What materials do you need for a Schengen visa? What kinds of Schengen visas are there?

It is difficult to apply for a Schengen visa because there are many countries to visit. The following small series will talk to friends about how to apply for a visa, and one more thing to pay attention to is the materials needed for a visa. Everyone knows about it.

Schengen Visa Iceland is a member of the Schengen Agreement, and a valid Schengen visa is required to go to Iceland. Once an applicant obtains a visa from any Schengen country, he can travel freely in all Schengen countries within the validity period of the visa. If your destination is more than one country, you should apply for a visa from the embassy of the destination country with the longest stay. If you stay in two countries for the same time, but enter Iceland first, you should apply for a Schengen visa from the Icelandic embassy.

Blue is Schengen, and dark blue is non-Schengen EU.

Where is Iceland?

Schengen countries are not necessarily EU countries. Iceland is a Schengen country, not an EU country. Iceland's tax refund cannot be handled in other countries. Tax refunds from other EU countries cannot be handled in Iceland.

Frequently asked questions: Can I go to Iceland with a Schengen multiple-entry visa?

The Embassy suggested that successful Schengen multiple-entry visas for other Schengen countries, if used, have entered the Schengen area and then entered Iceland, no problem. If you apply for a Schengen multiple-entry visa and enter Iceland directly, you may be refused entry.

FAQ: I had a Schengen visa before. Can I go to Iceland?

A: All visas are valid. If the previous Schengen visa has expired, you will not be able to enter Iceland and you need to apply for a new Schengen visa.

Who needs to apply for a visa?

○ All China people (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) need to obtain visas before entering Iceland or other Schengen countries (for details of EU member countries, please consult the embassies and consulates for the latest news).

○ If you already have a residence permit or re-entry permit issued by other Schengen countries, you do not need to apply for a visa to enter Iceland or other Schengen countries.

○ If you have a residence card issued under the legal framework of free movement in Europe and America, you don't need a visa to enter Iceland.

Note that even if you hold a short-term Schengen visa, whether you are allowed to enter the country is still decided by the entry-exit border inspection department. Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be able to enter the Schengen countries.

International students apply for Schengen visa

Many international students from Europe, North America and other parts of the world have the desire to travel to Iceland. For China tourists living in the Schengen area of Europe, they can enter Iceland visa-free as long as they hold the residence card of Schengen country. For people who are not in the Schengen area, such as Britain, they need to apply for a Schengen visa.

○ In the UK, the application for an Icelandic visa is represented by the Danish Embassy in the UK.

In the United States, you can apply for an Icelandic visa from embassies and consulates in four different cities. Please choose from the following four embassies nearby:

Washington, DC: Swedish embassy

New york: Danish Consulate.

Houston (Texas): Norwegian Consulate

San Francisco, California: Norwegian Consulate ○ In Canada, the application for an Icelandic visa is represented by the Danish Embassy in Ottawa.

○ August 1, 2065438 The application for Schengen visa to Iceland in Wellington, New Zealand was handled by the local Dutch embassy.

Specific application materials can be found in the application materials mentioned below. When students apply, they don't need to show their work certificates, but they need to show their valid student visas and study certificates.

Note: No matter where you apply for a visa to Iceland and from which embassy or consulate, VFSGlobal Visa Center is the agent, VFS.

Global generally has multiple offices in each country, so you can check the recent application.

Short-term Schengen visa type

○ Business visa: the visa issued by the relevant personnel when they go to the Schengen Agreement member countries for investment, trade, conferences, exhibitions, labor services and other business.

○ Visa for visiting relatives and friends: a visa issued for visiting relatives and friends in Schengen countries.

○ Individual tourist visa: a visa issued for an individual to engage in tourism-related activities in Schengen member countries.

○ Tourist visa: Applicants can apply when traveling to Iceland as members of ADS travel agencies.

○ Cultural and sports visa: It can be applied to individual applicants who wish to participate in sports and cultural activities.

Visa processing method ○ Personal self-help

From material preparation (including material translation, insurance purchase, etc. ), submit the materials to the interview, and help yourself all the time. Suitable for applicants with strong foreign language skills, sufficient time, confidence in signing visas, or experience in Schengen signing.

