HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA WITH A PHILIPPINES PASSPORT 2022

[SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION GUIDE: ITALIAN VISA FOR FILIPINOS]

For most, Europe is an absolute bucket list destination. With its rich history, charming towns, impressive architecture, varying landscapes, and ease of transport – it’s a destination that offers so much. No wonder it’s a dream for many!

For Philippine passport holders like me, it can be a bit of work to turn this dream into reality.

Last March 2022, I finally decided to apply for a Schengen visa. I planned to spend most of my days in Italy so I applied for an Italian visa with PIASI VIA Center. It took a lot of effort to DIY my visa application, but definitely doable and not to mention absolutely worth it!

I was a first-time applicant with no travel experience outside of Asia. So I was over the moon when I received my visa in just 4 days! Honesty and preparation really did it for me.

If you’re planning to apply for a Schengen visa but have no idea where to start, you came to the right place. I’m just as excited to share with you my application experience and tips. Below is my 5-step guide on how a Filipino citizen can apply for a Schengen visa. Let’s jump right to it!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional travel agent and in no way affiliated with Schengen visa processing agencies. What I’ll share are guidelines and tips that worked for me. Applying for a visa is on a case-to-case basis, so nothing will ever guarantee your approval. My best piece of advice? Honesty is the best policy, always.

About Schengen Visa

Having a Schengen visa lets you travel to 26 European countries with no border control, making it the largest free travel area in the world. It’s one of the most sought visas among Philippines passport holders.

A Schengen visa holder can travel to the following 26 European countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Polan, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

5-Step Application Process

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF VISA

There are different types of Schengen visas, varying according to purpose (tourist, visit, etc.) and number of entries (single, multiple, etc.).

Generally, short-stay visas are those issued by visa service providers – embassies, consulates, and appointed external agencies. It allows the holder to stay or travel freely within the Schengen territory for less than 90 days over a 180-day period.

This guide is for those applying for a tourist and visit visa, both under the category of short-stay visas.

Tourist VS Visit

A tourist visa is for tourism or holiday purposes, while a visit visa allows you to visit family or friends living in the Schengen territory.

The basic requirements needed for both tourist and visit visas are more or less the same – cover letter, proof of rootedness, accommodation information, etc. So if you’re applying for either type, make sure to read on!

Single VS Multiple

Single-entry means you can enter the Schengen territory only once. If you leave, your visa will no longer be valid even if the validity period is not yet over. In short, any exit is final.

A multiple-entry visa allows the holder to enter and leave as many times as they want, within the validity period given.

Note that I mentioned Schengen “territory” and not “country”. It’s a common misconception that with a single-entry visa, you can only enter one country once and cannot go back after.

The Schengen area has no internal borders so having a single-entry means you are free to leave and re-enter a country as long as it’s within the territory.

For first-time applicants, it’s ideal to apply for a single-entry visa if you have no intention of going outside the territory and traveling back. In my case, I applied for a single-entry visa but I was luckily approved for a multiple-entry the first time.

STEP 2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT EMBASSY TO SUBMIT A VISA APPLICATION

Applicants should choose the embassy if:

1. The country is the sole country of destination
2. In case your trip includes multiple Schengen countries, choose the main destination in terms of length or purpose of stay
3. In case no main destination can be determined, choose the country where you’ll enter the Schengen territory

Your choice of embassy should reflect on the documents that you submitted.

For example, I applied at the Italian embassy because I planned to spend most of my travel days in Italy. To prove this, I submitted documents of my Airbnb reservations in Milan, Florence, and Rome.

STEP 3: SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE

Official agencies handling the Schengen visa processing in the Philippines:

My experience was with VIA Center. I’ll share the step-by-step process of scheduling an appointment with them. As for the rest, I included links below that will direct you to the appointment page for the specific country.

Applying with VIA Center: Italy

Italy visa application with VIA Center

VIA Center contact: 02.85720235 / 02.85720238 / 09998896021 / 09175763103

With VIA Center, you can only book an appointment by calling their lines and speaking with a representative. I called their hotlines and the officer asked for the following details, so make sure to keep them handy:

• Full name
• Contact: number and email
• Passport details: passport #, birthday, date of issue, and validity date
• Countries/cities you’ll visit
• Travel dates
• [Group Appointment] Travel companion/s – if applicable, be ready with their contact and passport details as well
• Your preferred date for visa application

After this, I received an email from VIA Center that contains the following:

• Appointment confirmation with reference number
• List of required documents to submit
• Schengen application form – print the form and fill it out
• Two pdf files of family/friends visit visa checklist – even though you’re applying for a tourist visa, make sure to print these two files and submit them during your appointment, this will serve as the consulate’s checklist for the documents you submitted.

