Schengen Visa Information

Travel and visa requirements

The Schengen Visa

About the Schengen Visa


A Schengen Visa is a visa granted to foreigners with the intention of traveling to any of the Schengen member states. This visa is the most common visa for Europe, with this visa you can enter freely into any of the countries in the Schengen Area and leave from any of the Schengen member countries. Foreigners planning to stay more than 90 days in the Schengen Area should apply for the national visa of the country they will be visiting.

There are 26 countries in the Schengen Area. The countries in the Schengen Area are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

There are no border controls within the Schengen member countries.

Schengen visa requirements

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Schengen visa.


In order to receive a Schengen visa you would need to have met the following requirements;

  • You must have correctly filled the visa application form. Two copies of the form should be printed, and each must be signed at the end.
  • You must have a valid passport which has been issued within the last 10 years. The passport must have two blank pages and must be valid for at least three months from the date of intended exit from the country.
  • You must possess a valid residence permit for Egypt.
  • You must have two identical passport photographs taken with a brightly colored background. The photo size should be 35x45mm and must not be older than six months.
  • You must possess a letter which will explain in details the reason you wish to visit the Schengen Zone. The duration of your visit in each Schengen member country should be stated in the letter.
  • You must possess a copy of your round-trip flight itinerary.
  • You must be in possession of a document which proves that you have sufficient funds to cater for yourself during your stay in the Schengen area. This may be in the form of a bank statement or letter of sponsorship.
  • You must possess valid travel insurance which has a €30,000 cover for medical insurance.

Schengen Visa Application Process

Tips on applying for the Schengen Visa


  • Identify the Schengen Visa which best suits the reason for your visit to the Schengen Area.
  • Find out the nearest embassy/consulate/VAC of the Schengen country you will be visiting.
  • Make a decision on the best time to apply for the visa.
  • Ensure that all the required documents for the application of a Schengen visa are available.
  • Schedule an appointment with the embassy/consulate/VAC for the visa interview. Appointment may be scheduled through phone, online, or in person depending on the country.
  • Show up on the given date for the visa interview.
  • Make payment for the visa fee.
  • Wait for a response from the embassy/consulate/VAC at the stipulated time you will be given. 

Schengen Visa Fees

Applicants are required to pay a nominal visa fee when applying for a Schengen visa. This fee is non-refundable even if the application was rejected and the visa was not issued by the consular department of the embassy. The approval and issuance of a visa is based entirely on the discretion of the consulate general.


Visa Type Visa Fee (EUR)
Short stay (90 days) 60.00
Long-term stay (over 90 days) 99.00
Children visa (6-12 years old kids) 35.00
All visa types for Georgia, Kosovo, Russia and Ukraine citizens 35.00
All visa types for students and accompanying teachers when travelling on educational purposes (proof needed) Free
All visa types for researches when travelling on scientific research purposes (proof needed) Free
All visa types for non-profit organizations representatives aged 25 or below when travelling for participating in educational events Free

*Different rates may apply for different Schengen countries

How to apply for Schengen visa

More tips on applying for the Schengen Visa


    To apply for a Schengen Visa you would have to go to the Embassy or Consulate of the selected country in person with the documents required to apply for your preferred visa and fill all the necessary forms. When applying for a Schengen Visa, it is recommended that you book your appointment with the embassy at least 15 days (but not more than 12 weeks) to your intended trip.

    After your appointment has been scheduled you will need to double check that your documents are complete and prepare to answer some of the questions that you might be asked. These questions basically revolve around your travel plans and personal details. Depending on the Schengen country you apply to, you would be required to provide biometric identifiers such as fingerprints and photographs which will be held on the Visa Information System and can be used for your next Schengen visa applications.

Do I need a Schengen visa?

You will need to apply for a Schengen visa prior to visiting the countries in the Schengen visa countries list above if you hold a passport from the following countries:


*You do not have to be at the country of your citizenship to apply for a Schengen visa. You can do it from the country of your permanent residence, but you will have to submit a proof of your legal status there.

Insurance for Schengen visa

How much travel insurance do you need to apply for a Schengen visa


Travel insurance is one of the listed requirements to obtain a Schengen Visa. If you wish to obtain a Schengen visa it is necessary that your travel insurance be up to 30,000 EUR and that it is valid in every Schengen state, not just in your destination country.

Documents required for Schengen visa - checklist

Here you can find the checklist for the documents required for applying for Schengen visa. It is general list for all the countries but you should also check the specific requirements of the country you are going to visit.


  • Valid passport.
  • Two recent passport photographs.
  • Duly completed visa application form.
  • Evidence of valid travel medical insurance.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Evidence of financial sustainability.
  • Contact details.
  • Salary payslips.
  • Certificate of employment from your employer in Egypt.
  • Photocopies of all documents including copies of all Schengen visas that have been issued in the past.
  • Letter of invitation.

Additional documents may be required depending on the Schengen country you are applying to and the type of visa you are applying for.

In addition to the general list you may be required to have a proof of your entrepreneur status (if applicable), family status (marriage certificate etc), national passport (in some countries). Usually all the documents are to be copied.

* All documents are to be A4 format.