How do you get a visa for the Schengen area?
The government fee is EUR 90. Official processing time: Normally 15 days. It may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination or additional documents are needed.
Key facts
| Fact | What it is |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Schengen visaChecked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Government fee | EUR 90Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Earliest you can apply | No earlier than 6 months before the journey, and at least 15 days before it.Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Official processing time | Normally 15 days. It may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination or additional documents are needed.Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Permitted stay | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Recent rule change | The Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational: it registers non-EU short-stay travellers, including fingerprints and facial images, at the external borders of 29 European countries and replaces passport stamping. (from 10 April 2026)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Who needs a visa | No visa for 94 passports; eVisa for 0; travel authorisation for 0; a visa in advance for every other passportChecked 14 November 2026 against Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) |
Documents for this route
The official checklist, in the order the source gives it.
- A valid passport whose expiry date is at least 3 months after your departure from the Schengen area; for multiple-entry visas, at least 3 months after your departure from the last country visited
- A visa application form
- A photo in compliance with ICAO standards
- Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death)
- Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation during your stay, and evidence of your intention to return to your home country after your stay
- Fingerprints, collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants)
Related pages
Sources
- https://www.bmi.gv.at/202/fremdenpolizei_und_grenzkontrolle/visumpflichtige_laender/start.htmlAustrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), read 14 November 2026
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://vm.ee/en/consular-visa-and-travel-information/visa-information/application-schengen-visaMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, read 14 November 2026
Changes to this page
No changes since this page was published on 14 November 2026.
Who checked this page
Facts checked by Imran AK. Reviewed by Manu KP. Last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Every fact comes from an official page and is checked by two people.