Imagine having a visa that doesn’t restrict you to just one country – a visa that lets you visit 28 countries! Yes, you don’t need individual visas for each destination. That’s what a Schengen visa offers; it acts like a master key that unlocks the doors to all 28 countries in the Schengen area.
A Schengen visa is a dream visa for travelers who want to explore enchanting European cities, enjoy their culture, indulge in mouth-watering food, and more. A Schengen visa can unlock all these possibilities.
However, getting a Schengen visa from Bangladesh is not so easy. It requires a long list of documents. But if you meet the requirements and present your documents correctly, your visa will definitely be accepted.
Schengen visas can be applied by yourself. There are no legal requirements for hiring a lawyer and taking service from any consulting agency. However, lawyers and agents can most definitely help you in so many ways. Especially about helping you prepare the required documents and ensuring you meet the visa eligibility.
Which lawyer or agents should I choose? Do you know about Schengen Visa Processing Agents or lawyers in Bangladesh?
Let us give you an idea about it.
How To Apply For A Schengen Visa From Bangladesh?
So you might be wondering what is the first step while applying?
First things first, you have to decide which Schengen country will be your main destination because you have to apply for a visa at that country’s embassy or consulate.
After you decide, it’s time to collect all the necessary documents. You might need the following documents
- The visa application form.
- Your photograph needs to be 2 inch x 2 inch (50 mm x 50 mm) and it can’t be black and white.
- Your passport has to be valid with 2 blank pages for 6 months. Travel health insurance that covers the entire period in the Schengen area with at least 30,000 Euro coverage.
- Cover letter which will declare your purpose of visit.
- Travel plan or day-to-day itinerary.
- Personal bank statement.
- Copy of the air ticket booking. The booking can be primary and not confirmed.
- Other financial documents like FDR, Sanchaypatro, Investment documents etc need to be presented.
- Marriage certificate or baby birth certificate.
- Hotel reservation papers.
- Income Tax Return Certificate/ Acknowledgement copy & Certified Assessment Copy of last 3 years.
For Self-Employed Applicant
- Trade license
- Business bank statement (at least last 6 months)
- Tax documents- TIN certificate, Tax certificate, Acknowledgement copy, and Assessment copy of tax documents.
For Employed Applicant
- Employment Certificate for employed individuals
- No Objection Certificate (NOC)
For A Student
- Proof of Enrollment: You need to show your Proof of enrolment in an educational institution in Bangladesh. It can be your student ID card.
- Leave of Absence Letter/NOC: This letter of absence should be issued and signed by the head of the department or institution. It will contain your institute’s full address. Phone number, permission of absence, name, and position of the person granting permission. It is a necessary document if you are traveling during the school year.
If You Are Traveling For Business Visits-
- Invitation Letter- An invitation letter from the company you are visiting.
- Proof of Business Relationship- Proof of recent business contacts with the company you are visiting, such as bills of lading, LC, receipts, contracts, or correspondence.
- Ticket/ Payment Receipt– If you are attending a commercial fair or congress, you will need to provide proof of attendance, such as a letter of invitation from the event organizer or proof of registration fee payment.
If You Are Visiting Your Family And Friends-
- Invitation letter- You will need a letter of invitation from the person you are visiting. Our host needs to mention your accommodation details as well.
- Proof of Relationship: You will need to show proof of your relationship with the person you are visiting.
Please keep in mind that all documents need to be translated into either Swedish or english. For Bangla documents, an authorized translator should translate any documents from Bangla to English.
Now that you have gathered all the papers, you have to fix an appointment at your Schengen embassy or consulate. Some Schengen embassies or consulates process your visa directly, some embassies process it through the external service provider (ESP) VFS Global.
You need to fill the schengen application form correctly. After that attend your appointment with the embassy, provide your documents on the same day. Few embassies can take an interview, but do not worry! It is a simple interview and they ask questions about your travel plan, why you are visiting and other relevant questions. So be honest and answer without hesitation.
They will give you a delivery date, Once the passport is ready, go to the embassy and collect the passport. If your visa is approved then you will get your passport with a visa sticker.
Which Consulate Should You Apply To?
In Bangladesh there are 7 European embassies that issue visas. Currently Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Sweden have a resident embassy. But each embassy is assigned as the consulate to represent other nations who do not have an embassy in BD.