Applying with BLS International: Spain

For Spain visa applicants, you may directly book an appointment thru the BLS International website. All applicants are required to book an appointment online prior to application submission. No walk-ins are allowed.

The application form and requirements checklist is downloadable here. It is recommended to submit your applications with BLS at least 2 months before your travel dates.

Spain Visa Application Centre Contact: +632-8271-2196

Applying with VFS Global

VFS Global’s website is straightforward and provides step-by-step info on how to apply for a certain country. To start your application, go to VFS Global – select which country you’re applying from and the country of destination. Or just click the link for the respective country below:

On the new web page, you should be able to do the following:

1. Register for an online account (linked to the country of your choice) where you will be guided through the whole process by on-screen explanations
2. Log in to your VFS account, and click ‘Start New Booking’
3. Fill out the details:
   • Application Details: ‘Manila Center’, ‘Short Stay’, ‘Tourist/Visit’
   • Your Details
   • Book Appointment: enter your preferred slot
   • Services: pick out an additional service you prefer
   • Review and Pay

When your payment is confirmed, you’ll receive an Appointment Confirmation email along with the letter of your appointment, which you need to print and bring with you on your application date.

If you are part of a family or group, you’ll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group. 

Note: Make sure that at this point, you have at least started drafting a rough itinerary and preparing your documents. Make sure that you have enough time to complete your requirements until your application date.

STEP 4: PREPARE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

I listed below everything that I submitted to the embassy. It may sound overwhelming for first-time applicants so I wrote a separate guide explaining each item off the list. Check out my comprehensive Schengen visa requirements guide.

1. Cover letter
2. Passport
3. Accomplished Schengen visa application form with photo (glossy picture)
4. Proof of accommodation:
   • If Invited by friends or relatives:
     • Invitation letter
     • Copy of proof of identity
     • Proof of relationship
   • If the applicant will stay in a hotel
     • Hotel booking reservations
5. Photocopy of current and previous passports – with visa and stamps
6. Proof of occupation
   • Certificate of employment (COE)
   • Leave permission from the employer, also called as the “no objection letter”
   • ITR (BIR 2316)
7. Proof of economic means
   • Payslips from the last 6 months
   • Bank statements from the last 6 months
   • Bank certificate within the month of your scheduled appointment
   • Other proof of investments, assets, etc.
   • Credited card statements from the past 6 months
   • If applicable: proof of prepaid accommodations, transports, flights, etc.
8. Travel health insurance (and proof of covid certification)
9. PSA documents
10. Flight reservations/booking
11. Detailed Itinerary

STEP 5: SUBMIT DOCUMENTS AND BIOMETRICS

Once you get to the visa application center, you will be queued. When it’s already your turn, the officer will review all your documents and assess if it’s complete, as instructed by the embassy.

Once cleared, you will proceed to the biometrics. Lastly, you’ll pay the visa processing fee at the cashier, where a receipt and a tracking number will be given.

VIA Center

• Makati: PIASI VIA Center, 3F Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave Ext. Brgy. Magallanes, Makati City, Metro Manila

• Cebu: Unit 1004-B 10F, Keppel Center Samar Loop corner Cardinal Rosales Ave., Cebu Business Park, Cebu City

BLS International

• Spain Visa Application Centre, Unit 1903, 19th Floor, Philippine AXA Life Center, 1286 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Contact: +632-8271-2196

Greece Embassy

• Unit 701 SEDCCO I Building, Rada 120 , Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Postal Code 1229

VFS Global

• Makati: VFS Global Visa Application Center Makati, 2305, Ecoplaza Building, Mezzanine Floor, Don Chino Roces Ave, Ext, Makati City, Metro Manila

• Cebu:  VFS Global Visa Application Center Cebu, 5F Unit 503, Kepwealth Center Samar Loop, cor Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu City

Tips

• Be at the visa center at least 30 minutes before your appointment as they will let you in 15 minutes prior.
• Bring cash – it’s the only mode of payment accepted at VIA Center.
• It’s ideal that you wear a plain light top with a collar, in case you’ll have your photo taken.
• Organize your documents; keep them in order. Staple the documents with multiple pages, use paper clips when organizing by sections, and bullet clips for bigger sections.
• Arrange your documents in order as instructed by the embassy. This is included in the email when you scheduled an appointment.

