switzerland tourist visa cover letter sample

• Creative Letter
• Cover Letter
• Cover Letter for Switzerland Tourist Visa

This article provides guidance on how to write a cover letter for a Switzerland tourist visa application. A cover letter is an important document that accompanies your visa application and explains the purpose of your visit, your itinerary, and other relevant details. It is a formal letter that should be written in a professional and polite tone.

Writing a well-crafted cover letter can significantly increase your chances of obtaining a tourist visa for Switzerland. It allows you to present your case and convince the visa officer that you are a genuine visitor who intends to return to your home country after the trip. This article will provide examples and suggestions to help you write an effective cover letter for your Switzerland tourist visa application.

Letter Example 1: Visiting Family

Letter example 2: sightseeing and tourism, suggestions for writing a cover letter for switzerland tourist visa, conclusions, q1: what should be the length of the cover letter for a switzerland tourist visa, q2: can i email the cover letter instead of submitting a physical copy, q3: should the cover letter be written in english or the official language of switzerland, q4: can i include additional documents or references to support my cover letter, examples of cover letters for switzerland tourist visa.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for a Switzerland tourist visa to visit my family who resides in Zurich. My purpose of travel is to spend quality time with my parents and siblings during the summer vacation. I have attached the necessary supporting documents to demonstrate the purpose and duration of my stay.

I plan to arrive in Zurich on June 15th, 2022, and depart on August 15th, 2022. During my stay, I will be staying at my parents' address: [insert address]. I have enclosed their invitation letter, which confirms their sponsorship and accommodation arrangements for me.

Furthermore, I have made comprehensive travel arrangements, including flight bookings, travel insurance, and a detailed itinerary of my planned activities in Switzerland. I will also be financially responsible for all my expenses during the trip and have enclosed bank statements to demonstrate my financial capability.

Thank you for considering my application. I assure you that I will comply with all the immigration rules and regulations during my stay in Switzerland and return to my home country before the expiration of my visa.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

I am writing to apply for a Switzerland tourist visa to explore the rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes of your country. I have always been fascinated by Switzerland's picturesque mountains, charming cities, and renowned tourist attractions. My purpose of travel is solely for tourism and leisure activities.

I plan to visit Switzerland from July 1st, 2022, to July 15th, 2022. During my stay, I intend to explore popular cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne, as well as experience the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps. I have made all the necessary travel arrangements, including hotel bookings and a detailed itinerary of my planned activities.

I have attached my bank statements to demonstrate that I have sufficient funds to cover my travel expenses. I also have comprehensive travel insurance that will provide coverage during my entire stay in Switzerland.

Thank you for considering my application. I assure you that I will abide by all the rules and regulations of Switzerland and return to my home country upon the expiration of my visa.

• Clearly state the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay.
• Provide details of your itinerary and planned activities in Switzerland.
• Include any sponsorship or accommodation arrangements, if applicable.
• Demonstrate your financial capability to support your trip.
• Ensure your letter is written in a professional and polite tone.
• Attach all necessary supporting documents to strengthen your application.

Writing a well-crafted cover letter is crucial when applying for a Switzerland tourist visa. It allows you to present your case and provide the necessary information to convince the visa officer of your genuine intentions to visit Switzerland. By following the examples and suggestions provided in this article, you can create a strong cover letter that increases your chances of obtaining a tourist visa for Switzerland.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

A1: The cover letter should be concise and to the point, ideally not exceeding one page.

A2: It is recommended to follow the specific instructions provided by the Swiss embassy or consulate. If they accept email submissions, you can send the cover letter electronically.

A3: It is advisable to write the cover letter in English, as it is widely understood by visa officers. However, if you are comfortable writing in the official language of Switzerland (German, French, or Italian), you can do so.

A4: Yes, you can attach any relevant documents or references that strengthen your case, such as hotel reservations, flight bookings, invitation letters, or proof of previous travel history.

• Cover Letter for a Library Assistant
• Cover letter for I 485 sample

Related Posts

Cover Letter for Sales Development Representative

Cover Letter for Front Desk

Cover Letter for Activities Coordinator

Cover Letter for Call Center

Cover letter for flight attendant with no experience

Covering Letter for Australia Tourist Visa

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This website uses its own and third-party cookies to guarantee you the best experience on our website. Cookies

For visitors, travel, student and other international travel medical insurance.

Home » Visas » Schengen Visa » Schengen Visa Application Cover Letter for Tourists

Schengen Visa Application Cover Letter for Tourists

When applying for Schengen visa, you should submit an application cover letter that explains the purpose of your trip, the list of documents you have enclosed, your trip itinerary, what arrangements you have made for the same, as well as how you will pay for the trip. It is the best to provide the day-to-day plan (itinerary), which gives the consular officer a clear idea of what exactly you would be doing while in the Schengen area and what your clear intentions are.

The following Schengen visa application cover letter might help you write your own. Of course, you will have to change it extensively based on your specific situation.

• 06/14/2019 – Take a flight from San Francisco, CA
• 06/15/2019 – Land at Zurich Airport, Switzerland. Overnight stay at Zurich Marriott Hotel
• 06/16/2019 – Visit Lake Zurich, Burkliplatz, and Loindehof Square
• 06/17/2019 – Visit Old Town, Rhine Falls, Grossmunster, and Uetliberg
• 06/18/2019 – Travel to The Matterhorn
• 06/19/2019 – Travel to Jungfraujoch – The top of Europe
• 06/20/2019 – Travel to Interlaken and Lucerne
• 06/21/2019 – Travel to Lake Geneva, Jet d’Eau (Water Jet), Temple de Saint-Pierre 
• 06/22/2019 – Jaridin Anglais (English Garden) and Parc de la Grange
• 06/23/2019 – Visit Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens)
• 06/24/2019 – Travel Back to Zurich.  Overnight stay.
• 06/25/2019 – Take a flight back to San Francisco, CA.
• Schengen visa application form
• Two photographs
• Valid passport – Original and a copy
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of my bank statements, tax returns, and my last 3 pay stubs
• Employment letter, no objection letter
• Marriage certificate
• Flight itinerary
• Schengen visa fees
• Schengen visa travel insurance
• Proof of our legal status in US – H1B visa for myself and H4 visa for my wife
• Proof of medical records – specific to your medical condition
• Bank statements to show that you have enough money to take care of your treatment. 

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

• Schengen Travel Insurance Discussion Forums Read/Post Experiences

Visa Procedure

• Application Requirements Embassies and Consulates Germany Transit Visa How to Apply in India How to Apply in USA Procedure Sample Interview Questions Schengen Agreement Transit Visa Visa Types Where to Apply Who Needs Visa More Topics
• Application Cover Letter - Business Application Cover Letter - Tourists Application Fees Application Form Flight Itinerary Invitation Letter Means of Subsistence No Objection Letter Photograph Requirements Proof of Accommodation Sponsorship Letter

Post Application

• How to Extend Schengen Visa How to Read Visa Sticker Port of Entry Documents
• Common Reasons for Rejections How to Appeal Rejection Sample Appeal Letter
• Employment Visa Residence Permit Trip to Non-EU Countries

Share this article:

• Visitor Visa
• Visitors Insurance
• Read Experiences
• Discussions Forums
• Insurance Resources
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

immihelp ® .com is private non-lawyer web site. Not affiliated with any government agency.

Copyright © 1999-2024 immihelp ® .com. All rights reserved.

https://www.immihelp.com/schengen-visa-application-cover-letter-for-tourists/

This website uses cookies, some of which are essential for the functionality of the website while others are for improving user experience and personalization. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to our use of cookies. For information about your privacy, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Cover Letter for a Tourist Visa

How to Appeal a Rejected Schengen Visa Application?

A cover letter for a tourism visa is a document that supports a visa application by demonstrating that the purpose of the trip is for leisure and recreational activities such as sightseeing or attending events. This letter provides details about the applicant’s planned itinerary, including the places they plan to visit and the activities they intend to participate in.

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Email]

[Embassy Name] [Embassy Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

Subject: Application for Schengen visa for tourism purposes – [Your name]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for a tourist visa to [destination country] for a period of [number of days/months] from [date] to [date]. My name is [Your Name] and I am a [nationality] citizen with passport number [Passport Number]. My purpose of travel is to explore the beautiful tourist destinations of [destination country].

I am excited to visit the famous landmarks, indulge in the local culture and try the authentic cuisine. My travel itinerary includes visits to [list some of the popular tourist attractions you plan to visit] and experiencing the vibrant local lifestyle.

During my stay in [destination country], I will be staying at [name of accommodation], which I have already booked for the duration of my trip. I have attached the confirmation of my hotel reservation along with my visa application .

I am currently employed at [name of your employer] as a [your job position] and have been working there for [number of years]. I have attached a letter from my employer granting me the necessary leave for my travel. I have also included my bank statements, which show that I have sufficient funds to cover my expenses during my stay.

Please find enclosed all the necessary documents required for my visa application, including:

Completed visa application form with attached passport-size photographs

Valid passport with [number of months/years] remaining validity

Travel insurance with coverage of [coverage amount]

Confirmed round-trip flight tickets

Hotel reservations

Bank statements

Letter from employer granting me leave

Proof of sufficient funds

I assure you that I will abide by the laws and regulations of [destination country] during my stay and will return to my home country upon the expiration of my visa. I will also make sure that I do not become a burden on your country’s social system.

Thank you for considering my application. If you need any additional information or documents, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Your Name]

Subject: Application for a Tourist Visa

I am writing to apply for a tourist visa to visit [destination country] for a period of [number of days] days, from [date] to [date]. I have attached all the necessary documents required for the visa application.

The purpose of my visit is to explore the beautiful sights and cultural heritage of [destination country]. I have been planning this trip for a long time and have always been fascinated by the rich history and scenic beauty of [destination country]. I am eager to experience the local cuisine, learn about the traditions and customs of the country, and immerse myself in the local culture.

During my stay, I have planned to visit popular tourist destinations such as [list of places to visit], attend cultural festivals, and engage in other leisure activities. I have made all necessary arrangements for my travel, including flight tickets, hotel reservations, and travel insurance.

I am currently employed as a [your job title] at [name of employer], where I have been working for [number of years]. I have attached a letter from my employer stating that I have been granted leave for the duration of my trip.

Please find enclosed the following documents to support my visa application:

Valid passport

Completed visa application form

Two recent passport-size photographs

Flight itinerary

Travel insurance

Letter from my employer

Itinerary of my trip

I assure you that I will comply with all the visa requirements and will not overstay my visa. I have strong ties to my home country and will return as soon as my visit is complete.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to receiving a positive response from you.

In summary, this cover letter is intended to support a tourism visa application by providing a detailed itinerary of the applicant’s planned trip, including the dates of travel, the purpose of the trip, and the places and events to be visited. The letter also highlights the applicant’s intent to return to their home country at the end of the trip, and their ability to support themselves financially during their stay. By providing a comprehensive and well-organized cover letter, the applicant can increase their chances of a successful visa application and ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip to their destination.

Invitation Letter from a Company For Visa Process

Invitation letter from a friend for visa process.

Sample Sponsorship Letter From Friend for Visa Process

Popular Searches

• Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa: Types, Format & Samples

Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa: Types, Format Samples & More

10 min read

Updated On Jan 22, 2024

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

Table of Contents [ Show ]

What is a Schengen Visa Cover Letter?

What needs to be included in cover letter schengen visa, cover letter format for schengen visa, samples of cover letter for schengen visa, state wise schengen visa cover letter requirements, documents to support schengen cover letter, where to submit your cover letter for schengen visa application, common mistakes in schengen visa cover letters.

Unlock the gateway to 27 vibrant European destinations with a Schengen visa! Whether you're an immigrant or a traveler this visa opens doors to incredible opportunities.

Navigate the application process effortlessly by mastering the art of crafting a compelling cover letter Schengen visa. Explore the essentials in our blog for a seamless visa experience!

