Schengen

When should you buy your insurance for a Schengen Visa?

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Going on a journey to the Schengen Area requires deliberate preparation, particularly in getting the right travel insurance. Travel insurance is not just a necessary demand for getting a Schengen visa but similarly a shield against unwanted medical emergencies and other travel dangers. But when should you buy your travel insurance for Schengen visa? This article will guide you through the timing, validity, and considerations for buying your Schengen travel insurance, guaranteeing your journey would be as calm and safe as possible.

The Importance of Schengen Visa Insurance

When Should You Buy Your Insurance for a Schengen Visa?

Travel insurance for a Schengen visa is bound because it covers medical accidents, and evacuation expences that might be during your tripin the Schengen Area. The insurance must have a minimum coverage of € 30,000 and be actual across all Schengen countries. Without this insurance, your visa usage would probably be declined, as it’s a necessary requirement stated by the Schengen Agreement.

Medical charges in Europe can be heady, and without right coverage, even a slight incident could affect expressive costs. Accordingly, securing the true insurance is not just about compliance but about guarding yourself financially during your trip as well.

Timing Your Purchase: When is the Best Time to Buy?

Before Submitting Your Visa Application

The best moment to buy your travel insurance is before you submit your visa application. Most consulates and embassies demand confirmation of insurance when you apply for a Schengen visa. This means you should have your insurance in point at the time of your application compliance.

Why It’s Important: Submitting your visa application with good insurance shows that you are ready and compliant with the Schengen visa demands. It also avoids any holdbacks in processing your application, as missing or invalid insurance could result in denial or other paperwork.

Aligning Insurance with Travel Dates

Assure that the insurance policy covers the whole duration of your stay in the Schengen Area, from the day of your leave to your return date. The policy should also accommodate any potential changes in your travel plans.

Practical Tip: If your trip dates are not yet validated, consider buying insurance that lets for date changes or extensions. This adaptability can save you from having to take a new policy if your plans are remade.

Consider the Cancellation Window

If your trip is still in the planning phase and there is a possibility you might cancel or change the date, it’s wise to select an insurance policy with a cancellation or refund policy. Some insurance’s companies propose a total refund if the visa is denied or if the trip is disclaimed within a specified period.

User Review Insight: Many tourists point this feature as especially practical, as it provides a fiscal security net if their travel plans fall through.

Features of QIC’s Schengen Travel Insurance

What QIC Offers

QIC (Qatar Insurance Company) provides comprehensive travel insurance plans that are completely compliant with Schengen visa demands. Their policies cover medical emergencies, hospitalizations, and extradition charges, guaranteeing you’re defended throughout your journey.

Ease of Purchase: QIC’s travel insurance can be lightly bought online through their user-friendly website, which leads you through the process and ensures all necessary coverage is included.
Flexibility: QIC’s policies are aimed with adaptability, allowing you to edit your coverage dates if your trip plans are remade.

Why This Information is Useful

This information is especially functional for travelers who are planning their first trip to the Schengen Area and may not know the visa and insurance requirements. By understanding when and why to buy travel insurance, you can avoid possible risks and guarantee that your visa application is processed effortlessly.

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

Example 1: Early Purchase Avoids Delays

A traveler planning a European tour purchased their insurance for Schengen visa well in advance of submitting their visa application. This proactive approach guaranteed that their application was processed without holdup, and they were able to tour as planned without any last-moment complications.

Example 2: Flexibility Saves the Day

Another traveler had to reschedule their trip due to unexpected circumstances. Because they had chosen an adaptable insurance plan from QIC, they were able to edit their coverage dates without incurring other charges, allowing them to travel at a later date.

Final Tips for Buying Schengen Visa Insurance

Read the Fine Print

Before purchasing, thoroughly read the policy details to ensure it meets all Schengen visa requirements and covers your specific needs. This includes understanding the exclusions, coverage limits, and the claims process.

Choose a Reputable Provider

Select a reputable insurance provider, such as QIC, AXA Schengen via axa-schengen.com that has experience in offering Schengen visa-compliant insurance. This ensures that your policy will be accepted by consulates and provides reliable coverage during your trip.

Keep Documentation Handy

Once you’ve purchased your insurance, keep copies of the policy documents accessible. You may need to show them at the visa interview or upon entering the Schengen Area.

