Schengen Visa Application Process For Bruneians: A Guide

If you're a citizen of Brunei, you can travel to Schengen countries without a visa. However, if you're a non-EU national and want to visit a Schengen country, you'll need to apply for a Schengen visa. This is a short-stay visa that allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The type of Schengen visa you need depends on the purpose and duration of your visit. You can apply for a single-entry visa, multiple-entry visa, or an airport transit visa. The application process typically takes around 15 days and requires a valid passport, visa application form, photo, medical insurance, and supporting documents.

Schengen visa requirements for Bruneian citizens

As of 15 June 2024, Bruneian citizens can enter a significant number of countries either without a visa or with a visa on arrival. This includes all the permanent member countries of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), as well as the Schengen Area.

A Schengen visa is a permit that allows non-EU citizens to enter and stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. There are three types of Schengen visas:

• Single-entry visa: Allows you to enter the Schengen area once.
• Multiple-entry visa: Allows multiple visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid.
• Airport transit visa: Allows you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or flight change. It does not permit you to leave the airport's international transit area.

Who Needs to Apply for a Schengen Visa?

Citizens of specific non-EU countries must obtain a short-stay visa before travelling to the Schengen area. You can consult the EU's list of countries whose citizens require a visa to cross its external borders. However, there are exceptions to the visa requirements for certain types of travellers, such as diplomats, armed forces personnel, refugees, and pupils on school excursions.

Where to Lodge Your Application

You must submit your application to the consulate of the country you plan to visit. If you intend to visit multiple Schengen countries, apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time. If your stays in each country are of equal length, apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.

As a general rule, you should apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate with territorial responsibility for the country where you are legally resident.

Application Timeline

You must submit your application at least 15 days before your intended journey, and no earlier than 6 months in advance. You may need to book an appointment before submitting your application. The standard processing time for a visa application is 15 days, but this can be extended to up to 45 days if further examination or additional documents are required.

Required Documents

To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need the following documents:

• A valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area. For multiple-entry visas, your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after your departure from the last country visited.
• A visa application form.
• A photograph that complies with ICAO standards.
• Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation (including in the event of death).
• Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation, and proof of your intention to return to your home country after your trip.
• Your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions are made for specific categories of applicants).

Please note that consulates may request additional documents.

Visa Cost

The standard visa fee is €60, but it can vary depending on the applicant's age and country of origin. For children aged 6-12, the fee is €45. Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus pay €35, while those from Cabo Verde pay €67.50. An additional fee may be charged if you use a visa service centre to submit your application. The visa fee can be waived for certain categories of applicants.

How to apply for a Schengen visa from Brunei

To apply for a Schengen visa from Brunei, follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Before applying for a Schengen visa, check if you need one. Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. Consult the EU list of countries to see if you require a visa. There are exceptions for certain types of travellers, such as diplomats, armed forces personnel, refugees, and pupils on school excursions.

Step 2: Identify the Correct Consulate

You must lodge your Schengen visa application at the consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time. If your stays are of equal length, apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need the following documents:

• A valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least three months after your departure from the Schengen area.
• A visa application form.
• A photo that complies with ICAO standards.
• Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
• Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation, and proof of your intention to return to your home country.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Submit your application to the consulate at least 15 days before your intended journey, and no earlier than six months beforehand. You may need to book an appointment before submitting your application. Your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application.

Step 5: Pay the Visa Fee

The standard visa fee for adults is €60, but there are reduced fees for children aged 6-12 (€45) and applicants from certain countries (€35 for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus; €67.50 for Cabo Verde). The visa fee may be waived for specific categories of applicants.

Step 6: Wait for Processing

The normal processing time for a Schengen visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended to up to 45 days if additional documents or a more detailed examination of your application are required.

Step 7: Receive Your Visa or Appeal a Rejection

If your application is approved, you will receive your Schengen visa. If it is rejected, you will be informed of the reasons for the rejection and how to submit an appeal.

