SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FILIPINOS – ITALY VISA

[COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVERYTHING I SUBMITTED FOR MY SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION]

Schengen Visa List of Requirements

Now that you already know the Schengen visa application process for Filipino citizens, let’s now deep dive into the application requirements. Below is everything that I submitted to the embassy, in the same order:

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.

1. Cover letter

The cover letter is a deal breaker in your application.

This is not a part of the required documents by the embassy but it’s very important that you prepare one. Your letter must include all the important details about your trip. It also serves as a summary of your entire application.

Schengen visa application doesn’t come with interviews, so you have to rely only on your submitted documents to show why you’re eligible for a visa. A cover letter is your chance to tell more about the purpose of your travel or explain why you can’t submit a required document.

Try to wear the consul hat and anticipate any doubts or questions they might have. Then give straight-to-the-point explanations.

Think of what they would want to see. Having sufficient financial means is important to them, so it’s a good idea to include how much money in all you have in your bank. They would know at a glance that you have the money to travel. Then they’ll just refer to your bank statements to confirm it.

Your cover letter must have a nice flow to it. With everything I have to share, I wrote a separate blog post on how to write an effective cover letter. It has a template that you can follow and tips you can apply!

2. Passport

Your passport should not be expiring 6 months prior to your travel dates.

Don’t forget to bring your old and current passports because you’ll be asked to submit both.

3. Accomplished Schengen Visa Application Form with Photo

When you schedule an appointment with the embassy, they will email you the official Schengen form that you should print and fill out.

Don’t just download random Schengen application forms from the internet. Some are already outdated and invalid. When I was at VIA Center (Italian visa center), some people had to go out and print the correct form because what they printed was an outdated copy form from the internet.

Print your Schengen application form and other embassy-provided forms/documents on A4 paper.

They are strict with the photo specs so keep in mind the following: the photo must be with a collar, the hair should not in any way cover the collar and the ears, and don’t show your teeth.

4. Paid Accommodations

Airbnb lets you download proof of paid reservations with the names of your companions. It’s a convincing document because it’ll prove that you and your companion/s will actually travel together. The downside is your payment is fully refundable only within 48 hours of booking. Then it’s partially refundable 2 weeks before your travel dates.

With Agoda or Booking.com, payment terms are more flexible. You can book a hotel with no pre-payment and cancel the booking up to a few days before your arrival without a cancellation charge.

Here’s a screenshot of the Airbnb document with the names of the guests:

5. Photocopies of Passport (Old and Current)

Make sure to have photocopies of relevant pages on your old and current passports.  Relevant pages include the following: the first page (bio page), the last page, and all pages with visas and stamps.

6. Proof of Employment

• Certificate of employment
• No objection letter
• BIR 2316: Certificate of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld of the last 3 years
• Photocopy of company ID with signature, SSS no., and TIN no.

Here’s a No Objection letter template that you can use:

7. Proof of Economic Means

• Pay slips from the last 6 months
• Bank certificates and bank statements from the last 6 months.
  • Bank statements show your historical transaction records – the ins and outs of your money. With this, the embassy would have an idea of how much money is involved in your “normal bank flow”. Having regular transactions is a good thing because it means that you’re actively using your account. It’s much more convenient if you have online banking accounts. You can just easily log in and download your bank statements from the bank website. For the month/s that are not yet updated, you can request the bank to print it for you. This can cost Php50 per page.
  • Bank certificates show how long you’ve had your account and how much your ADB (average daily balance) is. It’s to assess how liquid you are. Having a good ADB is more important than having a high ending balance because ADB can’t be manipulated. It reflects how much money you normally have in your account. So it’s never a good idea to borrow money just for the sake of “show money”. Unlike the bank statements that you can easily download, you are required to go to the bank and request a bank certificate. They’ll give you an official document with a seal. This usually costs Php250.

Here’s how you can download your bank statements from BPI:

1. On the left side of the page, click the ‘Other Services’ Tab
2. Click ‘My Statements’ under MY ACCOUNT
3. Select your BPI account
4. Select a statement date range
5. Download

• Credit card statements from the last 6 months

Your credit card records reflect your financial life. It’s ideal to have regular transactions and pay your balances timely. It’s a good indicator that you’re reliable, responsible, and financially capable. Good records can signify that your financial situation is right on track. A bad record can mean you’re risky.

Having a credit card also means that you have additional means to pay, other than cash.

If applicable, you may also include the following:

• For sponsored applicants – If you have someone to sponsor your trip, the financial burden will shift to your sponsor. They need to show bank statements for the last 6 months, a bank certificate, properties, and a notarized Affidavit of Support (AOS). Sponsors can be your parents, relatives, foreign boyfriend, the family of your foreign boyfriend, etc.
• For freelancers – Paypal or income history, proof of online work, employment contract, Upwork hours (screenshots)
• For business owners – Copy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI, Article of Incorporation and General Information Sheet, Mayor’s permit, ITR, BIR permits and licenses, BIR Certificate of registration, Company’s Financial Statements

8. Travel Health Insurance

I bought the “Travelsafe Insurance Plan” from Pacific Cross with at least 30,000 euros in coverage and a Covid 19 add-on, as required by the embassy.