Conclusion

Purchasing the true insurance for your Schengen visa is a critical move in your trip planning. By defending your insurance before submitting your visa application, aligning the coverage with your journey dates, and picking a changeable policy, you can assure that your trip to the Schengen Area is confident and stress-free. adapted travel insurance solutions of QIC and AXA Schengen suggest a convenient and reliable option, making them an excellent option for tourists looking to defend their overseas trips.

Disclaimer: the author(s) of the sponsored article(s) are solely responsible for any opinions expressed or offers made. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of Daily News Hungary, and the editorial staff cannot be held responsible for their veracity.

August 9, 2024

Hungary’s new visa system: Schengen access for Russian spies raises alarms

Hungary’s newest visa system opens the doors of the Schengen area to people from Russia, Belarus, and the Balkans. The Hungarian government justifies this move by citing labour needs for the Paks 2 project. However, the EU fears potential security risks. Manfred Weber, President of the European People’s Party, urges EU leaders to address this issue immediately.

New visa system threatens the integrity of the Schengen zone

444 writes that Hungary’s recent easing of visa restrictions for Russians, extending the National Card scheme to include workers from Russia, Belarus, and some Balkan countries, has raised significant concerns about security within the Schengen area. Manfred Weber, President of the European People’s Party, has expressed alarm over the potential for Russian spies to exploit this policy to gain access to the European Union. In a letter to Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Weber urged EU leaders to address this issue at their next summit, emphasising the need for immediate countermeasures to protect the Schengen zone.

National security risk

András Rácz, an expert in Russian affairs, has highlighted a significant national security risk posed by Hungary’s recent visa policy changes, which could create loopholes similar to those previously exploited by the Russian-owned International Investment Bank. This policy allows large numbers of Russians to enter Hungary and the Schengen area with minimal scrutiny.

The Hungarian government’s justification

Despite the Hungarian government’s justification related to labour needs for the Paks 2 project, Manfred Weber argues that this new immigration system could facilitate espionage activities. In response, Weber has urged EU leaders to implement robust measures to safeguard the Schengen area’s integrity and to prevent similar policy shifts by member states in the future.

paks ii visual plan — Visual plan for Paks II. Source: Facebook/Paks II. Atomerőmű Zrt.

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July 30, 2024

Breaking: Slovenia extends controls at Hungarian and Croatian borders

Slovenia is extending border controls on the Croatian and Hungarian borders for another six months, until December, Slovenian Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar announced on Wednesday.

Slovenia to extend border controls

The minister said that he had informed his Croatian and Hungarian counterparts, as well as the European Commission, of the decision, RTV writes. The extension of border controls was announced by Ljubljana after Italy also extended them on the Italian-Slovenian border on Wednesday.

Hungary’s neighbour reintroduced temporary border controls on 21 October last year, justified by threats to public order and internal security in the EU, the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, and recent terrorist attacks in some EU countries. According to Poklukar, the situation has not improved since then but has got worse.

Boštjan Poklukar stressed that border checks will continue to be targeted, which means that not all passengers will be checked. He said that the measures would not cause any more problems during the tourist season than during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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May 23, 2024

Austria to extend border control at Hungarian border for 6 more months

Austria Hungary border crossing border control

Bad news for people heading to Austria: the country plans to extend internal border controls with Slovenia and Hungary for a further six months from mid-May, when the current measure expires.

Why is border control necessary?

Austria Hungary border crossing — Photo: facebook.com/drfarkasciprian

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced the news during a visit to the Slovenian border at Spielfeld. According to him, the measure is necessary to prevent illegal migration and people smuggling, SchengenVisaInfo reports.

Austria initially introduced internal control at its borders with Slovenia and Hungary in 2022 and has been extending the restrictions ever since, Travelo writes.

The last extension occurred in November 2023. Back then, Austria decided to maintain border controls between the two countries until May 2024. Minister Karner pointed out at the time that the internal border controls had already proved effective. He added that smugglers no longer chose his country as their route or main destination.

The latest measures and the increased pressure on the borders are having an effect, and human traffickers are already avoiding Austria,

SchengenVisaInfo quoted Gerhard Karner as saying.

