How to Apply for Schengen Tourist Visa for Filipinos (2)

Eiffel Tower just days after the terror attacks in Paris last November 2015. Photo grabbed from TechInsider.

Part of your 2016 bucket list to visit Europe? ;) If you're a Filipino passport holder, you need to apply for a visa from any of the 26 European Union countries. I've already blogged on how to get a visa from the Embassy of Switzerland. To give you other options, here's another way to apply for a Schengen visa but this time around it will be from the Embassy of France.

One of my longtime online friends, Gliza, recently got her Schengen visa approved by the French Embassy and she was kind enough to share the application process to my readers. :)

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It has always been my dream to travel to France, Italy and Spain and visit their most famous landmarks. As a sucker for history, architecture, art, and food, I knew I had to make that dream happen. Saved just enough money and picked the perfect time, and alas – I’m going to Europe!

For most, visa application can be truly nerve wrecking and tedious. I decided to process the requirements of my mom and I, myself, and skip the extra service fee of a travel agency. I had to scour through numerous local travel blogs to get tips (maybe I had to look at 5 different blogs to be sure). I guess I was just a worry-wart but after all the preparations, I decided to lodge my application with the French Embassy through VFS Global Philippines because as planned, I would be spending more days in France than in any other country listed in my itinerary.

VFS Global

The French Embassy has assigned VFS Global Philippines to receive and process Visa requests. It is located at Ecoplaza, Chino Roces Extension, Makati -- easy to go by car and commute to. One may book an appointment with them through their website, http://www.vfsglobal.com/france/philippines/, or through their helpline, +632-790-4903.

The VFS experience 

I scheduled an appointment for January 7, 2016 at 8:15AM. Got there way before my appointment (around 7:45AM), deposited my bag (paid P100 for locker fee), entered the guarded door to the France Visa Processing Office, and got a service number. After going through security checks, I was surprised to be immediately called to go to window 1 with my mom – it was just 7:50AM. On a Wednesday morning, the processing office appeared a little empty and we were delighted to be served ahead of time. Lodging the application was a breeze. The lady checked if our requirements were complete and asked us to photocopy all the stamped pages of our passports, not just the valid and/or used Visa pages, at P5 per page (the photocopier was located outside the security checks door, beside the UK Visa Processing Office).

After counter-signing all the documents, we were ushered to the cashier to pay €60.00 for the VISA processing Fee, €26.00 for service fees, ₱55.00 for photocopies (11 pages), and ₱330.00 for courier service for each passport. We paid the exact amount in Philippine Peso. Lastly, we were called to get our Biometrics done, where our photos and fingerprints were taken. Time check: 8:25AM. In about 30 minutes, we were able to successfully submit our documents. The folks at VFS Global told us that we should expect our passports to be delivered after 2-5 working days.

Our Schengen Visa

Two days after our application, I received an email from VFS Global stating that our passports were on its way to our house through 2Go Express and we should expect it within 24-48 hours. On Saturday (just 3 days after our application date), our passports arrived – sealed and packed with lots of suspense. Inserted in the passport was the invoice of our Visa Processing Fee and when we opened, both of us were approved! Holy week Europe, here we come!

NOTE: Notice the multiple entry status? Gliza's visa allows her to stay for 10 days between March 22-April 22, 2016 so I'm not exactly sure if there was a typo when they printed the label. Clearly they should've typed in '1' or 'Single' entry. No one's complaining though, I understand that European embassies are stricter now with the approval of visa applications. But if I were a bajillionaire and owned this visa, I'll fly on a weekly basis in a span of one month. Just for shopping! LOL

Requirements:

1. Signed and fully-filled up Schengen Visa Application Form
2. Two 45 mm x 35 mm photos – against white background, nothing covering the face, with mouth closed
3. Valid passport and photocopies of valid and used visas (if any), and photocopies of all pages with departure and arrival stamps; if there are old passports, include and photocopy said pages as well
4. Cover letter explaining the purpose of the trip addressed to the French Consul. The details and trip itinerary must be stated in the cover letter (from arrival, to accommodations, attractions to be seen, and departure dates).
5. Round trip ticket reservations. There are a number of airline companies that allow reservations without payment. I reserved with QATAR but bear in mind that you should reserve a day before your appointment because the reservations are only valid for 48 hours.
6. Accommodation vouchers/reservations. The embassy requires that you have hotel reservations and if you wish to DIY, you can reserve hotels through booking.com with the leisure of paying later / canceling with no additional charge. Be sure to include ALL hotel reservations (all countries included in your itinerary) and that the days match your itinerary.
7. Proof of employment so that the embassy will have an idea where your finances are coming from and that you have a reason to come back. 
1. Certificate of employment with monthly salary
2. Approved leave of absence
3. If self-employed, official business registration 
4. Retired: no need ☺ 
8. Proof of income such as ITR, Bank Certification, 3 months Statement of Account of the same bank account, UITF/Investment Certificates (if any). If someone else is paying for the trip, submit said financial documents of the sponsor and have it notarized
9. If Single, an NSO Birth Certificate is required.
10. If Married, a marriage certificate is required.
11. Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000. I got mine from Philippine British Assurance Company (through the assistance of our insurance agent). Make sure that it covers medical expenses and repatriation and that the chosen travel insurance company is accredited by the embassy.
12. Visa Fee and Service Fee
13. PHOTOCOPY ALL YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION FORM. The embassy will not return your original documents if you submit without photocopies. The lady just got the photocopies and stamped them with ORIGINAL SEEN.

That’s it! Good luck and may you soon say Bonjour in Paris!