Schengen Visa - Rejection Reasons, Countries, Tips

In 1985, twenty six EU/European Union nations were signatories of an agreement which provided for easier travel across Europe. Three EFTA/European Free Trade Association member nations, i.e., Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, did not participate in this agreement.

Schengen visa is issued by 15 nations which are Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Benefits of the Schengen Visa

The Schengen Visa is a singular unified visa structure which permits people to travel within most European countries without the need to get individual visas for different European countries from the respective consulates.

Some of the benefits of a Schengen Visa stamp on the passport are listed below:

Travel between 2 EU and Schengen countries does not require any border checks. Travelers only need to sign at the check post and gain entry into the new country.
Travel between 2 Schengen nations out of which only one country is in the EU involves only customs checks; there are no passport checks. For example, travel from the Sweden to Norway.
Travel between 2 EU nations out of which only one country is Schengen involves only passport checks; there are no customs checks. For example, travel from the UK to France.

Schengen Visa – Rejection Reasons and Tips for Approval

A few tips that will help ensure that you get the Schengen Visa are mentioned below:

Ensure that all the paperwork is correct and thorough. Be aware of all the rules and regulations, such as a mandatory confirmed ticket, etc. Different consulates need different kinds of documents. France, Italy, and Portugal are ok with information about the flight and hotel, but Spain requires proof of accommodation and flight bookings.
Create a checklist and ensure that all of them are ticked before submitting the application file. Ensure that all the required documents are submitted. Failure to do so will result in rejection of the visa due to ‘insufficient documents submitted’, even if your credentials are perfect.
Be honest with the Visa officers. They are trained to detect fakes and frauds. It is not possible to get away with even the smallest of lies. It’s vital to be honest and clear about your travel plans and intentions.
Remember the period of your stay in the different European countries.
Apply at the correct consulate. For example, if you are travelling in the order of France, Portugal, and Italy then apply at the French consulate as it is the first place of your arrival into Europe. This rule is however not always applicable. In some cases, the duration of your stay in a specific country is checked instead of the place of your first landing. It is best to check with the travel agent for clearing all doubts.
Travel insurance is mandatory.
In most cases, Schengen visas are issued as a multi-entry or single entry visa with validity periods of 3, 6, or 12 months. Different scoring standards are employed by different consulates when granting Schengen visas.
Have an early prepared plan. Appointment for application of Schengen Visa will be granted in about three weeks’ time. Make space for the appointment in your plan.
Ensure that your passport is valid for the next six to twelve months. It should have some blank pages for the Schengen Visa stamp. These details may be minor, but do not overlook them as it can result in rejection of application.
A rejected stamp on the passport can definitely affect the chances of getting the visa when applying the next time. This is because questions will be asked about the reasons for previous rejection. It is important to provide correct reasons and justification about the previous rejection. Provide proof that last time around was an honest mistake and that you are a bona fide traveler, so as to avoid rejection for the second time
The rules for Schengen Visa keep changing. Hence, keep checking for updates till the date of interview arrives.