SchengenVisa Guide
One visa for 29 European countries. From the appointment rush to interview questions, bank statements to insurance: get the application right the first time and cut your refusal risk to a minimum.
29 Countries, One Visa, One Rule: 90/180
The Schengen area covers 29 countries, including non-EU members Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Bulgaria and Romania became full members in 2024-2025). With a single tourist (type C) visa you move between these countries without passport checks.
The standard visa allows a stay of 90 days in total within any 180-day period. The count is not per country: it is the sum of all time spent anywhere in Schengen. Overstaying means fines, deportation and refusals on future applications.
If you hold a green passport, you do not need this guide
Holders of the Turkish special (green) passport enter Schengen visa-free, as long as they do not exceed 90 days in any 180. This guide is for the ordinary (bordeaux) passport.
A Complete Application File
Passport
Valid for at least 3 months after your return, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages. No visa is issued into a passport older than 10 years.
Travel health insurance
Valid across all of Schengen, with minimum 30,000 € coverage for treatment plus repatriation. The policy dates must fully cover your trip.
Proof of funds
Bank statements for the last 3 months plus payslips if you have them. A large "padding" deposit made right before applying can itself be a refusal reason; a steady balance is what convinces.
Reservations
A round-trip flight reservation (a PNR is enough, no need to buy the ticket) and accommodation covering every night. If you are visiting someone, add the invitation letter plus the host's documents.
Fees (2026)
The consular fee is 90 € for adults, 45 € for ages 6-12, free under 6. Service centers like VFS/iDATA charge an additional handling fee; plan a total of 130-160 € per person. The fee is not refunded if you are refused.
From Appointment to Getting Your Passport Back
Choose country and center
Apply to the consulate of your main destination (the country where you will spend the most nights). Appointments fill up weeks ahead in summer; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends applying at least 1 month in advance.
Online form + appointment
Fill in the application form on the official site of the country or its authorized service provider. Never pay unofficial "consultancy" websites.
Submit documents + biometrics
Bring originals plus photocopies, ordered to match the form. Fingerprints (biometrics) are valid for 59 months; if you gave them recently they may not be required again.
Processing
The standard period is up to 15 days and can stretch in busy seasons. You are not required to buy a final flight ticket during this stage.
Passport returned
Always check the dates and number of days on the visa sticker. First visas usually match your trip length; with a solid travel history, 1-5 year multiple-entry visas become possible.
Refusal Reasons and Appeals
Failing to document the purpose of travel
Your plan (route, accommodation, return) must form a coherent whole. Disconnected reservations raise doubts about your "real intention".
Insufficient or unconvincing funds
As a rule of thumb, expect to show roughly 50-100 € per day; sudden deposits of unclear origin work against you.
Weak ties to Turkey
A job, studies, family, property: evidence that says "I will return" is the invisible backbone of your file. Add your SGK (social security) record and an employer letter.
Past violations
If you previously overstayed or misdeclared, add an honest explanatory letter. Hiding it is worse, because it shows in the system anyway.
If you get refused
The refusal letter contains a reason code. Depending on the country's procedure you can usually appeal within 15-30 days, or fix the gaps and reapply. A refusal does not automatically block future applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard processing is up to 15 days; it can stretch in high season and for files needing extra review. That is why you should apply at least 1 month before your trip.
The country where you will spend the most nights; if equal, the country of first entry into Schengen. Picking a country "because it approves easily" without a matching plan risks refusal and a bad record if checked.
No. The 90 € consular fee and the service provider's handling fee are not refunded even if the result is a refusal.
No, a confirmed ticket is not required; a refundable/PNR reservation is accepted. Buying a non-refundable ticket before the visa is issued is unnecessary financial risk.
Sources and Useful Addresses
- • mfa.gov.tr, visa regimes applied to Turkish citizens
- • Official visa pages of the relevant country's embassy / consulate general in Turkey
- • VFS Global / iDATA official appointment systems (official addresses only)
Important: this content is general information
Visa rules can change without notice. Always confirm your situation with an official source before you travel: Also check with the embassy or consulate of your destination country in your own country. The information on this page is guidance, not legal advice.
There are routes with no visa at all
Explore 50+ countries you can enter visa-free with the bordeaux passport on the interactive map.