Schengen Visa for Film Crew: If you are traveling as part of a film crew, i.e. to work on a movie being filmed in the Schengen area.

What is a Film Crew Schengen Visa?

  • A kind of short term (Type C) visa allowing you access to the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for the purpose of being part of a film crew shooting in the Schengen area.

Required Documents for Schengen Visa for Film Crew

  • In addition to the Basic of Schengen Visa Application Requirements, to apply for the Film Crew Schengen Visa, you will need to supply documents conveying information about the film you intend to be working on in the Schengen area, as well as information about your specific role on the film crew, including, but not limited to, the following:
    • Letter from the film company, including the following:
      • Name of the film company
      • Name of the film
      • Location of the set
      • Detailed plot of the film
  • Complete list of crewmembers and explanation of their duties (i.e. anyone who is journeying to the Schengen area for the purpose of working on the film).
  • Authorization to film, in the form of a letter from the respective film association/producer/agency located in your home country and ideally also in the Schengen country location, which must verify the existence of the film production and provide the requisite filming permits.
  • Proof of your affiliation/registration with your resident country’s Ministry of Culture or equivalent official agency, which validates your position as a filmmaker/crewmember working in film in your country of residence.

Eligibility: Who can apply 

  • Anyone who can credibly demonstrate that they are part of a film crew working on a movie in the Schengen area is eligible to apply for the Film Crew Schengen Visa.

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for a Film Crew

  1. Determine the Schengen country where you will be spending the most time on your trip. You will apply for the Film Crew Schengen Visa through that country’s consulate.
  2. Determine how many “Entries” to the Schengen area you need.
  3. Select “Other” as the purpose of traveling. There is additional space for you to provide further information about your role on the film crew.
  4. Gather your Basic Required Documents, as well as the documents required for the Film Crew Schengen Visa.
  5. Schedule an interview appointment (if applicable). Depending on the location of the consulate/embassy or visa center you are applying through, you may have to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application. Alternatively, you may be able to drop off your application without prior arrangement, so long as you do so during normal operating hours. Contact your consulate/embassy directly to find out if you need to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application.
  6. Fill out your application. Different countries provide different ways of accessing applications-you might have to use an online application portal or fill out a print-application by hand.
  7. Pay the application fee (the standard fee for adults is 80 Euros). You will likely have to submit a service payment with your visa application. This is a separate cost from the visa fee, which you will likely pay in person, at your subsequent interview appointment at a Visa Application Center. Please note that these fees are non-refundable.
  8. Submit your application. Different consulates/embassies and visa centers have different procedures for submitting applications. In most cases, applications must be submitted in person wherever you are applying. When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit your fingerprints.

When to Apply

  • You should apply for the Film Crew Schengen Visa at least 15 days prior to the day you intend to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before you leave.

Where to Apply

  • You should apply for the  Schengen Visa through the consulate of the country you are traveling to in the Schengen area.
  • If you are traveling to multiple countries in the Schengen area, you should apply through the consulate of the state in which you will spend the most time. And in case you plan to spend an equal period of time in those multiple countries, then you need to apply at the embassy, the consulate, or the associated Visa Application Center of the country where you will arrive first.

Processing Time for a Schengen Visa for a Film Crew

  • The processing time for the Film Crew Schengen Visa is generally about two weeks (15 days). In rarer cases, consulates can take anywhere from 30-60 days to render a decision on an application.