Slovenia is against Austria’s decision

Hungarian–Austrian border — Source: Youtube / Cyberpress

While Austria says that internal border controls are necessary to prevent illegal migration and people smuggling, Slovenia opposes the extension of the measure, arguing that the internal border controls that Austria has applied for years are not in line with EU law.

As internal border controls often cause delays even for EU citizens, Slovenia has called on Austria to end this measure. Despite this, the latter decided to maintain internal border controls until mid-November.

In addition to these two countries, Austria currently maintains internal border controls with the Czech Republic.

The Czech Minister of the Interior, Vít Rakusan, stressed that the controls that Austria continues to maintain have a minimal impact on cross-border movement and cause little, if any, inconvenience to Czech citizens crossing the border.

Slovenia also prolonged border control on the Hungarian border

As we reported last December, the Slovenian government decided to prolong strict border control on their borders with Hungary and Croatia. The extension lasts much longer than any of the previous ones: until 22 June 2024. The same extension applies to the Slovenian-Croatian border.

In December, Ljubjana said the reason behind the decision was the dangerous Middle East and Ukraine situation and the terrorist attacks committed in different EU member states. Authorities say terror danger is high in Slovenia, and if something menaces one Schengen member, it means the zone is under threat. They added that illegal migration increases security risks in the region.

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April 18, 2024

Cheerful: New Italian F&B bar opens, Schengen expansion changes arrivals at Budapest Airport

Romania and Bulgaria partially joined the Schengen Zone today. As a result, plane arrivals at Budapest Airport will change.

From today on, border control will cease for commuters on air and sea routes. According to Budflyer, a Hungarian air travel news outlet, Bucharest, Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár), Brașov (Brassó), Sofia and Burgas flights will arrive at Terminal 2A. That is because authorities will not check the travel documents of Romanian nationals coming from or going to a Schengen Zone country. They will only need a security check before boarding.

Budapest Airport Schengen — Photo: Budapest Airport/FB

According to Budflyer, a new Italian F&B bar will open at Budapest Airport’s Terminal 2A. Bottega Prosecco aims to share the exquisite wines of Italy with some authentic local dishes, providing a traditional Italian lifestyle experience to everybody. They are present at several airports, hotels and malls in Europe.

Before, they opened bars in Dubai, Istanbul, Venice, Bologna and Rome with a similar concept.

Hungary supports Romania’s, and Bulgaria’s Schengen Zone accession

We wrote multiple times that Hungary is a supporter of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s full membership of the Schengen Zone. However, there are influential adversaries of the project in the Schengen Zone. Austria is one of the opponents. Vienna worries about the many Romanian potential jobseekers who would flood Austria’s labour market if visa-free travel was granted.

According to Maszol, a Hungarian newspaper operating in Romania, in 2023, 23 million passengers arrived at the airports of Romania. The number of flights landing and taking off exceeded 160 thousand. 66% of the latter were flights commuting within the Schengen Zone.

Transtelex.ro wrote that Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu highlighted in a speech in Timișoara (Temesvár) that the Romanian government had a plan for full membership in the Schengen Zone until the end of 2024. Ciolacu claimed in his speech that Romania’s partial Schengen accession was a victory.

Thanks to the Schengen Zone, 400 million citizens can travel visa-free in Europe.

Read also:

New era for investors: Golden Visa Law enters into force in Hungary – Read more HERE
Schengen in serious trouble: strict control prolonged at Hungarian border again – Details in THIS article

March 31, 2024

New era for investors: Golden Visa Law enters into force in Hungary

budapest city castle hungary traffic restrictions

From January, Hungary enters the international competition for third-country investors with renewed vigour, as the Golden Visa Law comes into force. In this way, Hungary would like to attract non-EU investors.

According to an expert interviewed by Economx, Hungary is trying to create as favourable an economic and legal environment as possible for the investments concerned.

Golden Visa Law enters into force

Act XC of 2023 entered into force in January 2024. Its beneficiaries are third-country nationals, specifically non-EU and non-EEA nationals. For them, new visa and residence permit rules and opportunities have been opened up, Gergely Gábor Szabó, an expert at Bán, S. Szabó, Rausch & Partners Law Firm, told Economx.

Hungary has thus created a new regulatory environment that is more favourable than before. With this new law, Hungary has entered international competition, as other countries are also trying to attract investors: in this case, EU Member States are trying to attract investors from third-world countries.