The Cover Letter, also known as the introduction letter for a Schengen Visa is a crucial component of your application, serving as a communication tool with the visa officers.

Addressed to the Embassy or Consulate of the specific country you plan to visit, it outlines your reasons for travel and aims to persuade the consular staff of your suitability for the visa.

Even if applying through a visa application center like VFS Global, ensure your Cover Letter is directed to the relevant Embassy or Consulate.

In your Schengen Visa application cover letter, be sure to incorporate the following details regarding your trip:

• Clearly articulate the purpose motivating your visit to a Schengen country.
• Specify the exact dates for your intended entry and departure.
• Outline a well-structured itinerary detailing your planned activities throughout the Schengen area.
• Indicate your accommodation arrangements upon entering the Schengen region.
• List all the countries included in your travel plans.
• Provide information about your current employment status.
• If any mandatory documents are missing from your submission, explain their absence concisely

Drafting a cover letter is integral to the Schengen visa application process. This letter should succinctly outline your travel plans, the purpose of your visit, and your financial support strategy. Below is a brief Schengen visa cover letter template or format for your guidance

• Start with a formal salutation.
• Provide your name, address, contact details, and nationality.
• Clearly state your intention to apply for a Schengen visa.
• Introduce yourself briefly, mentioning your nationality and current residence.
• Specify the purpose of your visit (tourism, business, family visit, etc.).
• Mention the planned dates of your stay in the Schengen area.
• Outline your travel plans, including the countries you plan to visit and the duration of your stay in each.
• Explain your financial plan for supporting yourself during the visit.
• Confirm personal funding and attach supporting financial documents.
• List the attached documents supporting your application, such as flight itinerary, hotel reservations, travel insurance, etc.
• Express gratitude and formally request the approval of your Schengen visa application.
• Offer cooperation and assure compliance with regulations.
• End the letter with a formal closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Kind regards."

Let us first examine the supplied generic Schengen visa cover letter sample to acquaint yourself with the correct writing tone, format, structure, and other essential elements.

Business Schengen Visa Cover Letter Sample

When applying for a Schengen Business Visa, the responsibility of composing the Cover Letter lies with your employer. The letter must be crafted on the official letterhead of the company.

Sample Cover Letter for Schengen Visa Tourist

The Cover Letter for a Schengen Tourist Visa typically includes details about your travel plans, purpose of visit, and financial ability. It serves as a concise introduction to support your visa application.

Sample Cover Letter for Schengen Medical Treatment Visa

For a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa, your doctor must prepare the Cover Letter, including

• Detailed Diagnosis: Specify the medical condition requiring treatment in a Schengen country.
• Medical History: Provide a concise medical history for context.
• Treatment Details: Clearly state the nature and expected duration of the proposed treatment.

This letter is vital for the visa application, offering insights into the medical necessity and treatment plan.

Now that you are familiarised with the Sample cover letters for Schengen Visa, before crafting your cover letter, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of the Schengen country you plan to visit. Here are the cover letter guidelines for key Schengen member states:

• Cover Letter for Visa Application Italy
• Highlight your ties to your home country, such as family, employment, and studies.
• Clearly state the purpose of your visit, outlining planned activities and dates.
• Provide proof of funds to cover your travel expenses.
• Cover Letter for Visa Application Austria
• Specify the purpose of your visit, detailing the places and activities you'll engage in.
• If applying for a multiple-entry visa, provide a valid reason.
• Assure your return to your home country after the visa period.
• Cover Letter for Visa Application France
• Present a clear itinerary with destinations, travel dates, and the purpose of your visit.
• Indicate whether you have travel insurance for unforeseen medical expenses.
• Align your visit with academic, professional, or personal goals.
• Cover Letter for Visa Application Germany
• In the introduction, concisely explain the purpose of your travel (tourism, family visits, or business).
• Provide evidence of funds to cover expenses like food, accommodation, and transportation.
• List all intended destinations you plan to visit.
• Cover Letter for Visa Application Finland
• Detail arrangements for accommodation, food, and travel.
• Describe your planned activities, trips, events, meetings during your stay.
• Specify if you are seeking a multiple-entry visa and provide reasons.
• Cover Letter for Visa Application Spain
• Affirm that you have the financial means to support yourself during your stay.
• Provide a comprehensive overview of your travel plans.
• Include details about your accommodation arrangements, such as hotel reservations.

When applying for a Schengen Visa, ensure you submit the following documents alongside your Cover Letter:

• Completed Schengen Visa Application Letter/Form
• Valid passport with at least six months of validity
• Passport-size photos adhering to Schengen visa photo guidelines
• Flight itinerary or reservations
• Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance
• Proof of accommodation within a Schengen country
• No Objection Certificate from your employer/school
• Letter of Invitation from a relative or company in the destination country, as per the purpose of travel
• Proof of paid Schengen Visa fees
• Bank Statements covering the last six months

To submit your Schengen Visa cover letter, consider the following options based on your situation and location:

• The Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you intend to visit.
• The Embassy/Consulate of another Schengen country, if the destination lacks diplomatic representation in your area.
• A designated visa application agency, outsourced by the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you plan to visit.
• You can even say you can submit and we can help you prepare at a regulated immigration consultant like getgis

Remember, if you're visiting multiple countries, apply at the Embassy/Consulate of the first country on your itinerary.

When crafting a Schengen Visa cover letter, it is crucial to be mindful and avoid pitfalls or errors. These include:

• Illogical Explanations

Provide logical reasons for your trip and intentions to return home. Be specific and avoid vague statements.

• Repetition of Document Information

Your cover letter should reveal unique details not found in other documents. Tell a story that complements, not duplicates, your reservations.

• Spelling and Grammar Errors

While minor mistakes are acceptable, excessive errors may convey a lack of respect for the application process. Pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and layout.

• Disorganized Document List

Present a well-organized list of documents in order of priority. Start with mandatory items, followed by those relevant to your trip and personal situation.

• Misalignment with Supporting Documents

Ensure that the details and reasons mentioned in your cover letter align with the information in other submitted documents. Any contradiction may lead to rejection.

Explore European Beauty and Opportunities: Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa

We hope the blog on the Schengen visa cover letter has addressed your uncertainties and inquiries, boosting your confidence in the application process. If you have additional questions or topics you'd like us to cover, feel free to reach out to GetGIS immigration experts.

Schedule a Free Consultation Now

Quick Reads:

• How Can I Avoid Schengen Visa Rejection? (Expert Tips)
• A Comprehensive Guide to Germany Visa Requirements in 2023-24
• Cost of Studying in Germany: All You Need to Know
• Complete Guide on Sweden Visa Types & Requirements
• Understanding The Austria Tourist Visa Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a cover letter required for a Schengen visa?

Why are Schengen visas rejected?

Is a cover letter necessary in Europe?

How to create an effective cover letter?

How to avoid Schengen visa refusal?

Practice IELTS Speaking Based on other question types

Lakshmi Lavanya Pagallu , 

Sr. Content Marketing Specialist

Lakshmi Lavanya Pagallu has been working as Content Marketing Specialist with GetGIS since 2022 and has been extensively working to help candidates’ career transitions. Her experience spans across multiple industries in the fields of Sales and Marketing. Her core competencies include communication and research, which enable her to create and deliver in-depth guides as a Subject Matter Expert

Related Articles

IELTS Exam Dates: Schedule, Locations & Registration

Nisha Menon

Master’s in Economics in the UK: Top Universities, Eligibility, Application Process and Career Prospects

MS in Accounting in the USA: Eligibility, Application Process, Scholarships, and Career Opportunities

Complete Breakdown of the Cost of Living in Manchester, England in 2024

Flight Reservation For Visa

Visa Services for all worldwide countries

How to write Personal Covering Letter For Schengen Visa

Last updated: July 11, 2023 - Written By: Schengen Travel - Filed Under: Schengen Visa , Visa Documentation -

What is a P ersonal Covering Letter for Schengen Visa ?

A personal covering letter for Schengen Visa is a mandatory document you need to attach to your visa application every time you apply for a Schengen visa. Having to write a personal covering letter for your Schengen Visa Application may feel like a daunting task, and many find it hard to begin writing it because they are unsure of what they need to include and how to write it.

At Schengen Visa Flight Reservation  we offer authentic and cancellable flight itinerary and hotel reservations for your visa application, in addition to collecting information about the various visa processes and requirements, so that the entire visa application process will be as smooth as possible for our readers and clients.

In this article we will tell you exactly how you can write the best possible personal covering letter for Schengen Visa application .

The personal covering letter for your Schengen Visa Application is a way to explain your purpose for visiting Europe and the Schengen areas to your visa officer, and assure the governing officials that you will only good, touristy things. It also gives a quick break-down of your intended itinerary so that the embassy can see that you have a plan you intend to stick to.

If you DON’T want to make set plans, remember that you can make all of your flight and hotel bookings through Schengen Visa Flight Reservation  that are authentic, but also fully cancellable (we will cancel your bookings unless you tell us to proceed with the booking) so that you can make a temporary itinerary that you are free to change later , after you have obtained your visa. You also can read why our itineraries are best as well as verifiable on airlines websites.

What to Include in Your Covering Letter for Schengen Visa :

Q: First things first; is the covering letter for the Schengen Visa Application necessary?

Answer: YES.

There is no getting around it, and your visa application will be rejected if you don’t add it.

So, with that little detail sorted out, the next step is to uncover what the covering letter needs to… cover ?

To make sure your covering letter is as kick ass as possible, it must contain two important things:

• The purpose of your stay/trip to Europe
• Your planned itinerary, in details

There are different ways to write your covering letter for Schengen Visa . In general we recommend KISS (Keep It Short and Simple). The visa officer is in no way interested in hearing the detailed story about how you met your current German boyfriend that you now want to visit, or the family history of your Dutch roots from 200 years back, that you now want to learn more about. Writing that you are going to visit your boyfriend or girlfriend, or to learn more about said country’s culture, is more than sufficient!

Different Ways to Write Your Covering Letter for Schengen Visa :

Luckily the internet is flooded with covering letter samples, that all have mostly the same layout.

The first paragraph and intro outlines your purpose of the visit, whereas the next part is a bullet point list explaining your detailed itinerary. Below are some samples of covering letters for Schengen visa:

As you can see, the covering letters are straight and to the point, with no unnecessary information. They also include a list of all the attachments you are adding to your visa application, so make sure you do not miss anything here (see our articles on Schengen Visa Requirements for a complete checklist).

Let us know how you go in writing your covering letter for Schengen Visa!

• Schengen Visa - Start Here
• Guides Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guides About the Schengen Visa Requirements & Application Process
• Statistics Get the latest and most up-to-date Schengen Visa and Europe tourism statistics

Home > Blog > Guides > Schengen Visa Cover Letter

Schengen Visa Cover Letter

on 22 Nov, 2021

Guide To The Cover Letter For Your Schengen Visa Application

What is a schengen visa application cover letter.

A Schengen Visa Cover Letter (or Covering Letter) is a document written by you and addressed to the Schengen Embassy/Consulate along with the other documents you are required to submit. 

The letter should provide additional information concerning the purpose of your trip and your intentions to return to your country of residence. 

The letter acts as a personal introduction as it shows to the Embassy/Consulate officers a brief summary of your travel background (e.g., travel dates, employment background, etc.). 

In other words, your cover letter is a summary of your Visa application . 

Your Covering Letter For Schengen Visa Is The First Direct Contact Between You And The Embassy

The cover letter represents a way of communication between you and the embassy officer, in which you are explaining your reasons for your trip and why you should be accepted. 

Please note that some Embassies/Consulates have chosen to outsource the Visa application process meaning that you have to submit your application through an outsourcing company such as VFS Global. 

In this case, your cover letter is your only chance to communicate with the Embassy/Consulate officers and explain your details and the reason why you believe they should grant you a Visa as well as your intentions to only travel and not to overstay your Visa, as they will not be able to see you face-to-face.

