Schengen Visa Requirements
In accordance with the Schengen Visa Code, applicants can apply at the earliest 6 months but not less than 15 days before the planned travel date. ccording to article 23, paragraph 1 the visa application is decided up to 15 calendar days (in specific cases up to 45 days). Kindly respect this allotted time for visa decision.
The revised Visa Code enters into force on February 2, 2020. Some revisions, which concern procedure for submission of Schengen visa applications, are summarized on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Applicants legally residing in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman shall apply for short-term (Schengen) visa at VFS Global visa application center. Upon previously arranged appointment the application may be lodged directly at the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic for:
- diplomatic passport holders
- service passport holders for official trips only
- family members of EU citizens.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is a harmonized list of required documents for the short term visa application shared by the Schengen Member State missions in the country.
Schengen Visa Application Requirements:
- an application form
- - duly completed, signed and dated by the applicant (in case of applicants under 15, the application form should be signed by the parent/legal guardian). This form can be completed and printed online. Please note that the form has to be printed in English.
- - in case of applicants aged 15-18, a written consent of their parent/legal guardian should be presented. In all such cases the parent/legal guardian´s passport copy needs to be provided),
- original passport + copy of all relevant pages (ID page, previous Schengen visas, etc.)
- - the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure from the Schengen Area. Further, the document must have been issued within previous 10 years and contain 2 blank pages,
- - For the Table of recognized passports consult the website of the European Comission website,
- a recent passport-size photograph
- - compliant with ICAO standards, light background and neutral expression necessary, no head covering acceptable except for religious reasons,
- - glued, not stapled to the application form,
- a travel insurance policy (not necessary for diplomatic passports and EU citizen family members)
- - valid for the Schengen area and covering the entire period of intended stay. The minimum coverage needs to be 30.000 EUR and include repatriation,
- - for details consult the Travel insurance (PDF, 148 KB)
- a flight/travel reservation(s)
- - including return flight (the original ticket may be required at the collection of the visa), domestic flights within Schengen area, bus/train reservantions, etc. if applicable,
- a hotel reservation(s) or other proof of accommodation for the whole duration of stay in Schengen;
- a proof of sufficient financial means covering the ticket reservation and pocket money (in case of stay no longer than 30 days minimum of 220 SAR per day and person, in case of two-month stay minimum of 8 400 SAR per month and person, and in case of three-month stay 9 600 SAR per month per person) for the intended stay in the Schengen area:
- - in Saudi applicants bank statement in English for the past 3 months is requested or a copy of a credit card with the credit card statement,
- - in non-Saudi applicants original bank statement in English for the past 6 months is requested (online print-out statements need to be stamped by the bank). If the applicant does not receive his/her salary in the bank account, salary slips are requested,
- original document(s) proving the purpose of travel:
- - for business/conference/sports event visit: a letter from the inviting company/organizer (original, or sent from the company/organizer´s official fax number or official email address), or official invitation form certified by the Czech Police,
- - for visiting family or friends: a letter from the inviting person or official invitation form certified by the Czech Police,
- - for medical reasons visit: a recent medial report from a Saudi health or rehabilitation facility + a letter issued by the receiving Czech institution confirming the type of treatment reserved, the dates of stay and cost + pre-payment or other proof of sufficient financial means for the treatment and related expenses,
- - for study visit: official documents from the receiving (and possibly also sending) institution,
- - for tourism in several member states: detailed travel plan should be provided, including the information on means of transport (flight reservations, train connections, etc.) and accommodation (confirmed hotel reservations),
- - for accompanying domestic staff: original Guarantee Letter from the sponsor accepting full responsibility and the employment contract. Housemaids can travel only together with the sponsor. A prerequisite is a previous duration of the employment of at least one year),
- original letter from the employer/sponsor in K.S.A.
- - stamped and signed by the employer and stamped by the Chamber of Commerce,
- - stating the employment status, position held, date of recruitment, length of contract, whether renewable or not, salary and the purpose of the trip,
- - in case of self-sponsored applicants, the valid original trade license must be presented + 1 copy thereof provided,
- - in case of domestic staff, a letter from the sponsor is to be submitted and a copy of the original job contract,
- Minors travelling without their parents/legal guardian: original authorisation signed by parents/legal guardian and a copy of parent´s/legal guardian´s passport.
Additional, for Saudi applicants:
- a copy of a Saudi ID with the transcription of the birthplace in English,
Additional, for Non-Saudi applicants:
- iqama (valid at least 3 months after the planned stay) + 1 copy thereof,
- Saudi Arabian re-entry visa + 1 copy thereof - the re-entry visa must be valid beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area.
Fore more information consult the Harmonized list (PDF, 46 KB)and Schengen information leaflet (PDF, 108 KB).
The applicant needs to pay a non refundable visa fee in Saudi riyal of a monthly rate equivalent to 80 EUR (children under 6 years of age are exempt from the fee, children under age of 12 pay the equivalent of 40 EUR).
Fingerprints are collected from all applicants except for children up to 12 years old, applicants that have submitted their fingerprints at a Schengen member state's embassy in the last 5 years, applicants in whom fingerprint collection is physically impossible, heads of states and governments and their delegations if invited on an official visit, and members of royal families if invited on an official visit.
Please note that:
- - Supporting documents must be presented in original during submission (additional copy required if the original cannot be given away).
- - All Arabic supporting documents must be translated into English or Czech!
- - All applications must be submitted in person. The biometric fingerprint data is collected from each applicants above age of 12 (unless fingerprints previously submitted within the last 5 years and the respective visa copy is presented).
- - Each applicant must present a separate application form and a separate set of documents even if more applicants travel on one passport (children travelling on their parent´s passport, etc.)!
- - EU citizen´s family members - The above requirements do not apply to accompanying or following family members of EU citizens! EU citizen family members need to present an original document proving their relation to the EU citizen, a copy of the EU citizen´s passport and a proof of accompanying or joining the EU citizen in the Schengen. Kindly see the link https://www.mzv.cz/riyadh/en/visas_and_consular_information/visas/short_term/eu_citizen_family_members.html