Congratulations! You’re all done with your application and the only thing you can do up at this point is to wait for your passport to be delivered with that sweet Schengen visa sticker!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take for the visa to be processed?

My friend and I applied together and we received our passport with the stamped visa just 4 days after we submitted our requirements. After a month, my sister who was unemployed at the time, received hers 2 weeks after her application.

On average, the regular processing time is about 2-4 weeks.

2. How soon can I apply for the visa?

You can already apply for your Schengen visa as early as 6 months from your intended travel date. Note that a month before your travel date is already cutting it too close!

3. What did you include in your cover letter?

I wrote a separate blog post explaining how to write an effective cover letter.

4. How much did you spend on the visa application?

Total: Php 10,326

5. Should I pay for a plane ticket to guarantee my approval?

No.

As I said, nothing will ever guarantee your approval because it’s on a case-to-case basis.

In my case, I already bought a ticket. I do not advise this though because it can be risky – you can do this only if the flight has flexible refundable terms, otherwise, I suggest you go for dummy flight bookings/reservations. Taking a screenshot of your desired flight also worked for some.

6. Should I book my accommodations already?

As required by the embassy, yes. Booking for accommodations also supports your submitted itinerary.

Luckily, booking accommodations have less financial commitments. There are a lot of flexible booking options out there where you won’t need to enter your card details yet or you can fully refund your money just in case. The most common platforms are Agoda, Booking.com, and Airbnb.

7. How much money should I have in my bank account?

There’s no specific answer to this, but a safe amount would be at least 6-digits worth, not including airfare. Make sure that the amount reflects on your ADB (average daily balance).

Your spending allowance in Europe can reach up to Php7,000 to 10,000 per day including accommodation, so multiply this by the number of your travel days. Make sure you still have a ‘comfortable’ amount of money after your Eurotrip, as the officers will most likely factor that in. Blowing up all your money for the trip can be seen as a red flag.

If you have someone to sponsor your trip, the financial burden will shift to your sponsor so he/she will need to show financial capacity documentation and prepare a notarized Affidavit of Support (AOS).

8. Do I need to travel to other countries first?

Before applying for a Schengen tourist visa, it’s important to establish that you are a regular traveler first. The easiest way to do this is by traveling to the neighboring Asian countries because they don’t require visas and they’re relatively affordable destinations.

Is it possible to be approved even though it’s your first time traveling out of the country? Yes, it’s possible. Is it possible to be rejected even though you’ve already traveled to several countries? Yes, anything is possible.

Again, nothing guarantees anything. The approval of your visa depends on a lot of factors, but it pays off to build on the ones that can strengthen your application. Having a track record of traveling to different countries and not overstaying is definitely an advantage.

9. How long is the validity of the Schengen visa?

It depends on what your travel itinerary looks like. So make sure to create an itinerary that you’ll actually follow.

If you have a strong application, they can give you more than what you applied for. In my cover letter, I asked for a validity period of 15 days which is just enough to cover my trip. But they gave me 30 days validity instead.

10. How do I create a travel itinerary?

Having a detailed itinerary shows that your travel days are organized and well-planned. It also implies that you’re more likely to stick through it. If you’re applying for a tourist visa, you should already have cities you’d like to visit in mind by now.

I wrote a creating-an-itinerary guide and template that you can use. Refer to item #11 on that blog post.

11. I am applying with my family (group applications). Should we prepare a separate set of documents for each member?

Yes. Schengen visa applications are assessed and treated individually.

For example, If you all have the same itinerary and accommodation bookings, make sure that each family member gets their own copies of the booking.

12. If my visa is approved – is it okay to change my itinerary and not follow the submitted one?

There are no internal borders within the Schengen territory so it’s technically doable. However, it’s advisable that you at least enter or leave the territory through the country that processed and approved your visa application, with respect to the embassy.

13. What are the most common reasons for visa refusals?

Weak rootedness – you are unemployed/newly resigned, there are no documents from your employers that you are on official leave and that you’ll be back working with them after your vacation leave / you have no business, etc.

Insufficient funds – the money you have doesn’t match how much you can potentially spend based on your detailed itinerary and activities, no track record of good financial standing, low average daily balance (ADB), etc.

Unsupported purpose of travel – your itinerary is not realistic, you don’t have accommodation bookings and no proof of tourism activities.

Honesty is the best policy.