The types of Schengen visas available

There are four main categories of Schengen visas: A, B, C, and D. The most common type is the Uniform Schengen Visa, which covers categories A, B, and C. This visa allows you to stay in any country in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days in a six-month period and is typically used for short vacations. Here is a breakdown of the different types of Schengen visas:

• Type A Schengen Visa (Airport Transit Visa): This visa allows citizens of non-Schengen states to pass through the international zone of an airport in a Schengen country while waiting for a connecting flight to a non-Schengen country. It is mandatory for those travelling from one non-Schengen country to another who need to connect flights in a Schengen country. The holder of a type A visa cannot enter the Schengen country.
• Type B Schengen Visa: This visa is for journeys lasting fewer than five days and has been replaced by type "C" with the condition "transit".
• Type C Schengen Visa (Short-Stay Visa): This is the most common type of Schengen visa, issued by the visa services (embassies, consulates, or external providers) of a Schengen area country. It allows the holder to stay or travel freely in the Schengen area for less than 90 days within a 180-day period. The purpose of the trip will determine whether this visa is single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry.
• Type D Schengen Visa (National Long-Stay Visa): This visa is mandatory for foreigners wishing to stay in a Schengen country for longer than 90 days (up to 1 year) for purposes such as tourism, professional activities, or studying. It allows its holder to travel and stay in any Schengen country outside of the one that issued the visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Depending on the purpose of the trip, this visa may be single-entry or multiple-entry.

Additionally, there is a Limited Territorial Visa that only permits travel to a specific Schengen country or countries and is typically issued in emergency or peculiar cases when a standard visa is unobtainable.

How long does it take to get a Schengen visa?

The standard processing time for a Schengen Visa is 15 calendar days. However, this can be extended to 30 days if further examination is required, and in some cases, it may take up to 60 days. It is recommended that you apply at least three to four weeks before your trip, and you can apply up to six months in advance. The time it takes to process your application will depend on various factors, including the type of visa, the time of year, consulate workload, and the completeness and accuracy of your application.

The type of visa you are applying for will affect the processing time. For example, a long-term visa may take longer to process than a short-term visa. The time of year you apply will also have an impact, as embassies and consulates tend to be busier during peak travel seasons, such as the summer months, which can lead to delays.

It is important to ensure that your application is complete and accurate, as incomplete or incorrect applications can cause delays in processing. Additionally, certain nationalities may be subject to additional processing or documentation requirements, which can extend the processing time.

To avoid any potential delays, it is advisable to apply for your Schengen Visa well in advance of your intended travel date and be prepared to adjust your travel plans if necessary. It is also recommended to consider potential delays when booking flights and accommodation and to check the visa requirements for each country you plan to visit, as processing times may vary.

What documents are needed to apply for a Schengen visa?

To apply for a Schengen visa, you must provide the following documents:

• A valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least three more months after your planned return from the Schengen State. It should also have two blank pages for the visa stamp.
• A completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
• Two recent passport-sized photos, taken within the last three months.
• Travel insurance certificate. This must cover emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation to your home country (including in the event of death) to the value of at least €30,000.
• Proof of accommodation. This could be hotel or hostel bookings, rental agreements, or an invitation letter from a friend or family member you will be staying with.
• A round-trip travel itinerary, including flight numbers and dates showing your entry to and exit from the Schengen Area.
• Proof of financial means. This could be a bank account statement (no older than three months), or a sponsorship letter from another person confirming they will financially support your trip, accompanied by their bank statement (no older than three months).
• Proof of paid visa fee. This is €80 for adults and €40 for children aged 6-12.

In addition to these general requirements, each visa type requires additional documents based on the purpose of your travel. For example, if you are applying for a Tourist visa, you will need to submit a detailed, day-by-day breakdown of your travel plans. If you are visiting friends or relatives, you will need to provide an invitation letter from your friend or relative, proof of your relationship to them, and a copy of their ID or passport.

Frequently asked questions