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Denied Schengen Visa – Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection [And What You Should Do About It]

By Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor February 17th, 2022 Posted in Destination, Europe Travel Blog, Guide for Filipinos, Travel Blog, VISA Application Guides 8 Comments

Exploring Europe is perhaps in everybody’s bucket list. Who wouldn’t love to see the Eiffel tower in Paris, ride a boat in Venice, or see Mona Lisa in France? However, many countries, like the Philippines, need a Schengen Visa to go to these countries. And with visa applications, comes the fear of getting denied.

Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection
Photo by Anthony DELANOIX

If you want to apply, you need to know visa denial reasons to avoid it. It’s like knowing the enemy first before coming to war unprepared. This article will help you in your application for a Schengen Visa.

However, first, here are the 26 countries that are a part of the Schengen Area:

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Common reasons on why a Visa application is rejected has something to do with your submitted documents; we will be explaining mistakes that have been made per document:

Things to Do in Gent, Belgium

1. Visa Application Form

A reason for rejection is inconsistencies in the application form. For example, the duration of stay stated is ten days, yet the reservation ticket is only good for a week, it doesn’t match. Another one is you would like to tour around France however your invitation letter is from your relative in Spain without mentioning about going to France. Be consistent.

Always make sure that they are the same, and your documents are not fake. Remember, you are dealing with the government, and they know what’s bogus or not.

2. Passport-sized Photos

Some embassies are very strict when it comes to the pictures; the wrong size may cause the rejection of the application. I have a friend who tilted her head (a little bit) and got rejected.

Make sure that there are two identical colored photos of you not older than Moreover, months. Size is 35x45mm, and your head length must be 70-80% of the picture. Look straight to the camera with neutral expression; no smile and mouth are closed.

3. Valid Passport

If your passport is damaged, you will be denied your visa application. Always keep it in good condition, no detached or missing cover, no watermarks or tear, and bio-page is without unnecessary markings.

Your passport must also be valid for more than 3 remaining months after the return from the visit to the Schengen Area. For example, if you return from a Schengen Area on December 31, your passport must be valid for more than April 1 of the next year.

Make sure that the passport has two blank visa pages and is not older than 10 years.

4. Flight Reservation and Daily Itinerary

A Flight reservation with the date, flight numbers, entry, and exit area needed in your application, if you are not able to provide one, then it can lead to rejection. You don’t need to pay for the whole ticket just a flight reservation. If you need one, we provide services for a Rent-A-Flight Ticket.

rent a flight3

A travel itinerary is also required; you can make a bullet one so that it’s neat and easy to understand. Make it detailed and also highlight the places to see or the tours you would be getting. However, you need proof like hotel reservations or tour tickets. There are services available for hotel reservations with free cancellation, so you can get that.

Make sure you are applying at the correct embassy too. When your Itinerary says 5 days in Italy, 3 days in Switzerland and 10 days in France, but you went to the Italian Embassy, it can be rejected. The rule is to apply in the Embassy of the country where you will be spending most of your time, if all are equal, then the first country you enter. For this example, you need to apply to the French Embassy, but if you spent 5 days in each country then the Italian Embassy.

5. Proof of Accommodation

Your application may be refused if you are not able to prove that you have a place to stay during your travel there. You need to have hotel reservations or an invitation letter from the host where you will be staying.

6. Proof of Financial Capacity

You need to have enough money to support yourself in your travel or have a sponsor who will shoulder your expenses. A visa application may be rejected if the applicant has failed to offer financial statements no older than 3 months and the funds are not enough. If you want to know how much money you need in a specific country, you can my Schengen Visa FAQs article.

Make sure your bank account is normal too. There have been accounts that people who had deposited a large amount of money before the visa application got rejected. Please deposit your cash gradually instead at one time since it will show up in the Average Daily Balance.

For those that have sponsors, the invitation letter must state that the sponsor is the person’s relative or friend that is going to be visited, include the duration and purpose. Financial proof and proof of relationship must be submitted too. If an important detail is missing especially the signature, then it can be rejected.

7. Travel Insurance

Not getting insurance with enough amount covered is a reason for visa rejection. You can choose Best Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa.

The requirement is that you are insured for the whole Schengen territory with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros. It must cover the entirety of your trip in the Schengen area up to your return for your home country.

