Anyone wishing to apply for a Schengen visa from Kenya can visit the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kenya to complete the application process. You should apply for the Schengen visa at a representation in the country where your journey starts or in the Schengen country where you intend to stay the longest. If you are staying in more than one Schengen country for the same period and you cannot select any of the countries as your main destination country, you should apply for the visa at the embassy of the first Schengen country you wish to enter.
How to apply for Schengen visa from Kenya
Technically, the earliest you can get a visa is three months before you plan to use it for the first time. Even if you plan a time in advance and want to travel, for example, on July 1st, you will not be issued the visa until April 1st.
To apply for this visa, you must complete a visa application form, sign the form in two places, at the bottom of the form and at question 37, and attach a passport photo to it. The passport photo must be recent and of very good quality, measuring 35 × 45 mm. Click here to download the MVV application form in PDF format. It is free.
You need to submit full visa register at Kenya Schengen Embassy. If you do, you should be able to provide a passport no more than ten years old and valid for at least 90 days after your visa expires.
See also: How to get a UK visa in Kenya
Requirements for Applying for a Schengen Visa from Kenya
The type and quantity of documents to be usedThe type of Schengen visa application is determined in part by the Schengen country to which you are applying. It is recommended that you find out about the required documents well in advance, either by Googling online or by contacting the Kenyan embassy where you intend to submit your complete application. The embassy provides information in the local language.
The embassy that examines your visa application checks whether your presence poses a threat to national security, international relations or public order and whether you have previously been refused entry to any of the Schengen countries. They take into account the reason for your visit when assessing the risks and the possibility that you are illegally staying in the Schengen country.
Note that requirements and conditions that must be met will vary from time to time and you should always check that you are aware of and have met the latest requirements for submitting your application.
See also: How to get a US visa in Kenya
Currently, the requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa and the procedures, which we will talk about step by step here, include:
Before you apply for a visa, you already know that there are some fees to pay. The fees to be paid can be found here. If you are applying through a visa agency, be aware that they will charge their own processing fees to cover the cost of providing such services to you.
Your visa application will be either as someone visiting for business, as a tourist or as someone visiting family/friends. Clicking on any of these categories will bring up a checklist of the documents you will need to apply for your visa.
After doing this, you still need to do the following:
- You will present your passport and other travel documents that you have issued within the last 10 years. Remember that your passport must have two blank pages and must be valid for 3 months after the date you intend to leave the Schengen country.
- You submit a completed and assigned visa application form.
- Children under the age of 28 will have their forms signed by their parents or guardians traveling with them. If you are under 18 and traveling without a guardian or your parents, they will need to sign a consent form for you as border guards will ask you to do so when you arrive in Schengen.
- Your fingerprints will be taken when you submit your application form. It remains valid for 5 years. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from having their fingerprints taken.
When you have completed these steps, your visa application will go through a few steps that we have found useful to let you know
- Your application will be checked into the Schengen Information System, which is designed as an application to collect your information and help you move and live freely in the Schengen area. Click on SIS II to learn more about it.
- Our application is also checked and stored in the Visa Information System (VIS). It is a platform for fast exchange of visa data between Schengen countries.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then makes a decision on your visa application using an informative decision-making system. Confidentiality of information is guaranteed throughout this process.
The main destinations for visits to Schengen countries are:
To visit family or friends
driving
business purpose
See also: How to get a Kenyan visa hassle-free
Depending on the reason for your visit, you may be asked to provide proof, e.g. E.g.:
- Documents showing that you can pay for your accommodation and travel expenses;
- Reservations at a hotel, an invitation from business partners or individuals, a certified letter of invitation or a letter of guarantee;
- Documents showing that you intend to return to Kenya or the country of origin e.g. B. A statement from the employer or the benefits to your home;
- Travel insurance policy covering all costs of repatriation for critical medical reasons or for emergency treatment. The insurance policy should be valid for all Schengen countries and the entire period of your stay and provide for a minimum amount of cover of €30,000. If you are unable to make prior arrangements with the insurer for reimbursement if your visa is refused, you will not be required to present the insurance policy until you collect your visa.
Although it typically takes up to 15 days to process a visa application, the process can take up to 30 days if further research is required. In special cases, an examination usually lasts up to 2 months. If you are planning to travel to one of the Schengen countries for the first time, make sure you apply for the visa early enough to be sure you can travel on the day you plan to.