Schengen Medical Visa – Eligibility, Requirements, Fees and Application
With a Schengen Medical Visa Application Guide, you are taking the first step towards visiting one or more of the 26 countries in the Schengen Area for medical purposes.
The Schengen Medical Visa Application is as simple as the application process for other categories of short-stay visa applications. This is because the uniform visa application form which was approved by all the 26 member countries makes provision for a visa applicant to indicate the purpose of his intended visit (whether for tourism, transit, business, medical treatment, official visits, study, culture and sports, or for visiting family and friends).
If you would like to travel to the Schengen Zone for medical treatment, you need to know what documents to gather, and the necessary steps to procure a Schengen Medical Visa.
What is a Schengen Medical Visa?
A Schengen Medical Visa is a permit given to a person visiting any of the Schengen countries for medical treatment. However, this visa is called a short-stay permit because the visitor cannot stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days.
What Does The Schengen Medical Visa Look Like?
The Schengen Medical Visa is in the form of a sticker affixed to the blank page of the visitor’s passport. He presents this to the guard at the external border of the Schengen Zone. The border guard decides whether the visitor should enter the Schengen Zone or not.
Are You Eligible For A Schengen Medical Visa?
If you are a member of the 105 non-Schengen countries, then you must procure a Schengen Visa in order to visit the visa-free zone.
However, apart from the 26 member countries, there are other countries that can travel through the Schengen zone without a visa.
What Is The Application Fee For A Schengen Medical Visa?
Your Schengen Visa fee is a non-refundable fee that you pay at the time of application for the visa. You can pay online or with cash, at the embassy or its representative. Currently, the Schengen visa fee is the equivalent of €80 in your country’s currency.
However, children between 6 to 12 years of age, pay a visa fee of €40. Citizens of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan pay a slightly lower fee of €35.
8 Steps To Apply For A Schengen Medical Visa
If you would like to go to the Schengen Area for medical attention, the first thing to do is to apply for a Schengen Medical Visa. Pay attention to these necessary steps:
Step #1. Check if you need a Schengen Medical VIsa.
At this point, you know that there are countries that are not in the Schengen Area, but which enjoy a non-visa arrangement with the Zone. If your country is not part of these countries that can travel through the Schengen without a visa, then read on.
Step #2. Decide which Schengen country to apply to.
Where do you want to go for your medical treatment? This question is important because it will determine the embassy you will apply to. Of course, it is possible for you to go from one Schengen country to the next, but your point of entry into Schengen should be the country where you will spend the most time. It should also be the country you will exit Schengen from.
Step #3. Book an Appointment with the embassy.
You can book an appointment online or in person. Most embassies prefer you to do this in person. This appointment is for your visa interview.
Step #4. Fill out the Schengen Visa Application Form.
The Schengen Visa Application Form is the same, no matter the Schengen country you intend to visit for medical treatment. There are about 32 fields that you should fill, and you must not leave any field blank. If you find a question that does not apply to your situation, simply write N/A which means no answer. In addition, ensure that you give correct and honest information so that you do not go through this process more than once.
Step #5. Gather the required documents.
Apart from the general required documents, there are specific documents that you are expected to submit for your medical visa application. This is a very important part of your visa application process, and each document is as important as the other.
Step #6. Attend the Interview.
The embassy or its representative would like to see you. On the day of your appointment as in step #3, you will pay your visa fee of €80 for adults, and €40 for children between 6 and 12 years. Citizens of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan pay €35. This visa fee is non-refundable, and does not guarantee that you will get the visa. Also, you will submit your visa application as well as the required documents. Additionally, you will have a little chat with the consular officer or his representative. Not to worry, they just want to know a little bit more about you. Basically, the officer would want to know your reason for traveling, what you do, where you intend to stay, etc.
Step #7. Provide your Biometrics.
This is a common rule especially if you’re traveling to the Schengen Area for the first time. You will submit your fingerprints and facial image for record purposes. This may be the only time you will have to do this but some embassies would ask for your biometrics every time you apply for a visit.
Step #8. Wait for your visa to be approved.
If all goes well, you should have your Schengen Medical Visa within 15 working days after the interview. Congratulations! Get ready to go to the Schengen Zone, but remember that your visa is a short stay, and as a result, you will only be able to stay in the Schengen for a maximum of 90 days, counting from the day you touch the ground until the day you depart.
Welcome to Schengen!
Schengen Medical Visa Checklist – Requirements
Apart from the general requirements which are a necessity in any given visa application, here is a list of additional requirements for a medical visa to Schengen:
a. A letter from your doctor or hospital stating your medical history and confirming that you actually need medical treatment in Schengen. Moreover, this letter will explain the type of medical treatment you require.
b. An official document from a Schengen medical institution that confirms that they can provide the type of treatment you require.
c. Proof of accommodation in the Schengen hospital or medical institution that will treat you.
d. Proof of payment for the treatment you will receive.
e. If you are not the one who will pay for your treatment, whoever it is (maybe an official institution) must write an official letter to declare that they are responsible for the expense.
f. Proof of extra funds to show that the patient will be able to pay additional medical costs if they come up.
g. Proof of communication between your personal doctor and the medical institution in Schengen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my medical treatment will require more than 90 days?
If you know your medical treatment will take more than 90 days, what you require is not a short stay visa but a national visa for medical treatment.
What happens if I cannot return to my home country at the expiration of my Medical Visa?
If you cannot return to your home country at the expiry of your medical visa, you can get a medical visa extension on 2 conditions. 1. That you cannot leave the Schengen country immediately after your treatment, because it will put your life at risk. 2. That you cannot stop the treatment you are currently undergoing in the Schengen country because it will put your life at risk.
What type of Visa is appropriate for a person accompanying a medical patient to the Schengen?
A companion to a person who is going to Schengen for medical treatment will also get a medical visa. But apart from the general documents, he will also present 2 additional documents. One is Proof of his relationship with the patient, and the other is a medical document of the patient he is accompanying.
Why did the embassy reject my Schengen Medical Visa Application?
There are various reasons why you did not get your Schengen Medical Visa. One is incomplete documentation. Another is a lack of sufficient funds.
How soon can I get my Schengen Medical Visa?
Usually, your Schengen Medical Visa would take about 15 days to process. It could even be sooner.
Don’t forget to apply at most, 3 months before your proposed trip and at least, 3 weeks before you travel.
How will I know if the embassy approves my Schengen Visitor Visa Application?
You will receive an email from the embassy, confirming that your visa has been approved. If your visa is approved, you will get it within one week, for instance. But, generally, if the visa officer does not return your passport immediately, your visa is probably approved.
Conclusion
Sometimes it may become necessary for a patient to travel to the Schengen Zone as quickly as possible. If this happens, the embassy can process his visa even if he submits his application later than 2 or 3 weeks before traveling.
Of course, this depends on the embassy in question, and the reason for the emergency. However, this is not the usual practice.
That notwithstanding, there is no excuse for a poorly filled out form or insufficient records, as this will definitely mean that your visa application will be rejected.