Advantages: it is cheap and the applicant has a high degree of understanding of the application.

Disadvantages: Time-consuming and laborious.

A personal signature.

1) The intermediary company assists the customer in making and sorting materials, and then gives them to the customer, and then the customer brings all the materials and corresponding originals to the visa center of the embassy or consulate to submit the application on time.

Advantages: saving time and effort.

Disadvantages: it costs a lot, and if the travel itinerary is an agent, the applicant is not familiar with the travel itinerary, which may lead to poor communication during face-to-face interview/telephone adjustment.

2) I have the endorsement record of Schengen countries, and I will find someone to handle this visa and issue the application materials on my behalf.

Advantages: saving time and effort.

Disadvantages: more expensive.

○ Tourism group logo

Advantages: Travel agencies have a good reputation and a high success rate in signing bills.

Disadvantages: it costs a lot. If the applicant is not familiar with the travel itinerary, there may be poor communication during the face-to-face interview/telephone adjustment.

Preparation time ○ Be sure to book air tickets and accommodation first, and then apply for a visa after determining the itinerary in Iceland, otherwise it will not be conducive to the smooth issuance of visas.

○ It is recommended to make preparations as soon as possible, especially for applicants applying for Schengen visa for the first time, they can submit their applications within three months before the planned trip (embassies and consulates do not accept applications more than three months before the departure date).

○ If there are documents that need to be sent back from abroad, such as invitations, or documents that need to be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please reserve sufficient time.

The embassy suggested that it would take 15 working days to complete the visa application after submission. If you catch up with the busy period, or the application materials are incomplete and inaccurate, it may take longer. Therefore, you are not allowed to submit an application that includes travel time. It is recommended to apply at least one month in advance.

Application place ○VFS Iceland Visa Center (Beijing) accepts short-term visa business (including travel, visiting friends, business, culture and sports, ADS visa).

Related resources: official website, Iceland Visa Center.

○ The Icelandic Embassy in China only accepts visa applications from holders of diplomatic and official passports and family members of citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area.

Related resources: official website, Icelandic Embassy in Beijing.

○ Denmark accepts short-term visa applications at visa centers in Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Fuzhou. Please go nearby.

○ Danish visa centers in Beijing, Shenyang, Jinan, Xi, Chengdu and Chongqing no longer accept Icelandic visa applications.

○ precautions

If the permanent residence is inconsistent with the location of the residence or the place where the passport is issued, the applicant shall submit materials that can prove that it is a permanent residence (valid temporary residence permit, labor contract, public security bureau certificate, etc.). ).

If the embassy or consulate judges that the applicant's permanent residence does not belong to the skill zone when hearing the materials, the visa office of the embassy or consulate has the right to refuse the visa application, and the relevant fees submitted by the applicant will not be refunded.

Frequently asked questions: My household registration is in X province, but I work in Y province. Where should I submit my application?

A: The permanent residence is generally the place where a person actually works and lives, not the domicile. Applicants who have lived there for more than 6 months or intend to live there for a long time in the future are considered permanent residents.

Required materials ○ If an application is submitted to the Icelandic visa center, it shall be prepared according to the list of materials of the Icelandic embassy and visa center.

Related links: List page of application materials for individual tourist visas to Iceland in Beijing Iceland Visa Center (click on the list of business inquiries, visiting relatives and friends, transit visas and tourist group visas on the left side of the page).

○ If you apply for Danish visa centers such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, please prepare according to the material list of Danish visa centers.

Related links: List page of individual tourist visa application materials of Danish Visa Center (on the left side of the page, you can click on the list of business, visiting relatives and friends, transit visas and tour groups).

Considering the duplication of application materials required for different visa types, this paper does not list all the materials one by one, but only focuses on some materials and suggestions.

Passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires. Note that the Danish Consulate General in Shanghai and the Danish Consulate General in Guangzhou do not accept the addition of pages to passports. If the applicant's passport does not have a blank page with a visa attached, a new passport must be replaced before submitting the application.

Materials required for various Schengen visas

Round trip air ticket reservation

You can consult the ticketing agent to make a free reservation and print it out; Visa only needs to be booked in advance, and the applicant has to pay the air ticket fee after signing.