This letter is not a mandatory requirement meaning that the applications that do not include it will not necessarily be rejected or delayed. 

However, we strongly recommend and urge you to submit it as it does more than make a good impression on the Embassy/Consulate officers and speed up your Visa application process – Your cover letter can significantly increase your chances of success because it summarises every item you have provided. 

You should submit a Visa application cover letter even if you have been invited by a partner company to the Schengen Region and you are applying for a Business Visa .

The Importance Of The Schengen Visa Cover Letter

The cover letter is an important document as it gives you the chance to introduce yourself and make your travel purpose clear. 

The letter is important for your application because:

● It gives you the opportunity to provide information that your other documents cannot provide.

Most of the documents that you must submit are official documents that cannot clearly highlight your travel background. 

In other words, your covering letter is the only document that can actually tell a story. 

Telling a story can be a powerful communication tool because the Embassy/Consulate officers can understand who you actually are and why you should get a Visa. 

● It helps the Visa officers save time and therefore speed up your application process.

Embassies/Consulates receive hundreds of applications weekly. 

Sometimes, those responsible for processing them do not have time and patience to figure out the purpose of the journey and the intentions to return to the country of residence by analysing all of the documents of each single Visa applicant. 

This does not mean that they do not check your documents carefully but they typically do it to determine if they show consistency. Therefore, this letter can simply make your application process easier for them.  

How To Get A Schengen Visa Cover Letter

Getting most of your Visa application documents depends on bureaucracy/laws in your country of residence/other people that must write and sign your documents. 

The cover letter is the only document that you must write and sign by yourself (together with the Visa Application Form and your day-to-day travel itinerary ).

Once you have gathered all of your documents, you can write the letter on your computer. 

We recommend you write it after you gather the rest of your documents because the letter should include a list of the documents that you are submitting for your application. 

Important: If you are not familiar with this type of letter, you can download one of our templates (please select the one that is the most relevant for your situation) and fill it out following our suggestions. Please contact us for further details.   

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Schengen Visa Cover Letter

Even though the cover letter should not be very long and must contain only key information about you as an applicant, there are several mistakes that you should avoid making. 

Also, do not forget that the cover letter does not have to be too long and the information on it must match the information on your other documents .  

Not all the below errors can lead to the rejection of your application but your chances of approval may decrease. 

Therefore, we strongly recommend you double-check your covering letter before submitting it so that you can be sure it does not contain one of the following mistakes:

• Not using logical arguments to explain the purpose of your trip and your intentions to return to your country of residence

Logical reasoning is a powerful tool not only for your covering letter but also during the interview with the Embassy/Consulate officers. 

Make sure you know how to explain the reason as to why you travel to the Schengen Region and your intentions to return to your country of residence. 

For example, “ I want to visit France because I like it ” or “ I want to visit France because it is a nice country ” are not logical reasons as to why you want to visit France (or another Schengen country). 

You should be more specific. For example: “ I want to visit France because I’ve been fascinated by French culture ever since I was a child ”. 

The same rule applies to the explanation of your intentions to return to your country of residence. Writing “ I will return to my country of residence because I cannot stay in the Schengen Region ” is not a logical reason as to why you will not overstay your Visa. 

You can write instead: “ I will return to my country on August 15 because my employer did not allow me to take more than 3 weeks off ” or “ I will return on September 20 because I must attend a vocational training course upon the request of my employer .”

• Providing the same information that is already outlined by your other documents

One of the purposes of your covering letter is to outline details about your trip that are not indicated by your other documents. 

For example, in case of a tourist Visa application you should not write: “ I will be travelling to France between October 20, 2020, and November 17, 2020, and I will stay at Hotel Lafayette in 23 Rue des Messageries, Paris .” 

Of course, this information is important because it shows relevant details about your trip but the Embassy/Consulate officers can easily understand your trip details by checking your flight and hotel reservations. 

As we mentioned above, you should try to tell a story in your covering letter (even though you have to maintain a professional tone). 

For example, you can write: “ I will be travelling to France between October 20, 2020, and November 17, 2020. I have chosen to spend almost one month in France as I strongly believe that I need time to visit the most important tourist attractions and get to know the French culture. I will stay at Hotel Lafayette in 23 Rue des Messageries because the hotel is located within walking distance of the most important places of interest in Paris.”   

• Submitting a cover letter that contains spelling mistakes

Not all applicants have an excellent command of English, and the Embassy/Consulate officers won’t judge you if you make some grammar mistakes (especially because it is highly likely that English is not their native language).  

But a covering letter that contains too many spelling mistakes and does not follow some specific layout rules (the way that words are set up on the page) will make the Embassy/Consulate officers believe that you do not have a sense of consideration for the event and are not respecting the application process (which is your Schengen Visa application). 

Therefore, you need to pay attention to the spelling, punctuation, capitalisation, and layout of the letter. 

Please read carefully the two cover letter sample paragraphs below (please note that none of them is a complete sample cover letter and you need a more detailed template/sample in order to write a cover letter for Schengen Visa application):

Sample 1: 

“Dear sir madam I would like to apply at your consulate general for a schengen visa for visit friend in Netherlands.

My name is raji anand. I will be travelling from new delhi to amsterdam between octobr 15 and November 17  My employer has already approved my vacation and leave from work for the duration of 1 months. I hold an Indian passport no xxxxxx and I have attached passport size pictures to these cover letters. please do not hesitate to contact me for more information !Thanking you in advance, Raji anand. ”

“Dear Visa Officer,

I would like to apply for a Schengen Visa upon my intention to visit the Netherlands between October 15, 2020 and November 17, 2020.

My name is Raji Anand and I am an Indian citizen. I will be travelling from New Delhi to Amsterdam to visit my close friend, John Smith, who has also provided a sponsorship letter to support my Visa application as he will be covering all of the expenses for the duration of this trip.

I have attached to this letter the following documents [List of documents] .

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any questions and clarifications.

Raji Anand”

Bad spelling and writing mistakes (like the ones in the first sample) will make you seem less credible and the Embassy/Consulate officers may believe that you do not have a sense of consideration for your application process. 

At the same time, attention to details such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalisation (as shown by the second sample that we provided as an example) will make the Visa officers think that you are an organised and responsible person who put effort into preparing the Visa application.  

• Not presenting the list of documents you are submitting in order of priority

Show the Embassy/Consulate officers that you are an organised person. 

You should mention the list of documents that you are submitting for your application in order of priority (and not randomly). 

Start with the documents that are mandatory for all applicants no matter their personal situation (application form, passport, insurance, etc.) and then add the documents that are mandatory according to the purpose of your trip (e.g., hotel reservations ,   flight reservations , and travel itinerary – if you are applying for a tourist visa) and the documents that are mandatory according to your personal situation (e.g., employment contract , No Objection Certificate (NOC) Letter from your Employer, payslips , your bank statements , etc. – in case you are employed and you pay the expenses for your trip by yourself). 

For further details concerning the Schengen Visa requirements and the order that you should keep when listing them in your covering letter, please check out this blog post.  

• Submitting a Cover Letter that does not align to information and facts provided in other documents

The details and reasons outlined within your cover lettering must align to the same information and evidence you have provided in every other document you are submitting. 

If you contradict or state a point in your letter that does not align to the documents you provide to the Embassy/Consulate, you could jeopardise the entire application, which may cause your Schengen Visa to be rejected.

For example, if in your cover letter, you outline that you are travelling to stay with your family who lives in Italy but you do not include an invitation letter or sponsor for accommodation letter from them, then it contradicts the information in your application. 

Another example is that you say you are traveling for tourism but then you have an invitation letter from a business in your documents. Or, when your passport number and other personal details in your letter do not match the details in your other documents.

Confused Where To Start?

If you are confused, worried or stuck, the best next step to take is to Get a Free Consultation .

The session takes 5 to 10 minutes, starts immediately and you will get our advice delivered to your inbox by a Visa Expert within 1-2 hours. This is not a video or phone call, it is just like a live chat, where we can understand your situation better and an expert shares what you should do next.

There is no commitment to use our services at all, we just provide you advice based on our assessment of your situation and give you the next steps you need to follow to get your Schengen visa.

Click the Free Consultation button below to get the information you have been searching for

Visas Assoc.

Schengen visa.

• Free Consultation
• Personal Plan

Customer Care

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

Our advice Join us

• Cover letter

The cover letter is the second key part of your application file. This is where you need to get across what inspires you about this position, and why you would be well suited for it. It's a synthesis of your personality and your skills and should be different to your curriculum vitae; you shouldn't just copy and paste from that. The cover letter must respect certain content and formatting rules. It must be detailed without being heavy, and its content should have a impact on the reader. Below are the key points to take on board in order to write an impeccable cover letter, and win over the recruiters:

• The cover letter must always be written in the same language as the advertisement. Use translation and correction tools if you are struggling and find out how to correctly write polite expressions in the language used, since a literal translation is not always appropriate.
• Your cover letter shouldn't be longer than one page. Separate it into several distinct paragraphs to improve readability and avoid using long sentences.
• Avoid repetitions. Very often when we want to express an idea, we may have a tendency to repeat ourselves, and the text gets too long to digest. Prioritise action verbs and clear descriptions rather than long-winded text. Pay close attention to your spelling and use correction tools to avoid any typos.
• Write personalised cover letters. Copy and paste letters are easy to spot and put recruiters off. They give off a negative image and make recruiters think that you are not really interested in their specific company. Always remember to dedicate a paragraph to the company, describing what you particularly appreciate about its policy and the position you're applying for.
• Avoid “Madam, Sir” as much as possible if you can. A letter which uses the recruiter's name will be better received from the outset.
• Avoid using the conditional tense in your cover letter. Take out any “could, would like…” as well as sentences with negations which weigh down the text.

Writing your letter

Cover letter structure

In order to make it as attractive as possible, try to use “you, me, us” in your cover letter. This template is formed as follows:

This paragraph is dedicated to your employer: demonstrate that you know them and that their company and the position you're applying for corresponds perfectly with your values and skills. Gather information wherever you can, such as from the press, on the internet or on social networks. Policies? Business sector? Performance? Areas of expertise? Don't leave anything to chance and highlight why you are specifically applying to THIS company, and not another one.

Explain what specifically attracts you to this position, and what values or parts of the role description particularly speak to you. Don't just copy and paste the information listed, show personality and inventiveness to make you stand out from the others. However, be careful not to use an overly complimentary tone that could seem forced.

This is the time to put yourself forward, to really sell yourself. Explain why you would be the ideal candidate for this position by talking about your professional background and your skills. Read the ad carefully: what will make me stand out? What strengths do I have that match this position? Try to sell yourself as well as possible without being pretentious; it's all about striking a certain balance. Use strong action verbs and demonstrate that you are aware of your strengths and what you could bring to the company.

Your background is important, but don't forget that your personality and human qualities are just as important. Many companies make it a point of honour that there is a good working atmosphere within their company, and that their employees get along well. Show them that in addition to your professional skills, you are also a friendly and agreeable person who will get along perfectly with future colleagues.

Here, it's time to talk about collaboration. Think about what you could bring to the business and what projects you could work on together to help it grow. This is also a good place to state your willingness to attend an interview, in order to be able to prove the extent of your motivation in person. Use a context specific valediction to end the letter.

Cover letter content

• A “personal information” section including: surname, first name, address, postal code, country, e-mail and telephone.
• A section containing information about the recipient and the company you're applying to.
• The date and place where you wrote your cover letter.
• When responding to an advertisement: the advertisement number + the job title + the percentage of work
• When making a prospective job offer: collaboration proposition + name of position
• The body of the cover letter containing the various paragraphs mentioned above.

With all this information, you are now ready to write your cover letter. However, if you still don't feel ready, check out our website for concrete examples of cover letters. Finally, don't forget that it is better to send a few, high quality cover letters, rather than a large quantity of rushed letters. Don't hesitate to proofread it as many times as necessary, and to also have it proofread by someone else if you can, so as to give yourself the best possible chance of success.

