A Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area. The Schengen area covers 26 countries (“Schengen States”) without border controls between them.
Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have all acceded to the Schengen Agreement and are thus Schengen states.
It is enough you get Schengen visa to visit any of these countries. For example, you can get your Schengen visa from Germany and you can enter Portugal with that visa without any problem. You need to apply to Schengen visa from the Consulate of that country in your country of nationality or residence. For example, you can use the consulates of Schengen countries in Turkey if you have Turkish citizenship or Turkish residence permit card.
What do I need to do?
You must submit a passport or other travel document issued within the last 10 years. This must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for at least another 3 months after the date you intend to leave the Schengen area.
If you are a foreigner in Turkey, you need to submit valid Turkish residence permit card.
You must submit a completed and signed visa application form. Each person travelling with you on your travel document must submit their own visa form. Forms for children under the age of 18 need to be signed by a parent or guardian.
In a country where visa applications are processed by an external service provider, your digital photo will be taken at the Visa Application Centre. Have you applied for a visa in the last 59 months? Then you yourself will have to submit a photo with your application. This photo must meet schengen requirements for passport photos.
When you submit your application your fingerprints will be taken. These will remain valid for 59 months. Some applicants, such as children under the age of 12, do not need to have their fingerprints taken.
How long does it take?
The earliest you can apply is 6 months before you intend to travel. You should apply no later than 15 working days in advance.
In most cases, you will be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful. However, it can sometimes take up to 45 days, for example if extra documents are required.
Applying as a non-Turkish citizen
Third-country citizens (all non-Turkish citizens who require a Schengen visa) will be interviewed in person at the embassy in Ankara or the consulate-general in Istanbul. The interview appointment date will be given by the Visa Application Centre at the time of application. Third-country citizens who have been granted a Schengen visa in the previous 3 years will not be required to go to the embassy or consulate-general for a personal interview. Also, you need to bring your valid Turkish residence permit card with you.
How much Schengen Visa costs?
Schengen visa fee is €80 for most of the countries. There is also service fee of visa processing companies such as idata and VFS. The visa processing fees range from €10 to €40 depending on the visa processing company and the country.
