A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.
The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.
All nationals of third countries, which have yet not reached a visa-liberalization agreement with the Schengen member states, need to obtain a visa prior of their arrival in Europe.

Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
You will have to present several documents at the Schengen port of entry, in order to be permitted to enter, if you are a non-EU/Schengen country national, regardless if you are a visa-exempt or not.

The documents you need to provide when entering the Schengen Area are as follows:
• Valid Passport. Issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
• Schengen Visa. If you are a national of one of the third countries in need of a visa.
EU/Schengen border officials may also ask for other information and documents such as sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, how long you intend to stay, round-trip airline ticket, purpose of your entry, travel insurance, invitation letter, etc.

Schengen Visa Issuing Countries
The Schengen zone includes the 26 countries that have signed the Schengen agreement, which allows citizens of member countries to travel within the zone freely, without passing through passport and border control.
Each member country of the Schengen zone can issue Schengen visas.

Schengen Visa Types for Short-Term Visits in Europe
You need to apply for a Schengen Visa if you intend to visit one or more European countries of this area for the following reasons:

Business Schengen Visa – Travelling to Europe for Business Purposes
Business visa is an authorization of the designated country/countries of destination within the Schengen Area issued to the citizens of countries that have mandatory visa requirements from the Schengen Zone with the sole purpose of doing business in the Schengen zone.
The holder of this type of visa is not required to have the citizenship of the designated country in order to follow their business agenda yet it such an authorization has its limitations as well.

Schengen Visitor Visa – Traveling to Europe for the Purpose of Visiting Family Members,Friends or Relatives
Third-country nationals wishing to visit family members, friends or relatives living in the Schengen Zone may be a subject to the Schengen visa regime.

Tourist Schengen Visa – Traveling to Europe for Tourism
A Tourist Schengen Visa permits third-country nationals enter into the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 6-month period, under the purpose of traveling or visiting Europe for pleasure.

Schengen Visa for Cultural / Sports / Religious Event and Film Crews
Third country nationals travelling to the Schengen Zone under the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event and Film Crews will have to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa.

Transit Schengen Visa
A Transit Schengen Visa is a permit for persons who only need to enter the Schengen territory in order to change their means of transport. There are two types of Transit Schengen Visas:
• Airport Transit Schengen Visa
• Transit Schengen Visa for Seafarers
An Airport Transit Schengen Visa is a permit designated for travellers that have to change flights at a Schengen airport. It enables them to stop and wait in the international transit area of a Schengen airport for their flight to their destination country.
However, this visa does not permit its holder to leave the international transit area of an airport, even if the traveller has to wait overnight.

Schengen Visa for Official Visits – Traveling to Europe for Official Visits
A Schengen Visa for Official Visits to Europe is an entry permit for those undertaking journeys to the territory, following an official invitation to participate in:
• Meetings
• Consultations
• Negotiations
• Exchange programs
• Other events held in the Schengen zone by intergovernmental organizations

Schengen Medical Visa – Traveling to Europe to Get Medical Treatment
Schengen Visa for Medical Reasons allows its holder to enter any of the Schengen member states and receive medical treatment for their health condition.
This visa is for those who need to receive medical care in Europe for periods up to 90 days. If your medical therapy or treatment is foreseen to last longer than that, you should instead apply for a National Visa for Medical Treatment in the respective country, which permits you to stay longer.

Student Schengen Visa – Traveling to Europe for Study Purposes
A Student Schengen Visa is an entry permit to the Schengen Zone, granted to third-country nationals wishing to enter and remain for short-stays in any of the member states, under the purpose of studying.
This visa permits its holder to remain in the Schengen territory for a maximum of 3 months. If your study or training course lasts longer than that, you should apply for a Long-Stay Study Visa at the embassy of the respective country.

The following documents are required for a Schengen visa application:
• Visa application form
• Two recently taken photos
• A valid passport. It should valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Schengen area. Older passports with visas on them (if you have any).
• Round trip reservation or itinerary
• Travel insurance policy. A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially during your Business trip in Europe. This can be one of the following:
• Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
• Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
• A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.
• Proof of paid visa fee.
• Cover letter
• A short profile of the applicants working place.
• Letter from employer. Meticulously describing the purpose of the travel as well as the itinerary of the days spend within the Schengen zone.
• Invitation letter. Written by the partner company in the Schengen zone, faxed also to the corresponding consulate. This letter has to appear as an invitation to attend meetings or other relevant events matching trade, industry or work.
• Proof of financial means. It must be stated either in the employer’s letter or the partner company’s invitation that one of both parties will be covering the applicant’s travel expenses during his/her stay in the Schengen Zone.
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies proof of such an event.
• Others * as per visa requirements

For employees:
• Employment contract.
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months.
• Leave permission from the employer.
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

For the self-employed:
• A copy of your business license.
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months.
• Income Tax Return (ITR).