How to apply for a Schengen visa from Nepal

Mountainous and remote, Nepal’s population of just under 30 million requires a Schengen visa in order undertake temporary travel to the Schengen area (i.e. most countries in Europe). If you are a citizen or resident of Nepal and you are considering a trip to France, Italy, or one of the other twenty-four “Schengen States,” you should familiarize yourself with the Schengen visas and types for Nepal passport holders—all of which allow you to spend 90 days in the zone. How to access the Schengen visa application form, as well as the answers to FAQs like, “Where do you apply for a Schengen visa?” And, “How much does a Schengen visa cost?” are available below. 

Applying for a Schengen visa from Nepal: Steps

• 1. Decide when to apply 
  • How long does the Schengen visa take to process?” The answer to this question (usually 15 days but sometimes 30 or even 60) dictates when you should apply for your visa. Most applicants are encouraged to file a minimum of two weeks before they need to travel. 
• 2. Select your primary Schengen destination 
  • Remember that you can travel to any of the 26 Schengen countries with a Schengen visa. However, in order to apply for your visa, you will need to select from among those countries the place where you will be spending the most time on your trip. This destination, which is called your primary destination, is the Schengen country you will apply for your visa from. 
  • If you are specifically traveling to the zone in order to visit one country, then your primary destination will obviously be that country. However, if you plan on visiting several countries (or even more than one) you will need to figure out which country you will be spending the greatest number of days (this country will be your primary destination).  
  • If you are spending the same amount of time in two countries, (for example, 30 days in both Italy and France) you should apply to the country you are entering first (if you are flying direct from Nepal to Paris, you should therefore apply for a French Schengen visa instead of an Italian one—even if you are spending equal time in both). 
• 3. Find your application destination in Nepal 
  • Where do you apply for a Schengen visa in Nepal? Apply and meet the rest of your Schengen visa requirements for Nepal citizens and residents at the Embassy or Consulate of your primary destination in the Schengen area.  
  • If your primary destination in the Schengen area is a small country, it is possible that they will outsource their consular activities in Nepal to a larger country (i.e. one which has a larger diplomatic presence in Kathmandu). If this is the case, you may have to apply for your visa through that country’s mission, rather than through the mission of your primary destination in the zone. 
  • Occasionally (depending on where you are applying) you will need to apply for a visa through an embassy located in another country. For example, applicants for the French Schengen visa from Nepal should apply through one of the various French Consulates located in India (Bombay, Calcutta, etc). 
  • If you are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa from Nepal and are confused about where to apply in the country, please contact us. 
• 4. Select your Schengen visa type 
  • There are a number of Schengen visas and types for Nepal passport holders to choose from. Applicants should consider their main reason for traveling and select the Schengen visa that seems to best describe that purpose. For example, if you are visiting the Schengen area in order to obtain a medical procedure, you should apply for a Medical Schengen visa for Nepalese citizens and residents. 
  • Consider the complete list of Schengen visas and types for Nepal passport holders here.
• 5. Consider your entry category 
  • Are you planning on making several trips between the Schengen area and Nepal? Or do you plan on making one trip to the zone before returning home indefinitely? The answer to these questions will determine which entry category of Schengen visa you should apply for. 
  • The Schengen visa for Nepalese citizens and residents is available in single, double, and multiple entry categories.  Select “single” if you only need one entry to the zone, select “double” if you require two entries, and choose “multiple” if you don’t want to be limited to one or two. 
  • In practice, this means: if you have a single entry Schengen visa and you leave the Schengen area for whatever reason, you will not be allowed back in. If you have a double entry Schengen, you will be able to enter the zone, leave it, and return one final time (if you attempt to re-enter the zone after exiting that second time, you will be denied entry). If you obtain a multiple entry Schengen visa you will be able to enter, exit, and re-enter the zone as many times as you like throughout your visa validity period (90 days). For this reason, the multiple entry is the most flexible category of Schengen visa. If you anticipate going back and forth between Nepal and the zone, this is the category you should apply for. 
• 6. Gather your required documents 
  • In addition to submitting the Schengen visa application form, applying for a Schengen visa from Nepal involves supplying a number of additional documents and materials. These include the following: 
    • Nepalese passport (or other valid country passport). 
    • Main application form. 
    • 2 passport size photos.
    • Documents confirming that you have received travel medical insurance. 
    • Documents confirming that you have a place to stay in the Schengen area.
    • Documents confirming you will ultimately leave the zone (proof of return). 
    • Schengen visa fee (How much does a Schengen visa cost? 80 EUR for most applicants). 
  • In addition to the above, applicants must also submit supplemental materials relating to their visa type (medical, educational, etc). To see exactly what you need to submit for your type of visa, click here.
• 7. Access your Schengen visa application form
  • Certain countries, such as France, direct applicants to an online application form. 
  • If your application destination does not have an online process, you should simply print and fill out the basic Schengen visa application found here.
• 8. Schedule your Schengen visa appointment 
  • You will be able to schedule your visa appointment online if the country you are applying through has an online application offering a mechanism for visa-appointments. If they don’t (i.e. you are just downloading and submitting the basic application form) you should contact the Embassy/Consulate you are applying through in order to make an appointment. 
• 9. Sit for your visa appointment 
  • The final step in applying for a short-stay Schengen visa from Nepal involves attending your visa appointment, where you will meet all of the in-person Schengen visa requirements for Nepal citizens and residents. These include the following: 
    • Submitting all of your physical application materials (including a copy of your application). 
    • Paying your application fee (click here for visa fee info).
    • Submitting your biometrics (photos and fingerprints). 
    • Being interviewed. 
• 10. Await your decision 
  • How long does a Schengen visa take to be processed? Remember that the minimum processing time for most Schengen visa applications is two weeks, however some applicants have to wait 30 or even 60 days for a response back from the Consulate/Embassy they applied through. 
  • Once you receive a response, you will either collect your Schengen visa and proceed with your trip (if your application is successful) or decide whether to appeal the decision (if your application is rejected). 
  • Consider the general guidelines for appealing a rejected Schengen visa here.