If you plan to study in Europe, you should apply for a basic Schengen Student Visa which allows you to travel within its member countries. If you want to study for a longer period of time, you need to apply for a Long-Stay National Student Visa from the embassy of the country where you intend to study.
If you plan to study in Europe, you should apply for a basic Schengen Student Visa which allows you to travel within its member countries. If you want to study for a longer period of time, you need to apply for a Long-Stay National Student Visa from the embassy of the country where you intend to study.
Although the majority of students travel to Europe for long-term studies, a sizable proportion travel for short-term courses using the Schengen student visa.
How exciting can it be to travel to a new nation, establish lifetime friends, practice your language abilities, and create a professional path all at the same time?
The chance to study abroad in the Schengen Zone is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will eventually return to your own country and polish your résumé.
What exactly is a Schengen Student Visa?
The Schengen student visa, which falls under the ‘C’ category, is a document that allows students to enter a nation to study for up to 90 days. The visa can be given as a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa. An individual can obtain a visa after successfully applying for permission in accordance with the Schengen student visa rules.
What Documents are Necessary for a Schengen Student Visa Application?
You must provide the following documents 👍
- Two Photos that are identical. According to the Schengen visa photo standards, taken within the last three months.
- The passport must be valid
- Older passports (if Any)
- Proof of residency is required. A document issued by the country from where you are applying as proof that you are a citizen or resident of that country.
- Travel health insurance is required. A document issued by your Europe health insurer verifying you have insurance for the entire Schengen region for the duration of your stay, with coverage of €30,000 for emergency medical conditions.
- Accommodation documentation. Evidence of where you will be staying while in the Schengen zone. One of the following possibilities
- Dormitory lease. Signed between you and an official of the dormitory where you will be residing in the nation.
- Rent Contract. An agreement with the property owner in this Schengen state specifies the address and other infrastructure and renter details.
- Welcome letter or Invitation Letter. A letter produced by a resident of the nation you are asking to enter, indicating their willingness to host you in their house for the duration of your stay.
- Acceptance letter from an EU University/College/School. A current, official, and signed document specifying your name/study type/length of studies/participation in a European program, if applicable/number of hours per week.
- Academic credentials must be demonstrated.
- Proof of financial ability. Documents proving one’s ability to live and financially support oneself while in the Schengen zone.
- Account statement from a bank.
- Proof of Scholarship (if any)
- Proof of Sponsorship (if any)
- Proof of visa fee payment.
How Do I Apply for a Schengen Student Visa?
- You must first ensure that you are eligible to travel to the particular nation on a student permit before beginning the Schengen student visa application. Following that, you can proceed with the application as described below. However, keep in mind that the process may differ slightly between countries.
- The initial phase is to determine where you must submit your application. According to the country from where you are applying and the nation to which you are traveling, you may be able to submit your request directly at one of the country’s embassy/consulates or through visa application offices.
- Fill out the Schengen Student Visa application form. You must specify ‘ study’ in the form. However, certain countries may also offer an online application form.
- Schedule a time for the document and biometric submission. Depending on the regulations of the specific embassy/consulate, the appointment must be made at an embassy a VAC. You can reserve using the embassy VAC’s online booking system or by contacting them through email or phone.
- Bring the necessary paperwork to the visa appointment. You must submit your application and pay the fees at the center. In some situations, you may be able to pay the costs while completing the application form online. All Schengen applicants must additionally supply their biometrics at the particular appointment center as an obligatory requirement.
Please keep in mind that in some extreme instances, you may be asked to attend an interview with the consular official at the application center/embassy on the same day as your appointment or at a later date.
When should I apply for a Schengen visa for students?
The time frame during which you can submit an application for a Schengen Student Visa is as follows:
- The earliest is three months before your planned departure for Schengen.
- 15 days before your travel is the latest.
- To give the embassy ample time to complete your visa, it is strongly advised that you apply around 4 weeks before your scheduled departure.
Who should apply for or be eligible for a Schengen Student Visa?
In order to become eligible to apply for a student visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You have to be a resident of the nation in which you are applying. If you are in a foreign nation on a permit for residency, you may apply to the visa-issuing authorities there.
- You must have a current, active passport that fits all standards.
- The major goal of your visit must be to participate in short-term study in the country.
- You have to be invited by a local educational institution to study, train, or do research.
- You have to be able to fund all of your expenses while in the nation.
- You need to apply to a country’s embassy/consulate only if that nation is your only travel final destination, one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you are going to be spending almost all of your vacation there, or that country is your port of entry into the Schengen region.
After you have applied for a Schengen Student Visa,
After you submit your application at the appropriate center, it is routed for processing. If you registered at a VAC, they will forward your application to the embassy/consulate for processing. It should be noted that the VAC has no control over the visa’s processing. The embassy is exclusively responsible for this.
If your application is approved, you can pick up your passport with the visa stamped in it in person from the embassy, or you can have it delivered to you for a fee.
How much time does it take to obtain a Schengen visa for students?
The duration of the application process for a student visa is determined by the number of applications received by the embassy, the number of entries, and your past travel history. Your application will typically be processed within 15 working days.
However, in extreme circumstances, this can take up to 30 or even 90 days. As a result, you must apply for the visa at least two weeks before your trip. You cannot, however, apply more than three months before your anticipated travel date.
How do I check the status of my Schengen Student Visa?
There are several ways to check the status of a Schengen student visa. The ability to track the status of a Schengen visa is dependent on both the lodging country and the embassy of the destination country. If you applied at one of the VACs, you can check the status of your application using the application reference number and your date of birth via their online site.
Certain embassies also offer comparable services. In other circumstances, you can contact the travel agent through which you applied to have them track it for you.
How long is the validity of the Schengen Student Visa?
A student’s Schengen visa is valid for up to three months within every six-month period. Verify the validity period and length of permitted stay in the Schengen Area when you receive your passport with the visa inside.
When do you have a Schengen Student Visa?
If you eventually beat the waiting time and have your visa in hand, you must bear the following things in mind to make sure your trip will go smoothly.
Prior to departure – You should be aware of the following before departing for the country:
- All of your travel documents must be with you. These consist of your passport, visa, letter of acceptance and copies of all additional documentation you supplied while applying for the visa.
- Within six months of the date the visa was issued, or as otherwise specified on the visa sticker, you must enter the country.
- Take note of your visa sticker’s expiration date, validity duration, and entry limit information.
At the border – Once you reach the port of entry’s border, bear the following in mind:
- The offices at the port of entry will require you to present your travel documentation.
- Your passport will be stamped with the date of entrance. From this date, you cannot stay for more than 90 days.
- After entering the Schengen region, you must bear in mind the following:
- Your stay cannot be extended for more than 90 days.
- You are not allowed to work for pay while you have a student permit. However, you are permitted to perform unpaid volunteer work.
Can I go to work while I study?
It is illegal to work while on a student visa in a country without first obtaining an employment visa from the host government. As a result, you can mix your work and studies. For instance, in France, the law permits international students to work 964 hours or 60% of a typical workweek. A part-time job should be viewed as a supplementary source of income because it won’t be enough to pay for all of your expenses.
Your academic career and professional prospects could be severely harmed by breaching these restrictions, as breaking local immigration laws may result in a travel ban.
Can a Schengen student visa be extended?
Only in very particular circumstances, such as late admission, humanitarian reasons, significant personal reasons, or other unanticipated circumstances, can a Schengen student visa be extended. Your student visa for the Schengen area cannot be extended in order to continue your education.
You will need to go back to your home country or country of residency and apply for a long-stay study visa if you decide to extend your academic career beyond the originally anticipated time frame.