Related reading: Iceland Traffic Guide | Air tickets, ferries, self-driving and public transportation.

Travel medical insurance

Minimum medical insurance of 30,000 euros (300,000 RMB): you can buy it from insurance companies or visa agencies, or you can buy it online (you can choose to refuse the visa and get a refund).

Insurance must cover the whole stay (until the flight takes off). Note that if Beijing time is written during the insurance period, the insured may need to buy an extra day of insurance due to the time difference.

Notarial certificate of kinship or guardianship of minors (1 under 8 years old) certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, copy1copy (materials of Danish Embassy):

Go to the notary office to handle the notarial certificate of kinship first. After the notary office issues the notarial certificate, it will be sent to the foreign affairs office/institution, and the foreign affairs office/institution will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification. (The same is true of proof of marriage relationship)

employment certificate

The letter issued by the unit or company shall indicate the address, telephone number (leave a number that is easy to get through for telephone adjustment) and fax number of the unit or company, which shall be signed and sealed by the person in charge of the unit, and shall indicate the name and position of the person in charge). This letter must be provided in Chinese and English (it can be translated by yourself or by an agency without notarization), and it must clearly state the applicant's position, income and leave permission.

Confirmation of working relationship after returning to China.

If the work unit (such as state-owned enterprises, security units, etc.). ) It is really impossible to provide a copy of the business license. Please ask the company for help as much as possible and write a letter of explanation in case of emergency.

FAQ: If you are a freelancer or a housewife, can you apply for a Schengen visa to Iceland?

The Embassy suggested that freelancers or housewives can also apply for a Schengen visa to Iceland and prepare complete proof of funds.

Proof of funds

Bank statements for the past 3 to 6 months:

Go to the bank counter to get the statement stamped with the bank seal; If the statement cannot reflect the applicant's economic strength and consumption level, it is suggested that if there is a deposit, a deposit certificate should be added as an auxiliary material.

Notarial certificate without proof of criminal record (this material is needed only if the employer's letter of proof cannot be produced)

First go to the local police station to issue a certificate of innocence, and then take it to the notary office for notarization.

Personal tourist visa materials specifically state that the original property ownership certificate must be presented and translated into English (materials of Icelandic embassy), which can be translated by yourself or by an agency.

Travel plan and schedule (in Icelandic or English), including the date and place of stay in Iceland and other Schengen countries (hotel name, telephone number, fax number, stay time and other relevant certificates);

After booking the hotel, print out the reservation form as an application auxiliary material.

Direct guide

Friends who book go on road trip package or travel package on Iceland Travel Network can send an email to China customer service department bingdao@guidetoiceland.is to explain your order number and get the relevant visa itinerary confirmation letter. We provide this service for free. After you make a reservation, we will send you a visa letter within about 10- 14 working days after receiving your necessary personal information. If urgent service is needed, it will generally be shortened to 4-6 working days after receiving all the information. visa letters can be purchased for urgent service.

guidebook

Iceland has helped a large number of tourists from China to provide travel booking confirmation letters as supplementary materials for visa application. The Icelandic embassy is very familiar with our travel itinerary, which will make your visa application smoother.

The invitation letter (English or Icelandic/Danish, including signature) sent by the inviter to the applicant must be original.

Recommendations include the following:

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Name of the inviter, passport number, ID number, relationship with the invitee, purpose of invitation and stay time. The kinship between the invitee and the inviter requires official certification. First go to the police station where the household registration is located to get the certificate, and then go to the local notary office for notarization.

○ If you apply to the Danish Consulate for a visa to visit relatives and friends, and the inviter provides financial guarantee, you can attach the financial situation of the inviter to the letter.

Copy of each page of the applicant's household registration book and English translation: you can translate it yourself or find an intermediary.

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Proof of financial ability during the stay in Iceland: applicants over 22 years old should show their own proof of economic income. If you have no income to be replaced by your family, please contact the Icelandic Embassy in China (telephone number) for details, because everyone's situation is different.

○ If you have correspondence with the inviter, take photos, etc. , which can be submitted as auxiliary materials.

Matters needing attention and application process of business signing materials

If you have had cooperation business information and photos with the inviter, you can submit them as auxiliary materials.