The golden visa is granted if the investment conditions set out in the law are met, and the residence permit can be applied for on presentation of this visa.

What is a golden visa for?

The golden visa entitles the holder to stay for more than 90 days within a period of 180 days, as well as to multiple entry and to apply for a residence permit for visiting investors. Once the latter is obtained, the person concerned may move freely throughout the Schengen area.

The maximum period of validity of a residence permit for a visiting investor is 10 years. It can be extended for a further 10 years. In fact, the Hungarian legal system also allows for family reunification if the investor holding the golden visa and residence permit so wishes.

Gergely Gábor Szabó pointed out that since the investment conditions are strict, anyone who makes such a financial sacrifice is certainly not looking for a few days of tourism in Hungary, but has serious intentions.

Investment conditions

Once in possession of the Hungary Golden Visa, the person concerned must make one of the following investments within three months of entering Hungary:

Acquisition of EUR 250,000 worth of investment units issued by a real estate fund registered by the National Bank of Hungary and meeting the other conditions set by law.
Acquisition of ownership of an unencumbered residential property located in Hungary with a value of at least EUR 500,000, subject to the registration of a prohibition of alienation and encumbrance for a period of 5 years from the date of sale.
The third option is to make a financial donation of at least EUR 1 million to a higher education institution run by a public trust with a public-service mission to support teaching, scientific research or artistic creation.

In response to a question from Economx, Gábor Szabó said that when applying for a visa, the investor must prove that he has a “legal source” of funds corresponding to the investment.

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February 21, 2024

Beyond Borders-Elevate Your Experience with Schengen Flight Reservation

Schengen supports freedom by allowing individuals to move around Schengen. Moreover, people around the world join Schengen for many purposes. In this article, we will delve into the requirements for the Schengen visa. Furthermore, provides guidelines for visa application processing.

Why Do People Join Schengen?

Individuals want to explore the beauty of the Schengen region, and some of them want to study here.

Furthermore, most people join Schengen for business or to meet their relatives. The Schengen visa allows them to fulfil their dreams in Schengen. If you are among them and want to join the Schengen region, you will need a Schengen visa.

Besides, all documents the proof of flight reservation is essential for visa approval and can be obtained form Schengen reservation online website. Moreover, some agencies also provide consulting services about visa requirements and processing.

Requirements for Schengen Visa

For individuals obtaining a Schengen visa is quite simple. There are some basic legal requirements outlined by the embassy are listed below

Visa application form
A valid passport
Passport size pictures
Proof of Stay in Schengen region
Evidence of travel health insurance policy
Proof of Financial Means
Proof of Paid Visa Fees
Cover Letter
Proof of Flight Reservation (for visa application processing)

Now, we explain each requirement in detail

Visa Application Form

A visa application form is the basic need for a visa. Without filling out the application form, the visa cannot proceed. It is available either online or can be taken from the embassy.

Moreover, it is divided into four sections. It is mandatory to fill out each section with correct information. It includes the section

Personal information

The applicant needs to provide personal information about

Full name
Civil status.
Date and place of birth
Sex
Nationality
Phone number
Address

Information about Travel, including

Number and type of travelling documents
The date of issue and expiry of travelling documents
Purpose of travel
Duration of stay

Invitation Information, include

The name of the host
The location or address of the host
Proof of financial support
Familiar relationship

Purpose of Travel include

The summary about your intended stay in the Schengen region.

Moreover, the application form includes details about completing the application form. After completing the form, sign it and submit it to the embassy. If you are filling out the form online, you must sign it after taking print and submit it to the embassy.

A Valid Passport

The individual must have a valid passport before applying for a visa application. Moreover, the passport must have two blank pages to affix the visa in Schengen. Besides this, it must meet the following criteria

Valid for three months after leaving Schengen
It should have been issued in the last 10 years

Passports should be updated before applying for a green visa to avoid expiry issues.

Passport Size Pictures

Two passport-size pictures are mandatory documents for visa application processing. However, it functionally serves as the identity of the applicant. Furthermore, the pictures are according to the requirements outlined by the embassy.