• Job Hunting

Is your file complete?

Find a job by browsing the offers of one of our specialised companies..

Fixed recruitment & temporary placements in the Canton of Ticino

Recruitment of executives and specialists

Recruitment of IT and digital specialists

Fixed recruitment & temporary placements in the manufacturing, technology, watchmaking and construction sectors

Collocamento fisso e temporaneo, formazione - Settore alberghiero e ristorazione

Fixed recruitment & temporary placements – office & admin

Fixed recruitment & temporary placements, training – health & social professions

• Who are we ?
• Our societies
• Fixed recruitment
• Joint venture
• On-site & RPO
• Outplacement, Assessment and Coaching
• Placement of temporary workers
• The application file
• The curriculum vitae
• Success in your job interview

• Brand Collaborations
• Awards and Accolades

• Vatican City
• Andhra Pradesh
• Jammu and Kashmir/ Ladakh
• Who are we?
• Hopping Miles in Media
• Why Hopping Miles?
• Privacy Policy
• Driving Tips

Schengen Visa Cover Letter Format with sample and common mistakes

Schengen visa cover letter format with samples and common mistakes.

So, a close friend was rejected a Tourist Schengen Visa for France from India – twice in a row. She had to postpone her flight to a later date, but lost quite some money on Visa fees, hotel bookings and some internal flights within Schengen area. The reason quoted for the rejection was – ‘The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable‘ and ‘Your intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for could not be ascertained’ . I was intrigued and asked her for the covering letter that she submitted while applying for Schengen Visa. Her cover letter, though has necessary details, and was flawed at some places, which triggered me to pen down this post.

How am I qualified to write this post on Schengen Visa Cover Letter?

Having obtained Schengen Visa twice now – for Italy in 2016 and Sweden in 2017, though not an expert on this topic, I stand qualified to share my 2 bits – How not to screw up your Covering letter for Schengen Visa?

First off, let’s discuss – Why do we need a cover letter at all?

Why do we need a cover letter for Schengen Visa?

Just like any official interaction, be it a job application or any sort of request where we are seek attention of the reader – we need to introduce ourselves and make our intentions clear , right? That is why we need a cover letter. Given this, we need to make optimum use of this opportunity and give a clear picture to the Embassy officer – who doesn’t know who we are nor has the power to read our minds nor does he/she have the patience to figure out the jigsaw puzzle we have handed over to them in the form of travel documents!

Covering letter is your best chance to convince the Embassy officers to put that much needed Visa stamp on your passport. Imagine a cover letter like an interview, only that you will not be present in front of them, but it speaks on your behalf. (Scroll down at the end of this page to receive your Free copy of an editable format of an ideal ‘Schengen Visa Cover Letter’ )

Just think, in an interview – What all they might ask? What do you need to inform them about you? About your trip?

Any apprehensions, any communication – everything has to be done through the cover letter.

While applying Schengen Visa Italy last year, I did not understand why a cover letter is so important. But this time around, while applying Schengen for Sweden, I realized the power of a cover letter . The reason being these three scenarios:

1. Our middle names in the flight tickets were left out, as the website which was used to book the tickets had some bizarre mandatory name requirements. This was a worrying factor. So, before we applied Schengen for Sweden, I wrote to Sweden VFS Visa helpline and they responded within a day and instructed me to mention the same in the cover letter.

2. In Sweden, we will be travelling to Swedish Lapland and we have an overnight train journey from Stockholm to Kiruna and the same applies for the return journey too. A First class sleeper coach was booked for the night train journey, which was attached with the Visa application. In VFS office, the teller there pointed out that there are no hotel bookings made for those two dates. For which we diligently showed the train bookings with specific dates, travel time that exceeded 16 hours each side and a mention of sleeper coach. She highlighted dates in the train bookings and still insisted that we mention the same in the cover letter . We had to write that info at the back of the cover letter and sign it, as adding the same in the soft copy of cover letter and getting a print again was not feasible at that point in time.

So, what all do we need to mention in a cover letter?

• The purpose of your travel to the Schengen countries – is it for tourism purpose? Or official purpose? Or for studies? • List the countries are you visiting during your stay in Schengen area. • How and who is sponsoring your trip? Is it self-sponsored or sponsored by someone (husband, father etc.) and by what means – Cash (by showing balance in bank)? Credit card? Forex? Traveller cheques? • If you have a sponsor in the country you are visiting, then ask them for an invitation letter and clearly explain your relationship with your sponsor and the reason why they will be sponsoring your trip. Here, a sponsor might be a friend, relative or something/someone official. • A brief of your itinerary . Here, it is a good idea to use a table format with countries you’d like to visit, days spent there and a mention of places you will be visiting while you are there. (For an example, see the sample below) • Explain clearly why you chose to apply at that specific Embassy and not through any other country. • List the documents that are attached with the Visa application • In case you are not able to produce any particular document , mention that and try providing an alternative document which would cover the necessity of the former. • Mention the company and your designation of your employment in cover letter and write that you have taken a leave for the duration of the trip and are required to join back work after the vacation. • And any other specific communication which you think the Embassy officer needs to know.

Some tips and suggestions:

• Apply Visa as early as possible – we can apply for a Schengen Visa 90 days before our travel date. • Go through the Visa requirements checklist many times – even after securing all documents, there might be something that is always left out for the last minute! Isn’t it? Mr. Murphy is always lurking somewhere nearby. • Do NOT assume that the things are obvious and will be understood from the documents submitted. Always mention such things. The Embassy officer has to go through loads of applications every day. So, its not a really good idea to let him/her figure out stuff. • Try limiting your cover letter to one page. • And obviously, write a convincing cover letter 🙂 • Go through it again and check it for any spelling mistakes and do a Spell Check in MS Word or similar. Its not that you will be penalized for spell errors. It just gives a good first impression. • Doesn’t matter for what country you are applying – France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Austria or any Schengen country for that matter – whether a cover letter is mandatory or not – Just write it and write a rocking one!

My secret tip: Almost all visa applications ask for confirmed hotel bookings. With so many booking sites and hundreds of hotels and apartments, its indeed difficult to choose the place which suits our taste. I always check the prices of hotels/apartment from this website and compare prices offered by different booking sites and book the accommodation from the one that offers the best price. Compare hotels by checking in this search box below !

For booking car for our self drive journeys, I trust this site and have booked from here in all our self drive sojourns.

Fine, enough for today’s Theory session. Let the practical class begin now!

This was my friend’s Cover Letter. Let me try and point out what could have been added and how can it be improvised.

21/06/2017 Place: Bangalore

THE HONOURABLE CONSUL, EMBASSY OF FRANCE 21 Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052

Dear Sir or Madam,

Sub: Application for Short Stay Visa for Tourism from 30/06/2017 to 11/07/2017 (Self-Sponsored)

I intend to travel to countries France, Belgium and Switzerland from 30/06/2017 to 11/07/2017 and would therefore like to obtain a Schengen travel visa.

The purpose of my trip is tourism, to visit popular places in these European countries, especially the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Disneyland and the Louvre Pyramid in France, Interlaken, Jungfrau in Switzerland and Grand Palace, Bruges, Pairi Daiza etc in Belgium. During the trip in Belgium, I will stay in my sister’s home who is a resident of Belgium (attached the required document for the same)

Please find enclosed the following documents to support my visa application: 1. Original and copy of my passport 2. Application Form duly filled and signed with Photograph as per specifications, attached 3. Documentary evidence of my employment (leave sanction letter) 4. Copy of my booking at Hotels in Paris and Switzerland. 5. Invitation letter from my sister, a resident of Belgium and copy of residential permit 6. Income tax returns of last 3 years 7. Personal bank statements of last 3 months 8. Salary slips of last 3 months 9. Copy of my travel medical insurance policy, valid for the whole Schengen Area and covering up to 100,000 Euros for medical and hospital care plus repatriation for emergency medical reasons 10. Copy of e-ticket for my return flight to Bangalore via Doha with Qatar Airways

I trust you will find that everything is in order, but please feel free to contact me should you need any additional details or documents. Looking forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely, XYZ, Address, Phone, Email.

Here, I find 3 major flaws:

• She had submitted the official leave letter with the application, but there isn’t any mention of her employer or designation in the cover letter. As I said earlier, lets not assume that it is understood. Even if it is obvious, mentioning it in the cover letter makes a huge difference. • The itinerary presented was very cloudy . Seems like there is a no perfect plan chalked out. But in reality, the plan was present, that is why the hotel bookings were done. But it hasn’t been mentioned clearly in the cover letter. • Another major point – there is NO reason presented here as to why France is being chosen as a Consulate to apply Schengen Visa.

A template or a sample which we used for Schengen Italy Cover Letter:

May 3, 2016 Bengaluru

The Honorable Consulate, Embassy of Italy, Kanchanjunga, Piano Terra, 72 G.Deshmukh Marg Mumbai – 400 026

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to apply for Schengen visa to spend a holiday in five countries – Italy , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Montenegro, this May 27 to June 12, 2016. I am applying through your Honourable Consulate, as Italy is my main destination and first point of entry as well as my point of exit.

We are a family of five travelling together. Tourism is the main purpose of our visit, to see the beautiful sights especially the museums and ancient architecture.

Our detailed itinerary is attached inside. Brief itinerary would be as follows:

I am employed at XYZ, Bengaluru since July 2010 and currently holding the position of ABC. Vacation from work has already been approved for the whole duration of this trip.

Please find the following documents to support my visa application enclosed herewith:

* Application form, duly dated and signed with passport-size picture * Passports * Employment and Leave certificates showing the date I’m expected to return for work * Detailed itinerary * Hotel booking reservation as proof of accommodation * Payslips, Bank Statements, Statement of Account as proof of income, ITR, Credit card statements, Forex receipts * Travel Insurance with benefits coverage of 50,000 Euro for each person travelling * Plane ticket booking reservation via Qatar Airways for Bangalore – Rome – Bangalore on May 27 – June 12, 2016

I trust that you will find that everything is in order, and I remain at your disposal for any further information. Thank you very much for your time. I hope for a favourable response for my visa application. For questions and clarifications, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Sincerely, Name Mobile: Email:

This format bought us Schengen Visa for Italy on our European Odyssey last year.  Hope this post helps you in crafting your letter.

If you are planning to apply a Schengen Visa for Italy, then  click here to read a post about the process of applying Schengen Visa for Italy.

Please note that right click is disabled on this page to discourage plagiarism. However, you can get the cover letter sample by entering your email in the box below to receive an editable sample of ‘Schengen Visa Cover Letter’.

Enter the email to which you wish to receive a FREE editable sample of Schengen Visa Cover letter

If you liked this post, show us some love and pat us on our backs! Like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter  and Instagram  and subscribe to our Youtube channel !

Other related important reads:

Ultimate guide for Schengen Visa Italy from India

Italy Self drive Itinerary

Iceland 10 day itinerary

Croatia 7/10 days itinerary

14 things to know before driving in Italy

Plitvice Lakes – Land of Falling Lakes, Croatia

  Pin it for later:

114 comments

Lovely article and timely we r applying for our visa in coming week. This article is very informative. Thank you to pen it down

Glad it was of your help 🙂

Hi Ashwini, I’ts a great help for me your blog since, I’m a first timer to travel. Would you mind please to share with me your email as i want to write you for more clarification? as I’m a bit confused. Thanks and awaiting Chona

Please write into us at [email protected]

Hi Ashwini, Thanks a ton for this article. we are applying for our visas next weeK, we intent to travel to Italy, switzerland and france. p.o.e. Italy. Some queries to be answered, as i am getting mixed replies for the same. Do we need to book all internal train travels i.e. rome to venice, venice to interlaken n henceforth. we have done no prepayment booking from booking.com for accomodations, hope thats valid.

