How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in the Philippines?

I’m using a speech to text program because I know that any post that discusses how to apply for a Schengen visa would be long. I wanted to be as detailed as possible because like you, I had no idea before how to apply for Schengen visa if you’re from Philippines. All I know is that it was super hard especially for a citizen from a developing country like me. Let me tell you now, it’s hard but it’s not impossible. I really hope that by end of this post, you will learn a lot on how to get your own visa.

Author’s profile

Just a background about my profile: I’m a 21-year-old Content Writer and Marketer – Digital Marketing for Bolton International since July 2015. I graduated a year ago and I landed my first job as a Search Engine Optimization Writer for Lazada Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore where I worked from March-July, 2015. I have no kids/dependent and I’m not married.

Ask me six months ago and I would tell you how it’s my dream to go see the world and travel. Ask me six months ago and I’ll also tell you how I think it’d be impossible for me to do so because I know it’s hard. Sure, I know that I will eventually get my dreams of traveling around the world but I would have never guessed that I will be able to accomplish it at the age of 21 years old and without the help of anyone financially.

This might not be a big deal to some but let me tell you, I didn’t come from a well-to-do family and to top that, there was an error in my birth certificate. It took me 3 years to finally correct my gender from male to female (but I’m a legit female, okay lol) and those 3 years, you have no idea how many buckets I cried. I can’t get my passport and travel because of that stupid error which I have no idea why it took so long. I missed the opportunities in New York City last year, Dubai, and New Zealand this year because of this gender error.

Long story short, God knows the right timing and weeks after I had my birth certificate error corrected and after I hit my financial goal, I received my multiple-entry Schengen visa.

My Schengen visa in its full glory:

Everybody wants to go to Europe. Germany, France, Netherlands, Greece, and Spain are just some of the countries you’ll find in there. Everything in Europe speaks of class, culture, and art! However, not just because you have a money and can afford the plane ticket doesn’t mean you can visit those places. You will need a visa to do so and today, I will teach you how you can obtain one.

What is a Schengen Visa?

This is basically a pass or a permission that allows you to travel to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Unlike first world countries, citizens from our country need to apply for this visa in order to travel Europe. They say that it’s harder to get a Schengen visa than a US visa because a single visa will allow you to travel to 24 freaking countries in a maximum span of 90 days / 3 months.

Is the process the same for work/marriage/study visa?

This post on how to apply for a Schengen visa is only applicable for tourism. There’s a different type for work/marriage/study.

I only know how to get one for tourism.

When can I apply?

You can start planning for your trip, completing the requirements, and booking your interview 3 months before your trip. I planned for my trip the first week of November 2015, asked for my employer’s approval for my leave around the first week of January 2016, booked my visa interview by the 30^th of January, and completed the requirements by the 26^th of February.

For the full timeline on my visa progress, refer to this post.

Is it hard to apply for a Schengen visa?

Obtaining 150 pages of document is hard but the effort was so worth it.

Do I need to be super rich to be granted a Schengen visa?

Nope. Don’t believe the Internet and the naysayers telling you that your chances are low because you’re not rich. I am not rich! I live near a highway and vulcanizing shop, my parents are teacher and driver, I studied at a public school, I don’t have a car, nor do I have a rich boyfriend to finance me. So, no! As long as you can prove that you won’t stay there illegally, then you’re safe. Just be sure to have a job and a decent savings on your account. My sister applied for a visa last 2013 and unfortunately, she was denied. We think it’s because she didn’t have a job back then when she applied. To secure your chance, look for a job, save some money, and then apply for your visa. Don’t rush because Europe will wait for you. Do it slowly but surely.

Do I need to have a boyfriend/friend/relative in Europe to be granted a Schengen visa?

Nope. If you can do it yourself, it’s nice to do it yourself. I do have a relative in Europe but the embassy didn’t even ask me to submit a document showing that I do have one. It still depends, though. If you think you lack the money needed for your Europe tour, you can declare that you have a boyfriend/friend/relative in Europe who will support you. As for my case, I am really blessed to have an aunt in Europe who is so supportive and willing to make their home my home base while I travel (I love her so much!) but even if family is family, I still don’t want to cause inconvenience  to anyone  and ask for money just for my dream.

I’m glad to say that I financed this whole trip 100% using my own money from hard work but I won’t judge you if you need help from someone. Whatever floats your boat just as long as you’re not hurting anyone and you’re happy.

How much money do I need to show the embassy?

It depends upon the embassy. France is an expensive country to live in and they require 56.20 euro per day. The German embassy requires that you’ll have 45 euros or PHP 2,385 per day exclusive of your flight ticket. So for example, I’m planning to stay for 30 days, I need to have PHP 2,385 x 30 = PHP 71,550 + the flight ticket of let’s say, PHP 52,000 = PHP 123,550. Of course, you need to have more than that because the embassy might think you’ll have nothing left when you return from your trip. In my opinion, you need to have at least PHP 200,000 for a 30-day stay in Europe as PHP 123,550 excludes accommodation and activities.

Can you tell me the step-by-step process on how to get my Schengen visa?

Of course!

1. Plan your trip.

Where in Europe would you want to go first and for how long? This is important because you have to apply in the embassy of the country you’ll stay at the longest.

What if I want to go to Germany for 10 days and then Netherlands for 10 days?

 If you’ll stay at different countries at an equal time, you should apply at the country you’ll go to first. In this scenario, apply in German embassy.

2. Google, Google, and Google

…or Yahoo. Whatever floats your boat but research and read travel blogs to answer your questions. My favorite Schengen visa blog post is by Dream Euro Trip. DJ Yabis is an amazing person and he is very helpful answering people’s questions through the comment section. His post on how to get the visa is actually my homepage for 3 months. It’s so detailed and you will learn a lot from the firsthand experience of the commenters.

3. Read the embassy’s requirements

Different countries included in the Schengen zone have a lot of similarities with their requirements but there are still some that differs. I applied in the German embassy and I’m glad that the website is very detailed and it answers a lot of questions.

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4. Complete the requirements

Make sure you complete the following requirements for a higher chance of being approved. Even if you have a complete requirement, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be granted a visa. I read horror stories that they passed everything the embassy asked for and they were still rejected. You have to prove that you are coming back and won’t stay as an illegal immigrant so pass documents that prove your rootedness here. I submitted the ff.:

• Passport – must be valid for 6 months upon the conclusion of travel. I photocopied this twice, as well.
• 2 current passport pictures – I had mine taken at Picture City in Market! Market! I asked for a Schengen visa format and when I went home to check it, I realized that they didn’t print it as instructed by the German embassy. I had to go back and show them the accepted format. I’m glad they didn’t charge me for it.
• Visa application form – you can answer the form here. Make sure that you answer it completely because it can’t be printed unless you answered all that’s required. You can fill out the form even if you still haven’t completed your requirements. Do so as early as now.
• Signed declaration – I printed and signed this.
• Original birth certificate – You can order it online for PHP 350 and it will arrive in less than 5 days.
• Flight reservation – I got mine from Dream Euro Trip. It cost me around PHP 1200.
• Bank statement – I have two Unionbank accounts (personal savings and payroll). I went to a branch to ask for my bank statement for 3 months and it costs 50 pesos per page. I spent around PHP 600 for this. (I know, I spent a lot in the past few months LOL)
• Bank certificate – This one is different from the bank statement as this one’s signed by the branch manager. It’s a one-page document acknowledging that you have an account in that bank and it also states how much your current balance is. This costs PHP 150.
• Health insurance – I purchased mine from Care Concept and it cost me PHP 6000+, I guess? It’s nice because they will refund you in case your visa got denied.
• Income tax return – You can ask this from your employer. I presented my current and previous employer’s ITR.
• Certificate of employment – This should indicate your position, how long how you’ve been working for them, your salary and benefits, and your employment status. I presented my COE from my previous employer, as well.
• Leave of absence – Ask this from your HR and they should write that they acknowledge your leave and that you’ll have your job back when you returned from your trip.
• Cover letter – I just wrote a letter explaining my reason to travel Europe and told them that I have a job here blah blah… Just explain your own reason but don’t make it sound you’re desperate lol. One page is more than enough.
• Itinerary letter – Mine’s not that detailed since I have no idea where I’ll go after I arrived in Germany. I just put where I intend to go in Germany. For example, first week would be in Cologne then second week would be Dusseldorf. The more detailed, the better.

Download the cover letter and itinerary letter template here.

 Optional documents that the embassy didn’t take:

• Airbnb/ apartment listings – I think I submitted some apartment/dorm listings that I fancy in Airbnb. No need to purchase or reserve one. Just print screen the listings you think you’ll stay at once you’re there.
• Written invitation – I have a relative in Europe and just to be on the surer side, I asked if they could write me an invitation stating that they take full responsibility of me. Surprisingly, the embassy didn’t take this as well as the other documents/identification of my relative. They also didn’t ask about them in my interview.
• Job offers – I know, I am hardcore. I also printed out job offers from companies in the Philippines who wanted to hire me. I want to show the embassy that digital marketing in the Philippines is a booming industry and that I am compensated well that’s why I don’t need to go TNT there. LOL. They didn’t take this one.
• Bills – I photocopied our bills (electric, Internet, phone) just for the heck of it and to prove that we have our own house here in the Philippines. They gave it back to me.

5. Book your appointment

Once you have completed the following requirements, you can book your interview appointment here. Be aware that interview slots are booked almost immediately. I booked mine by January 30, 2016 and the whole month of February was already booked! Checking it today (February 26, 2016), the next available appointment is April 19, 2016! Wow, right? Almost 2 months of waiting. So book as early as possible!

6. Prepare for your interview

By prepare, it doesn’t mean that you should memorize and rehearse your answer. It means that you should be ready for the questions they’ll ask you. Click here for my German Embassy Manila experience so that you’ll have an idea what to expect on the day itself.

7. Waiting game

 I got interviewed on a Wednesday and I got my visa the following Monday. Those 5 days? The worst few days of my life! I was paranoid that I’m not going to get it. Because of that, I visited 5 churches and asked God that if it’s for me, it’s for me. The time I received it via 2Go package, I think the whole street went deaf because I screamed out loud. HAHAHA. Best day ever!

To top that, the embassy added more days in my visa! They also made it multiple entry even if I just asked for single entry!!! Thank you, German embassy!

I don’t want to write a post on what to do if you get denied! I want you to believe that you won’t. Believe in yourself and you will get it.

BTW, please prepare PHP 170 to give to the 2Go deliveryman. It’s cash-on-delivery and I remember being too nervous handing the cash that I kept on dropping the money. LOL. I also gave a PHP 50 tip to the deliveryman. I guess that’s really one of my good luck charms in this visa. Haha!

8. Book your flight

I booked mine immediately after I received my visa to avoid expensive last-minute-flight costs. Check out www.skyscanner.com or www.cheapflights.com for cheaper flights instead of booking it directly from the airline. I got my roundtrip ticket for PHP 45,000. Not bad.

9. Pack your clothes because you’re going to Europe!

You are going to Europe! Let that sink in! A lot of people dream of this but you’re one of the lucky people who’s blessed with that chance.

      10.  Thank the Lord and the Universe!

You are in Europe! Go ahead and have the best trip of your life! If you don’t have an itinerary yet, try checking out coach trips where it visits multiple cities in Europe so you don’t need to worry about where to go next. Tour Radar is a good example and they always have codes that can slash 5 percent off of the original price. You can use the code TRIPCOMETRUE for that discount. I am not paid to say this LOL but Tour Radar will remove the stress of planning for your trip.

Have fun and don’t feel guilty on how much you’ll spend! You worked hard for it and you deserve this blessing!

I would love to help you!

If you have any questions, comment below and I will gladly answer it!

You can also follow my Facebook account for Europe pictures and videos. Thanks and good luck!