Schengen Visa from Canada – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Europe Visa

Have you ever imagined about traveling to Europe? There are 26 countries that form part of the Schengen area just waiting to be explored. Head to France for delicious food and a little romance or Greece for hundreds of stunning islands to kick back on. If it’s adventure you’re looking for, Iceland is full of exciting things to see and do or head to the hills in Switzerland to explore some of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll ever see. Wherever you go, Europe has it all! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Schengen visa from Canada, Schengen visa appointment booking, processing time at the Schengen visa application center, flight itinerary for a Schengen visa, hotel bookings for a Schengen visa, Schengen travel insurance for a visa application, and Schengen visa application process from the embassies in Canada.

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About Schengen Visas

In 2018, there were 30,140 Schengen visa applications received by embassies and consulates across Canada. 1,416 of these were rejected.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Canada         

If you are a Canadian citizen and you are planning on going to any of the countries that form part of the Schengen area for no more than 90 days, you do NOT need a visa. However, if you are a non-Canadian citizen by birth, but you legally reside in Canada, you DO need to apply for a visa. The European Commission’s website has a list of all nationals who require a Schengen visa.

You will apply for your Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you are planning to visit. However, please be aware of the following regulations:

1. If you plan to visit only 1 Schengen country – you must apply at that country’s embassy or consulate in Canada
2. If you plan to visit more than 1 Schengen country – you must apply at the embassy or consulate of the country where you will spend the most time.
3. If you plan to visit more than 1 Schengen country and spend the same amount of time in each – you must apply at the embassy or consulate of the country you will enter first.
4. If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for over 90 days – you must apply for a residence permit (Long-stay visa), not a Schengen visa. For more information, refer to the respective embassy or consulate’s website

Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa in Canada

A list of embassies and consulate’s can be found on the Government of Canada’s website. The area you live will determine which office you use to submit your application. All you need to do is choose the country you are going to and search for the embassy you need to contact. There are embassies of different European countries located in Ottawa, Moncton, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

1. Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland are represented in Ottawa
2. France is represented in Moncton and Quebec City
3. Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland are represented in Montreal
4. Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland are represented in Toronto
5. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland are represented in Vancouver
6. Iceland is represented in Winnipeg
7. Luxembourg is represented in Washington DC

When you apply for a Schengen visa, each embassy deals with applications from within its jurisdiction, so you should check first before you start to apply. You have to make sure you apply at the right embassy or consulate in Canada.

Austria

Austrian Embassy
445 Wilbrod Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6M7. Tel: +1 613 789 1444

Belgium

Belgium Embassy
360 Albert Street, 8th floor, suite 820, ON – K1R 7X7 Ottawa. Tel: +1 613 236 72 67
Email: ottawa@diplobel.fed.be

Consulate General
1000, rue Sherbrooke Ouest – Suite 1400, H3A 3G4 Montreal, QC. Tel: +1 514 849 73 94~
Email:  montreal.visa@diplobel.fed.be

Czech Republic

Czech Republic Embassy
251 Cooper Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0G2. Tel: 001 – 613 562 3875
Email: ottacons@gmail.com

2 Bloor Street West, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON, M4W 3E2. Tel: (+1) 416 972 1476
Email: toronto@embassy.mzv.cz

Hungary

Slovakia

Slovenia

Types of Schengen Visas Offered

There are different types of visas you can apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to the Schengen area:

1. Schengen visa type A: Airport Transit visa – if you are transiting through the international zone of an airport for a connecting flight
2. Schengen visa type C: Short-stay visa – for stays up to 90 days for tourism, business, or visiting family/friends. This visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries
3. National visa type D: Long-stay visa – for stays exceeding 90 days for employment, business, study, research, family unification, residence etc. This visa is issued for one or multiple entries

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa from Canada

Schengen visa applications could be processed in as little as 5 days, but it could take as many as 25 days or longer. This depends on the type of visa you are applying for and your nationality. It is very important to submit your application with plenty of time to spare to allow enough time for it to be processed. As a general rule, you should aim to submit your application at least 15 days before your planned departure date. You may apply up to 90 days ahead.

