Schengen visa for citizens of Libya in 2023

The list of visa-free countries for Libya passport holders includes Algeria, Malaysia, Dominica, and 34 additional states across Africa, Asia, and the Northern Hemisphere. The list does not, however, include any European countries. The complete absence of visa-free countries for Libya passport holders in Europe means that would-be Libyan travelers to the continent require visas in order to enter any of the 26-Schengen countries there, including Italy, France and Germany. Therefore, Libyans looking to travel to Europe should consider applying for the Schengen visa for citizens of Libya. If you apply for and receive a Schengen visa, you will be able to spend up to 90 days in the entire Schengen area. Read on for detailed instructions on how to apply for a Schengen visa, how to submit your visa application, and the Schengen visa requirements for Libyan citizens in 2021. 

Important:

• Applying for a Schengen visa from inside Libya today is complicated by the fact that some European countries have closed their embassies and consulates in the capital and other major cities due unrest in the country. Therefore, depending on what Schengen country you are applying to, you may have to travel outside of Libya in order to apply for a Schengen visa. 

How to get a Schengen visa as a citizen of Libya in 2023

• Applicants for Schengen visas apply through the Schengen country they will be spending the majority of their time in during their trip. For example, if you are planning to travel to Italy and France, and you will be spending the majority of your visit in France, you should apply for a French Schengen visa. Alternatively, if you will be spending an equal amount of time in both Italy and France, you should apply for a Schengen visa from the country that represents your first entry into the Schengen area (for example, if you entered the Schengen area via Italy, you would apply for a Schengen visa from Italy).  
• Schengen visa applicants from Libya traditionally applied for visas through the Schengen country of their choosing, which historically operated various diplomatic missions throughout Libya. Some Schengen countries maintain a consular presence in the country today, despite the unrest. For example, Italy still has an embassy in Tripoli, and continues to process Italian Schengen visas via its visa application centers in the capital and Tobruk. Because of this, Libyans today can continue to apply for Italian Schengen visas from within Libya. 
• However, if a Libyan requires a Schengen visa from a country that no longer maintains a consular presence in Libya, he or she may be forced to travel outside of the country in order to apply for a Schengen visa from that country. 
• Once you find the consulate/embassy of the Schengen country that is processing Libyan Schengen visas outside Libya, you should travel to that country to begin your application process. 
• For example, if you are a Libyan who wants to apply for a French Schengen visa, you must apply through a French embassy or consulate located in another country that is processing Schengen visas for Libyans. At the moment, Libyans seeking French Schengen visas should apply via the French Consulate in either Cairo, Egypt or Tunis, Tunisia.         
• Therefore, to avoid the difficulty and expense of applying from outside the country, Libyans should, whenever possible, try to apply for a Schengen visa from a Schengen country that has a diplomatic mission in Libya.  
• For example, because the Italian embassy in Tripoli continues to process Schengen visas for Italy, an applicant for an Italian Schengen visa from Libya can apply from within Libya, in contrast to someone seeking a French Schengen visa from Libya (who would have to travel outside of Libya and apply through another country). Therefore, if you are a Libyan currently in Libya, it would be much easy for you to apply for an Italian Schengen visa than a French Schengen visa. 

How to apply for a Schengen visa for Libyan citizens

• Once you have determined the country, visa type, and visa category you are applying for, you can follow the below steps to get a Schengen visa as a citizen of Libya:
  • 1. Determine where to apply 
    • As previously mentioned, depending on what Schengen country you are applying to, you may have to travel outside of Libya in order to apply. 
    • Therefore, as a Libyan, your first step toward applying for a Schengen visa is to find out whether the Schengen country you seek entry to has an embassy or consulate in Libya (i.e. whether you can apply for a Schengen visa from within Libya). 
  • 2. Make visa appointment 
    • The majority of Schengen visa applicants need to attend an in-person appointment at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center they are applying through. 
    • At this appointment, they will likely submit their complete Schengen visa application, sit for a short interview, have their biometric information collected (if they haven’t submitted it already), and pay their visa fee (if they haven’t already paid it online). 
    • Because most countries require applicants to schedule appointments in order to do all of this, your second step in applying for a Schengen visa should be to contact the embassy/consulate of the country you are applying to in order to find out if you need to make an appointment to apply for a Schengen visa, and if so, schedule one. 
    • When you contact the embassy/consulate of your Schengen country, you can also find out other essential information, such as what you should bring to your visa appointment, and how to proceed with your application. 
    • Remember that you should apply for your Schengen visa no earlier than six months before your intended trip, and no later than three weeks before. Keep this timeline in mind when it comes to scheduling your Schengen visa appointment and proceeding with the next step….
  • 3. Gather your required documents 
    • Make sure that you have all of your required documents and supplemental materials (see below) before you attend your Schengen visa appointment. Gathering all of these can take a while, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get everything together. 
    • For example, if you have a passport, confirm that it is valid and has space for a Schengen visa. If it’s no longer valid, you will have to renew it in time for your Schengen visa appointment. 
    • Similarly, depending on what kind of Schengen visa you are applying for, you may need to supply a letter from a friend, relative, or business entity inviting you to the Schengen area. Make sure you obtain this letter in time to hand it in with the rest of your application.  
  • 4. Fill out your Schengen visa application 
    • How to submit your visa application will depend on where you are applying; different countries have different methods. 
    • The majority of Schengen countries will accept a printed out, completed, and signed universal form, available here.
    • Alternatively, some countries prefer you to access their country-specific online visa portal. France, for example, requires applicants to create an account and fill out an online form here.
    • However, even if you are applying online, you will likely have to print out a copy of whatever you submit electronically, in order to submit it in person at your Schengen visa appointment. 
  • 5. Attend your Schengen visa appointment 
    • Once you have gathered all your required and supplemental materials and filled out your application form, you will attend your Schengen visa appointment and submit your complete application.  
    • If you haven’t already paid your visa fee, this is where you will pay it. 
    • If you haven’t already submitted your biometric information on a recent Schengen visa application, you will submit them now. 
    • As a final step at your appointment, you will likely be asked to submit to a short interview, where you will be asked questions about your upcoming trip. 
  • 6. Receive your decision 
    • After you attend your appointment, the final step is to await a decision on your application.  
    • While the processing time for Schengen visas varies, it generally takes between two weeks and one month to receive a decision. 
    • If your application is accepted, congratulations! You will be contacted about picking up your Libyan passport (containing your new Schengen visa for Libyan citizens).
    • If you are rejected, you have the right to appeal. For more information about contesting a refused Schengen visa, click here.

Schengen visa requirements for Libyan citizens

• All Schengen visa applicants, including those from Libya, must submit the following basic required documents and materials, which include:
  • Passport 
  • Passport photos (two)
  • Basic Schengen visa application
  • Proof of travel medical insurance
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Proof of subsidence 
• Libyan applicants must also pay the basic Schengen visa fee of €80 EUR.
• In addition to the above, applicants will submit a number of supplemental documents that are dependent on the type of visa they are pursuing. For example, applicants who are applying for a Schengen Medical visa will submit a doctor’s report; applicants for Schengen Business visas will need to present information about their business. 
• Libyan candidates will also have to submit their biometric information (fingerprints and photos) at their Schengen visa appointment, unless they are exempt or have previously submitted them. 

Schengen visa fees for Libyans

• The cost to apply for a Schengen visa is €80 EUR for the majority of applicants
• If you are a student, a diplomatic passport holder, or in another special category, you may be exempt from paying, or subject to reduced Schengen visa for Libyan citizens fees
• For complete information on Schengen visa fees, click here.