There is no need for you to show the proof of travel inside a specific country. However, it is a good practice to mention how you intend to travel inside a country and between two countries. And this can be achieved through a cover letter!

And yes, no prepayment bookings from booking.com is valid. We always do the same 🙂

this article is very informative and helpful for visa we Indians not blessed with highest rank passports which allows visa on arrival to most of countries. It seems so much headache when applying for visa.But if apply it in order as you mentioned issues can be resolved

Very true Mayuri!

Hi Ashwini,

I plan to visit my brother who stays in Germany, can you kindly let me know how should the invitation letter be all are the required details? Do share if u have any format for the same. Thank you.

Sorry for the late reply Vini. I do not have a format handy. I shall write a blog post on it soon.

Hi ashwini, You have mentioned about Detailed itinerary, could you please explain this also, I mean how one should write it. Are we suppose to mention each and every thing which we are going to do each day?

Hai Harpreet,

If you see the sample I have provided, the itinerary we mentioned was one line with places we planned to go for that day. I think that should suffice and too much detail will make the cover letter too lengthy and unappealing. Hope I have answered your question!

YOUR ARTICLE HAS BEEN OF GREAT HELP…..HOWEVER ONE THING IS REALLY CONFUSING ME…. I AM PLANNING TO APPLY FOR FRANCE AND SWISS TOURIST VISA……PEOPLE ARE ADVISING TO GO WITH FLIGHT RESERVATION AND DUMMY HOTEL BOOKING FOR APPLYING THE VISA……IS IT SAFE TO DO SO…….

Yes Karan. Thats is true. Go through this post for more details. http://hoppingmiles.com/schengen-visa-italy-indians-citizens-checklist/

Hey … thanks for amazing info. I have question . Did you visit bosnia and croatia in same schengen visa … because they dont come in schengen country.

Even though Bosnia and Croatia do not come under Schengen Visa, these countries allow visitors with a valid Schengen Visa. For this, you need to have a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa.

Hey Ashwini I also applied for France from Delhi and my visa got rejected with same reason. Now I am scared from which Embassy I should apply as I already booked my paid ticket and hotel I submitted all paid hotel and flight tickets even for Europe, I think I am going on solo trip that may the reason not sure. Any suggestion which country I should apply?

Hi Adhiman,

The rule goes by the fact that we need to apply to the country where we are staying for more number of days. If we are by any chance staying in two countries for equal number of days, then we need to apply to the Embassy of the country which will be our first port of entry.

Thanks for the article, this was helpful. Do you have any advice for writing an invitation letter? I want to give one to my brother to visit.

Sure Ezinne. I shall try to pen down that post soon 🙂

My name is Vivek. I would be travelling with my wife. So apart from booking two appointments, will there be a need to get two sets of required documents and two covering letters or only one set. Her application form would be different.

Yes.Two separate set of documents and seperate application forms. Cover letter can be the same but you need separate copies of that each too!

Hi…My schengen visa got rejected due to reason for travel does not seem reliable. I am reapplying for the same. Just wanted to know in the new covering letter do i write the letter as a fresh application or do i mention the previous rejection and give further justifications

I am in two minds about it as I haven’t been in this situation. Why don’t you call the VFS helpline? They are the best folks to answer this question.

Hi i would like to read your thoughts about our story, please. We have been granted a Belgium Schengen visa my wife and i but after our departure date. We have reached out the Consulate to get our passports back, to our surprise Bangg! empty passports. The consulate officer told us that they couldn’t put our visas into our passport because it’s been granted after our travel date so what does it mean? do they have the right to do that after been approved? your thoughts will be appreciated , thanks

Honestly, If I were you, I too would have been disappointed. And yes, what they say is right. Because, the reason that a schengen visa demands a confirmed return flight is that they want to confirm that we come out of schengen area within a specific time frame. If your flight date has lapsed, that means you can’t commit to your promise of going and coming out of schengen area on the dates you have mentioned in the cover letter. So, a fresh application is recommended. But this time, be careful and apply as early as possible.

Thank you very much, i appreciate your reply.

By the way do we need to stick our-self with the same consulate?

That depends on your travel plans. Read this post if you are visiting multiple schengen countries and have a confusion as to which country to apply to : http://hoppingmiles.com/schengen-visa-italy-indians-citizens-checklist/

Hi! Thank you for the link, very helpful. I have got another question, how can we proof that we have been granted a Schengen visa if we decide to go to Italy this time. As I mentioned before we have been granted, but we didn’t travel because the consulate didn’t stick our visas into our passport due to the fact that our departure date has passed, Thank you in advance

There is no proof as your visas haven’t been stamped. Try a fresh application. All the best.

Thanks for sharing your knowledgeable experience, I really appreciate your care and concern Ashwini towards helping people. I’m sending you an email for your further help as i applied for visa and got refused.

Hi Ashwini, Really your post is very informative. I am planning to invite my wife to Paris as I’m already here from past 1 month. And when we asked for the details we have lot of opinions so more confused with what are the basic requirements. We have been told that will require an Invitation letter from me inviting my wife to Paris. I tried to search for a format but not able to get it. can you help me on that?

Also if my wife provide 6 months bank statement for my salary account will it be ok for Consulate?

As I’m already in Paris I have stay booked till my return journey is it fine to provide the same with my name?

Even we have suggestion for my wife to not show that you are working to save document for leave approval which is quite difficult for her.

I have 1 question in mind as we didn’t planned any internal journey as of now and if we mention about the visit to different countries is it mandatory to show the details of the stay for other countries? Looking forward for your reply which will help us. Thank you

Hrisheekesh Pargaonkar ±33753190588 ±917588436499

Answering your questions one by one.

q: We have been told that will require an Invitation letter from me inviting my wife to Paris. I tried to search for a format but not able to get it. can you help me on that? a: Will try writing a post on that.

q: Also if my wife provide 6 months bank statement for my salary account will it be ok for Consulate? a: They ask only for recent 3 months. Doesn’t count even if you provide more as they will remove extra months docs in VFS Office. Just make sure you have a healthy bank balance.

q: As I’m already in Paris I have stay booked till my return journey is it fine to provide the same with my name? a: Guess that would suffice. Confirm once with VFS call centre.

q: Even we have suggestion for my wife to not show that you are working to save document for leave approval which is quite difficult for her. a: Confirm once with VFS call centre.

q: I have 1 question in mind as we didn’t planned any internal journey as of now and if we mention about the visit to different countries is it mandatory to show the details of the stay for other countries? a: Definitely yes. You can do temporary bookings in booking.com. If you have plans of visiting other countries, then make sure she gets a ‘multiple entry’ Schengen visa.

Hope this helps. Thanks

hello , my wife is the citizen of italy (permanant green card ) as such we got married on dec 2015 and now she is pragnant and in italy she wants to invite me for her delivery as such i m having her name on my passport , marriage certificate, my name on her passport issue from milan italy. and a doctor covring letter of her pragnancy form italy. i need to know that how can i apply and a covering letter format. and the chances of visa….really worried about can u help a part.

waiting for reply

Please contact your VFS office and they will be able to guide you better. Thanks and congrats on the baby 🙂

Can you please put more light on the format of ‘Detailed Itinerary’

Detailed Itinerary would be your confirmed accommodation booking printouts, flight tickets and inter city/inter country travel docs if any.

Thanks for the info here. One more thing i wanted to know that yesterday i called Thomas Cook for the Visa and they said that they can get it done and they will show the confirmed tickets & hotel bookings and as we get the visa they will cancel it and we can then book our hotels on our own. Do you think hiring them will be good idea or shall i do the visa process on my own.

It upto you Vikas. Totally your decision 🙂

Hi, I was planning to go for a road trip in Europe, all planning is done from caravan to tickets. But all hopes are on visas. How do I compel them not to reject our visa. Please help. And if possible can u send me your mail. Thanks

If your planning is already done, then please apply visa asap. Follow the points given in the article and craft a convincing cover letter – that is the only thing we can do from our side to compel them. Subscribe with your mail id in the text box provided in the article and you will automatically get the mail.

Hi, I am planning a solo trip to Amsterdam in coming June month for 7 days. Is it a fact that solo trip visas are mostly rejected ? and I intend to travel in and around Amsterdam only. Would that be a problem considering it is a short itinerary for cover letter? Thanks in advance.

Don’t think it’ll be a problem to acquire visa if you are only in and Amsterdam for the entire trip duration. Just make sure you have accommodation booked for all the days and mention what all have you planned to see over the 7 days.

Hi, Thanks for the article,it is really helpful I have some doubts 1)I can give just reserved tickets(Not paid)? Many airlines provide free reserved ticket which block the ticket for 3 days. I have this question because on the main page of VFS website,they clearly mention that do not confirm your travel plans till visa is approved.So can i give reserved ticket(not paid) instead of a confirmed ticket(paid for)

2)The cover letter can be written on an A4 size paper write?

Thanks in Advance

Answering pointwise:

1. Will do but during the time of verification of your application by Embassy people, your ticket should be valid and should not be cancelled as they will verify it.

2. Should be printed on A4 size paper

Hello Ashwni

I find this post really informative, ad would like to clarify a few things w.r.t our trip Me and my husband are planning for a trip to Swiss-Belgium (and make day trips to France and Amsterdam while staying in Belgium). Our point of entry will be Swiss (will stay there for 3 nights) and then travel to Belgium( where we will stay for 5 nights). But while we stay in Belgium we intend to do a day trip to Paris and another day trip to Amsterdam. Our p.o.e will be Belgium. Q1 – Which country should we apply the Schengen Visa for? – Swiss or Belgium? Q2 – Also, both of us are working, but the way our budgeting works is I have more bank balance, and his is more like a current account, rather savings account. Keeping this in mind, what will give better chances of approval – applying together and showing both the bank statements or applying mentioning am sponsoring the trip? Please suggest 🙂

Answer 1: Belgium Answer 2: Both bank statements will be a good idea i guess. Please clarify with local VFS office

I am planning to travel to Europe (Italy, Austria & Switzerland in that order) for a month in mid April with Italy being port of entry & main destination as I am spending 15 days there. I am travelling solo to Italy and then being joined by friends in Austria & Switzerland. Post that, I am heading to the US for 4 months where I am staying with my sister. I have a valid US visa. I also have previously traveled to the Schengen region 4 times in the last 8 years.

The tricky part is I am obviously travelling for this long as I have quit my job of 8 years and planning on taking a break for some time and find something once I am back.

My queries, hence, are:

1) Should I mention that I have quit my job in the cover letter itself hence declaring I wont have a Leave letter from my organisation. 2) Will I require any other document from my current employer (serving notice here) to support my claim? Shall i include one just to be sure? 3) I’m sponsoring my own trip, travelling solo & quitting my job for that- Will these 3 things pose to be possible reasons why my Visa could get rejected. If yes, what additional documents shall I submit to cover all bases.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for writing in Rupal. Yes, your case is tricky. But tel me one thing, is your flight to US from India, after you come back from Italy or the flight is directly from Italy? Whatever is the case, please mention it in the cover letter. Yes, supporting documents to prove that you are leaving the job might work.

Again, convincing them that you are traveling to US later is essential. So flight tickets to US if available and shown, will make the job easy.

Hello, I am Bangalore.. planning to travel to Ireland in the month of June. Since I didn’t get any post related to Ireland, I am posting few questions here 🙂 . 1. My daughter will be travelling with me, so we need her father’s consent letter since he is not coming with us. Do I need to get the letter Notarized? 2. I will be travelling with my friend , do I need to give proof of relationship with her? 2. My application letter should address to whom? Should it be The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Ireland c/o Biocon Limited 20th K M Hosur Road Electronics City PO Bangalore 560100 (as found under Emabassy of Ireland, Honorary Consuls- India, Bangalore) 3. If you can help me with writing a detailed itinerary plan. Thanks in advance! 🙂

1. My daughter will be travelling with me, so we need her father’s consent letter since he is not coming with us. Do I need to get the letter Notarized? Father’s consent letter and permission letter from school. Notary sign not required.