Take note that the Italian embassy requires additional 15 days of coverage on top of your travel dates. For example, if my travel dates were June 1 to June 15, my insurance should be June 1 to June 30.

I printed the 2-paged OCC or Travel Insurance Official Confirmation of Coverage. It has my information and a summary of the benefits.

Here’s the proposed list of Schengen insurance companies in the Philippines:

1. Malayan Incurance Company, Inc.
2. Assist-Card
3. Standard Insurance Co
4. Starr International Insurance Philippines
5. Pioneer Insurance and Surety Company
6. Mpioneer
7. Oriental Assurance Corporation
8. Pacific Cross Insurance, Inc.
9. MAPFRE Insular Insurance Corporation

9. PSA Documents/ Proof of Identity

• Original and photocopy of PSA-issued birth certificate and photocopy of valid ID (driver’s license)
• Photocopy of my other IDs – club membership, condominium ownership ID, etc.

10. Flight Booking

I pre-purchased my flight with Singapore Airlines.

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.

11. Detailed Itinerary

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

Here’s an itinerary template that you can use:

My 5 tips for creating an itinerary:

1. Your approved visa validity period will depend on your travel itinerary. Make sure to create one that you’ll actually follow. Don’t make a dummy itinerary just for the sake of it.
2. Set a realistic itinerary. For example, if you are in Milan on Day 1, it’s unbelievable that you’ll be in Paris on Day 2 and Amsterdam on Day 3. It’s possible but highly unlikely. It looks like a made-up itinerary. Being unprepared for your tourist activities can be a red flag. Do your research and make sure that your trip is doable within a reasonable timeframe.
3. Research the attractions of the city you plan to visit. List them under the ‘Activities’ column. Just the key landmarks or general areas will do. You don’t need to write down where you’ll have coffee or dinner.
4. Include your accommodation’s complete address. You may get it from your Airbnb or Agoda reservation document. It can boost your credibility because it shows transparency on your side.
5. Include your regional or country transfers. Research which train or bus operators can get you from point A to point B. If you’ll be on a sleeper train, you may write it under ‘Accommodation’. This will make your itinerary look more realistic and doable.

12. Proof of Vaccination

• Photocopy of my Marikina LGU-issued vaccine card
• Photocopy of my yellow card from the Bureau of Quarantine
• Printed VaxCert PH QR code

13. Supporting Documents [if applicable]:

The list of documents required by the embassy is not the end-all-be-all. If you think that you have relevant supporting documents that solidify your purpose of travel and strong ties, then I say go for it.

For Self-employed Individuals

• Complete set of DTI/SEC registration, including the Article of Incorporation and General Information Sheet
• BIR Certificate of Registration
• BIR plate
• BIR Permits and License
• Company’s Financial Statements
• Company IT

For Freelancers

• Paypal invoice/transactions
• Screenshot of Upwork profile
• Client contract
• Certificate of earnings
• Screenshots of projects/work output
• BIR

For Students

• School certificate
• Proof of enrollment
• No objection letter from the school

For Honeymooners

• Original wedding invitation
• Original affidavit of support provided by the groom or by parents (notarized)
• Photocopy of marriage license
• Photocopy of wedding reception reservation
• Photocopy of other receipts like church, reception, etc.

Additional Documents for Visit Visas

• Invitation letter
• Proof of relationship: pictures together, family tree, screenshots of conversations, etc.
• Affidavit of Support (AOS)
• For those in a relationship with an EU national: Passports and stamps, National ID or residence card, work contract, proof of property or apartment rental contract, etc.

Documents to Establish Strong Ties

• Existing life insurance certification/ screenshot of payments
• Screenshot of SSS contribution table, Philhealth, and PAGIBIG payments
• Car/motorcycle registration
• Land or condo title
• Real property tax payment receipt
• Senior citizen cards of parents
• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate of children
• Investments
• Utility bills under your name (Meralco, Globe, Manila Water etc.)

In summary, your submitted documents should scream the following:

1. STRONG TIES. You must have a stable life in the Philippines and you fully intend to go back without overstaying your visa. I couldn’t stress this enough. Establishing this is probably the most important thing you should focus on.
2. FINANCIALLY CAPABLE. Having enough money to fund your travel to Europe and still have a comfortable amount when you get back.
3. DEFINITE PURPOSE OF TRAVEL. Your travel plans must be realistic with supporting documents.

Honesty is the best policy.