the money is really the property of the applicant. Quickly transferring some money to the stranger's account will be a red flag. That money seems more like a loan, temporary possession, parked for a while to show a sufficiently high balance. The officials are not crazy either, they really want to see that this money really belongs to the foreigner and is in the account during the holiday. If you top up the bill, you can, but do so long in advance and preferably without large amounts in 1 go. Sudden large deposits or other strange transactions raise questions. But if it is clear that the foreign national owns enough money, then demonstrating sufficient balance in the foreign national's account is fine.
Rob, just to be clear: I am married in community of property, my Thai wife is coming to the Netherlands with a C visa next month. There is enough money in my account. She shouldn't be able to argue that she herself has money in an account, I hope?
If you or someone else does not act as guarantor and she therefore has to show her own resources (34 euros per day is the Dutch requirement), the money must demonstrably be her property. The bank account must then (also) be in her name. Traveller's checks (who still uses them?), or cash (who will walk around with 3000 euros?) are also accepted. If only one can see that it really is her property.
Can't you guarantee, don't you have a good friend or family who can and is putting X euros on her account not an option? Then consider a holiday together in another EU country. Then all financial requirements expire, the visa is also free and reasons for return do not have to be demonstrated.
Visa is already in our possession, just goes through customs in the Netherlands. We bring back 7000 euros in cash. does it matter oh it's in her, oh my pocket?
How did your wife demonstrate to meet the financial requirements? The visa officer and the border guard check against the same requirements. That is 1) 34 euros per day in your own name (demonstrably and without doubt own property) or 2) a guarantee.
If you travel with cash, I would divide the money anyway, if only in case 1 of you falls victim to theft or loss. With 3.500 euros in her possession, she has enough to stay here for 90 days.
NB: at the border, the KMar checks whether a foreign person can be admitted. They can therefore ask you to show your wallet / bank book / .... Customs falls under the tax authorities and are concerned with the import of goods and everything that has value (including checks on no more than 10 euros in your pocket per person, from 10 you have to declare this to customs).
It concerned a vaciliary visa in the context of Chavez-Vilchez, for which they are not allowed to set financial requirements in principle, and the visa was free. Nevertheless, written questions were asked when applying for financial resources.
So in the end we got a c-visa for her. There is therefore a chance that the Marechausse will still ask questions.
Rob, how do you do that “a holiday in another EU country”?
By moving the main purpose of the trip to another EU country. For example, 3 weeks in Germany, 1 week in the Netherlands. Then you have to apply for the visa from the Germans. Married couples (EU citizen + Thai citizen) then fall under the favorable regulations.
See also my response to Jan VC from February 2019 at 20:19 PM.
Good job Rob,
If you happen to have the English version in PDF, I'd be highly recommended.
Don't mention it. An English or Thai version would be nice, but I don't have one. If someone wants to translate it (with reference to the source file), fine. I have played with the idea but that is still a lot of work and I have 2+ files to keep. Given the focus on NL/B, I'll leave it at that (for now?).
Nice work!
What I do wonder is the following.
The embassy outsources the application to VFS global. Is there not even a dependance, for example, in Chiang Mai or Buriram.
Isn't it crazy that my girlfriend is traveling for 3 days to be able to make an application. Almost 1200 km. Could easily be done in any visa office in Thailand where they scan the case and send it to VFS. Or a mobile office
What can we do about this? This week it was even in the news that the embassies are not doing their best for Dutch people abroad. You can also extend this to these types of applications
There have been proposals to allow, in cases where someone would have to travel more than (by memory) more than 500km, that you would apply at another post (if any). Shot. But who knows, it might even come to an external service provider office in Chiang Mai. Or will the Schengen countries decide to join forces and resources and set up a counter and office together in Bangkok and beyond. But really working together in Europe is not that easy. In the end, Member States like to stick to their own way of working.
Europe does intend to take a serious look at e-visas from 2025. But we'll see about that by then. As we can see, the good plans of the EC have often gone up in smoke.
So for now old-fashioned past the embassy or service provider in BKK. Its a shame, but there is nothing to do about it.
Under the current rules, an applicant therefore has a choice between VFS and embassy. There are people who absolutely do not want to go through the external service provider. For example because of costs, distrust or bad experiences, out of habit, out of principle or whatever.
Via the NetherlandsAndYou site you can therefore choose to make an appointment via VFS or via the embassy. This will take you to a digital appointment calendar. In principle, you should be able to contact BOTH calendars within 2 weeks. That means if you open the calendar for an appointment today, there should be a spot within today and 2 weeks. In practice, it happens that the embassy is 'full' and you can only go much later. Officially, this is not allowed to happen, the embassy has to be able to scale up (and down) the staffing in foreseeable circumstances. In the high season, therefore, extra employees should be active to accommodate foreseeable influxes and thus keep the waiting time within 2 weeks. The calendar should therefore never fill up, which sometimes happens in practice. In that case, I advise you to send the embassy an email and kindly request that you want to be able to go in time, as stipulated by the EU visa regulation.