2. I will be travelling with my friend , do I need to give proof of relationship with her? Haha. No. You can’t prove if someone is your friend. There is no such formal document that exists to prove it.

2. My application letter should address to whom? Should it be The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Ireland c/o Biocon Limited 20th K M Hosur Road Electronics City PO Bangalore 560100 (as found under Emabassy of Ireland, Honorary Consuls- India, Bangalore) Yes.

3. If you can help me with writing a detailed itinerary plan. Please check the post, I have mentioned the format. Follow the same with your plans and itinerary.

Thanks for reply 🙂 . One more question, Do i need to submit flight tickets/confirmation for visa application, though it’s not mentioned anywhere under required documents for visa.

I’m surprised that it isn’t mentioned. Return flight tickets are mandatory for any Visa 🙂

Hi … Me and my wife are travelling to Austria and Czeh Republic for 16 days with 9 days in Austria and hence applying from the Austrian Embassy. I am also doing two day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle and Berchtesgaden Salt mines both being in Germany with our stay being in Innsbruck and Salzburg respectively on the day of the day trips.

In light of the above in the application form in Point 22 it mentions Member State (s) to visit should I mention only Austria OR Austria and Czeh Republic OR Austria Germany and CzehRepublic

Mention all the member states you are traveling to. Also check the multiple entry option in the application form

Hello I am applying for a schengen short term tourist visa. I am applying through the Netherlands embassy as I will be staying there for the longest. I have some queries.

1) This is a solo trip. I am male,single and in mid 20s. I have been to singapore last month as a tourist. Should I mention it in the cover letter indicating that I have traveled solo before and attach visa and stamp copies? Or should I avoid mentioning it?

2) I work For an IT company with a monthly salary of about 35k. I have been working there for about 2 years. and will show about 2 lakhs in my salary account with salary slips and ITR for 14 days trip. I still feel that this might not be enough to convince the authority. I am thinking of attaching my mother’s bank statements and ITR along with a letter. The thing is, I don’t want authorities to think that my mother is the sole sponsorer of this trip as I earn a descent amount of money .I am more inclined towards a middle path by writing something like this in the cover letter-‘The trip will be sponsored by myself. I will also carry my Mother’s international debit card linked to her salary account to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. Her Bank statements,ITR and letter of consent are attached”.

Is this recommended? Or should I change some words like “unforeseen circumstances”Please Reply

1. No need to mention Singapore trip. If you have been to Schengen countries earlier, then the application form asks for Visa number.

2. I feel 2L for a single person for 14 days should suffice. Attach your credit card statement to show that you have a credit card too.

Hi Ashwini, I am applying for Schengen through the Belgium consulate. I intend to travel to Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris and I will be flying in and out of Amsterdam. Here are my questions –

1. I am travelling solo, for the first time to Europe or anywhere. I am quitting work at my current organization and have a 3 week break until I join the new company. Would be using this break to travel. Would this by any chance be a problem and lead to rejection? I have clearly stated in my cover letter about this and would be attaching the resignation confirmation and new job offer letter, and as well as confirmed return ticket and accomodation details (booking.com no pre payment reservations). 2. Is it okay to apply through Belgium consulate and not Netherlands (as my country of entry and exit is this)? 3. How long does it usually take to receive the visa? I am getting my tickets for 5th May.

Thanks in advance

1. Should not be a problem 2. If you are staying max number of days in Belgium, this is fine. 3. 15 working days is what they say.

Thank you so much. This is very helpful. I was hoping you could help me with some questions. I am travelling to italy for a month with my boyfriend. During my stay in Italy i will be staying with my BF family for 18 days. During my stay there i will be attending a wedding and also seeing the amalafi coast. After the 18 days period we will be visiting Rome, Venice and Florence. I will be applying a visa for myself only since my BF is a Canadian Citizen. I hold a Permenant Residence here in Canada. I was told if i am applying for a private visa to not mention Tourism. I am currently working full time as an Account Manager but i will be resigning before my trip. This is because i will be going to College full time when i come back.

1) Do i have to let the embassy know that i will be going other places in italy? ( i was going to say i am staying with my BF family for all the 30 days) 2) Is proof of school letter station start date enough to show them that i will be returning( including my return flight) 3)If i am applying for a private visa do i have to tell them i will also be visiting Amalafi while at my sponsers? 4) I do not want to ask my sponser to get statements of their bank. Can i mention that i will be supporting myself as well and show my own bank account and sufficient funds. ( how much $ is needed to show for about 28 days) While i will be staying with my sponser?

Thank you so much!!

1. If you are traveling within Italy and not going out of the country, then its not needed to mention. 2. Yes. Should suffice. Mention that in cover letter 3. No need. Just mention in cover letter that you will be staying with your Bf’s family. Ask them for an invitation letter stating that they are inviting you to stay with them. Attach it with your docs 4. Showing your bank details will be enough. The amount depends on the country you stay. Ask your local VFS office or check their website for these details.

Hey, I wish to apply for Shengen visa next week from France Embassy. I have already drafted a cover letter, would you be able to check it and let me know of any improvements? really appreciate.

Please mail me to [email protected]

I have WP120 visa for Switzerland and wish to get Tourist visa for my wife and son (3yr old) to stay with me for a period of 75 days. Can you please help me with covering letter and/or invitation letter that my wife should submit along with her visa application form. Trip would be sponsored by me but my wife also has sufficienct balance in her bank account. Please do let me know if you have any other suggestions for visa application.

Thank you in advance.

I’ve already mentioned the cover letter format in this article. Please go through it thoroughly. Showing her bank statement is fine if she has good balance.

Hi, Thanks for such an informative post….. great job My query is that i am getting married on july 15th and leaving on morning of july 18th morning for a 7 day trip covering amsterdam, antwerpen & paris. the issue is i wont be having a marriage certificate while i apply for me and my to-be wife’s visa. I will be taking care of all the expenses for travel. i am not sure about which documents should i place for my wife’s visa application

Try attaching the wedding invitation card and mention the same in your cover letter.

Hi, Did you attach invitation while submitting application ? Any other document that would require particularly to apply visa along with my fiancee ?

Hi I have a query. I am a practicing as a advocate. as I only few months back started my practice so that’s why I never filled tax,itr etc. I want to visit Belgium(20 days) to visit my sister she is staying there with her husband. can my father sponser me for the same and please share format for sponser letter and cover letter

Cover letter is already in the post. In addition to Sponsor Letter, you will need an invitation letter from your sister inviting you to their home and they need to mention that you shall be staying with them. The format will be a usual formal letter format with your details, purpose and intent of travel.

hi, I Am applying for a Shengen visa in germany, but will also be visiting hungary, austria, czech republic and poland, is the hostel reservation through booking.com valid, as in their email they show free cancellation date and also no prepayment required , so will those hostel booking will be valid. Also is it ok if i book a return flight from another country and city. Also One of my school friend works in berlin, and will be staying with him for couple of days, so is it ok to mention that in the letter to the embassy and do i have to get a letter from mentioning that i will be staying with him for couple of days and the whole trip will be self sponsored. Also would like to know i have resigned from my current job , and will be look for a new job after my return from my vacation , so will that be ok.

1. Hostel bookings are valid. Make sure you have your name on those. 2. Flight- Not an issue. Make sure you apply visa to the country which you will be staying the max number of days 3. Stay with friend – Yes, an invitation letter from him is needed. If you want to avoid the hassle, do bookings with free cancellation and then cancel those when your visa is stamped. 4. Job – Will not be a problem. Mention the same in cover letter. Also add a line that your family and work commitments are deep rooted here and you will have to return to your home country to fulfil those and you are visiting Europe just for tourism purpose.

hello, I have got an LOI from a reputed airline in India,and they wants me to do a short term ( 75 days )course from Madrid. once i get it done i will be employed by them.i have also received the invitation letter from the training centre from Madrid. My dad is sponsoring my course fee and all other expenses for the trip.He is getting a loan from a private firm for the same.

Now to apply for the visa (business) they wants the IT returns or form 16 which my dad doesnt have. He is retired and used to be an NRI. so my query is this, what other supporting documents can i produce ? (apart from my own personal bank statement and my dads )

Please call the VFS Helpline to get clarification on this.

Hello, thanks for the informative blogpost. I’m traveling with my friend who is applying as well for a short stay tourist visa at the French embassy, however we live in different states and plan on applying at the embassy in our respective states in Nigeria rather than as a group. Is it okay if I indicate that I will be traveling with my friend in my cover letter. (Note that all hotel reservations were made in both our names)

I think this should be fine. Can you please call VFS helpline and confirm with them?

Sorry but spelling mistake – The Honourable Consulate not Honorable.

Thanks for your concern 🙂 Please have a look at this: https://wikidiff.com/honourable/honorable

Hi, i have couple of questions. 1. I would be visiting 3 Schengen countries in one trip, should i be applying for a single entry or multiple entry visa? I plan to reach France then Switzerland then Iceland which are all Schengen members. 2. I would be applying the visa at France consulate (because it is the only consulate closer to me) by showing trip to 1 country only but i plan to visit 3 later on. Once the visa is issued, can i still travel as per my plan or is it a problem? I have read that once the visa is issued, you can travel to any Schengen country.

1. Multiple Entry Visa 2. You can but if you show one country in your itinerary and tick the multiple entry option, there are high chances that they will approve it as a single entry visa. So make your move carefully.

Hi Ashwini Actually i researched on it meanwhile and found that single entry visa means entry to Schengen members while staying in Schengen members. It doesn’t mean single country. So as long as you are staying inside the Schengen region (it can be one country or more) without going out of this region, single visit is sufficient. Multiple visit means for example, India to France then to UK (which is outside Schengen) then to Italy.

I agree. Thats what we had been told when we went to Sweden last year where, though we had applied for ‘Multiple entry’ visa, we were granted only a ‘Single entry’ visa. So we too went by this defination and thought we can explore Paris for a few hours in our long layover at France, but the immigration folks didn’t allow us to step out of the airport a this was a ‘Single Entry’ visa.

For the same reason, we were scared if we would be allowed inside Iceland or not. But,in Iceland, we had no problems as we had flown in from Sweden which is a Schengen country. So, I cannot guarantee that the statement holds good, as I have been a personal victim to prove that definition wrong!

Hi, I would be travelling to three countries France, Belgium and Netherlands in September. I’m applying at the Netherlands embassy. Onward flight is from India to Paris(transfer at Doha) and return is from Amsterdam(transfer at Moscow). Can you tell me if I should take a single or multiple entry Visa? Thanks in advance

Mulitple Entry Visa

Hi Ashwini, I’m a first time traveller to Europe, it would really help if you could tell me the reason why I would need a multiple entry visa if all the member states I intend to visit are in the Schengen area. Also, what reason should I mention about this in the cover letter Thanks

Please check the above comment

Sir, I am Sudip Panday from Nepal Will you please give your email address so that I can ask some of the personal information regarding visa application ?

Please write to us at [email protected]

Hi my mom went her son home Italy two time with my father ,now she is trying to go alone , so she is housewife. is she can show enough money into bank for her expenses ?

Yes. She can show money in her account and can self sponsor.

Hi Ashwini! My wife is resident of Finland and she is inviting me and my mother for a visit visa.I am currently working as Assistant Manager Mechanical engineer in a private firm and also have last 05 years ITR and all other official working documents,.I am applying through Netherlands embassy.I have some queries. 1. I book an appointment with my mother but she is paying for her whole trip she have strong bank statement,Pension slips and agricultural as well as residential property so is it fine to put my application with her? or should we apply separate as our insurance and applications are separate too. 2. Finnish embassy is not in my country and Netherlands embassy is accepting applications on behalf of Finland. So whom should i address in my cover letter? Finland embassy or Netherlands embassy? 3. About travel Itinerary,I am travelling to Finland and then we have plan to visit Sweden and i also have booked a hotel in Sweden through Agoda.com, so should we just write our visit to finland and sweden? and do we need to mention places in finland and sweden we intend to visit? Ps. I will stay in Finland for almost 1 month and my mother will stay for 2 months.Please answer according to that In Itinerary question Thanks, Need your suggestions soon as i have appointment on this tuesday

Answering your question pointwise:

1. Mention in cover letter that you both are travelling together but have different sources of income which are stable and strong, hence applying separately with different set of documents but will be staying and travelling together. 2. In a similar situation, My sister applied Iceland visa last year through Denmark embassy as it is one which processes Iceland visa in our country. Her cover letter started like this. FYI, she got her visa approved in time.

