How to apply for a Schengen visa as an international student in Canada

If you are an international student living in Canada, you may be aware that Canadians have visa-free access to the Schengen area. This means that if you have a Canadian passport, you do not need a visa to enter France, Germany, Italy, and the 23 other countries that comprise the Schengen zone. However, as a foreign student in Canada, whether you have visa-free access to the area depends on whether you are—like Canadian passport holders—a national one of the countries that enjoys visa free access to the zone (click here to find out whether you need a visa to enter the Schengen area). At this point, you are probably wondering, “Can international student apply for a Schengen visa from Canada?” The answer to this question is: yes! If you do need a visa, and you are thinking of traveling to Europe, this blog will teach you how to apply for a Schengen visa as an international student in Canada. Learn about the visa requirements for foreign students in Canada, the types of Schengen visas for students, and discover additional international student advice and guidance. 

How to apply

• 1. Decide when you need to travel  
  • Those looking to apply for a Schengen visa should be mindful of the Schengen visa processing time in Canada (at least two weeks for most applicants). If you are planning a trip to the Schengen area, make sure you apply at least two weeks before you need to leave for your trip (to make sure your visa is processed before then). 
  • Additionally, while it’s good to apply well in advance of your travel day, you should also be wary of applying too early (as Schengen applications submitted earlier than six months prior to a trip to the area will not be accepted).
  • Therefore, while applicants do not need to know exactly when they are traveling, they should try to plan ahead, so that when they do apply for their visa, they receive it in time to proceed with their trip. 
• 2. Decide what “type” of Schengen visa you should apply for 
  • There are many different types of Schengen visas that you can apply for as a foreign student in Canada. Types of Schengen visas for students include Business, Medical, and Tourist; each of these types reflect a primary reason for travel. For example, if you are planning on traveling to the Schengen area for touristic reasons, you would apply for a Schengen Tourist visa. 
  • If you are traveling mainly for educational purposes, you would apply for a Schengen student visa. However, keep in mind that you would apply for a student visa because of what you intend to do in the Schengen area, rather than because your identity as a student in Canada (i.e. the fact that you are a foreign student in Canada does not mean you have to apply for a Schengen Student visa).
  • Access a complete list of Schengen visa types here.
• 3. Select your visa “entry” category
  • There are three “entry” categories available to international students: single, double, and multiple entry. 
  • If you apply for a single-entry visa, you will only be able to enter the Schengen area one time during your visa validity period (meaning that, should you leave the zone after entering it, you will not be able to return, even if you have time remaining on your visa). 
  • If you apply for a double entry Schengen visa, you will be able to enter the Schengen area twice (i.e. you could enter, exit, and re-enter the zone before being denied entry a third time (should you seek re-entry after your second exit). 
  • Finally, those who apply for multiple-entry Schengen visas will be able to enter and exit the Schengen area as many times as they want throughout their visa validity period. Because multiple-entry Schengens do not place limits on entries to the zone, they are the most flexible and coveted entry category for international students. 
• 4. Decide what country to apply to 
  • If you are currently in Canada as a foreign student, you will apply for a Schengen visa from the Schengen country you seek to enter. 
  • If you are traveling to multiple Schengen countries, you will apply through your primary destination in the Schengen area (i.e. the Schengen country where you intend to spend the most number of days on your trip).
  • If you are spending an equal amount of time in at least two countries (for example, 30 days in both the Netherlands and France) you will apply for a visa through whichever country represents your first entry to the zone. For example, if you are flying directly from Montreal to Paris, you will apply for a French Schengen visa (because France is your first—i.e. primary—destination in the zone). 
• 5. Decide where to apply in Canada
  • Can international student apply for a Schengen visa in Canada? Absolutely! 
  • After you select your primary destination in the area, you will apply for a Schengen visa as an international student in Canada through that country’s embassy, consulate, or visa application center. 
  • If you are applying through a Schengen country’s embassy (regardless of the country), it will be located in the Canadian capital (Ottawa). Many embassies have consular sections (also located in the capital), which handle the processing for Schengen visa applications. Finally, consulates for most major Schengen countries can be found in most major Canadian cities, as can visa application centers. 
  • For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa to France, you will apply through the French Consulate in Montreal. 
• 6. Assemble your required documents
  • Visa requirements for foreign students in Canada necessitate the submission of multiple basic required documents including all the below:
    • Passport 
    • Passport photos (2) 
    • Schengen visa application form
    • Proof of accommodation
    • Proof of finances
    • Proof of having purchased travel medical insurance
  • In addition to the above, international students must also submit a number of supplemental documents, which are dependent on the type of visa they are seeking (for example, an applicant who is applying for a Tourist visa will have to supply certain documents related to that specific visa category. 
  • A full list of Schengen visa required documents is available here.
• 7. Access your Schengen visa application form
  • The basic Schengen visa application form, which most Schengen countries accept, is accessible here.
  • Alternatively, the Schengen country you are applying through may prefer that you apply through their unique online application portal. An example of this would be Germany, which advises Schengen visa applicants to apply through VIDEX, here.
• 8. Schedule your Schengen visa appointment
  • Most Schengen visa applicants will need to attend a Schengen visa appointment, which they will need to schedule in advance. If you apply through a country-specific visa portal like Germany’s, you will likely be able to schedule a Schengen visa appointment through that same online system. Alternatively, you may have to reach out to your application destination directly in order to make the appointment (see Step #9 for details about the Schengen visa appointment). 
• 9. Attend your Schengen visa appointment 
  • As an international student, your Schengen visa appointment is where you will formally submit your application, pay your Schengen visa fee, have your biometric information collected, and attend a short interview. 
  • Schengen visa fees for Canadian students are 80 EUR for the majority of applicants. As a student, you may be exempt from having to pay the full amount (or even having to pay altogether). Please note that the Schengen visa fees for international students in Canada are not inclusive of other costs that you will likely infer as part of the application process (such as those relating to biometric data collection). To estimate your complete application costs, click here.
  • Please note that “biometric information” simply refers to fingerprints and photos, which an applicant must submit for security reasons. Once an applicant’s biometrics are in the Schengen system, he or she will not have to resubmit them for another five years (meaning that next time they apply for a Schengen visa, they will not have to have their biometrics collected).  
• 10. Wait for a decision 
  • The Schengen vsa processing time in Canada is traditionally two weeks for most applicants. However, depending on several factors (such as how complete your application is, when you submitted it, etc.) your application could take anywhere from 30-60 days. 
  • If you are approved for a Schengen visa in Canada, you will be notified of your acceptance (usually via email). Once you pick up your passport (containing your new visa) from your application destination, you will be able to proceed with your trip. 
  • An international student in Canada whose Schengen visa application is rejected has the right to appeal. Follow this link to find out more about the appeal process.
  • If you require more international student advice and guidance, contact us here.