5
Exceptionally, when additional documentation is needed in specific cases, the period may be
extended up to a maximum of 60 calendar days.
WHAT CAN I DO IF THE VISA IS REFUSED?
As of 5
th
April 2011, applicants who have been refused a visa shall be informed by an official
refusal letter and may have the right to appeal in accordance with the national law of the
concerned Member State.
Appeals shall be conducted against the Member State that has taken the final decision on the
application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State.
Each Member State shall indicate the references to the national law and the procedure relating to
the right of appeal, including the competent authority with which an appeal may be lodged, as well
as the time limit for lodging such an appeal.
You will find this information in the form for notifying and motivating refusal that you will be given
for such purpose.
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I HAVE TO TAKE WITH ME WHEN I TRAVEL ON A SCHENGEN
VISA?
Mere possession of a Schengen visa does not mean that the holder has an automatic right to
enter the Schengen Area (i.e. the territory of the countries that issue Schengen visa).
At the external border, the visa holder may be requested to produce documents justifying the
purpose and conditions of the intended stay and that they have sufficient means of subsistence,
both for the period of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a
third state into which they are certain to be admitted, or are in a position to acquire such means
lawfully. The applicant’s should also be in possession of an adequate travel medical insurance
valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of intended stay or
transit.
OR
Applicants, whenever they enter the Schengen area, shall be in possession of adequate and valid
travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation
for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death,
during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States The insurance shall be valid throughout
the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or
transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000.
WHAT RULES APPLY IF MY FAMILY MEMBERS are EU OR EEA NATIONALS?
If you are a family member of an EU/EEA or you may qualify for an accelerated free visa
procedure as long as you meet the following criteria:
1.- You are a family member (this includes a spouse, registered partner, child who is under 21 or a
depending family member) of an EU/EEA or Swiss national (or of his/her spouse/registered
partner); AND
2.- That EU/EEA national or Swiss national is residing in another Member State than that of which
he/she is a national or travelling there to take up residence; AND
3.- You are accompanying the EU/EEA national or planning to join him/her for residence.
The visa should be applied for at the consular office of the country of future residence of the
EU/EEA national or Swiss national, not at the consular office of his/her country of origin.
This rule applies only to EU citizens who move to or reside in a Member State other than that of
which they are a national, and to their family members who accompany or join them.