July 20, 2017 The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Denmark 11, Golf Links, New Delhi Delhi 110003 India

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to apply for Schengen Visa to spend a holiday in two European countries – Iceland and Sweden, this August 20 to September 2, 2017. I am applying through your Honorable Consulate Denmark as Iceland is my main destination and will be staying here maximum number of days and will be flying in and out of Reykjavik. Myself and my wife are travelling together on this trip. Tourism is the main purpose of our visit, to see the beautiful landscapes and experience the rich culture and heritage offered by both the countries

Arrival date | Departure date | Days | City(Country) 20 August 2017 | 21 August 2017 | 1 | Stockholm(Sweden) 21 August 2017 | 31 September 2017 11 | Reykjavik – Bruarfoss – Vik – Hof – Detifoss – Husavik – Latrabjarg -Reykjavik (Iceland) 1 September 2017 | 1 September 2017 | 1 | Reykjavik (Iceland) – Stockholm(Sweden)

……(continues)

P.S: Above itinerary was in table format. Couldn’t paste it in the same format. Please make a table.

3. I hope the above snapshot of my sister’s cover letter would have given you an idea about the answer for this question.

P.S: An invitation letter from your wife with her proof of residence must be attached with both of your documents and don’t forget to mention in the cover letter that you both are being invited by her and that the invitation doc is attached.

hello, i applied to france embassy and i got rejected today. me and my husband planning to travel France ( Paris) and Netherland (AMsterdam) from 4th Nov to 11th Nov. i am working and i have all documents from ITR papers to work leave letter and enough funds in account. Problem is my Husband only got 1 year ITR paper that is 2018 and he is working as share trader and handle clients but as freelancer. so how to show sponsor and what to mentioned on cover letter. who can be sponsor??? we both have funds in accounts but as he is freelancer is it going to hamper our visa decision?? can you please guide me how to make changes in our profile and get visa for france second time?? what all documents we show as to show ties to come back to home country??? i have my all bookings done. Flights and hotels all booked. i want visa to go.. please guide me

Try mentioning that you have strong family ties back here in India. Have a home and job to join back(for you) and projects to finish(for him). Otherwise, I guess, you have all req documents in place.

Hi, I’m from Mumbai & intend to travel to the Czech Republic for a few days. I am a confused as to whom the cover letter should be addressed, should it be addressed to the Embassy in Delhi or to their Honorary Consulate in Mumbai?

Don’t think that would matter as much as the content inside the cover letter. Either one would do

Me and my husband are planning to Go to Prague and Italy in Jan.We are applying to Prague as we are staying there for max. no of days as well as it being the country of entry.

The issue is I have been working for only 1.5 yrs and have 1 yr IT return document. Also my account shows liquid cash of 1.5 lakhs (FD of 1 lakh is there too but not liquid) Husband only got 3 year ITR paper and also approx 3 lakh cash in account. I am mentioning that I am working also submitting all docs(statements, NOC etc)

So whom to show as sponsor on my cover letter ?? Should I show self/joint/ husband as the sponsor on my letter? Please let me know.

You can say that you are sponsoring yourself.

Hi. Great Post. I have dropped you an email for further queries on my solo trip to Europe coming Feb. Hope to see a response. Thanks.

Hi , Thanks for your valuable post. I just wanted to know one thing , do I need to download the application form from the VFS Italy and then fill it out with a Pen. Otherwise there seems no other option, because attached is a PDF file on the website. The only option seems to be download the file and then fill it up with Pen. Can you please guide me to the correct way,

Yes, download it and take a print and fill it by hand.

Hi, Thank you for bringing up such a wonderful post. I have question before proceeding further for Schengen visa. I stay in Bangalore and my parents stay in Odisha. Their passports are issued recently in Odisha. Can we all apply together in Bangalore Vfs? If yes, do I need to mention that parents stays with me in Bangalore? P:S, I have to show their bank statement as well in support to show sufficient finances.

They can apply with you I guess. Please call VFS helpline and confirm

Hi Ashwini…I read all your comments respective of all questions you gave useful tips. So helpful. Thanks. Here is my Question…… I planning to travel with my minor kids to Malta…If i will get the Malta visa, can i book the ticket to France to visit the places in france and return from France.

If you plan so, please mention the same in cover letter and do all the bookings. Last time, we had a 6 hour layover in Paris and officials there did not allow us to go out though France was in Schengen and said that we did nit have a multiple entry visa. So mention that in cover letter and ask for a multiple entry access.

Hi, can you please help me with ‘covering letter for long term student visa’? I am from India and would be traveling to Italy for masters. Can you share if any examples?

The format is the same except the itinerary in the table form. Convince them that you are going there to study with all the related documents.

Hi Ashwini, i want to apply for a Schenegen Visa from French embassy. I am travelling with a group of 9 friends. Do i need to mention their names or passport numbers in the cover letter or attach their passport copies in the documents?

Well, 9 friends. Hmm.. Don’t think its required. It’ll be too much information and can confuse the embassy officer!

Hi. I am visiting germany for a conference (business visa) and i have hotel bookings for all the days in Berlin. But if time permits i might visit france and amsterdam.Now my doubt is..do i need to mention about the probable countries i might visit in the visa application form question no.22 where the column asks for ‘Member state (s) of destination’ ?

If you are going by road to France and Amsterdam, Then I dont think you need to mention that as there will rarely be checks on the road inside Schengen area. Otherwise, I guess, you must have to.

Hi ashwini,

i’m kranthi and Am applying for Student Visa( D-Visa) to Spain. I almost Completed with my Documents part . Preparing for Cover letter and this blog really helped me . Do you have any suggestion format for Student Visa as such a Sample Cover letter. Because the program Duration will be 18 months . i dont have any Accommodation proof because i have to go and find it out. But college gave me confirmation letter saying they will provide Accommodation but they didn’t mention address in specific .Should i mention this in my Cover letter

Yes. Please mention this in the cover letter.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Recent posts

• Rental cars Iceland reviews – Real reviews from World Travelers
• 14 Kick-ass Christmas gifts for Travel Enthusiasts (That they’ll actually use)
• SMART tips to buy perfect Gloves for Iceland Winter + Summer
• How to Book Flight Itinerary and Hotel Bookings for Schengen Visa Application Process
• Best whale watching in Iceland – Season, cheap tours, everything you need to know!

Search for any destination on our site

Follow us on social media, our best posts.

• 1 International Hops , Italy , Our Hops , Slovenia , Visa Schengen Visa Cover Letter Format with sample and common mistakes
• 2 Europe , International Hops , Italy Schengen VISA Italy for India Citizens – Ultimate guide
• 3 Domestic Hops , Driving Tips , Europe , International Hops , Italy , Our Hops Our Italy Road trip Itinerary – Self drive in Italy
• 4 Africa , International Hops , Mauritius Travel Hack : 7 money saving tips when on a Mauritius Holiday
• 5 Europe , International Hops , Italy Day trip to Capri, Italy – Things to do and Must see

Read previous post:

Bangalore to Gandikota – Travel Guide

Bangalore to Gandikota - Travel Guide A visit to Gandikota was high on my bucket list, but somehow the plan...

Schengen Visa Cover Letter for Multiple Entry in 2024 [Samples Included]

What is a schengen visa cover letter.

A Schengen Visa cover letter is a letter accompanying your visa application. It is addressed to the consulate or embassy where you are applying and provides additional information that is not covered in the application form.

For multiple-entry visas, the cover letter serves as your opportunity to explain why you need to travel frequently to the Schengen Area.

Why is the Cover Letter Important?

The cover letter is your personal introduction to the visa officers. It offers a glimpse into your travel intentions, your ties to your home country, and your financial capacity.

Given that visa officers have limited time to go through each application, a well-crafted cover letter can make your application stand out.

For multiple-entry visas, in particular, it’s essential to justify why you need to enter the Schengen Area multiple times.

How To Write Your Schengen Visa Cover Letter For Multiple Entry

1. Personal Details: Begin with your name, passport number, and date of drafting the letter. Address the letter to the consulate where you’re applying. If you don’t know the specific name of the visa officer, “To whom it may concern” is acceptable.

2. Introduction: Start by specifying the type of visa you’re applying for – in this case, a multiple-entry Schengen visa. Mention your travel dates, the first Schengen country you’ll be entering, and the main purpose of your visit.

3. Travel Itinerary: Since you’re applying for a multiple-entry visa, you should provide a detailed itinerary of each intended visit. This includes entry and exit dates, countries to be visited, accommodation details, and the purpose of each visit.

4. Purpose of Multiple Entries: Clearly justify why a multiple-entry visa is necessary. Are you attending a series of business meetings spread over months? Do you have family in two different Schengen countries that you plan to visit frequently? Be concise and precise.

5. Financial Proof: Reiterate that you have the necessary funds for all your visits. Attach bank statements, salary slips, or sponsorship letters as evidence.

6. Ties to Home Country: This is to assure the visa officers that you will return after your visit. Mention your job, properties, or family ties that would compel you to come back.

7. Conclusion: Conclude by stating that all the provided information is accurate. Express gratitude for considering your application and provide contact details for any further required information.

8. Signature: End with your signature and name.

What Is The Difference between Single and Multiple Entry Visas?

When planning a trip to the Schengen Area, it’s essential to understand the difference between single and multiple entry visas. Here’s a breakdown:

• Single Entry Visa: This visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen Area once. Once you exit the Schengen territory, the visa expires, regardless of its original validity duration. It’s ideal for travelers with a straightforward trip plan without multiple entries and exits from the Schengen Area.
• Multiple Entry Visa: As the name suggests, a multiple entry visa permits the visa holder to enter and exit the Schengen Area multiple times within the visa’s validity period. It’s suitable for travelers with business or personal reasons that necessitate multiple trips within a short timeframe.

I’ve been granted a multiple-entry Schengen visa before. Do I still need to submit a detailed cover letter for my next application?

Yes, even if you have previously been granted a multiple-entry Schengen visa, you are still required to submit a detailed cover letter for your next application.

This letter should clearly state the purpose of your visit, your travel plans, and any other pertinent details.

The cover letter is a crucial part of your application as it provides the consulate with context about your travel intentions and assures them of your compliance with visa regulations.

How many trips can I make with a multiple-entry Schengen visa?

A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you to make several trips within its validity period. The number of trips is not explicitly limited; however, you must adhere to the 90/180 rule.

This rule states that you cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

Ensure that your travel plans comply with this restriction to avoid issues at border control or future visa applications.

Do I need to provide detailed itineraries for all my intended trips when applying for a multiple-entry visa?

While applying for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, it’s advisable to provide a detailed itinerary for your first trip.

For subsequent trips, a general outline of your travel plans, including approximate dates and purposes, is usually sufficient.

It’s important to demonstrate that you have a clear plan and purpose for your travels within the Schengen area.

However, you are not expected to provide an exhaustive day-by-day itinerary for every trip you might make under the visa.

Tips for a Compelling Cover Letter

• Be Concise: Visa officers prefer direct and straightforward letters. Avoid unnecessary details.
• Provide Clear Justifications: Since the multiple-entry visa is not granted as frequently as a single-entry, your reasons for needing multiple entries should be compelling and clearly stated.
• Attach Supporting Documents: Although the cover letter mentions all details, always attach relevant documents like invitation letters, flight bookings, or hotel reservations for each visit.

