Picture this scenario.
You have finally booked your dream trip to Europe. The day of your departure is looming. You have taken time off from work, bought the best camera for your dream vacation, and created your travel packing list.
You have ticked all the boxes on your travel checklist to ensure everything goes without a hitch.
Then, you get a thin envelope from the Embassy. You open it and start reading the dreaded Schengen Visa rejection letter stating that the Embassy cannot grant you a Visa to enter Europe.
“We regret to inform you that your Schengen Visa application has been refused.”
We know…huge bummer.
You feel devastated and cannot imagine that that thin envelope can be the response to the mountain of documents you’ve submitted to the Embassy.
But the harsh truth is that many Schengen Visa applications get rejected due to incorrect documents or other rookie mistakes.
Especially if you rely on the information you find on Google to collect your documents without getting help from a reliable Schengen Visa agency, you risk getting your Visa refused and cancelling your travel plans.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Here are the most common deadly mistakes that can kill your Schengen Visa application.
Table of contents:
- Not having enough funds to support your trip
- Not holding valid travel insurance
- Failing to submit the right documents
- Applying for the wrong Visa
- Submitting contradictory documents
- Not giving yourself enough time
- Not preparing for your Schengen Visa interview
- Trying to do it alone
1. Not Having Enough Funds to Support Your Trip
When applying for a Schengen Visa, submitting proof of subsistence is a mandatory requirement for all applicants – i.e. proof that you can financially afford to cover all of your expenses while staying in Europe.
Whether you are covering the expenses yourself or getting a sponsor, the Schengen Visa officers need to ensure that you meet all of the financial requirements.
For example, if you are employed, you must submit documents such as your payslips and bank statements for the last 6 months.
Or, if a friend or relative sponsors your trip, you must submit the bank statements of your sponsor plus relevant documents proving they can financially afford to support your trip.
Do note that each Schengen country has set a minimum amount that each applicant must have for each day spent in the Schengen Area (for more information, click here).
Failing to show you have sufficient money to cover your expenses during your trip to Europe will automatically lead to the rejection of your Schengen Visa.
2. Not Holding Valid Travel Insurance
Another reason that might lead to your Schengen Visa denial is your inability to show proof of holding adequate travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
Travel insurance is an essential part of travelling as it can save you from unforeseen medical expenses that might arise while being on foreign soil, such as the cost of a local ambulance, emergency room expenses, etc.
Do note that the minimum coverage for your Schengen Visa insurance must be at least 30,000 EUR.
Your travel insurance must also cover all emergency health expenses for all the countries within the Schengen Area (even if you plan on travelling to one Schengen country).
Be sure to get travel insurance that covers all days you spend in the Schengen Area, including your day of arrival and day of departure (e.g., if your arrival day is March 3 and your departure date is March 7, your travel insurance must cover five days spent within the Schengen Area).
Getting travel insurance that does not cover your day of departure and day of arrival can cost you the approval of your Schengen Visa.
3. Failing to Submit the Right Documents
Through our years of experience working with Schengen Visa applicants from all over the world, we’ve learnt that submitting the exact documents is key to getting a Schengen Visa.
This is because every Visa applicant has a unique situation, meaning that putting together a set of documents for your application based on random websites suggested by Google can cost you the approval of Your Schengen Visa due to missing or incorrect documents.
Picture the following scenario: You are employed and Google suggests you submit documents showing proof of employment, such as your employment contract and a NOC letter from your employer.
All perfect steps so far.
However, even if you are employed, your monthly wage does the meet the Schengen Visa minimum income requirement.
In that case, you should also submit proof of other regular income statements or potentially get a sponsor – but you have no idea about that. This will automatically lead to your Schengen Visa rejection.
So, be sure to include the exact documents based on your personal situation when applying for a Schengen Visa.
If you don’t know the exact documents to submit based on your unique situation, do not hesitate to request your Schengen Embassy Requirements Report (SERR) that is specific to you and removes the chances of failure due to submitting the incorrect documents.
4. Applying for the Wrong Visa
As a general rule, Schengen Visas apply to three different categories: A, C, and D.
You should request a type-A Schengen Visa when you need to transit through or wait for a connecting flight in an airport located in a Schengen country.
The type-C Schengen Visa is the most requested type of Schengen Visa that enables you to spend up to 90 days within the Schengen Area over six months (180-day period).
While the type-D Schengen Visa (National Visa) is a long-stay Visa that allows you to stay for up to one year in the Schengen Area.
The type-C and type-D Schengen Visa also vary according to your travel purpose. For example, you may request a type-C Schengen Visa for tourism, business, medical reasons, study, family visit, etc.
Or, you can request a type-D National Visa for work, family reunion, or study.
Failing to apply for the right Schengen Visa based on the duration of your stay and travel purpose may lead to the rejection of your application.
