Filipinos with passports have visa-free access to about 65 nations, but the Schengen countries are not among them.
The 29 Schengen countries include almost all the nations in the European Union, plus four additional nations not in the EU
— Iceland, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Norway. The Schengen Area is a zone where internal border controls have been abolished to facilitate trade and travel among member states. The European nations of Ireland and Cyprus are not included in the Schengen Area.
The Schengen Zone was created on June 14, 1985, with the signing of the Schengen Agreement in the village of Schengen, Luxembourg.
So, for any Filipino seeking to travel around Europe, it is necessary to obtain a visa to a nation in the Schengen Area. Once landed in a Schengen country, the Philippine traveler can then freely travel to any of the other 28 Schengen countries.
To apply for a Schengen tourist visa, it is advisable to work with a “friendly” European embassy, one known to be straightforward and consistent with Filipino applicants — meaning not more lenient, but clearer and faster.
Friendly countries include the Netherlands, which is known for being well-organized and having consistent processing and which accepts strong ties to family in the Netherlands and a clear travel plan; Italy, which is good if invited by a relative or friend to visit Italy — they often accept sponsor letters; Spain, which looks favorably on family visits; and Germany, which has very clear requirements and is strict but fair.
The visa fee is a flat rate for all Schengen countries, about ₱5,600-6,000 for an adult, depending on the exchange rate. Children get a 50 percent discount, and infants are free of charge. Generally speaking, visas are good for 90 days and they cannot be renewed in the Schengen Area.
Aside from applying directly to an embassy, another option is to join a group tour arranged through a well-established, licensed Philippine travel agency. This is one of the easiest ways to get a Schengen visa because the agency will handle the itinerary and bookings. Also, embassies will know the travel agency’s track record, which will reduce suspicion, and the travel agency will avoid mistakes that rookie travelers often make in submitting documents.
Reputable travel agencies in the Philippines include TQ Travel Solutions, SMB Travel and Tours, TravelOnline Philippines, and Rakso Travel.
Once inside a Schengen country, a tourist in an organized tour group can split off and go his or her own way, but prepaid fees for ground transportation and accommodation will be forfeited.
A third option is working with VFS Global, a firm that serves as a go-between for tourists and embassies and assists in the collection of documents and biometric data.
VFS stands for Visa Facilitation Services. VFS Global has contracts with embassies specifically for the purpose of processing visas. The company has offices in Makati and Cebu, and it charges up to ₱1,800 for its service. There are other companies that provide visa services, but VFS Global is by far the largest. It has offices in 140 countries.
For young people, a final option is to apply for study at a European university and then apply for a student visa. The process is similar to that of applying for a tourist visa, but the visa will be much longer, usually a school year.
No matter which option is used, foreign embassies look for specific information on any visa application. For example, they will ask about previous foreign travel; property ownership and family ties in the Philippines; an established bank account more than six months old with ample savings; employment status in the Philippines; and a realistic itinerary and ongoing travel plans — that is, a return ticket.
An applicant for a Schengen Area visa can easily establish a record of foreign travel with short trips to two or there ASEAN nations, where Filipinos have visa-free access.
Bryce McIntyre, PhD, resides in San Andres. He lived in Germany and France for four years and trekked to more than 30 European countries.