What Are the 4 most common Rejection Reasons?

Obtaining a multiple-entry Schengen visa can be slightly more challenging than a single entry, mainly because one needs to provide a convincing reason for requiring multiple entries. Common rejection reasons include:

• Insufficient Documentation: Not providing enough evidence to justify the need for multiple entries.
• Lack of Travel Insurance: Inadequate travel insurance that doesn’t cover the entire duration of the trips planned.
• Previous Visa Violations: If you’ve overstayed on a previous Schengen visa or violated visa terms, it might impact your new application.
• Inconsistent Information: Discrepancies in the application or between the cover letter and supporting documents can raise suspicions.

Sample Schengen Visa Cover Letter for Multiple Entry

Schengen sample business cover letter.

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa for Business Purposes

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa for business purposes, spanning from [start date] to [end date].

I am [Your Job Title] at [Your Company Name], and my purpose of travel revolves around attending multiple business meetings, trade fairs, and conferences scheduled throughout the year in various Schengen countries, mainly [Country 1], [Country 2], and [Country 3].

Given the nature of my job and the business collaborations we have in the Schengen area, frequent visits are essential. A detailed itinerary of my first trip and a brief outline of subsequent trips are attached.

My company, [Your Company Name], will bear all the expenses of my trips, and I assure you that I will not exceed the 90-day limit within the 180-day period.

Enclosed are the necessary documents, including the letter from my employer, hotel reservations, and travel itinerary. I kindly request you to grant me a multiple-entry visa.

Thank you for considering my application.

Schengen Sample Tourism Cover Letter

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa for Tourism

I wish to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa as I intend to explore various Schengen countries over the course of the year. My primary destinations include [Country 1], [Country 2], and [Country 3].

I am particularly keen on experiencing diverse European cultures, landscapes, and festivals. While my first trip will majorly focus on [specific activities/places in Country 1], I am planning subsequent trips around notable events like [Event 1 in Country 2] and [Event 2 in Country 3].

Enclosed are my travel plans, hotel reservations, and other necessary documentation. I am self-financing my trips and have attached proof of funds to assure you of my financial stability.

I assure you of my return after each trip and compliance with the visa regulations.

Warm regards,

Schengen Sample Visiting Family Cover Letter

Subject: Application for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa to Visit Family

I am reaching out to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, as I plan to visit my [Family Relation, e.g., “sister”], [Family Member’s Name], who resides in [City, Country]. My visits are scheduled around significant family events, including [Family Member’s] wedding, [another event], and [yet another event].

While my first visit is primarily for the wedding set for [specific date], the subsequent trips are to spend quality family time and partake in the mentioned family events.

Attached is the invitation letter from [Family Member’s Name], alongside other necessary documentation. I have also provided financial proofs to demonstrate my ability to support myself during my stays.

I am committed to adhering to the visa’s terms and will ensure not to breach the 90/180 day rule.

I humbly request the grant of a multiple-entry visa and thank you in advance for considering my application.

Best regards,

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How soon after my first trip can i revisit the schengen area with a multiple-entry visa.

There’s no minimum waiting time between visits. However, ensure you don’t breach the 90/180 rule, which limits stays to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.

If I am granted a multiple-entry visa but my travel plans change, can I use it as a single-entry visa?

Absolutely. A multiple-entry visa provides you with the flexibility of multiple visits, but there’s no obligation to use it more than once.

Will travel restrictions due to the pandemic affect the validity or use of my multiple-entry visa?

Travel restrictions are subject to change based on the prevailing situation. It’s advisable to check current travel advisories and the official guidelines of the specific Schengen country you intend to visit.

In case of visa rejection, can I reapply immediately?

Yes, you can reapply if your visa application is denied. However, it’s crucial to understand the reason for rejection and address it in your subsequent application to increase the chances of approval.

Related Articles

Ireland Work Permit Without a Job Offer in 2024

Uk visa number [example & how to read uk visa stickers in 2024], uk work visa for us citizens [2024 guide], ireland work permit documents required in 2024, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

404 Not found

Clinical psychology

• Anxiety disorders
• Feeding and eating disorders
• Mood disorders
• Neuro-developmental disorders
• Personality disorders
• Affirmations
• Cover Letters
• Relationships
• Resignation & Leave letters

Psychotherapy

Personality.

Table of Contents

Cover letter for Schengen visa(5 samples)

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.

This article will list samples of “cover letters for Schengen Visa.”

Samples of cover letters for Schengen Visa

When applying for a Schengen visa, your cover letter is an opportunity to show your recipient why you qualify. The best format for writing a cover letter is as follows:

• Address the recipient with a formal salutation. For example, “Dear/Hello (name of the recipient).” If you do not know the recipient’s name, you can refer to them as sir/madam.
• The next step is to state why you are writing the letter. 
• Make a brief statement about your personal life. I.e, your status, and work-life among others.
• List the documents you have attached.
• Conclude your letter with a forward-looking statement. For example, “Kindly do a favor, and approve my application for an Irish passport. I shall be thankful to you for your kindness.”

Immigration Officer

[Embassy Name]

[Embassy Address]

[Embassy Phone Number]

Subject: Cover Letter for tourism to [Schengen Country] of [applicant name] with Passport No. __________________

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to apply for a Schengen Visa to travel to [country name] from [enter date DD/MM/YY] to [enter date DD/MM/YY]

The purpose of my trip to [country name] is for tourism. I am excited to visit numerous tourist destinations such as [add places you plan to see] as well as experience [country name] unique cuisines and culture. Furthermore, I plan to visit the [city name(s)] to ensure I have the ultimate tourist experience.

[Feel free to add your schedule/itinerary and elaborate more on what you plan to do]

While visiting [country name], I plan to stay at the following hotels:

[hotel name and address] – [date DD/MM/YY]

I am currently employed at [company name] with the title of [position] and have received approval for vacation days for the dates specified above. Furthermore, I will be supporting myself financially for my trip using [provide means of finances].

Please find attached all the required documents for my Schengen Visa application.

I trust that you will find everything is in order. However, if you have any questions or requirements, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Thanking you in advance for a favorable reply to my application.

[Your Complete Name] [Your Address]”

“[Current Date]

[Name of Referring Hospital]

[Address and Phone]

[Patient Name]

I am writing on behalf of my patient, [patient Name here], to document the medical need of [medication/treatment/equipment in question] for the treatment of [the exact diagnosis]. Please, find in this letter the information regarding the patient’s medical diagnosis and history and a summary of my treatment motive.

I am writing on behalf of my patient, [name], to confirm the medical necessity of [treatment/medication] for [the treatment in question]. This visa letter will contain information regarding [name (‘s)] medical diagnosis, history, and a summary of my treatment motivation.

Patient’s Diagnosis and History:

(Add applicable information of the patient’s diagnosis and medical history)

(Add applicable information about the patient’s treatment, the reason thereof, and how it will benefit the health of the patient)

Treatment Duration:

(Add the expected duration of the treatment)

As highlighted, the [medication/treatment] is truly necessary for my patient’s medical condition. I am confident that with the correct treatment and care, my patient would be able to successfully recover/improve.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if any further information is required to guarantee the approval of my patient’s medical treatment.

[name and signature of physician]”

[Embassy name]

[Embassy address]

Dear Consul General:

I’m writing this letter to confirm that Mr./Mrs.[Name and last name] is an employee at [company name], as [job title/position].

During the last [number of years you’ve been working at the company], Mr./Mrs. [name] has been a key part of improving relationships with our investors abroad. As such, Mr./Mrs. [name] will be traveling to [name of city], [country] from [date of entry] until [date of exit] for a total of [number of days] to attend to the following work-related activities: [Write in as much detail as possible about the business that will be conducted abroad]

Furthermore, during this time, Mr./Mrs. [name] will be attending an important business meeting in (city name) to improve corporate relations with our partners abroad.

Mr./Mrs. [name] will be staying at [hotel name, address, phone number] and will return back to [country of origin] on the dates specified above.

I kindly ask for the [visa type] to be issued to Mr./Mrs. [name and surname] at your earliest convenience.

Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information.

Kind regards,

[Supervisor signature]

[Name and last name]

[Phone number]

[Address of employer]”

Subject: Sponsorship Letter for [Wifes name] with Passport No. __________________

I, [Your full name], currently residing at [address] and a [country] citizen, am writing in support of my wife, [Wife’s full Name], visa application.

[Wife’s Name] will be traveling with me to [Destination name] for tourism and vacationing purposes. My wife and I will depart on [enter date DD/MM/YY] and return to [enter home country/other country] on [enter date DD/MM/YY].

During the dates specified above, my wife and I plan to visit [places you plan to visit] [add more details if applicable – a schedule, tours, etc.]. In addition, [Wife’s name] will be staying with me at [hotel name(s)]. Furthermore, I will cover all expenses through [provide means of funding].

Please find all the required documents attached to this letter to support the given statements.

Kind regards

[applicant name]

[Your home address]

[Your phone number]

[Your occupation]

[Your signature]”

“April 03, 2017

EMBASSY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

No. 6/50G Shanti Path,

Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021

Subject: Anjali XXXXXXX, Indian Passport No: XXXXXX, Schengen Visa for Visit Friend/Famliy

I would like to apply for a Schengen visa upon my intention to travel to Germany from June 2 to June 28, 2017.

The main purpose of my travel is to visit my German friends. However, I look very forward to also visit the magnificent sights throughout Germany, as well as experience the famous German food and learn the German culture and way of life. During my stay, me and my friends wish to spend a holiday in the Netherlands and France to celebrate my upcoming graduation.

I am employed at <name of employer> in <address of employer> since April 2014, currently holding the position of Marketing Executive. My employer has already approved my vacation from work for the duration of this trip.

Please, find the following documents to support my visa application:

 Visa application form, duly dated and signed with attached passport-size pictures

Passport, showing my travel experience

Travel Insurance, coverage of €30,000

E-ticket reservation for my flight via LH for New Delhi  – Frankfurt – New Delhi [June 2-June 28, 2017]

Hotel reservations for our holidays in the Netherlands and France

Employment and leave certificates showing approved leaves as well as the date I am expected to return to work

ITR, Payslips, and Savings Account as proof of my income

Also, the additional documents required for Medical Purposes Schengen Visa Application:

Enclosed copies of medical records about your condition

Bank statements and health insurance coverage to cover for medical expenses in [name of country]

Planned Itinerary:

June 2, 2017 – Flight from New Delhi to Frankfurt via LH-761

June 7, 2017 – Sightseeing in Germany

June 10, 2017 – Travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam Schiphol; Arrive in Amsterdam and stay at Clemens Hotel

June 11, 2017 – Sightseeing in the Netherlands

June 14, 2017 – Travel from Amsterdam Schiphol to Paris Gard du Nord and stay at Ibis Hotel – Sacré Coeur

June 15, 2017 – Sacré Coeur, Opera, Tour Eiffel, Musee du Lourve

June 17, 2017 – Chateau de Versailles

June 20, 2017 – Travel from Paris Gard du Nord to Frankfurt via Air France

June 28, 2017 – Flight back to New Delhi from Frankfurt via  Lufthansa

I trust that you will find everything is in order. For any questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

<Your Complete Name>

<Your Address>, India’

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the types of schengen visa cover letters.

There are mainly 3 types of cover letters:

• A cover letter for tourism purposes 
• A cover letter for business purposes 
• A cover letter for medical purposes 

What should your cover letter include?

This Is What to Include in a Cover Letter

• Proof That You’ve Done Your Homework. 
• An Explanation of How Your Skills Relate to the Job. 
• Your Excitement About the Position.

If you like this blog post, please leave your comments and questions below.

Was this helpful?

Related posts, cover letter for hse position (5 samples), cover letter for lunch monitor (5 samples), cover letter for dnata equipment operator(5 samples).