Let’s admit it; applying for a Schengen Visa can be stressful and confusing.
Not only do you need to allow yourself enough time to collect a whole heap of documents and certifications, but you must also ensure you apply at the right Embassy and at the right moment.
“How do I know what is the right Embassy to submit my Schengen Visa application?”. This is one of the FAQs that pop up in our inbox on a daily basis.
Truth is, choosing the right Embassy to submit your application isn’t always as easy as it seems.
As a general rule, the Embassy where you must file your application depends on your destination country. However, the Schengen States can also outsource the Schengen Visa submission to another Schengen State or a private company in specific situations.
So, if you’re wondering what is the right Embassy to book a Schengen Visa appointment and submit your application, wonder no more!
In this post, we explain how to choose the right Embassy to submit your application and what you need to do if your destination country has outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to another Schengen State or private company.
Table of contents:
- Where do you need to submit your Schengen Visa application?
- What to do if your Schengen destination country has outsourced the Visa application process
1. Where Do You Need to Submit Your Schengen Visa Application?
In most cases, you cannot get a Schengen Visa on arrival (only in exceptional situations, single-entry Visas are issued on arrival at the border). This means that you must apply for your Visa at the Embassy, Consulate, or the Visa Centre of the Schengen country that is your destination country.
As a general rule, the Embassy or Consulate where you must file your Schengen Visa application should be located in your country of residence (but as we will see below, this is not always the case).
Please note that you do not have to be in your country of citizenship to apply for a Schengen Visa.
You can apply from the third country of your permanent residence as long as you submit proof of your legal status there.
Below you will find the rules concerning your “destination country”:
● If you plan to visit only one Schengen country, you must submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of that country located in your country of residence.
For example, if you want to visit Austria, you must submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of Austria located in your country of residence.
● If you plan to visit more than one Schengen country, you must submit your application:
○ To the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of the country where you will spend the most amount of days if you will be spending an unequal number of days in each.
○ To the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of the country where you will enter first – if you will be spending an equal number of days in each.
For example, suppose you will be spending 30 days in Greece and 10 days in Italy during your trip to the Schengen Area. In that case, you must apply at the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of Greece located in your country of residence.
Or, suppose you will be spending 20 days in France and 20 days in Spain, and France is the Schengen Country you will enter first. In that case, you must apply at the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre of France located in your country of residence.
Now, let’s see what you need to do if your Schengen destination country does not have a diplomatic mission in your country of residence or has outsourced the Visa application process.
2. What To Do If Your Schengen Destination Country Has Outsourced the Visa Application Process
On the off chance that you cannot submit your application to the Embassy of your destination country located in your country of residence, you need to check which of the following options is applicable to your situation.
Then, the next step you need to take is booking an appointment at the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre or Visa service provider responsible for processing Schengen Visa applications for your destination country.
- Your destination country has outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to another Schengen Embassy located in your country of residence
Whether or not your Schengen destination country has a diplomatic mission in your country of residence, the Schengen Visa application process may be outsourced to another Schengen Embassy.
For example, suppose you are residing in Armenia and want to apply for a Schengen Visa for Estonia.
Even if Estonia has a consular presence in Yerevan (Armenia’s capital), the Schengen Visa submission has been outsourced to the Embassy of Lithuania (which is located in Armenia), as highlighted on the official website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Your destination country has outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to a Schengen Embassy located in a neighbouring country
In very rare situations, the Schengen Visa submission may be outsourced to the Embassy of your destination country located in a neighbouring country of your country of residence.
For example, holders of an Afghan passport or applicants residing in Afghanistan who want to travel to Belgium have to submit their Visa application to the Embassy of Belgium in Islamabad, Pakistan. For more information, please visit this link.
- Your destination country has outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to a private company
Some Embassies have outsourced the Schengen Visa submission to private companies or Visa service providers.
Visa outsourcing companies are companies working on behalf of Embassies and Consulates that are transferring the obligation of delivering administrative services to third parties.
These companies are available in most countries whose citizens need a Schengen Visa to travel to Europe. However, do note that they will not assist you in obtaining the correct documents or informing you of what to submit; they will only process your application. Examples of authorised Visa outsourcing companies are VFS Global, BLS International, etc.
Typically, information concerning the outsourcing of the Visa submission is available on the official websites of most Schengen Embassies/Consulates.
For example, you can find information concerning the outsourcing of the Visa submission process on the official website of the Italian Embassy in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).
Conclusion: Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of where you need to submit your Schengen Visa application.
If you find the Schengen Visa application process daunting and don’t know the exact steps that need to be taken, reading these posts is a good place to start: A beginner’s guide to the Schengen Visa application process and Schengen Visa requirements: What are the required documents?.
Do you need help with your Schengen Visa? We at Visas Association can guide you through every step of your application, connect you with Visa experts to do everything for you, take the headache out of dealing with maddening bureaucracy, and ensure your application has the highest chance of success. Request a FREE consultation today and find out the exact steps you need to follow to get your Schengen Visa and travel to Europe!
