Notice to Applicants for a Schengen Visa (for Tourism, Transit or Business for up to 90 days)

The Schengen Agreement took effect on 26 March 1995, and currently comprises the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The purpose of the Schengen Agreement is - among other objectives - the issuance of a common and uniform visa for short-term stays of up to 90 days in one or several of the Schengen countries.

Malaysian citizens do not require a visa when travelling to one or more of the Schengen countries for business or tourism purposes. The stay in the Schengen States, however, may not exceed 90 days within a 6-months period. This means that once you have stayed for 90 days in any of the Schengen States, there will be a waiting period of 3 months imposed before you can enter any Schengen State once more.

Please note that the Malaysian visitor will need to present a valid Malaysian passport, proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket upon arrival at the first point of entry in the Schengen States.

In case you are a citizen of a country which does need a visa to enter the Schengen States or as a Malaysian citizen intending to stay longer than three month you will have to apply for a visa (Residence Permit) before travelling.

Where Should You Apply?

1. If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Embassy of that particular country.

2. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy of the country which is you main destination. The main destination is ascertained according to the purpose of the trip and the length of the stay.

3. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy of the country which is your first point of entry.

4. If you do not need a visa for the Schengen country which is your main destination or first point of entry, please note that you may require a visa for other Schengen countries you wish to visit. You should then apply at the Embassy of the first Schengen country which does require you to have a visa.

Important:

Applications should be made in person at the Embassy. If you cannot apply in person, you should contact the appropriate Schengen Embassy for further instructions.

A visa application that is rejected by any of the Schengen countries is considered as being rejected by all the Schengen partners. Schengen Embassies have set up an internal information system in order to avoid multiple applications. Multiple applications will automatically be rejected.

Visa Fees and Processing Time

Your application can only be accepted if all requested documents are submitted. The average processing time is 1 – 2 weeks. The visa fee is € 60,- payable in Ringgit Malaysia only.

Documents for Visa Application

a) Airport Transit/Transit Visa

You must apply for this visa at the Embassy of the first country of transit. The duration of any such transit through the Schengen area must be kept to the necessary minimum.

To apply for a visa you need the following documents:

1. A passport or travel document recognized by all parties to the Schengen Agreement which must be valid for at least three months after the expiration date of the visa applied for (Note: If the passport or travel document is not valid in one or more of the Schengen countries, it is still possible to obtain a visa. This visa will then be restricted to those Schengen countries that accept the passport or travel document)

2. One official visa application form, with one passport photo.
Important: Only photos with a grey background will be accepted. Please also check the requirements for passport photos!

3. Proof of transportation (airline ticket), whether for a single outbound journey or for two trips on the outbound and return journey

4. Proof of means of support

5. A visa for the final country of destination (outside the Schengen area), if required

b) Short-Stay Visa (1 to 90 days) or Travel Visa

You can generally apply for a visa for one or more entries for the purpose of tourism or business or for family visits, but neither the duration of any uninterrupted stay nor the total duration of successive stays may exceed three months in any half year reckoned from the date of the first entry.

Your application for this type of visa must be submitted with the documents listed below to the Embassy in whose territory the main destination of your journey(s) is situated, irrespective of which country in the Schengen area you are entering first.

You will need the following documents:

1. A passport or travel document recognized by all parties to the Schengen Agreement, which must be valid for at least three months after the expiration date of the visa applied for (Note: If the passport or travel document is not valid in one or more Schengen countries, it is still possible to obtain a visa. This visa will then be restricted to those Schengen countries that accept the passport or travel document).

2. One official visa application form, with one passport photo; photocopies or faxed copies of the original form will not be accepted.
Important: Only photos with a grey background will be accepted. Please also check the requirements for passport photos!

3. Proof establishing the purpose of your trip, for example, a letter of invitation, proof of participation in group travel, etc. If the purpose of your trip is business, please present business references as well (letter of employment, extract of Register of Companies-form 9 or 83).

4. Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your intended stay (e.g. bank statements, letter of employer and bank statements of the company, formal obligation etc.).

5. Proof of lodging, i.e. hotel reservations, rental of a vacation home, stay with a family member or a friend. In the latter case, a financial support document (formal obligation) should be submitted with the signature of the family member or friend in question and notarized by the local authorities of the Schengen country in question.

6. Proof that you can continue your trip after your visit to the Schengen countries, i.e., an outbound or return airline ticket.

7. If returning to Malaysia, a Malaysian visa or residence/work permit valid at least three months after return from your trip.

8. If the applicant is for a minor, please present written consent of a parent or guardian having custody of the child. The signatures on this document must be certified by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public.

9. Proof of travel health/accident insurance for the duration of the travel, minimum cover of € 30,000.- including a repatriation clause. The insurance must be valid in all Schengen countries.

(Exception: Insurance is not required for transit visa and family members of EU citizens).