How To Get A VISA For Europe
Applying for a visa can be quite complicated. Here is an entire guide to help you through the challenges of the application process.
I am a Canadian with working/holiday visa for France. I have now been living in France for over a year. I hope this step by step list will be helpful for those of you going through a visa application process and wanting to get it right the first time.
First off, getting a visa is less complicated than you’d think, but also a bit of a guessing game. The reason for this is that there are multiple checklists online and the visa office may not even take half. You might spend a couple hundred dollars on documents they wont take.
Helpful information before getting started
If you are having trouble reading french websites, google chrome can translate the website for you — this is a lifesaver.
You can apply for a visa to the Schengen area no more than 3 months in advance.
You will normally need 5 months before departure to get all documents in order. This is not a speedy process.
Step one:
Research which visa you need, this part is easy. Do you want to work and travel, or just travel? For how long?
This website is where you can easily figure out which visa you will need according to your plans.
I applied for a one year long stay working/holiday visa so keep that in mind when reading this post! Different applications will vary in what documents you must have. Long stay visas are the hardest to get.
Step two:
Fill out the application form. Once you know which visa you want, fill out the application form online (this is actually very simple and doesn’t take much time.)You can find this here.
If you don’t have a set plan for where you are staying yet, look up a hostel or hotel for your destination country and plug in that information. Remember, most hostels allow you to book in advance with no charge and cancel up to 24 hours in advance.
When filling out the dates of arrival and return, make sure that you correlate these with your insurance dates.
Once everything is complete you can submit the form and there will be two documents that they give to you… PRINT THESE OUT NOW! Make sure you print two copies of everything.
The website will then send you to another page where you can book your appointment. You should book your appointment 2.5 months before your date of departure. This will charge you about 35CAD for one appointment.
Now you are ready to start gathering the documents you need!
Step three:
Obtain and print out all paperwork from the checklist you printed out and the list they have on the website. Keep in mind, the checklist they give you is not the ONLY checklist, although, this is the only one they are nice enough to hand over to you. Most of the documents they will not take, but bring all of them just in case. I have a list below of documents that I was told to have versus the ones they actually took.
Keep in mind it was 2019 when I applied so they may change the required documents.
If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you can click on your country and its specific requirements!
This is the specific link for my fellow Canadians
How to form your visa application package:
These are the documents that they took, in order. You need originals and 2 copies of each document.
- Appointment letter (they took it at the front desk)
- Passport
- Receipt of visa application
- Cover letter
- Passport photos
- Travel health insurance
- Financial security
Here is an explanation of how to acquire the documents they did take.
- A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure that:
Your passport has been issued (not extended) within the previous 10 years.
Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page (just make sure that its not packed full of stamps).
Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
- The Canada residence permit or visa should be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from the territory of the Schengen Member States. This is for people with Canadian visas
- One application form (The one online that you print out.)
- One passport format photo that has a light background, is rightly colored, and shows full face features. The photo must be less than three months old and be glued on the application form. Go to London drugs to get this and they will know the size… its smaller than the regular Canadian passport photo.
- A cover letter that explains the purpose of the visit to Europe. VERY IMPORTANT. Make it sound like you will certainly be coming back to Canada even if you are not sure of your plan yet.
- Travel Health Insurance stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and repatriation in the whole Schengen zone (minimum coverage of € 30.000 — approx. 50,000.00 CAD). I got blue cross travel insurance with $10M coverage.
- Proof of financial subsistence:A recent statement of Canadian bank account for the last three months that shows funds of at least 70CAD that are equivalent to 45€ per person per day spent, or traveller’s cheques. I had about $5 000 and gave a screenshot from online and it was fine.
- Prepaid Xpresspost envelope (Canada Post only), Regional Standard to Ontario or National Standard to all other provinces (shipment to a Canadian address only!) Not exactly sure about this one but my embassy charged me 35$ to ship the passport to me (they will take it from you to stamp the visa).
The documents they did not take but that are on the list (documents that your embassy may require)
- Proof of travel arrangements: Round trip flight/travel reservations from Canada to Europe and back.
- Invitation from your European host (family member, friend) along with a copy of their passport or ID (Proof of sponsorship if dependent)
- Invitation letter (not older than 4 weeks) from the business partner in Europe, confirming the business trip and schedule of your visit, including the name and full address of the contact person in the respective country (Business Visa)
- Visa fee (approximately 95.00 CAD) I did not pay this and I believe it is due to my age (under 25) and also it was a first time visa.
- Proof of accommodation in Europe: Evidence of a hotel booking or rental agreement
- Confirmed return booking or affidavit to leave France
- Medical certificate stating that the visa applicants health permits him/her to exercise a professional activity
- Proof of clean criminal record. I believe if you are under 21 this is not asked for.
- Original of valid permanent resident card or valid multiple entry visa for Canada must be presented (for non- Canadian citizens).
Remember: the lists you are given online are all lists of things that they MAY ask for, so you should have all of them.
The OFII
For those of you who don’t know, the OFII is the immigration office. On the document confirming your visa there is a second page explaining that you will need a medical check which will be organised by the OFII and this must be organised within 3 months of your arrival. Once they do the medical check they will add a stamp to your visa to confirm this.
This is something I did not end up having to deal with. Why? Honestly no clue. I had to fill out a document online to give my address once I arrived in France and this is the only thing that I had to do. I don’t even remember receiving a confirmation.
When I decided to renew my visa (a bit less than year after) one of the requirements was the official medical check. I scrambled trying to figure out how to get this done. I ended up calling the OFII office and emailing them my documents along with an explanation of what happened. The woman told me that I did not need this medical check because not everyone does nor do I need it to renew the visa. Point being: call the OFII office near you to see if you need the check because you may be exempt.
By now you should have all the information you need to apply for a visa! Good luck at your appointment!