There are a few steps to follow and if you want to make the process as easy as possible, follow them in order:

Step 1: Complete your application form

You will find the Schengen visa application form on the website of the embassy or consulate you are dealing with. It will be available to download if you prefer, but you should be able to complete the form online.

Step 2: Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below. Depending on the visa office you are using, you will either:

1. Use their online booking system to book a day and time which is convenient for you
2. Contact them by phone or email to make your appointment

Some embassies may have outsourced the handling of visa applications to third-party companies such as VFS Global in Canada, so you will make your appointment directly with them.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

It is important to get this step right. If you submit an application without the required documents, your visa application will be rejected. Check the embassy’s website for all the information before you start your application. You should also submit originals as well as photocopies, so don’t forget to do that too.

Documents include:

1. Passport or travel document valid for 3 months after the date you return to Canada. It should have been issued within the previous 10 years and it should have 2 blank pages for the visa to be attached
2. Valid permanent resident card or valid multiple entry visa for Canada. It should be valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the territory of the Schengen Member States
3. Visa application form filled out completely and signed
4. Passport photo less than 3 months old and glued on the application form. Check out full guidelines for providing photographs for your visa application
5. A cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit to Europe
6. Round trip flight/travel reservation
7. Schengen Travel Health Insurance to cover medical emergencies and repatriation for a minimum of €30,000
8. Proof of accommodation in Europe. This can be either a hotel booking or rental agreement, or an invitation letter from your European host
9. Proof of financial subsistence – a recent bank statement to cover the last 3 months that shows funds of at least 70 CAD/€45 per person per day or traveler’s checks
10. Employment contract
11. Leave permission from your employer
12. Income Tax Return (ITR)
13. A copy of your business license and company bank statement for the latest 6 months
14. Reference letter from Canadian educational institution (school/college/university) stating that you are in good standing, your major and the expected date of graduation
15. Pension statement for the past 6 months
16. Birth/marriage certificate
17. Spouse’s ID/Passport
18. Signed travel consent from both parents (for minors)
19. Prepaid Xpresspost envelope (Canada Post only), Regional Standard to Ontario or National Standard to all other provinces (shipment to a Canadian address only!)

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment, get to the embassy early. If you are late you might have to make a new appointment. Don’t forget any of your documents and dress smartly if you want to make a good impression.

The visa officer will examine your application and if they need any further information from you they may ask you questions like:

1. Is this your first time traveling to the Schengen area?
2. What do you do in Canada?
3. Have you obtained permission from your employer to travel between these dates?
4. How much do you earn?
5. Are you traveling with anyone else?

The visa officer is only trying to ascertain all the facts for a fair decision to be made, so answer any questions honestly and politely.

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the fee for your visa. There are several payment options available, including cash and debit/credit card, but you should check with the respective embassy or consulate. Please note, if your application is rejected this fee will NOT be refunded to you.

If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will have to provide biometric data which is a photograph and a scan of your fingerprints. If you have previously provided this data, it can be reused as long as your new application is within a 5 year period.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once your visa application has been processed, the embassy will contact you and you can either:

1. Return to their office to collect your passport
2. Have your passport mailed to your home address, if the embassy provides mailing options

If your visa has been approved, you will find it inside your passport. However, if it has been rejected it would have been for a specific reason. You usually have the right to appeal a rejected application and you can contact the embassy about how to do this.

Common rejection reasons include:

1. You have not provided all the required documents – different visas have different requirements, so you should check what is required before you submit your application
2. You applied at the wrong embassy – as mentioned above, the Schengen countries are represented by different embassies across Canada and you should apply at the one that has jurisdiction over the area where you live. The embassy website will have this information
3. You did not provide an invitation letter – if you are being invited to stay in one of the Schengen countries by a friend or family member or an organization, you must provide an invitation letter along with your host’s ID/passport
4. You don’t have sufficient funds – you must be able to afford your trip and you must provide evidence, such as bank statements, must prove that you can

Conclusion

To apply for a Schengen visa for Europe from Canada, follow these simple steps:

1. Complete your application online or download it
2. Make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Then, when you receive your visa, your dreams of traveling to Europe will become a reality!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.