Traveling to Europe has always been a dream. I had planned on traveling here back in 2020 but with the pandemic, I had to cancel my travels. Now that borders are opening, I decided to go for it again so I applied for a Schengen Visa.

Schengen Visa Germany

In this post, I will be discussing the following:


What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen Visa is a travel document that allows the holder to enter any of the 26 countries that are part of the Schengen agreement for a certain period. 

Here are the countries where a Schengen visa is valid:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Where to Get a Schengen Visa

Take note you can't just apply to any country. Here's a quick guide on where to apply for a Schengen Visa.

  • Apply through the embassy where you will be traveling. If you're going to Germany only, then you have to apply through their embassy. 
  • If you are visiting multiple countries, then apply at the embassy of the country where you will be staying the longest.
  • If you are visiting multiple countries and spending exactly the same number of days in each country, apply at the embassy of the country where you will first enter the Schengen area.

To apply for a Schengen Visa through the German embassy, you have to course your application through VFS Application Center. You can apply at least two (2) weeks before your travel date but the best date to apply is three (3) months before.

A lot of Schengen countries use VFS Global for visa processing, except for a few like Greece and Spain. Before setting up an appointment, make sure that the country you're applying to is using VFS to process tourist visa applications.

How to Get a German Schengen Visa

The process of getting a visa may vary slightly from one country to another, so only follow this if you are applying through Germany. Here is the step-by-step process of applying for a German Schengen Visa.

  1. Create an account at the VFS Application Center in Germany. Follow the prompts to verify your account.
  2. After creating an account, log in and set an appointment. You will be asked to pay an upfront payment of PHP1,150 for the processing fee, which you can pay with your credit card or through Gcash.
  3. Once you have an appointment, prepare the supporting documents for your application, which will be listed below.
  4. On the day of your appointment, bring all the documents and a printed copy of the Appointment Letter, which will be emailed to you. You have to be there at the VFS Application Center 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
  5. Once you are at the Application Center, wait for your turn. There may be a quick assessment of your documents and you may be asked a few questions - which is part of the process. Then you will pay the Visa Application Fee and be asked to do the biometrics.

You will also be asked to pay the courier fee, even if you will be picking up your passport. In this case, I decided to just have my passport delivered at home since I paid the courier fee anyway. You can also opt to receive status updates through text but there is a fee for that. 

After doing the biometrics, you will be allowed to leave and there's nothing else to do but wait. All in all, I was at the application center for about an hour. 

German Schengen Visa Requirements

Below are the requirements for applying for a German Schengen Visa. Now, the requirements for applying for a Schengen Visa are almost the same for all countries. So you may use this as a general guide. But I will still advise checking for additional requirements if you will be applying through another country.
  • Passport - valid at least 3 months from the end of intended stay and must have at least two empty pages
  • German Schengen Visa application form - fill it out online and print
  • 1 passport-size photo with white background
  • Cover Letter - with a short explanation of your purpose of travel and your intention to return to the Philippines
  • Detailed Trip Itinerary
  • Travel health insurance with a coverage of at least EUR 30,000
  • If you are applying as a tourist:
    • Daily itinerary to explain the purpose of your trip - make it as detailed as possible
    • Proof of hotel bookings
    • Bank statement showing your transactions for the past 6 months
  • If you are invited by a friend or family member:
    • Invitation letter, containing the host's address, your purpose of travel, and details about your travel and stay
    • Proof of relationship with the inviting person
    • Proof of their financial capacity if they are paying for your expenses
  • Roundtrip flight reservation - not an actual booking, just a reservation only
  • If you are employed:
    • Most recent Annual Income Tax Return
    • Certificate of Employment
    • Leave of Absence approval letter
    • Payslip for the last 3 months
  • If you are self-employed:
    • Most recent Annual Income Tax Return
    • BIR registration (for freelancers), or DTI registration (for business owners)
    • Invoices
  • If you are a student:
    • Proof of enrollment
    • Letter of exemption from studies (if applicable)
  • Other proofs of rootedness in the Philippines:
    • Proof of land or property ownership in the Philippines
    • Proof of car or vehicle ownership
  • Schengen Visa Application Fee 
    • Children up to 6 years: FREE
    • Children from 6 to 12 years: EUR 35
    • Applicants older than 12 years: EUR 60

Visa application processing usually takes up to two weeks, but I got mine after only 5 business days. It really varies. 

I hope this post was helpful in terms of how to get a Schengen Visa from the Philippines. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below and I'll be happy to answer them.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to book my flight and hotels even if I don't have a visa yet?

A. You don't have to book your flight yet. However, you need to have a flight reservation or itinerary. As for your hotel, also have to have a confirmed booking. I offer flight itineraries and hotel bookings for visa applications. You can check out the list of my services here.

Q. I'll be staying with a friend in the Schengen territory. Do I still need a hotel booking?

A. No, but make sure to have an invitation letter from your friend indicating their address. They also have to provide a copy of their passport.

Q. How detailed does my itinerary have to be?

A. Give as much detail as possible. Include the places that you want to visit per day and your planned mode of transportation if you will be traveling to different cities or countries in the Schengen territory. It shows that you are honest about your intention to travel, which is tourism. Don't forget to include the name, address, and contact number of your hotel.

Q. I haven't traveled outside of the Philippines yet. Will I be granted a visa if I apply?

A. Generally speaking, you get better chances of approval if you already have a good travel history abroad. But if you have sufficient means to support your trip, then there's no harm in trying.

Q. I was refused a Schengen visa. Can I file an appeal?

A. Yes, you can and the appeal process can take weeks of months, depending on the consulate. The refusal letter will include instructions on how to do it. However, filing an appeal won't guarantee that the decision will be reversed and that you'll be granted a visa.