What is Schengen?
Schengen is called the region that includes members of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. These countries; Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. However, there are also countries that are members of the European Union but not in the Schengen area: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus.

Thanks to the visa liberalization between Schengen countries, citizens of the union member countries can travel within the region with only their ID or passport. If a visa is required from people staying outside the region, they can apply for a visa and initiate the procedures for the union member countries of their choice.

What is a Schengen Visa?
Schengen is also a type of visa issued by appropriate institutions and allows travel within the countries of the union. It is possible to enter the countries that make up the Schengen area with this document. Depending on the conditions, more than one country can be visited with this visa.

Schengen Application: How to Get Schengen?
As of February 2020, electronic applications can be made to Schengen member countries. Applications can be submitted by filling out and signing the application forms electronically.

Additionally, a Schengen visa can be obtained through the representative office of the place you want to go. People who will apply for a visa can complete the process by making an e-appointment online, after first obtaining the documents requested by the relevant institution.

For example, for a Dutch visa, it will be sufficient to complete your visa documents and apply after making an appointment on the website of the intermediary institution.

After obtaining the visa, you can travel between the member countries of the union within your permit period. The important point here is that the first entry must be made from the country where the visa was obtained. You can then enter other countries.

For example, you want to tour Austria-Belgium-Czech Republic and you applied for a Schengen visa through Austria. After entering Austria, you can pass to both countries with your passport.

How Much is the Schengen Visa Fee?
The most up-to-date pricing of fees, which vary according to age and visa categories, is listed in the table below.

2024 Schengen Visa Fees
Adult    80 Euros
6-12 Years    40 Euro
0-6 Years    Free
Citizens of countries that have a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union    35 Euros
NOTE: Please confirm the price information from official application centers.

What are Schengen Visa Documents?
Although the required conditions vary from country to country, the documents requested by European Union member countries are generally the same.

Application form
Photos (requested number, compatible with Schengen visa photo dimensions)
Passport
Flight ticket reservation
Hotel reservation
International travel insurance
Bank account information
Place of residence
Photocopy of identity card and passport
Schengen Visa Application Documents Required from Employees
If the person is working, the required visa application documents increase.

employer letter
employment declaration
4A service breakdown
Payroll
Operating certificate
Signature Circulars
tax plate
If you are going to apply for a Schengen visa through Germany and Italy and want to learn the documents, you can access all kinds of information from the official intermediary visa agency iDATA page.

For other Schengen countries, you can review VFS Global brokerage pages. For example, you can access the current list of documents required for a France visa on the VFS Global France page.

People who are considering applying for a visa but are not working must nominate a sponsor to cover the costs. A parent or spouse can sponsor. You can read our related article to get more detailed information about visa sponsorship.

Retirees who are considering applying for a Schengen visa can add their retirement cards to their documents.

People under the age of 18 can apply for Schengen with a letter of consent from their parents.