How to apply for a Schengen Visa in Nigeria

Here is the step-by-step procedure on how to apply for a Schengen visa in Nigeria. Nigerian residents are required to apply for a visa to visit certain countries. Before you can travel to any country under the Schengen region. You must apply for a Schengen visa in Nigeria. Irrespective of the purpose of your visit, you need to apply for the right visa category.  

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen Visa is a license you need to enter and exit countries that are under the Schengen agreement for a short period.

Where is Schengen located?

Schengen is placed in a little community in Luxembourg, it is the place where countries like the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and some other European countries came together to endorse a treaty on immigration laws in 1985. This is the reason why it is referred to as a Schengen visa.

Why was there a Schengen agreement?

The essence of the Schengen agreement was to give freedom of movement to countries that signed the agreement and reduce travel regulations and strong border restraints. This applies to some other countries outside the European Union. For example, in West Africa, there is the ECOWAS where citizens of countries under the ECOWAS region can freely move to any country without applying for a visa.

Schengen Visa Type

Your purpose of visit to Schengen will determine the type of visa you can apply for. These are the types

• Schengen Transit Visa 
• Schengen Visit Visa
• Schengen Tourist Visa 
• Schengen Business Visa 
• Schengen Study Visa 
• Medical Visa 

Where to Apply for Schengen Visa 

Since most of the Schengen countries cannot

Embassy 

Consulate 

Visa Submission Centres

Embassy / Consulate of Another Schengen Country 

Requirements for Schengen Visa in Nigeria 

Sort all the documents that you need for a successful Schengen visa application. For Nigerians, the following documents are required;

• A valid International passport with at least 6 months’ validity  
• Two recent passport photographs
• Residential evidence
• Proof of Funds / 6 months Statement / Sponsorship letter
• Completed visa application form 
• Receipt of visa fee payment
• Birth Certificate 
• Marriage Certificate 
• Travel Insurance
• Additional documents specific to your travel purpose might be requested from you, do well to provide them.
• Flight Itinerary and Hotel booking
• Invitation 
• Additional documents when Applying With a Minor
• Birth Certificate 
• Written Consent Letter Signed By both parents

Tips For Schengen Visa 

List of Countries Under Schengen

The countries under the Schengen Visa agreement are mostly countries that are part of the European Union. They are the major countries one can travel to with a Schengen visa. They are currently 22 countries namely:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

To add to this, there are Non-European countries that allow individuals to travel to their countries with a Schengen visa.

These countries are;

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Before the United Kingdom became a part of the European Union, its citizens could travel to Schengen countries without a visa. Since the introduction of Brexit laws and withdrawal from the EU, nationals of the U.K. need to get an Electronic Travel Information Authorization System (ETIAS) form to visit countries in the Schengen area.

How much is a Schengen Visa fee?

The Schengen Visa fee is €80 for adults, in some cases, it is free for children less than 6 years and half the price for children between the ages of 7 and 12.

Why do you need a Schengen Visa?

As a citizen of a country that is not part of the European Union, a Schengen visa is needed to travel to countries part of the European Union within a space of 3 months, otherwise calculated as 90 days.

With a Schengen Visa, you can satisfy your curiosity and explore different states, countries and cities in the European Union based on a schedule. Also, you need a Schengen Visa to travel through a European country on your way to another European country. For instance, if you are travelling from Nigeria to Spain before you then travel to Germany, you need a Schengen Visa.

Categories of Schengen Visas available in Nigeria

Aside from the visitor’s visa, business visa, sports visa, and research visa types that are well available, the Schengen Visa is broadly divided into three categories, this includes:

Uniform Schengen Visa:

This authorizes visitors to travel to any Schengen country and stay for 3 months within the space of 6 months.

This category of visa is further classified into:

Single entry Visa: This permits one entry into a Schengen country for a short while and expires upon leaving the country. For example, a visit to Sweden for a vacation, and back to your country.

Double entry Visa: This visa allows the traveller to have access to travel to a country under Schengen visa regulation twice and it expires once there is an exit from the borders of a Schengen country. This could allow people to travel for different reasons on the account that they still hold a valid license to do.

Multiple entry Visa: This visa type as it reads “multiple” gives unlimited access to the entry and departure from Schengen countries. The only limitation is that the stay does not exceed 3 months (90 days) in a 6-month (180 days) period. While in possession of a multiple entry visa, a traveller can decide to return before the expiration date on the visa and still travel again, if the situation calls for it.

National Visa

This National Visa is allotted to individuals with a specific intention or request to stay in a Schengen country for a brief period, for a specific purpose.