The standard size of the photo is 35mm*45mm
Furthermore, it covers 80% of the face of the applicant
The background of the photo must be clear and blank required by the embassy
The photos are no older than last 03 months
Photos are captured in high resolutions
There is no filter applied to photos. However, the natural color of the individual is visible in the photo.
There is no spot or damage on the photo
Moreover, make sure the eyes of the applicant are open in the photo
Photos are clicked in natural beauty without applying any makeup products

However, it is advisable to follow all the above instructions. Because missing any factor results in issues during application processing.

Proof of stay in the Schengen Region

It is the evidence about your intended stay in Schengen. Moreover, it is any hotel, hostel, or the place of your relatives where you will stay in Schengen. The embassy requires proof of stay, which means you are providing proof of the place of stay in Schengen.

If you are reserving a hotel you need to provide the details about

The name and address of the hotel
Dates of entry & exit from Schengen
The contact details of the hotel (include contact number and email)
Reservation code provided by the hotel
Confirmation from an organization

If you are staying in any organization, you need the following information

Name and location of organization
The contact information
Moreover, entry & exit details are also included

Evidence of Health Insurance Policy

It is the mandatory legal document for visa application processing. However, it ensures that you can cover all your expenses during your stay in Schengen.

Furthermore, you can get a health insurance policy from your country or can buy it online. However, the insurance policy must cover the 30,000 euros in hospital expenses.

Moreover, it must be valid until your stay in the Schengen region.

Proof of Financial Means

Before applying for a Schengen visa you must have proof of financial means. It confirms that you have enough money in your account to bear your Schengen expenses. Moreover, it includes

A bank statement of financial proof (which is last three months older)
Evidence of employment (which confirms the source of income)
Credit Card

However, the amount of financial means is different in different countries. Therefore, you must visit the embassy and consulting agencies for confirmation.

Proof of Paid Visa Fees

This fee is submitted to the embassy or consulting agencies for visa processing. However, it is paid in Euros, or the national currency of a third country. After submitting the fees you will receive a confirmation message from the embassy.

Furthermore, you should submit this evidence with the application. Moreover, the range of visa fees is different for

For adults, it is 80 euros
For children between 6 to 12, it is 40 euros

Cover Letter

It is written to the embassy or consultants to explain the structure of your intended trip. At the start, you introduced yourself. Furthermore, explain the reason for your travel to the Schengen region.

However, a well-written cover letter should be short and clear about your plans. It is no longer than 02 pages and helps to easily get the visa.

The cover letter for Schengen Visa includes:
Reason for joining the Schengen area
The entry and exit dates from Schengen
Place of accommodation
The reason for staying in Schengen or Member State
The other countries you wished to visit during your stay
Status of your employment

Proof of Flight Reservation (for visa application processing)

Proof of Flight itinerary is required as a mandatory document for visa processing. However, it should be a round-trip flight itinerary or a one-sided itinerary. A visa application can`t proceed further without a flight reservation.

However, it includes information about

Your full name
The name and number of flight
The reservation code
Arrival and departure dates
Airport IATA codes
The price of the ticket
Details about connecting flights

The Schengen reservation online website smooths the process of dummy flight tickets required for visa application approval. However, after approval of the visa, you can book your flight ticket for take-off.

February 6, 2024

Attention! Hungary issues golden visa for non-EU citizens

That is how Hungary would like to attract foreign, non-EU investors to spend their money here.

According to Piac és Profit, the term ‘golden visa’ refers to special types of investments with which people can easily acquire the right to stay in a country.

Hungary began its brand new ‘Hungarian Guest Investor Program’ in January 2024, for which all non-EU citizens are eligible.

Those possessing this visa can travel to Hungary multiple times and stay here. They will have a so-called ‘guest investor residency’ permit to stay in Hungary.

However, there are some criteria you need to meet to get that kind of visa.

First, you can invest at least EUR 250,000 in Hungary. That investment is due within 90 days after your visa application approval. That means you cannot promise the Hungarian authorities that you will invest money in Hungary. You have three months to place your money here after you get that permit.

Your second option is to buy property in Hungary for at least EUR 500,000, and you cannot sell it for five years. That is why a surge of foreign investors is expected in Hungary’s luxury real estate market. We wrote about that HERE.

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The third option is that you support an educational, scientific, research or art project in Hungary with EUR 1 million at least. However, you can only get a visa if you help a foundation university in Hungary with that money.