8. Supporting Documents from Sponsors

Aside from the normal invitation letter, each country has a required and official “guarantor/ invitation letter” that you need to submit together with their supporting documents. For example are below:

  • France – Attestation Accueil Etat
  • Germany – Formal Obligation/ Angaben Zur Verpflichtungserklarung
  • Italy – Dichiarazione Garanzia E/O Alloggio / Proof of Sponsorship for Private Accommodation
  • Spain – Solicitud de Expedicion de Carta de Invitacion
  • Norway – Garantiskjema for Besok / Guarantee Form for Visit
  • …and a lot more depending on the Embassy you’re applying!

There are additional requirements depending on the Employment Status:

Employees

Submit a Certificate of Employment which states how long have you been working with them and how much is your salary, a letter made by your employers stating that you are allowed to travel or a signed leave form and an ITR.

Self-Employed

Submit a business license and an ITR

Students

You need to submit a proof of enrolment and a no objection letter from the School or University.

Retirees

Submit a pension statement of the latest 6 months.

Unemployed and married to an EU Citizen

You need to submit your spouse’s valid passport, official marriage certificate, and your spouse’s Certificate of Employment.

If you can’t submit complete documents, then you may need to explain it in your cover letter. If incomplete or invalid, your application may be rejected.

Things To Do in Zurich Switzerland

Here are also other reasons for Visa Rejection:

Criminal Actions

If the applicant is a threat to the Schengen Area, then you may be denied entry. If you have a record of terrorism, child abuse or trafficking, addiction, theft, homicide, or heinous crimes, it will be hard to enter the territory.

Bad Schengen History

If you had a Schengen visa before but failed to respect its rules, then you may be denied your second visa. An example is if you have overstayed or was unable to follow the itinerary you have presented.

If you want a better application, then here are some tips:

Cover Letter

You can attach a personal cover letter that includes the purpose of your travel, especially what you look forward to in the country you are mainly staying at. Make it simple but with a personal touch.  

Cover Letter Writing by Jonathan Howe

Travel History

Showing that you are a frequent traveler and have a good travel history will be useful for your application. You can submit your issued visa or entry/exit travel stamps.

Apply at an Embassy with a low chance of rejection

If it’s your first time going to Europe and is afraid of rejection, then it’s better to apply at an Embassy where there is a low visa rejection rate. Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Iceland are prime examples.

If your visa got rejected, you may submit a remonstrance letter or apply it again. You may reapply at a different embassy.

Denied Schengen Visa - Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection [And What You Should Do About It]
Photo by Alex Vasey on Unsplash

To know more about the Schengen Visa, you can read Schengen Visa FAQs. If you want to have a Schengen Visa, here is a Schengen Visa Guide for Filipinos. If you need a little more help, just let me know! I can personally train you for interview questions and go through your requirements one by one. We’ll both work hard for you to get that visa of your dreams! Set an appointment now 🙂

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8 thoughts on “Denied Schengen Visa – Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection [And What You Should Do About It]

    1. Yes, you need to do so. They will check if your itinerary coincides with what you applied for and also your budget.

  1. recently i apply visit visa for Belgium my uncle send me sponsor for 30 day but i apply for 10 day because i am working in private company i dont have enough leaves but y visa gets refuse the embassy give me refusal letter for this Reason 9: “your wish to leave the territory of the member states before the expiration of the visa could not be established” now i am worried what will i do please help me how to solve reason No 9 please contact me Muhammad Abubakar bhutta 0092 3008341560

  2. I submitted all documents including an invitation letter from my sister in Switzerland. My hospital where I work as a doctor gave me an employment verification letter. Swiss embassy sent me a refusal letter reason being ” reasonable doubt that I would not leave the Schengen territory at the expiry of my visa”.
    Very weak reason. What is the ground for ‘reasonable doubt’?

  3. hi I would like to ask, what if the student is already on summer break, do i still need to submit something?

    Thank you so much.

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Written by Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor

Two Monkeys Travel Group – Community Travel Blog is a travel blog and website. We quickly grew into a valuable source of inspiring travel stories, advice, itineraries and travel guides, with the aim of demonstrating how to live a sustainable life of travel, whilst living your own definition of success. If you'd like to contribute and write a guest post, contact us at [email protected]