What is a Schengen Visa?

Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most European countries. It is the largest free travel area in the world.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen Area, per stay up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.

How to apply for a Schengen Visa with a Nepali Passport?

If you are a Nepali passport holder and an American Green Card holder, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit the Schengen area for a short stay (under 90 days). Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Schengen visa with a Nepali passport and an American Green Card from the United States:

# Determine which Schengen visa type you need: Depending on your purpose of traveling from the United States to Europe, there are different Schengen visa types.

# Find out where to apply: You can apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit first or where you will spend the most time during your trip.

# Fill out the application form: You must fill out the Schengen visa application form with all your information and required data. You can usually find a copy of the form at any of the websites of the visa centers or embassies in Nepal, Download the form, fill it out, and sign it. You can access the application form here.

# Prepare your documents: You must prepare several documents for your Schengen visa application.

These include:

1. Your Nepalese passport (original plus a copy): Your passport must have a three-month validity period from the date you leave the Schengen area, contain two blank pages, and have been issued in the last
10 years.

2. Identity photographs: You must submit two identity photographs following the Schengen visa photo guidelines; the photos must have been taken in the last six months.

3. Civil status certificate: Please provide civil status documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, family certificate, or death certificate (if applicable).

4. Proof of accommodation: You must submit proof of hotel bookings/reservations, Airbnb reservations, or proof that you will stay with a family member or friend.

5. Round-trip Flight Itinerary: A booked flight reservation from the US to the EU and back. If you take any internal flights, you will have to include those tickets too.

6. Travel health insurance: Travel Health Insurance must show coverage in the Schengen states for the whole travel period for at least $50.000/€30.000, must be a $0 deductible, and repatriation of mortal remains from Germany must be included. The local US health insurance is not acceptable as well as the employer’s insurance.

7. Proof of paid visa fee: You must also include the receipt proving you have paid the required visa fee; otherwise, your application will not be processed.

8. Copies of previous Schengen visas (if applicable): If you obtained a Schengen visa before applying for a new visa, you must submit copies of those previous permits.

9. Birth certificate and proof of parental consent (if applicable): In cases where minors are applying for a Schengen visa, the application package must also contain their birth certificate and parental consent for
travel if they travel alone or with only one parent/legal guardian.

# Submit your application: Once you have filled out the application form and prepared all your documents, you can submit your application at the embassy or consulate.

# Wait for processing: After submitting your application, it will be processed by the embassy or consulate. The processing time may vary depending on several factors.

Please find the checklist of all the documents here.