The validity of the visa is 10 years (which can be extended by another 10 years), and you can spend 90 days in Hungary in a 180-day-long time interval. Furthermore, you may travel freely in the Schengen Zone, which is a considerable advantage. You can bring even your family with you!

February 5, 2024

Hungarian President: Hungary is a good ally of the USA

Hungarian President Katalin Novák and Joe Biden

Local residents in Békés County “highly await” the accession of neighbouring Romania to the EU’s borderless Schengen zone which Hungary supports, President Katalin Novák said in an interview published by local daily Bekes Megyei Hirlap on Saturday.

She paid a visit to the county in south-eastern Hungary which formed part of the president’s programme visiting every county to learn first-hand about local affairs.

In the interview, Novák said with Romania’s accession maintaining contact “between Hungarians on both sides of the border will be much easier, and economic cooperation could also be further boosted”. “Nurturing good relations with its neighbours is in Hungary’s fundamental interest, also because of the Hungarian communities living there,” she said.

In connection with this year’s US elections, Novák said that depending on who will enter the White House, “prospects may change as regards the war in Ukraine” and “as regards the intensity and quality of Hungarian-US relations as well”. The president called the United States an important ally for Hungary, adding that “Hungary is a good ally that fulfills its obligations”, and “expects respect and a readiness for mutual understanding” within a non-hierarchic alliance.

Read also:

New US travel sanctions against Hungary? – Read more HERE
Hungarian top court finds so-called castle law unconstitutional

Speaking about Ukraine, Novák said the war had claimed several tens of thousands of lives with the number of Hungarian victims constantly increasing.

“More and more people started to agree with the position Hungary has represented since the beginning, namely that the only proper solution is to establish peace,” Novák said, adding that even the Ukrainian president has started to draw up a peace formula, with Hungary participating in the efforts.

February 4, 2024

Easiest Countries to Get Schengen Visa in 2024

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European countries look like attractive travel destinations. Many foreigners come here for summer vacations. Comfortable beaches, rich architecture, and developed infrastructure are just a few reasons to travel to the EU. However, there is plenty to do here at other times as well. For example, many fairs are held in the run-up to Christmas, each attractive in its way. You should plan your trip to Schengen countries. In particular, obtaining the appropriate entry permit, namely a visa, is necessary. This procedure can not be called complicated, but there has been an increase in refusals in recent years. To improve your chances in 2024, choosing countries with loyal requirements is recommended.

Understanding the Schengen Visa in 2024

Currently, the area of Schengen includes 27 countries located in Europe. Schengen visas are issued in all of them and give the right to stay in the region for 90 days. However, as the specialist of the company My Schengen, Kevin Crossman, reminds, most of the time, the holder of the corresponding permit must spend on the territory of the country where it was issued. For example, if a foreigner receives a Schengen visa in Lithuania, he can safely move around the Czech Republic, France, etc., but the central state of stay must remain Lithuania.

Schengen visa allows you to visit the countries of the corresponding zone for the following purposes:

tourism;
undergoing medical treatment;
volunteer work;
business;
visiting relatives.

On average, it takes approximately 15 working days to obtain a Schengen visa in 2024. Sometimes, it may take up to 60 days to process the application. Therefore, it is essential to allocate time to prepare for a trip with a reserve to avoid facing the situation when plane tickets are bought, the hotel is booked, and the route is planned, but the visa is not ready yet.

Luxembourg

The country takes one of the first places in Europe by the number of approvals of applications for a short-term visa. For example, about 2.3 thousand applications were received last year, and only 29 got a negative answer.

Luxembourg is a small country. There is excellent nature and clean air due to the absence of large enterprises. Many historic buildings are located on the territory. The local cuisine is a mixture of German and French. The population of the country consists of expats by almost 50%, so foreigners are very comfortable here.

Lithuania

It is another not-so-obvious state in the list of easiest countries to get Schengen visa. However, only 2.7% of all applications were rejected in 2023. The country can offer travelers many national parks with almost untouched nature. In summer, tourists are attracted to the Baltic coast with its dunes and breathtaking views. Vilnius is among the most significant ancient European cities. Its visit is a must-have for all visitors to Lithuania.

Czech Republic

It is possible to apply for a visa in the Czech Republic with a 96.7% approval rate. The country has a rich culture and low crime rate. One of the most beautiful regions of the Czech Republic is considered to be Šumava. Here, Czechs like to spend all their weekends admiring the natural wealth and walking trekking routes. Don’t forget about the world-famous beer culture. Every town has at least one local brewery.