It is majorly given to:

Researchers

Scholars on a part-time study for a year or less

Travellers who can not return immediately because of an emergency that occurred during the trip

Limited Territorial Validity Visa(LTV)

The LTV permits guests to travel to just the country that has handed out the visa to them. It is mostly given to individuals with a focused destination for a distinct purpose and it is valid within a Schengen territory. This indicates that one cannot travel to France with a German Schengen Visa.

Lagos or Abuja?

The embassies in Abuja and Lagos make provisions for visa appointments.

For travellers to the Netherlands, they can apply at the Belgian embassy in Abuja or the French embassy in Lagos.

This depends on your location and proximity to the embassy to meet up with appointments.

Also, it is advisable to make further enquiries about the embassy to apply to before you begin the process.

How to apply for a Schengen Visa in Nigeria.

To apply for a Schengen visa in Nigeria, here is what you have to do:

Identify the Visa to Apply for

The first step is to identify your visa type based on your intentions. The types of Schengen Visas that are suited to meet individual needs include:

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Medical Visa
• Sports/ Entertainment visa
• Research or study visa
• Study Visa 
• Visit Visa 

Apply for the Right Category

Figure out the category of Schengen visas accessible to you. There are several categories of visas to choose from in this process. The selection is based on the motives for your journey, the number of countries you intend to visit and how often you want to enter and exit the region. It is also strongly influenced by the requirements of the Schengen countries.

Also, different countries have laws that guide this process, it determines the options applicants have and the time frame of the application.

Apply For Schengen Visa 

Apply at the embassy of the country available within your local area. To apply for a Schengen visa, it must be done at the embassy of the country you want to travel to. In the case where the country does not have an embassy in your country, you can apply at another Schengen country that processes the visa on their behalf or at the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) Global closest to you. 

There is the basic information you need to further your application process. This comprises;

The country you want to travel to or spend more time if you are travelling to two or more countries. The way you intend to split your journey based on the visa options available. For instance, if you want to move to two or more Schengen countries in 90 days, you can decide to spend 45 days in each of the countries.

The embassy to apply for a visa is dependent on the country you intend to spend more time in during your stay or the country you intend to pass through first (have your first stop).

Pay your Schengen Visa Application fee

The Schengen Visa application fee is about 80 Euros for adults and 45 Euros for children from 7-12 years. In addition, some countries provide free visa fee access for children 6 years and below.

Visit the website of the embassy you are applying to and fill out the online application form. Completing the application form for your Schengen visa can be done online before proceeding to the embassy for an appointment. While filling out the form, look out for the instructions and take your time to avoid error or rejection.

Do Biometrics 

Get your fingerprints and other means of proper identification uploaded to the visa application website. 

Book an interview

You are expected to have an interview session with an immigration officer at the embassy. You can schedule this online and input all the necessary information needed to successfully achieve this. 

Translate documents in other languages to English Language or the required language before submission. This is conditional, based on the prompt from the Schengen country. Based on your entry on the Schengen visa application website, you will be given a date to come for an interview which you must attend. The significance of the meeting is for the official to know your intentions and ask you a few questions.

Also, you are obliged to come with printed documents of your online visa application, visa fee payment and other documents you have prepared for the interview. This would be communicated to you once you receive an appointment.

Visa Approval

Be calm, the Schengen visa application might take some days to be fully processed. From the time you apply to the date you eventually get a visa, it is natural to be anxious about the decisions of the embassy. However, once you have done your part and provided all the information needed with the accurate documents, you only need to wait. The Schengen visa application in Nigeria takes about 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on the type or category of visa you need.

How to Handle Schengen Visa Rejection

In the case where your visa application gets rejected, the embassy will list the reasons why your application was rejected. You can re-apply again and look out for the mistakes you made in your previous application to ensure your visa is granted.

Also Read: Reasons why Your Visa Could be Rejected

How to apply For Poland Visa in Nigeria

To apply for a Poland visa, you can schedule an appointment via the e-Konsulat: https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/ select the right visa category, then register. 

Appointment dates are released in the system every two weeks usually the first and third Monday of every month at 9.30 am (local time). The manual Visa application form will be submitted in person. 

 Consular Section, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Abuja

Address: 10, River Niger St., off Danube St., Maitama, Abudża, Nigeria

Tel.: +234 805 200 0204

E-mail: abuja.consulate@msz.gov.pl

How to apply For Norway Visa in Nigeria

Applicants from Nigeria applying for a Norway visa can submit their applications to the VFS Global in either Abuja or Lagos. Your application will be sent to the Norwegian Embassy for processing applications. The processing time for Norway applications for Schengen visas is between 10 to 15 days from the day your application was submitted.

54 T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria. Postal address: PMB 5136, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria  

How to Apply for Finland Visa in Nigeria

Customer service: Embassy of Finland, Abuja

Visa and residence permit matters

Visa Center VFS Global serves customers at Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor, Plot 1083 Mohammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria.