Schengen Visa in 2026: Requirements, Costs, and Approval Timelines

The short-stay Schengen visa (type C) costs 90 EUR for adults and 45 EUR for children ages 6 to 12 (children under 6 pay no fee), and the official response period is up to 15 calendar days from the complete appointment submission, although it can extend to 30 or even 45 days if the consulate requests additional documentation or during peak season. One of the requirements that generates the most rejections due to administrative error, not substance, is travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR, valid throughout the entire Schengen area and including repatriation.

In this guide we go over, destination country by destination country, what documents each consulate actually requires, how to calculate the total cost of the process (not just the visa fee), and exactly what the insurance certificate must say so it isn't rejected at the window.

Mandatory documents to apply for the Schengen visa

Although each consulate may request additional nuances, the base list is the same throughout the Schengen area:

• Valid passport with at least 3 months of validity beyond the date of leaving the Schengen area, and with at least 2 blank pages.
• Complete and signed application form.
• 1 or 2 recent passport-style photos, depending on the consulate.
• Flight itinerary (reservation, not necessarily a paid ticket in every case) and accommodation booking for the entire stay.
• Proof of financial means: bank statements from the last 3 months or a sponsorship letter if someone else is covering the trip.
• Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR, valid for the entire Schengen territory and the entire duration of the trip.
• Letter stating the purpose of the trip and, if applicable, an employment or study letter.

Real costs: visa fee and associated expenses

The consular fee is fixed, but the total cost of the process is usually higher because it includes insurance, translations, biometric appointments, and, in many countries, a charge from an external processing center (VFS Global, TLScontact, or another) that adds a service fee that varies by country and isn't set by the European Union.

Response times: when to apply based on your travel date

The standard response time is 15 calendar days from the appointment, but it can extend to 30 days if additional review is required, and up to 45 days in exceptional cases. The official recommendation from most consulates is to apply between 15 days and 6 months before the trip, never closer than 15 days to the departure date, to leave room for any request for additional documents.

Schengen medical insurance: what the certificate must say

Having just any travel insurance isn't enough: the certificate must explicitly state a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR, validity for all Schengen countries, coverage of emergency medical expenses and repatriation in case of death, and it must cover exactly the entry and exit dates declared in the application. Assist-365's plans designed for visa procedures issue this certificate in a format accepted by consulates and embassies, and with the code MEDALLOADV2023 you can get an instant discount when quoting it. Before paying, confirm that the certificate has a date, signature or digital seal, and the exact amount in euros, because some consulates reject certificates that only show the amount in dollars.

Common mistakes that delay or reject the application

Most rejections for administrative reasons (not the substance of the trip) are due to insurance dates that don't cover the entire itinerary, hotel reservations that don't cover every night of the trip, or passports that don't meet the 3-month validity margin beyond the return date. Checking these three points before scheduling the appointment prevents most returned applications.

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Schengen visa 2026 costs and timelines

Item	Detail
Adult fee	90 EUR
Children 6-12 fee	45 EUR
Children under 6	Exempt from fee
Standard response time	Up to 15 calendar days
Extended time (special cases)	Up to 30-45 days
Minimum insurance coverage required	30,000 EUR

Frequently Asked Questions

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