Why was My Schengen Visa Rejected?
Sometimes, the fear of doing something unsuccessfully can hold us back from pursuing what we want. This sentiment can apply to many things in life – in our case, we’re talking about the fear of having your Schengen visa rejected. If you’re convinced even before booking your ticket that your visa might be rejected, that you might end up losing your money, you may not ever take the chance.
7 Visa Application Errors You Could Make and How to Fix It
The Schengen visa– the gateway to your trip to Europe – is understandably intimidating at first glance. Not only do you have to provide a detailed list of documents, you also have to ensure that you have the right amount of funds and the appropriate medical insurance in order to obtain the visa.
However, the benefits are spectacular. With the Schengen visa, you now have access to all Schengen countries – which covers a large part of the European continent. Stroll around the beautiful Warsaw Market Square in Poland. Enjoy music and great food in a small tapas bar in Spain, soak in the sun in Amalfi, Italy. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences!
So, let’s identify some of the reasons why your Schengen visa was rejected, and how you can prevent them from happening. Remember, Europe is waiting…
1. Missing or Incorrect Travel Documents
You need to make sure that all your documents are valid, attested and are up to date. One of the biggest criteria that embassies look at is the truthfulness of the visa applicant. If you do provide the wrong documents, the chances of getting a Schengen visa, or any visa for that matter, is zero. Therefore, check your documents carefully, make sure they are exactly as per the requirements of the embassy before you submit them.
2. Insufficient justification for your trip
Visiting and enjoying a new place is a privilege. Therefore, the reasons to holiday or do business in an international trip become extremely important to the embassy. If you have not provided enough proof as to why you are visiting one of the Schengen countries, your visa application stands a chance of being rejected. For e.g.
- Not submitting evidence that your finances match your job or professional status
- Not submitting documents that support your reason to visit Europe (particularly in the case of a work or business visa)
- Proof that you will return on the given exit date. (embassies look out for reasons that might make you want to stay after your visa date has expired)
3. Damaged passport
Your passport is an essential document (we cannot state that enough). Not only do you use it for travel purposes, but also for identity proof for various processes in India. Therefore, you need to keep it in good shape. If pages are missing, torn or detached from your passport or the cover is damaged, your visa could be rejected. So, keep your passport safe!
4. Incomplete Travel Itinerary
We know that when you’re planning your trip to Europe, the choices are endless. There’s so much to do that you don’t know where to start or what to do. However, a trip plan or itinerary is essential for a Schengen visa. First, determine which country you will start your trip in. Second, book your accommodation in each country you are visiting. Third, make sure your tickets to each country are booked (this includes flight and rail tickets). Although you don’t have to provide an extremely detailed travel program, a well thought out travel plan can greatly increase the chances of getting a visa. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning!
5. Insufficient funds, one of the reasons why your Schengen Visa Rejected
A trip to Europe is expensive, so it’s important to keep enough money to last you during your trip. Not only is it important to you, but to the embassy as well. If you cannot show adequate proof that you have enough funds for the trip, your visa is rejected. Examples of this are:
- Showing financial records that are older than 1 month before applying for the visa (remember, they need up to date financial records.)
- Presenting only credit card statements in place of a current account statement
- A mismatch in your financial statements and financial status
- Presenting traveller’s cheques without the name of the visa applicant
Having the accounts to present to the embassy works in your favour. You don’t need to worry about securing the funds once your trip starts. If the amount does prove to be expensive, make sure you start saving in advance. 6. Insufficient or Invalid Travel Insurance
One of the main Schengen visa requirements is a valid Travel Insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros. Your visa could be rejected based on insurance reasons under the following circumstances:
- Failing to submit an insurance cover for the mandatory amount (minimum 30,000 Euros)
- Submitting a policy that doesn’t cover the duration of your trip to the Schengen region
- Submitting a policy that does not cover the applicant till his/her return to the home country
7. No proof of accommodation provided
Do you know where you’re going to stay during your trip? The great thing about the Schengen visa is that in the process of applying for it, you end up taking care of other aspects of your trip.
What are we talking about? Well, one of the requirements of the Schengen visa is providing proof of accommodation. You’ll need to provide proof of hotel reservations, an invitation from a Schengen resident who is sponsoring your trip, or evidence of a prepaid tour. Failing to provide proof of any of the above can result in a visa rejection. So why not arrange for your accommodation in advance? It’ll save you from last minute reservations/bookings and provide proof to the embassy that you have a solid travel plan.
