28Understanding Schengen visa requirements and regulations is essential when planning a holiday, business trip, or family visit to Europe. After all, a Schengen visa allows you to travel to multiple European countries with just one visa.
However, it is important to note that the visa application process comes with fairly strict rules. Many Schengen visa applications are rejected not because of major issues, but because applicants are not careful enough in meeting the requirements or do not fully understand the regulations.
So, to help you avoid making these mistakes, let’s go through all the important things you need to know about Schengen visa regulations in this article!
ALSO READ: Here’s the List of Favorite Travel Destinations in 2026!
A Schengen visa is a permit that allows you to enter and travel freely within countries that are part of the Schengen Area. With this single visa, you can move between countries without having to apply for additional visas, as long as you stay within the permitted validity period and conditions.
Generally, a Schengen visa is used for various purposes, such as:
For Indonesian citizens (WNI), a Schengen visa is one of the mandatory documents required before traveling to Europe. This is because Indonesia is not yet included in the Schengen visa-free country list.
When applying for a visa, you must prepare complete documents that comply with the regulations. Below are the Schengen visa requirements you need to prepare.
Schengen visa applications can now be submitted through the embassy or consulate of the destination country. In fact, some country representatives have outsourced the visa application process and require applicants to submit their applications through VFS Global Indonesia, the official visa application service center.
For those of you planning to apply for this type of visa, here is the step-by-step process in accordance with Schengen visa regulations.
The first thing you need to do is apply for a visa through the embassy or consulate of your main destination within the Schengen Area. In addition, you can also submit your application through VFS Global.
If you plan to visit several countries, you should apply at the representative office of the country where you will spend the longest time.
Next, schedule an appointment with the embassy, consulate, or official visa application center. Usually, this process is done online through the official website of each country’s representative office.
Don’t forget to prepare all the required documents as mentioned earlier. Make sure all documents are accurate and meet the requirements so the visa application process can run smoothly.
At the time of your appointment, you will be asked to provide fingerprints and have your photo taken as part of the biometric data collection. So, make sure you arrive on time according to the scheduled appointment.
In some cases, representatives of certain countries may request an interview to understand the purpose of your trip better. In addition, be prepared to pay a visa fee ranging from €45 to €90, depending on the applicant’s age and the destination country’s policy.
Once the submission is complete, your visa application will be processed. The processing time generally takes around 15–21 working days. However, this may vary depending on the destination country's policy.
After understanding the Schengen visa requirements, it is also important for you to know the validity period and conditions of this visa. A Schengen visa allows you to make short stays within the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period, calculated retrospectively from each day of stay. In other words, the total duration of stay must not exceed 90 days within that timeframe.
Currently, a Schengen visa can be issued as a single-entry visa, which allows only one entry into the Schengen Area, or a multiple-entry visa, which allows several entries during the visa’s validity period.
Furthermore, if you have obtained and used a Schengen visa at least once in the past three years, you may apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa with a validity of up to five full years, also known as a Cascade visa.
Travel Insurance is one of the mandatory Schengen visa requirements because medical costs in Europe are relatively very expensive. Without insurance, a single emergency situation could easily drain your savings.
Therefore, Travel Insurance helps protect you from several risks, including:
That is why embassies require insurance with a specific minimum level of coverage, so both you and the destination country are equally protected.
ALSO READ: Traveling to Portugal: 10 Exciting Things You Shouldn't Miss
To make your Schengen visa application process smoother and your trip to Europe more worry-free, you can choose Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia. This Travel Insurance offers coverage that meets Schengen visa requirements, protection for both leisure and business travel, and an online purchase process that is faster and more practical.
With the right protection, you not only meet Schengen visa requirements but also gain peace of mind throughout your journey. So, check out and purchase Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia to make your Schengen visa application easier and hassle-free!
TRAVEL INSURANCE
SPORT INSURANCE
MUDIK AMAN
PERSONAL ACCIDENT
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
