Skip to main content
European Education Area home page European Education Area home page

European Education Area

Quality education and training for all
Published:  1 Sep 2021

How to apply for a Student Schengen Visa

How to apply for a Student Schengen Visa

To apply for a Student Schengen Visa

  1. consult the relevant embassy, Consulate or Visa Application Center of your Schengen destination country
  2. calculate the best time to submit your application (a maximum of 3 months and a minimum of 15 days before you arrive). Some countries might ask for a longer deadline, so be sure to check
  3. complete the application for a short-stay visa, if you are planning to study for less than 90 days
  4. complete the required documents for your Student Schengen Visa 
  5. make an appointment with the Consulate of the country that you intend to visit
  6. attend the interview to see if you are eligible
  7. pay the student visa fee
  8. wait for a response

Check directly with the European higher education institution you’ve applied to study at for guidance about the visa application process. 

Longer stays

To study for more than 90 days in a Schengen country, students must apply for a long-stay study visa for the country in which they plan to study.

COVID-19 entry restrictions

After receiving a Student Schengen Visa, your entry to the respective European country will most likely be conditional on national requirements for entry related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This may include pre-and post-arrival testing, the submission of passenger locator forms, self-isolation and quarantine requirements. 

Make sure you check national entry rules and restrictions before travelling.

Most Schengen states follow the Schengen policy of only allowing entry from a certain list of third-countries deemed relatively safe

This list is updated regularly. Consult your respective embassy for more information. 

Tagged in:  Higher education
Published:  1 Sep 2021