KINDLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. FIND A CONSULATE OR A VISA CENTER WHERE YOU WILL FILE YOUR APPLICATION

2. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Consulates schedule their own appointments, mostly by e-mail – refer to consulates´ websites for guidance.

Applications are generally filed in person and biometric data (fingerprints) are collected.

Children younger than 12 do not submit fingerprints and therefore do not need to visit the consulate. Children between 12 and 15 need to come accompanied by their parents / legal guardians who lodge visa applications on their behalf.

Schengen visa applications can be submitted six months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest ahead of the trip. 

3. FILE THE APPLICATION PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

• Passport

• Application form

• Photo

• Biometric data (fingerprints)

• Supporting documents on

  •• purpose of stay (for example document prepared by the inviting cultural institution, organizer´s confirmation, registration etc.)

  •• accommodation

  •• financial means

  •• proof of return – information allowing assessment of applicant’s intention to leave the Schengen Area before the visa expiry (most commonly air or other ticket reservation) 

• Travel medical insurance

• Harmonized list documents

• Fee

Applications are admissible (i.e. they can be accepted and processed) only if they confirm to ALL of the following: contain valid passport, application form and photo, fingerprints have been collected, submitted six months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest ahead of the trip, and visa fee has been paid.

4. AWAIT THE DECISION OUTCOME

The legal processing time is 15 days. In practice, most applications can be processed earlier. In individual cases, the processing period can be extended to up to 45 days, mainly when further examination is needed. The consulate notifies the applicant when this is the case.

5. COLLECT YOUR VISA IF APPROVED OR A REFUSAL FORM IF VISA DENIED

Applicants can pick up their passports with visas themselves or they can authorize someone else to do so on their behalf. A certified power of attorney needs to be presented when picking up the passport on behalf of the applicant. If the applicant notifies the consulate about this arrangement when applying, no power of attorney is necessary.  

Refusal forms must be picked up by the applicant himself / herself.

6. NOTE: (1) Visa must be used in accordance with the conditions upon which it has been issued. A visa holder has the obligation to notify the consulate in case of any changes to the trip arrangements. Failure to do so can result into visa annulation or revocation. (2) Visa issuance does not automatically grant the right of entry to the Schengen Area / Czech Republic. Visa holders need to fulfill entry conditions specified in the Schengen Border Code and can be asked upon entry to present documents on accommodation, finances, return air ticket etc.

 

Legal sources:

○ Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code)

○ Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (codification) - mainly Title II Chapters I and II