How to apply for a Schengen visa from Qatar

If you are a citizen or resident of Qatar who is hoping to visit Europe sometime in the future, you will likely need to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter and travel throughout majority of states on the continent. A Schengen visa for Qatari citizens and residents will give you access to the entire Schengen area, a group of 26-countries that includes some of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the world. With a Schengen visa from Qatar, you will be allowed to visit France, Germany, and Italy, among other exiting destinations renowned for their history, culture, and cuisine. Read on to discover how to apply for a Schengen visa from Qatar and for the answers to commonly asked questions like, “Where do you apply for Schengen visa?” and, “How much does a Schengen visa cost from Qatar?” Finally, today’s blog will discuss the Schengen visa requirements for Qatar citizens and residents, and Schengen visas and types for Qatar passport holders. 

• 1. Decide when to apply   
  • The Schengen visa application process is sometimes lengthy—especially for first time applicants. 
  • When you apply for a Schengen visa from Qatar for an upcoming trip to Europe, you will want to have a general idea of your travel dates to give you enough time to prepare your application. 
  • In general, the processing time for applications for the Schengen visa for Qataris and residents is three weeks, so you will want to submit your visa application at least three weeks before you intend to travel (and no earlier than 6 months before). 
• 2. Decide what type of Schengen visa you need 
  • When you apply for your Schengen visa from Qatar, you will select the “type” of Schengen visa you need on your application form. 
  • There are a number of different Schengen visas and types for Qatar passport holders, each of which reflects a reason for travel. 
  • Schengen visa types include medical, tourism, and business; for a complete list, click here.
• 3. Decide what entry category of visa you need
  • Schengen visas are available in the single, double, and multiple-entry categories; the type you select will determine the number of times you can enter and re-enter the zone. 
  • If you receive a single-entry Schengen visa from Qatar, you will only be allowed to the enter Schengen area one time during your visa validity period—if you exit the area after entering you will not be allowed to return—even if you still have time left on your visa. 
  • Alternatively, if you have a double entry-visa you will be allowed enter the zone, exit it, and re-enter it again. A double entry visa is a good option for those who plan on returning to Qatar at some point during the 90 days in which their Schengen visa is valid, but doesn’t plan on traveling back and forth in-and out of the Schengen area frequently. 
  • Finally, the multiple-entry category allows visa holders to enter, exit, and re-enter the zone as many times as they like throughout their visa validity period. Because this option is the most flexible, it is the best option for men and women who want the freedom of being able to travel back and forth from the Schengen area to Qatar (or elsewhere outside of the zone). 
• 4. Decide what country to apply to 
  • Where do you apply for a Schengen Visa? Qatari visa applicants will apply for their visa through the Schengen country they intend to spend the most time in on their trip. 
  • If you are spending an equal amount of time in multiple places, you will apply for your visa through the country that represents your first point of entry into the Schengen area. 
  • For example, if you are travelling to both Spain and France, but you plan on spending more time in Spain than in France, you will apply for a Spanish Schengen visa. Alternatively, if you are spending an equal amount of time in both places, but your first entry into the Schengen area involves flying directly from Doha to Madrid, you will apply for a Spanish Schengen visa, as Spain would, in this scenario, represent your first entry point to the Schengen area. 
• 5. Decide where in Qatar to apply 
  • Now that you know what Schengen country you are applying to, you should apply for a Schengen visa through that country’s embassy, consulate, or visa application center (whichever entity processes Schengen visas for that country). 
  • Most major European countries have a consular presence in Doha. However, if you are applying for a Schengen visa from a smaller Schengen country (such as Latvia or Denmark) you may find the consular affairs of those countries represented by a larger European country. 
  • For example, Hungary handles the processing of Schengen visas to both Latvia and Denmark for applicants in Qatar. This means that if you are applying for a Schengen visa to Latvia, you will apply through the Hungarian Embassy in Doha (via a visa-application center affiliated with Hungary).
• 6. Gather your required documents and materials 
  • Schengen visa applicants from Qatar must complete various Schengen visa requirements for Qatar citizens, which include the submission of the following documents and materials: 
    • Qatari passport (or another valid passport)
    • Schengen visa application
    • Schengen visa fee 
    • Passport size photos (2) 
    • Proof of accommodation
    • Proof that you can financially afford your trip 
    • Proof of having purchased travel medical insurance 
    • Biometric information 
  • In addition to the above, Qatari applicants must also submit a number of supplemental documents that are dependent on the specific type of visa they are applying for. 
  • For example, if you are applying for a Medical Schengen visa from Qatar, you will have to submit documents from the hospital you are having your procedure in. 
  • For more information on required Schengen visa materials, click here.
  • Please note that any documents you submit will likely have to be written in either English, the language of the country you are applying to, or another commonly-accepted European language. Alternatively, you can submit documents in third-languages, provided they are submitted alongside an official translation into an accepted language. For example, if you submit a visa invitation letter from a friend that is written in Arabic, you may have to have that letter translated in order for it to be accepted as a valid supplemental document. 
  • Contact the Schengen country you are applying through to find out what language they will accept document submissions in. 
• 7. Access your basic application form 
  • Schengen visa applicants must fill out the basic application form. 
  • The universal Schengen visa form, which most Schengen countries will allow you to apply through, is available here.
  • If you choose to apply through this above method, you will print out and fill out this form and submit it with the rest of your required and supplemental materials at your Schengen visa appointment. 
  • Alternatively, depending on what country you are applying to, you may be asked to apply through a country-specific visa portal. This is the case for applicants applying for Schengen visas from Germany and France (see France’s online visa portal as an example).
  • Those who are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa from Qatar through a visa portal can generally create an online account and fill out their application online (often, they are asked to bring a physical print out of this application—even if they submitted it online). 
  • Schengen visa applicants who apply online often have the advantage of paying for their visa online and also scheduling a Schengen visa appointment.     
• 8. Schedule your Schengen visa appointment 
  • The majority of people applying for a short-stay Schengen visa from Qatar will need to attend a Schengen visa appointment in order to submit their application, and the majority of these people will have to schedule their appointment in advance (verses simply showing up at the embassy/consulate to drop it off during normal operating hours). 
  • If you didn’t apply online (or didn’t receive a prompt to schedule an appointment) you should contact your application destination directly to find out whether you need to schedule a formal appointment to submit your application. 
• 9. Attend your Schengen visa appointment 
  • Your Schengen visa appointment is where you will submit your application and fulfill the rest of your in-person Schengen visa requirements, which usually include the following: 
    • Biometric information submission (this is the collection of your fingerprints and photos, which you are required to submit if you are a first-time applicant or if you previously submitted your info over 59 months ago). 
    • Schengen visa fee payment (How much does a Schengen visa cost from Qatar? The quick answer is €80 EUR for most applicants. For a more detailed exploration of Schengen visa fees, click here.
    • Schengen visa interview (most applicants will be asked to attend a short interview upon the submission of their application). 
  • Almost all countries require that Schengen visa applicants attend their Schengen visa appointment in person (i.e. personally submit their application). 
  • If you frequently apply for Schengen visas and your biometric information remains valid from a previous application (and if you have already paid for your visa online) you may be able to avoid applying in person and interviewing . However, even if you have previously and frequently applied for a Schengen visa, you may still be asked to come in for an interview. 
• 10. Await your decision 
  • If you are approved for your Schengen visa from Qatar, you will receive a message to pick up your passport (which will contain your Schengen visa) allowing you to proceed with your trip. 
  • If your Schengen visa is rejected, you have options, including the ability to appeal. For more general information on how to appeal a rejection, click here.