- Embassy of Denmark- this embassy also represents norway, so anyone who wants to apply for norwegian visa can apply through the Denmark embassy. No appointment required and you can submit the application through VFS global.
- The Embassy of Germany- from this embassy you can apply for Estonia visa as well, however appointment is mandatory.
- Embassy of Italy- you can apply for Greece, Italy, Malta and Slovakia from the Italian embassy in Bangladesh. No appointment is required and you can submit the application through VFS global Italy.
- Embassy of France- aside from France they are also assigned consulates of Portugal and Austria. Online appointment is mandatory.
- Embassy of Switzerland- phone or email appointment is required. You can also apply for Liechtenstein and Hungary from the Embassy of Switzerland.
- Embassy of Sweden- Sweden Embassy is the only embassy where you can apply for a visa for multiple countries like Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and slovenia. This embassy does not require an appointment.
- Embassy of Spain- this embassy only process gives visa of Spain, you can apply through Spain Visa Application Centre Saimon Centre. But all the documents need to be translated into spanish.
Getting a Sweden visa is easier in terms of appointment and the process is faster too. So if your documents are accurate and you are eligible then you can get the result in 15 days.
The Italian Embassy process can take longer, it can take months sometimes. However, the document process is easier.
The Embassy of Switzerland requires a physical interview and documents are also necessary. Like Switzerland, the French embassy takes interviews too. It can take a minimum 10 days to process your application for short stay and 1 month for long stay applications.
On the other hand, the German embassy takes longer to process from Bangladesh and it is hard to get an early appointment.
How Can A Visa/Immigration Agency Help You?
Now that you know all the procedures, feeling brave enough to try for yourself? It’s okay if you are not ready to do it by yourself. Because the visa processing is a daunting task. You might not have enough time to do it for yourself or struggle while preparing your documents, during the application process.
You can always take the help of professionals, immigration agency or a visa consultancy firm is here to help. They can help in so many ways, from assessment to submission process they can assist you from A to Z.
As experts in this line of work, they will assist you through all the paperwork. As they know about visa requirements, rules and regulations and other legal stuff. You will get regular follow ups and updates if necessary.
But keep it in mind that it’s very important to choose trustworthy agencies.
Can Lawyers Help You With A Schengen Visa?
Immigration Lawyers play an important role in obtaining a schengen visa. However, it’s not mandatory to seek a lawyer’s help. It is totally up to you if you want to consult a lawyer or not.
Some applicants may have complex cases, which might not be easy to handle. This is where a lawyer can assist you regarding your visa application. Your application and papers can be reviewed by lawyers as well. If you made any error or submitted unnecessary documents as an expert they will help you to correct it.
If your visa gets rejected, immigration lawyers can examine your application and find the grounds of rejection, after that they can legally appeal on your behalf. They are well-versed in legal issues and processes which might be critical for you to understand.
If you want the assistance of immigration lawyer in Schengen, we can help you with that. We can contact immigration lawyer for you, however you have to pay the service charge.
How Can Visa Processing Center Help You?
We Visa Processing Center can help you with each and every step of the complex process. We can ensure a smooth, hassle-free journey towards your new adventure in Schengen countries.
In our team we have experts who are specialized in Schengen visa. We have years of experience in visa processing, and we are updated about immigration laws, legal requirements.
We aim to complete your visa application efficiently without making any error. In the meantime we will provide 24/7 Customer Support so that we can answer any of your queries. Let us handle your complications so that you can relax and pack your bags without any worry.
Don’t hesitate to contact us. We will assess your eligibility and if your profile is strong the visa application process will start right away. Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we want you to be happy with our services.
Frequently Asked Questions- FAQ
How much is the Schengen Visa fee?
For adults the visa fee is approximately 11,500 BDT and for children between 6-12 years of age the fee is 5625 BDT.
What is the minimum processing time for a Schengen visa from Bangladesh?
It can take 2-3 weeks for your visa to process from Bangladesh.
Which Schengen visa is easy to get from Bangladesh?
Getting a Sweden visa appointment is more manageable in terms of fast processing. However, easy to get approved depends on your profile and purpose.
Can a minor from Bangladesh apply for a Schengen visa?
Yes, they can apply, however, they will need to show some extra documents like – Consent of your parents or legal guardian, a Photocopy of your passport of parents or legal guardian, Financial details of your legal guardians, Your birth certificate, etc.