Finland

The country is famous for its northern lights. About 190 thousand lakes and 50 thousand islands are located in Finland. The country is among the TOP 5 countries in the world in terms of happiness. The approval rate of applications varies within 95.5 %. Finland is the birthplace of Santa Claus. His residence is located in Lapland. Everyone can visit it. An interesting achievement of the country is the presence of about 3 million saunas. For information, the population of Finland is only 5.4 million people.

Estonia

The country, on average, rejects no more than 5.4% of applications, so the chances of getting a visa are very high. The territory of Estonia is almost half covered with forests, so traveling here will appeal to people who love nature. It would be best if you went to Tallinn for medieval architecture.

Final Thoughts

If you choose the correct country for a Schengen visa, the probability of approval is relatively high. Moreover, consultation with a specialist in migration policy will help increase the chances. The correctness of the application and the absence of errors in the document package play a significant role.

It is necessary to prove sufficient means of subsistence to enter the Schengen area freely. In Latvia, for example, a foreigner must have at least 14 euros for each day of stay. In Estonia, the requirements are higher – 100 euros per day. On average, a foreigner must have about 50 euros per day of stay in all region countries. A bank statement is required as proof. The visa center may also ask for the travel route and the presence of a valid reservation for a hotel or apartment. If the stay is planned with relatives, a corresponding confirmation may be required from them.

January 15, 2024

Hungary may open up the gates of the Schengen Zone for this country

Bulgaria’s law repealing the increased transit fee on gas deliveries to Hungary has taken effect with its publication in the official gazette, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Facebook on Friday.

Péter Szijjártó said that his counterpart Mariya Gabriel told him about the development by phone. “This deal is done, too,” he said.

Before, Hungary said Bulgaria would not get a green light to the Schengen Zone until they do not abolish their extra tax on energy transit.

Hungary will veto the Schengen accession of an EU member state?

Hungary has made it clear to Bulgaria that it will veto the country’s Schengen membership if a “punitive tax” on gas transits is maintained by Bulgaria in the long term, the foreign minister said on Saturday.

Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook that Bulgaria’s move was “scandalous and hostile” because it endangered gas transfers to North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary.

As a result of the current geopolitical and security circumstances, a major part of natural gas supplies required by Hungary arrive through the affected pipeline and Bulgaria’s decision “goes fully against European regulations,” he said. “It carries the risk of natural gas deliveries to, among others, Hungary, stopping completely,” he said.

Szijjártó said that a decision on Bulgaria’s Schengen membership is scheduled to be made next week, “so they have suddenly started making efforts to scrap the law”.

“If they cancel it, we will also withdraw our decision concerning the veto,” he added.

Read also:

Schengen in serious trouble: strict control prolonged at Hungarian border again
Romania Schengen accession priority for Hungary, foreign minister says – Read more HERE

December 17, 2023

Schengen in serious trouble: strict control prolonged at Hungarian border again

The Slovenian government decided to prolong strict border control on their borders with Hungary and Croatia in their Thursday meeting. The extension will last much longer than any of the previous ones.

The Slovenian government decided to extend strict border control between Slovenia and Hungary until 22 June 2024, turizmus.com, a Hungarian travel news media outlet, wrote. The same extension will apply to the Slovenian-Croatian border.

The country reestablished strict border control temporarily last October, but it seems that it will last almost a year. The October decision followed the Schengen Codex’s 28th article. According to that, Slovenia could introduce such a measure for only two months. Now, they refer to the codex’s 25th and 27th article enabling it for six months.

Ljubjana said the reason behind the decision is the dangerous Middle East and Ukraine situation and the terrorist attacks committed in different EU member states. Authorities say terror danger is high in Slovenia, and if something menaces one Schengen member, it means all the zone is under threat. They added that illegal migration increases security risks in the region.

About possible extensions, they said authorities constantly monitor the situation and their decision is based on how the region’s security will be in June.

Slovenia will not check all the travellers. They do targeted surveillance aiming to reduce terrorism, extremism and crime.

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December 16, 2023

Another kick into Schengen: border control prolonged at this Hungarian border

The Slovenian government decided on their Thursday session to prolong their strict border control on the Croatian and Hungarian border.