The rules are included in the appendix to support this. Page 27, page 29 and page 33. Article 9, paragraph two states that “The waiting time for the appointment is generally no more than two weeks, calculated from the date on which the appointment was requested.”. And Article 17(5) states that “The Member States concerned shall retain the possibility for all applicants to apply directly to their consulate.” . As an additional explanation there is the (of no legal value) EU Handbook for embassy staff: ” 4.4. Direct access: Maintaining the possibility for visa applicants to lodge their applications directly at the consulate instead of via an external service provider implies that there should be a genuine choice between these two possibilities.”
So if you can't get there in time, try to get there first with the embassy. If that doesn't work, you can look it up at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, via the complaints department:
https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/contact/contact-bij-klachten
One last tip. I also mention it in my file, but don't forget that the civil servant only has minutes to make a decision on an application. And don't forget that the official knows nothing about you (except for what is in the computer about previous European visa applications).
Once you have completed the application, go through the checklist again (see end of file, see Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites of NL/B). Then ask yourself the question, is this file complete, clear and well-arranged so that the official can see in 1 minute that all papers are present, that it is clear what the intentions of the traveler are, that it is clear that the risk of overstay is negligible? That no red flags are raised anywhere? So can the decision officer quickly leaf through the file to make a good decision? As soon as the official encounters major question marks, you can expect a rejection, the interest of the state is above the applicant. When in doubt, do not cross, no visa.
Fortunately, most applicants fare well. Only a small percentage gets a rejection. Sit down and you'll be fine. Good luck with the applications. And if you still can't figure it out, send a reader question to the editors.
“Hi Rob,
Maybe I misread the first paragraph, but I understand from this that a Thai on a CRE is not allowed to travel to other Schengen countries other than the country for which the visa was issued? My girlfriend came here last year and we also went to my family in Sweden for a week, without going through customs checks at Schiphol as at Arlanda-Stockholm. Very exciting for her, of course, realizing that later we will also be able to see other major places in Europe and all on 1 visa. Sorry if I read it wrong.
“Only Thai people who hold a valid residence permit from one of the Schengen member states or those who hold a 'residence card for family members of a citizen of the Union' from one of the EU countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen member states. to visit.
Dear Kees, with a standard Schengen visa you can visit all Schengen member states (entry, cross and leave). In very rare cases this is not possible, then this is clearly indicated on the stickers by means of country codes on the visa sticker.
See also page 22: “Can you enter with a Dutch or Belgian citizen via another Member State?” And “Where can you travel on a Schengen visa?”.
Your quote is about the case of a Thai in possession of a residence permit (and therefore lives in Europe). Then that person does not need a short-stay visa. Ditto for Thai people with a residence card. They can simply go on holiday in Europe without a visa. More about traveling with a residence permit can be found in the file Immigration Thai Partner.
I just saw that the copy of passport reference is no longer explicitly mentioned in the list of required documents. In any case, this is not mentioned on the official checklist, although the other documents (employment contract, 3 most recent payslips) are mentioned. The accommodation/guarantor form also does not mention the copy of the passport, although the sponsor must provide his citizen service number and passport number.
The IND asks for a guarantee:
however, on the IND site where the Accommodation/guarantor form can be downloaded, the requirement of a copy of the sponsor's passport (in case of sponsorship) is stated, and the IND also requests an employer's statement (!):
“He encloses a copy of his employment contract, the last 3 payslips, an employer's statement and a COPY of his PASSPORT with this form.”
(NB: previously there was a PDF folder on the IND site about Short Stay, they only asked for the 3 pay slips and contract)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for a guarantee:
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site, a long-term employment contract + the 3 most recent payslips is sufficient:
“Additional documents guarantee
In addition to the form, you must also collect the following documents. You send this to your foreign visitor.
You act as guarantor and are employed:
• a copy of your employment contract (this must be valid for at least 12 months from the time of the visa application)
• a copy of your last 3 payslips.”
IND and BuZa with other information… Not the first time… My experience is that, especially at the IND, the information is sometimes incomplete, outdated or incorrect. The application also goes primarily through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the past, they explicitly asked for a copy of the passport reference. Of course that can never hurt. That is why the file states this on page 17 about standing as a guarantor:
You are employed and want to guarantee:
You can act as guarantor if you are employed. The following documents are required for this:
* A completed and signed guarantee statement;
* A copy of the employment contract that continues for at least 12 whole months from the
time of the visa application;
* A copy of the last 3 payslips;
* A copy of the passport or identity card.
I would therefore advise applicants to keep my Schengen file. At least until BuZa and IND are back on the same page. It turns out that the government is still unable to collect all information neatly in 1 place. So this file will be needed for a while!
Sources:
- https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/documents/publications/2017/01/01/checklist-schengenvisum—visit-family-friends-en
- https://ind.nl/kort-verblijf/Paginas/vakantie-en-familiebezoek.aspx
- https://www.nederlandenu.nl/reizen-en-wonen/nederland-bezoeken/garant-staan-voor-iemand-uit-het-buitenland
- https://ind.nl/Formulieren/1310.pdf