How to apply for a Schengen visa from the Philippines

If you are from the Philippines and thinking about traveling to Europe, you may be eligible to apply for a Schengen visa. A Schengen visa Philippines will give you access to the entire Schengen area—26 of the most visited countries in the world, including Germany, Italy, and Spain. Read on for basic information about the Schengen visa requirements Philippines citizens and residents, and for your most frequently asked questions about Schengen visas, including, “do Philippines citizens need a visa to enter the Schengen area?“What is the cost of Schengen visa if I apply from Philippines?” And finally, “how long does it take to process my Schengen visa in Philippines?

Do Philippines citizens need a visa to enter the Schengen area?

• Yes! Because the Philippines does not have visa-free access to the Schengen area, Filipino nationals will need a visa in order to enter each of the 26 Schengen Member States. 
• If you want to visit more than one Schengen state, you should apply for a Schengen visa. If you receive one, you will be able to enter all the countries in the Schengen area. A Schengen visa has this main advantage over a national visa, which can be obtained from individual Schengen countries, and only provides access to one country. 
• For example, if you get a Schengen visa from France, you will be able to travel to France as well as all the other Schengen states. In contrast, if you receive a national visa from France, you will only be allowed to enter France; not any of the other Schengen countries. 

Schengen visa requirements for Philippines citizens and residents

• All Schengen visa applicants, regardless of where they are applying to or from, must submit the same basic required documents and materials. In addition, applicants must also submit a number of supplemental documents/materials depending on the type of visa you apply for.  
• Schengen visa applicants to the Philippines must submit the following basic required documents:
  • Valid passport (with 2 available pages for Schengen visa).
  • Passport photos (2).
  • Schengen visa application from Philippines (printed out, signed). 
  • Schengen visa fee (€80 EUR).
  • Proof of travel medical insurance.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Proof of finances. 
  • Biometric information (fingerprints and photos). (For more information on the biometric requirement, click here).
• Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. (For a complete list of basic required documents and supplemental materials, click here).

Where do I apply for a Schengen visa from Philippines?

• Applicants for Schengen visas from the Philippines will apply through the embassy, consulate, or visa application center of the Schengen country they are applying to. 
• For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa for Germany, you will apply at the visa application center, which has offices in the cities of Manilla and Cebu.  
• With few exceptions, all applicants must submit their application in person. Most countries require applicants to make a visa appointment (in most cases, this can be scheduled online via the embassy website of the country you are applying to).  
• Your visa appointment is where you will hand in a paper copy of your application. In most cases, this is when you will also submit your biometric information, sit for a short interview, and pay your Schengen visa fee. 
• The Schengen country you choose to apply for a Schengen visa through is the country where you intend to spend the most time on your trip. For example, if you plan on visiting multiple countries in the Schengen area, but you plan on spending the majority of your time in Germany, you will apply for a Schengen visa from Germany. 
• If you are spending equal amounts of time in multiple Schengen countries, you will apply through the first country you enter upon arriving in the Schengen area. For example, if you intend to spend equal amounts of time in Germany and France, but you first enter the Schengen area through France, you will apply for a French Schengen visa. 

Where do I access the Schengen visa application from Philippines?

• Schengen visa applicants to and from all countries can download the universal Schengen visa application online, here.
• Depending on what country you are applying to, you can download, fill out, sign, and submit the above form at your visa appointment, along with your basic required documents and supplemental materials. 
• However, different countries have different rules for how to access your schengen visa application philippines. For example, if you are applying from the Philippines for a Schengen visa to Germany, you will have to apply through Germany’s online application portal. Fill out, print out, and sign the application form, and bring it with you to your visa appointment at your visa-service provider. 
• To find out the best way to apply for your Schengen visa, contact the embassy of the Schengen country you seek to enter (information on how to access Schengen visa application forms is usually available via a country’s respective embassy website page). 

What is the cost of Schengen visa if I apply from Philippines?

• The standard cost of a Schengen visa is €80 EUR for most applicants. 
• Children under 12, holders of diplomatic passports, and other categories of applicants may be exempt. 
• The cost of Schengen visa is the same wherever you are applying from, wherever you are applying to. 
• For example, it costs the same to apply for a Schengen visa to France from the Philippines as it does to apply for a Schengen visa to France from Yemen. Similarly, a Schengen visa to France is the same price as a Schengen visa to Spain. Click here for more information on Schengen visa fees.

How long does it take to process my Schengen visa in Philippines?

• Schengen visa applications generally take 15-30 days to be processed. However, depending on the nature of your application, it can take up to 60 days. 
• Mindful of the above processing times, you should submit your visa application no earlier than 6 months before your intended day of departure, and at least days before embarking on your trip. 

How long can I stay in the Schengen area with a Schengen visa from Philippines?

• If you receive a Schengen visa from the Philippines, you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. 

What type of Schengen visa from the Philippines should I apply for?

• There are multiple different types of Schengen visas. The type you apply for depends on your purpose for travelling to the Schengen area. 
• The type of visa you select will determine the supplemental documents you need to provide.   
• Medical Schengen visas, Tourist Schengen visas, and Business Schengen visas, are just three of several Schengen visa types. For a full list of Schengen visa types, click here. 

How many times can I enter and exit the Schengen area with a Schengen visa obtained from the Philippines?

• The number of times you can enter and exit the Schengen area with your visa depends on the number of entries you have. 
• Schengen visas are available in single entry, double entry, and multiple entry categories. 
• If you plan on entering, exiting, and re-entering the Schengen area on your Schengen visa, you should apply for either a double or multiple entry. If you don’t plan on exiting the area (and returning) at all during your visa validity period, you should apply for a single entry. For more information on Schengen visa entry categories, click here.