23A Schengen Visa is a permit required by non-Schengen nationals to enter or temporarily stay within the Schengen Area. This permit, issued as a stamp and signature on the applicant's passport, is valid for 90 days within 180 days, for tourism, visiting friends or family, business trips, trade fairs or other short-term purposes in Schengen countries.
If you're planning to visit the Schengen Area this year, here's our complete guide to help you get your first Schengen Visa.
According to the website of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Indonesia, here are the required documents you'll need to prepare when applying for a Schengen Visa:
Application Form (original): can be completed in English, Indonesian or the language of your main destination country.
Contact Consent Form (original): to confirm your agreement to share any required personal data or information with the embassy.
Passport (original and one copy): must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the visa application end date, signed by the passport holder or stamped by authority, not older than 10 years, with at least for at least empty pages for the visa.
Recent Photograph (original): 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in size, with a white or light gray background, the face must cover at least 80% of the photo and the photo must have been taken within the last 6 months at the time of visa application.
Cover Letter (original): can be written in English, Indonesian or the language of the main destination country. It should include a detailed explanation of the trip's purpose and a daily itinerary for the entire duration of the visit.
Travel Insurance (copy): valid for the entire duration of the requested visa, covering all Schengen countries, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 (including evacuation and repatriation) and confirmation of coverage for potential COVID-19 treatment must be stated or mentioned in the terms and conditions.
Travel Itinerary (copy): including valid hotel or accommodation reservations with the full address (name, street, city, postal code, contact information, booking reference) and confirmation from the owner or manager of the destination hotel or accommodation as well as flight ticket reservations.
Purpose of Travel (copy): including an invitation letter from the destination country explaining the purpose of the applicant's visit, as well as a copy of the host's passport or residence permit in the destination country.
Proof of the Current Employment Situation of the Applicant in Indonesia (original):
For employed or business owner applicants, attach the signed cover letter (Point E) or a No Objection Certificate from the applicant's company in Indonesia on company letterhead, including the following details: applicant's name, passport number, approved leave duration, company's office address in Indonesia, company's phone number in Indonesia, details of the applicant's job position, employment start date and applicant's net salary.
For students, attach the confirmation of enrollment for the current semester.
For freelancers (copy), attach a short portfolio summary (1 page, including your social media or website) and proof of the last three assignments (in the form of contracts, payment slips or other documents).
10. Proof of Financial Means of the Applicant in Indonesia (original): can include personal bank or savings account statements from the last 3 months, personal assets, property and other relevant documents. Additional documents are required if your trip is financially sponsored by another party, with the following details:
If the applicant is employed (original): pay slips for the last 3 months, employment contract, leave sanction letter from the applicant's employer, and applicant's personal bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank.
If the applicant is a company owner or self-employed (original): the applicant's personal bank statements for the last 3 months are stamped by the bank.
If the applicant is retired: pension statements from the last three months (copy), proof of regular income generated by ownership of property or business (copy), applicant's personal bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (original).
If the applicant is a student (original): certificates of the establishment where the applicant is enrolled and a no-objections-certificate from the school or university.
If the applicant is unemployed (original): The applicant's personal bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank and declaration of the applicant about how his/her livelihood is guaranteed (including respective proof).
11. Funding of the Trip: only required if the visa applicant does not fully finance the trip. Attach personal bank statements for the last 3 months stamped by the bank (original) or savings account statements and a written declaration of sponsorship and proof of relationship (such as birth certificate or Family Card), or formal obligation letter of the host in the destination country, in accordance with the applicable law (original and one copy).
12. Proof of Marital Status (original and one copy): a valid Family Card (not older than 6 months). Original document must be presented during the application, while the copy should be submitted along with other required documents.
13. Children Under 18 years of age: both parents or legal custodians must be present to submit the child's visa application and must bring the original birth certificate for verification during the appointment, while a copy should be submitted along with other required documents. If the parents are divorced, attach divorce certificate and divorce decree (including statement of child custody). If one parent is deceased, attach the death certificate. If one parent or legal custodian resides abroad and cannot be present at the time of visa application, attach a notarized letter of consent.
Important: make sure to prepare copies of all the required documents. The Visa Department at the Embassy will not return original documents if you do not provide copies.
Each embassy of the Schengen countries has specific regulations regarding the Schengen visa application process. However, in general, you will go through the following steps:
This can be done through the website of the destination country's embassy or a visa agency authorized by the relevant embassy.
Application Form and Contact Consent Form (Point B) can be downloaded from the website of the destination country's embassy. Fill out the form truthfully, then print it on A4 paper.
Compile all the required visa application documents, as explained above. This includes a recent photograph and Travel Insurance from an insurance company that complies with the Schengen Visa Code requirements. Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia complies with the Schengen Visa Code requirements and can be used for your Schengen visa application.
Once your appointment is scheduled, you can visit the destination country's embassy or the visa agency authorized by that country. Bring all the required documents. In addition to submitting your documents, you will also undergo an interview process with an officer and/or embassy official regarding your travel purpose and itinerary.
A Schengen Visa application usually takes 15 to 45 workdays. If you haven't received any news from the embassy or visa agency within that timeframe, you can contact them to inquire about the status of your application.
That's the complete guide to the required documents and the process of Schengen Visa application. We hope that you find this helpful and have an amazing trip ahead!
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