KINDLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. Find a consulate or a visa center where you will lodge your application.

2. Schedule an appointment.

Consulates schedule their own appointments, mostly by e-mail or phone – refer to consulates´ websites for guidance.

Applications are generally lodged in person and biometric data (fingerprints) are collected.

Children younger than 12 do not submit fingerprints and therefore do not need to visit the consulate. Children between 12 and 15 need to come accompanied by their parents / legal guardians who lodge visa applications on their behalf.

Schengen visa applications can be submitted six months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest ahead of the trip. 

3. Lodge the application presenting the following requirements:

• Passport
• Application form
• Photo
• Biometric data (fingerprints)
• Supporting documents on
  • - purpose of stay (for example unofficial invitation (letter) from a family member or friend)
  • - accommodation
  • - financial means
  • - proof of return – information allowing assessment of applicant’s intention to return (most commonly air or other ticket reservation) 
• Travel medical insurance
• Harmonized List documents
• Fee

Applications are admissible (i.e. they can be accepted and processed) only if they confirm to ALL of the following: contain valid passport, application form, photo and fingerprints, are submitted six months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest ahead of the trip, and visa fee has been paid.

4. Await the decision outcome.

Visas are generally decided within 3 – 5 days. The legal processing period is 15 days. In individual cases, the processing period can be extended to 45 days, notably when further examination is needed.

5. Collect your visa if visa approved or a refusal form if visa denied.

Applicants can pick up their passports with visas themselves or they can authorize someone else to do so on their behalf. A certified power of attorney needs to be presented when picking up the passport on somebody´s behalf. If the applicant notifies the consulate about this arrangement when lodging the application, no power of attorney is necessary.  

Refusal forms must be picked up by the applicant himself / herself.

6. Note: Visa issuance does not automatically grant the right of entry to the Schengen Area / Czech Republic. Visa holders need to fulfill entry conditions specified in the Schengen Border Code and can be asked upon entry to present documents on accommodation, finances, return air ticket etc. Failure to notify the consulate of any changes in the trip arrangements after the application has been lodged or after the visa has been issued can result into revocation or annulation of the visa.

Legal sources:

• Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code)
• Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (codification) - mainly Title II Chapters I and II