For example, if you plan on travelling to Europe to visit your family but apply for a Visa for tourism purposes, you risk your application being rejected.
This is because the Visa officers are experts in spotting inconsistencies and contradictory information and might figure out that you are not actually travelling for tourism based on the documents you submit.
Then, they may believe that you have something to hide since you haven’t revealed the actual purpose of your trip. This can automatically lead to the rejection of your application.
So, be sure to do your research and apply for the correct Visa. More information about the Schengen Visa types you can find here.
5. Submitting Contradictory Documents
All of your supporting documents must match your story and align with other supporting documents.
As we have previously mentioned, the Embassy officers are experts in spotting inconsistencies and contradictory information.
If the documents that you submit tell a different story, chances are the Visa officers notice that and reject your application due to contradictory documents.
For example, suppose you plan on travelling to Italy to visit Milan and Venice.
If you book an expensive 5-star hotel in Milan and a 2-star hostel in Venice, this may raise some red flags as the Embassy officers might ask themselves why you can afford a luxury hotel in Milan and get cheap accommodation in Venice.
As a result, they might think that you have provided fake hotel reservations and reject your application.
So, it is essential that all of your documents show consistency, prove that you have provided authentic information and have genuine intent to return home once your trip ends.
6. Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
Applying for a Schengen Visa can be a long and tedious process.
If you are applying for a Schengen Visa for the first time, you may think that one or two weeks are enough to collect all of your documents and submit them to the Embassy.
If you are lucky enough, you might be able to gather all of your documents within a short period of time – but these are incredibly rare situations.
We always recommend our community members book their Embassy appointment at least three weeks before their departure date and start gathering their documents two months before the date of their Visa interview.
For example, picture the following scenario: You are employed and must submit a set of documents proving your employment status.
To get these documents, you are typically required to request them from your company’s representative of the Human Resources department.
In that case, it’s good practice to request them well in advance as they might not be able to immediately fulfil your request and provide you with the required documents within a couple of days.
So, be sure to start collecting your supporting documents well in advance. This will give you enough time to prepare everything properly and make sure that potential Visa processing delays won’t jeopardise your travel plans.
7. Not Preparing for Your Schengen Visa Interview
You do not need a prepared speech when attending the Schengen Visa interview, but you should have an idea of how you will answer Visa officers’ questions.
We have seen many applicants get their Schengen Visa rejected just because of overconfidence. Their arguments are, I have submitted the right supporting documents and strictly followed the Visa rules, meaning that the Embassy officers have no reason to deny my application.
However, they ended up getting asked unexpected questions and got nervous in the hot seat, which led to the rejection of their applications.
If you do not prepare for the interview in advance so that you can provide honest and coherent answers no matter what the Visa officers throw at you, you risk jeopardising your entire Visa application – even if you have submitted adequate supporting documentation.
This is why we recommend you practise common interview questions beforehand (you can find the 30 most common Schengen Visa interview questions here).
Do not memorise your answers – just be sure to practise the interview questions beforehand to avoid stammering and eliminate the time it takes for you to think of your answer.
8. Trying to Do it Alone
Going through the Schengen Visa application process alone may seem a great way to save money (as immigration lawyers typically charge very high fees).
However, this means that you are much more likely to make mistakes that can cost you the approval of your Schengen Visa.
That’s why getting in touch with Schengen Visa experts who can guide you through every step of your application can significantly increase your chances of getting your Visa approved.
We at Visas Association understand that hiring an attorney means adding extra fees to your Schengen Visa application that you may not afford to pay – especially when you rack up a pretty large bill of expenses including flights, hotels, and travel insurance.
That’s why our team of experts can provide you with the most up-to-date and expert created Schengen Visa Required Documents Report for only $7.
Others have paid $97. But you won’t pay anywhere near that if you take advantage of this incredible offer! A Schengen Visa expert will review your situation and give a list of exactly what to include in your application plus a myriad of helpful tips and tricks.
Applying for a Schengen Visa without an expert to assist you and ensure you walk into the Schengen Visa appointment with confidence is a mistake that can cost you the approval of your Visa, leading to the cancellation of your travel plans and dream trip to Europe.
Conclusion: Nothing will make you more excited than getting your Visa approved and travelling to the most scenic countries in Europe! On the other hand, having your Visa rejected would be heartbreaking.
Follow the tips in this post to avoid making mistakes that could lead to your Visa rejection and make your application a smooth sailing experience!
Want to be successful with your Schengen Visa application? Get your FREE Consultation today and find out what is the next step you need to take to file a successful application. There is no commitment to use our services, we will just assess your personal situation and get our expert advice delivered to your inbox within a couple of hours. It costs you nothing to receive your free no-obligation consultation and get the information you have been searching for!
