Please read the information below carefully to find answers to your questions.
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The Schengen Area is composed of 29 countries. At present, 25 European Union Member States enforce the Schengen Convention (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria and Romania.) Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland integrally enforce the Schengen Convention, but are not members of the European Union. The other European Union Member States still outside the Schengen Area are Ireland and Cyprus. The EU Member State, Cyprus, is not yet a fully-fledged member of the Schengen Area. Border controls between Cyprus and the current members of the Schengen Area are to be maintained until the EU Council decides that the conditions for abolishing internal border controls have been met. However, Cyprus considers the Schengen visa, as well as residence permits from other EU Member States, as equivalent to its national visa for the purpose of a transit that does not exceed 5 days. The Principalities of Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and Holy See (Vatican City State) allow entry to their territories without any formality to Schengen visa holders.
The following is the list of countries that are currently members of the European Union: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Kenyan passport holders: All Kenyan nationals must have a valid visa to enter the Schengen Area, regardless of the duration of their stay and no matter what kind of travel document they have, except if they have a valid residence permit which enables them to stay in the Schengen Area. Nationals of other countries: Citizens of some countries are exempt from the requirement for a visa to enter the Schengen Area for a short stay or transit, for details please check the following link.
Visa applications for Belgium are now received by TLScontact, except for some categories that are still received by the Embassy of Belgium in Nairobi directly (see Document and Visa Types). You are required to submit your visa application at the TLScontact Application Centre or the Consulate nearby where you are currently living. If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate of this country; If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country of your longest stay; If the visits in different Schengen countries are of equal length, the first destination shall be the determining factor.
You may only submit your visa application within the 90 days period prior to your intended date of arrival to Schengen Area.
Schenge visa (Short stay) For citizens of some countries, a Schengen visa (Type C) issued by one of the member countries is required when staying in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days. Please follow the link for more information. With a Schengen visa, you may enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen Area. Short stay visa allows the traveller, assuming all other conditions are met, to enter the territories of any Schengen country to pay a single continuous visit or multiple visits, the duration of which does not exceed 90 days in any 180 days period. A short stay (Schengen) visa can be issued for either single entry or multiple entries into the Schengen zone. Single entry visas allow the visa holder to enter and stay in the Schengen area continuously for the length of the visa duration, to a maximum of 90 days (e.g.: from July 1st to September 28th); Multiple entry visas allow several entries and stays in the Schengen Area, of which the total duration cannot exceed 90 days in any 180 days period. The stay can be continuous or divided into several periods within the length of your visa’s validity. A Schengen circulation visa is a special type of multi-entry visa that is generally valid from 1 to 5 years, decided by the Embassy or Consulate General. National visa (long stay) If you wish to stay longer than 90 days you will need a national long stay visa or a residence permit. A national long stay visa (Type D) is only valid for an establishment or a stay of more than 90 days in the country which issued the visa. The national visa allows, however, transit through other Schengen countries and for some long stay visitor, students, workers etc., it also allows traveling freely through throughout the Schengen area. Airport transit visa An airport transit visa is required depending upon the country of your citizenship and whether you have residence permits or visas of certain countries. The visa allows the travellers transiting the Schengen territory and who will not leave the transit area of the airport. Airport transit visa does not apply to kenyan citizens. However, if the transit involves a change of airport, a regular transit visa is required. If you are of other nationalities and you are going to transit through a Switzerland airport, please check the following website if you need an airport transit visa.
Personal appearance is mandatory for all visa applicants unless you are exempted from biometric data capturing. If you are exempted from biometric data capture, a representative can apply on your behalf. The representative has to provide a signed letter of authorization (Please click here to download) as well as the original and copy of his /her ID card. The representative cannot be a minor.
In general, everyone is required to enrol biometric information (10 fingerprint and digital photo); only applicants who are within the following categories will be exempted: Children strictly under the age of 12; Applicants who are physically unable to submit their fingerprints for scan (hand/finger/arm amputated). However, if it is possible to scan at least one fingertip, then applicants have to go through the biometric step. In the case of a temporary inability to provide the fingerprints (plaster, bandage, etc.), the applicant still has to come in person and have the most possible fingerprints scanned. As only a part of the fingerprints have been collected, the applicant will have to come in person to allow the fingerprints scan again the next time applying for a visa; Applicants who have had a previous Schengen visa delivered within the past 59 months and with the remarks ”VIS” on the visa sticker. Applicants need to provide a photocopy of this visa sticker as a proof. However, the local consular authority may request you to submit the biometric data again. Notice: If applicant’s latest Schengen visa mentions ‘’VIS 0”, applicant is still required to provide his/her biometric data, as “VIS 0” visa means only alphanumeric data and a photograph are provided, but no fingerprint.
Yes, The Embassy/Consulate may request you to provide additional documents or interview, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted your application at TLScontact. Please note that any additional document, which is not required in the basic list according to your type of visa, must also be accompanied with a certified translation into either English, French or Dutch.
The passports can be collected when you are notified online on your personal account page and by an email. Passports can be collected in TLScontact visa application centres during the opening hours to the public. Passport self-pick up Please provide the following documents if you would like to retrieve the passport by yourself: Visa application checklist; The original identity card; A copy of your identity card. Passport pick-up by a representative A representative may retrieve your passport on your behalf. The representative must provide: Your application checklist; A copy of your ID card; The original and a copy of your representative’s ID card; An authorization letter signed by the applicant. Please kindly note that passports will be returned from TLScontact to the Consular Authority, if the passports are not retrieved at TLScontact within a period of 30 days after being returned from the Consular Representation. Courier pass-back service You may have your passport returned to you by express delivery service; it will be sent directly to the address you have specified. Please check here to see availability of this service for your application.
Before applying for a visa you must make sure that your passport is valid. Check the expiration date on your passport. For a short stay visa (less than 90 days), the expiration date must be no earlier than 90 days after the date of your return from the Schengen area. Make sure your passport has two or more completely blank and unmarked visa pages. Make sure your passport has not been altered. Check if the original laminated film (the transparent safety film that covers the passport photo) has been tampered with. If this is the case, you must ask a passport-issuing authority to re-tamper proof your passport; Make sure no pages or surfaces have been laminated (as this will invalidate your passport); Check for scratching or alteration. If your passport was issued over 10 years ago, even if it is still valid at the time you submit your visa application, you must apply for a new passport from the authorities or the Embassy or Consulate of your country of origin, before being able to apply for a visa. It is advised that you do not apply for a visa on a passport issued for multiple persons (e.g. parent and children together).
The two photographs required for any visa application must be: Colour photo on a white background; Format 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm; Taken from the front; without obstruction; Recent (less than 6 months old); For more information, please visit the link here. In the eventuality that you need to provide a recent compliant photograph to complete your application, a self-service photo booth is at your disposal inside the Visa Application Centre. For more information, please click here.
Due to a regulation of the European Union (Decision 2004/17/CE of December 22nd 2003), there is a requirement to hold travel insurance, which is a compulsory document. The travel insurance should be: Valid for Schengen area if you apply for short stay visa; Valid for Belgium if it is required in the document list and you apply for a long stay visa; Your travel insurance must be valid with a minimum cover of €30,000 in order to face any expenses that may arise in connection with your repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, or emergency hospital treatment. The travel insurance should fully cover the period of your stay in the Schengen Area
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