Applicant of Guangzhou/Shanghai Visa Center in Denmark:

Please confirm the office hours of the visa center before submitting the materials.

○ Submit application materials.

(1) If you have not obtained a Schengen visa before, you need to submit an application to our center to submit biometric data (please refer to the link for details). )

(2) If there is a record of Schengen visa before, please contact the visa office of the embassy to inquire about the handling method before submitting the materials.

○ The visa office staff checks the submitted materials, and the applicant pays the visa fee to complete the collection of biometric data and information.

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The visa officer will decide whether it is necessary to go to the Danish Consulate General in Shanghai and the Danish Consulate General in Guangzhou for an interview according to the application. At that time, the visa application center will reserve interview time for applicants according to the requirements of embassies and consulates.

○ You can sign or accept embassy telegrams in person.

○ If the visa is successfully issued or the embassy still has doubts (the applicant's travel purpose is unclear/illegal immigration tendency), it will be directly refused by the Immigration Bureau.

Applicants to the Visa Center of the Icelandic Embassy in China:

Please confirm the opening hours of the visa office of the embassy before submitting the materials, because visa applications are not accepted on public holidays in Iceland and China.

○ Submit application materials.

(1) If it is the first time to apply for a Schengen visa, the applicant must submit the materials and application in person at the visa center and submit the biometric data (please refer to the link for details).

(2) If there is a record of Schengen visa before, please contact the visa office of the embassy to inquire about the handling method before submitting the materials.

○ The visa office staff checks the submitted materials, and the applicant pays the visa fee to complete the collection of biometric data and information.

○ You can sign or accept embassy telegrams in person.

○ If the visa is successfully issued or the embassy still has doubts (the applicant's travel purpose is unclear/illegal immigration tendency), it will be directly refused by the Immigration Bureau.

Related expenses:

For visa applications submitted through the Icelandic Visa Center, the applicant will pay a visa service fee of RMB 180 yuan, which will be collected by the Icelandic Visa Center.

Other optional services:

○ Courier fee -50 yuan/person (including service fee)

○ Photo -35 yuan/person (including service tax)

○ Copy fee-1 yuan/page (including service tax)

○ Simple translation -75 yuan/page (including service tax)

○ retranslation-1 10 yuan/page (including service tax)

Contact information:

○ Tel: (0086) (010) 84004176.

○ Email :infopek.iscn@vfshelpline.com

○ Address: Xiaoguan 1 Building 1 Floor1KLOC-0/Room, No.56, Dongzhimenwai Xiejie, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.

Matters needing attention in applying for an Icelandic visa 1. Be sure to reserve sufficient preparation time.

2. The application materials are true and effective. Don't forge them. Once it is discovered by the embassy or consulate (telephone, face-to-face signing), it will not only lead to the invalidation of this visa, but also affect future visas.

3. For those who have no European and American visa records before and apply for a Schengen visa (Iceland) for the first time, the materials should be fully prepared, not less. For example, the Danish Embassy's application materials for visiting relatives and friends do not indicate the copy of the inviter's passport, but it may be required when submitting the materials.

4. Mandatory materials must be complete, such as the completed application form. The lack of some materials does not necessarily lead to refusal, such as insufficient property certificate. As long as the visa officer believes that the applicant has no tendency to stay or immigrate illegally, there is still the possibility of issuing a visa.

Under the condition that all the materials are true and valid, in order to get the visa smoothly, face-to-face signing or telegraphic transfer must not fail. For example, if you apply for a short-term tourist visa and visit local relatives and friends by the way, if the visa officer asks about the purpose of travel during the interview, just answer the questions related to tourism, so as to prevent the visa officer from thinking that the applicant's purpose of travel is unclear or has stayed, and there is an illegal immigration tendency to refuse the visa.

6. Applicants who submit the application materials in person must pay attention to the opening time and closing date information given by the embassy, such as major festivals in China/Iceland/Denmark.

7. For the applicant who needs to submit the leave letter/work certificate of the company, the contact number of the company contact person on the leave letter/work certificate must be easy to get through, because the embassy or consulate is likely to call according to the number reserved above.

8. Pay close attention to the changes in the application information of the embassy and make adjustments according to personal circumstances.