Schengen visa refusal: how to avoid it?

You are planning a trip to the Schengen area and your nationality requires that you apply for a visa to enter and stay in this territory made up of many European countries.

Without this precious permit, there’s no trip for you!

Schengen visas, however, are not so easily granted.

To avoid the disappointment and hassle of your Schengen visa application being denied, follow our advice and discover what you should do in case of refusal.

• 15 tips to avoid Schengen visa rejection
• What are the main reasons for Schengen visa refusal?
• What is the procedure in case of Schengen visa rejection?

15 tips to avoid Schengen visa refusal

A Schengen visa application must be prepared with care, honesty and precision.

Approximation and improvisation have no place in this process!

Here are a few basic rules and tips to put all the odds in your favour:

• Get all your information straight from the horse’s mouth: the embassy or consulates of the Schengen country you wish to visit are the best sources to inform you on their specific requirements and instructions when it comes to visa applications.
• Ask them what aspects should require more attention.
• Investigate: question other visa applicants and read online forums to understand why some visa demands are denied. You can learn a lot from other people’s mistakes!
• Outline a schedule: filling out your application file takes time. You will need to gather several different documents and face the time-consuming unexpected such as having to renew your passport.
• Plan sufficient time between the moment you hand in your application and your departure date. You’ll have better chances of having your visa delivered on time.
• Beware of out-dated ID documents: your passport must be valid. It must have been issued within the last 10 years and remain valid at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.
  It must contain at least 2 blank pages. It mustn’t be damaged (missing or loose pages) or altered (crossed out, scratched or corrected). The laminated safety film mustn’t be impaired or have been added by an outside source. All these modifications can lead to your visa request being denied.
• Make sure to fill out the latest version of the application form. An obsolete version will lead to automatic refusal.
• Fill out your Schengen visa application form with care: make sure you are legible and that you have answered all the questions. Don’t forget to sign the form once you are done.
• Gather all the required documents. You must provide the original documents. Some can take time to prepare and be certified (proof of accommodation and round-trip booking, travel insurance certificate…).
• Remember to bring certified translations of your documents. Many Schengen countries demand them.
• Never enclose a falsified document.
• Make copies of your documents including your visa application. It will make things easier if the consular services misplace your file.
• Prepare your appointment with the consular authorities by bringing a complete file and by preparing answers to the questions you might be asked. They must match the information you have given in your application file and form.
• Be consistent: the information you give concerning the reasons for your trip, the duration of your stay and the supporting documents enclosed must be coherent.
• Arrive early for your appointment even if it means waiting outside. Don’t be late as this could work against you. You might even have to come back for another appointment at a later date.
• Plan the necessary funds to pay for your visa application and possible service fees.
• Take into consideration the accepted payment methods: cash, local currency, credit card…

What are the main reasons for Schengen visa rejection?

If your Schengen visa demand is denied, the reasons for this decision must be given. As decided by the Court of Justice of the European Union, “A ‘Schengen visa’ may be refused only on the grounds expressly provided for in the EU Visa Code. However, the national authorities have a broad discretion for determining whether one of those grounds of refusal applies to the applicant.”

Among the reasons given to justify Schengen visa refusal feature:

1. A criminal record or a refusal of entry alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS): authorities consider that you represent a threat to safety and security on the territory.
2. A fraudulent travel document: consular services consider that your passport is a fake or that it is not valid (see above).
3. Insufficient explanations or supporting documents concerning the reasons for your stay: you haven’t provided the required documents or they don’t concur with the travel purpose indicated on your application form. For example, you indicated the purpose of your trip was “Tourism” but you enclosed a family member’s letter as proof of accommodation. You should have indicated “Visiting family or friends” on your application form.
4. Invalid supporting documents: such as a round-trip booking certificate bought or downloaded from a dodgy website or a non-confirmed hotel reservation. This can also refer to a non-certified wedding or birth certificate which hasn’t been translated by a sworn translator; or a proof of accommodation document which doesn’t meet the criteria.
5. Insufficient means of subsistence: your financial means or those of the person welcoming you are not considered as sufficient.
   For example, to be granted a Schengen visa for France, your financial means must be of €65 per day if you are staying at a hotel or €33 per day if you are staying at a relative’s home.
6. An unfavourable or inadequate record history when it comes to Schengen visas: if you have already stayed in one of the Schengen countries for over three months during the last six months, you must wait 6 months after the date of your last departure from the Schengen area to apply for a new Schengen visa. Furthermore, if you didn’t respect the validity dates and conditions of your previous Schengen visa, obtaining a new one might prove more difficult.
7. An invalid travel insurance certificate: subscribing to Schengen travel insurance is compulsory to obtain a Schengen visa. To be accepted by consular authorities, travel insurance must meet certain criteria:

• Offer a coverage of minimum €30,000 (around $33,174 depending on the exchange rate),
• Cover the possible expenses entailed by emergency medical health care, hospitalisation, sanitary repatriation or in case of death,
• Be valid in all Schengen member States (not just the ones you plan to visit),
• Be valid for the entire duration of your stay,
• Be purchased from an insurance company validated by the consular authorities of all Schengen countries you plan to visit.

Get a free quote for Schengen Travel Insurance, accepted by all European embassies and consulates worldwide.

What is the procedure in case of Schengen visa refusal?

If your Schengen visa application is denied, the consular services will inform you either by written notification –the most common way- or implicitly, by not answering within two months after your application has been registered.

Whatever shape it comes in, we understand your disappointment but rest assured, all is not lost! There are several solutions left, including appealing this decision in accordance with Article 32(3) of the EU Visa Code.

In case of refusal, you can thus:

• Reapply for a Schengen visa: if the reasons for the refusal involve mistakes and imprecision on the form you filled out, missing or invalid supporting documents, you can reapply after correcting these mistakes. Fill out a new form and gather valid and accurate supporting documents. You will, however, have to pay the visa application fees again.
• Request a re-examination: ask the consulate where the visa application was registered to reconsider their decision. This informal appeal must be lodged within 2 months after the negative decision was notified.
  Beware: delays can vary depending on the country and can be as short as two weeks.
  In a letter, you will state your identity and detail the reasons why you applied for a Schengen visa and why you consider that your application should not have been refused. You will enclose all supporting documents which can back your arguments as well as a copy of your visa refusal notification. Delays for re-examining a visa application file vary depending on the country.

If your request is denied again, you might not even be informed…

If this fails, you can still lodge a formal appeal against the commissions or administrations in charge of handling visa refusals and which are specific to each Schengen country.

For example, if your Schengen visa for France is denied, you can contact:

Commission de recours contre les refus de visa d'entrée en France (CRRV)

BP 83609

44036 Nantes Cedex 01

France

To find out more:

• What are the different types of Schengen visas?
• Do I need to apply for a Schengen visa?
• How much does a Schengen visa cost?
• How long does it take to obtain a Schengen visa?
• How long is my Schengen visa valid?
• How to extend a Schengen visa?
• What is ETIAS?

FAQ

How long does it take to receive an answer about my Schengen visa application?

It depends on the Schengen country’s consular services. In average, it takes about 2 weeks. However, depending on the number of demands, the time of year (school holidays for example) and particular instances, you might have to wait from 3 weeks to 2 months.

If my Schengen visa application is denied, will my application fees be reimbursed?

No. The Schengen visa application fees are not refunded. Once you have paid, the fees are used to cover service costs.

In case of Schengen visa refusal, should I send my appeal letter by registered mail with signed delivery?

We strongly recommend you send all important documents, including letters of appeal, by registered mail with signed delivery.