According to the Hungarian News Agency (MTI), the Slovenian government prolonged strict border control on the Hungarian-Slovenian border until 21 December. The reason is crime, terrorism and extremities sadly spanning through borders.

They added that the Slovenian police would do everything they could to protect the companies, citizens, locals, tourists and the environment from the negative effects of the inspection.

Slovenia re-established border control on 21 October temporarily and prolonged it multiple times.

Slovenia’s interior minister, Boštjan Poklukar, said the 21 December date is the latest the Schengen codex allows them to re-establish border control despite being a Schengen Zone member. Afterwards, they will continue to do so based on the 25th and 27th paragraphs of the codex. That can last for another six months.

Read also:

Neighbouring country hermetically closed the Schengen border! – Read more HERE
Romania Schengen accession priority for Hungary, foreign minister says

Featured image: illustration

December 8, 2023

Visegrad Group interior ministers meet with the counterparts of Germany and Austria

By defending its own borders Hungary is also protecting the public security of other EU countries, Sándor Pintér, the interior minister, said on Monday in Szeged, in southern Hungary, where Visegrad Group counterparts met with the interior ministers of Germany and Austria.

At the meeting, he briefed his counterparts on how Hungary is going about protecting the external Schengen borders as well as forms of international cooperation the country is now engaged in and future related plans, he told a joint press conference.

Whereas Hungary “is ready to cooperate and accept proposals”, it will not agree to the mandatory relocation of migrants, he said, adding that this was a matter of sovereignty.

Czechia’s Vit Rakusan said joint action was required to handle migration and protecting the external borders was a common interest.

Given pressure from the Western Balkan migration corridor, law enforcement cooperation with third countries would continue, he said, noting that Czech police have been involved in border protection since 2015, and Czechia plans to continue this assistance in 2024.

The ministers agreed to hold regular meetings to evaluate migration processes, he said, adding that controlling internal borders was far less preferable than protecting the external borders. A common European solution was needed, he said, but finding a compromise “is not straightforward”.

Germany’s Nancy Faeser the pressures of secondary migration had led many member states to introduce internal border controls, even though all EU countries preferred open borders within the EU.

She said joint action against people smuggling was required and Frontex must be strengthened.

Protecting human rights was “the basis of European cooperation”, she said, adding that this was especially so in the case of migration policy and the defence of the external borders.

Austria’s Gerhard Karner said his visit to Hungary had highlighted the importance of protecting the external borders, noting that Austrian, Czech and Slovak police officers were assisting these efforts effectively.

Slovakia’s Matus Sutaj-Estok said his country stood ready to provide help in protecting the bloc’s external borders, and the state of affairs was “favourable right now” thanks to “the action of the Serbian authorities and the weather” but preparations were needed to handle what would inevitably be renewed migration pressure in the spring.

Poland’s Bartosz Grodecki, the deputy interior minister, said the Schengen zone was a core value of the EU that must be maintained.

As we wrote a week ago, Hungary resumes residency sales for the wealthy, details HERE.

read also: Why do German pensioners flood Hungary? – VIDEO

November 27, 2023

Romania Schengen accession priority for Hungary, foreign minister says

A major objective of Hungary’s EU presidency in the second half of 2024 will be to move ahead Romania’s integration with the community’s borderless Schengen zone, unless progress is made on the matter before, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Bucharest on Wednesday, after talks with the leader of the ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ party.

The ministry said in a statement that after meeting Hunor Kelemen, Szijjártó highlighted the strategic importance of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation which he said rested on ethnic Hungarians living in Translyvania and Szekler Land.

The Hungarian government sees that community as a resource as well as a link in bilateral ties, Szijjártó said, pointing out the importance of listening to RMDSZ on issues concerning cooperation with Romania.

Romania’s earliest possible Schengen integration is in Hungary’s national interest, partly because the neighbouring country is Hungary’s second largest exports market, and bilateral economic and trade ties could be strengthened with its membership, the foreign minister said.

“Romania’s Schengen membership would allow that the border should connect rather than separate us,” Szijjártó said, noting that a potential “automatic” opening of ten new border crossings would also help the Transylvanian Hungarian community in maintaining relations with Hungary.

“Unless Romania’s Schengen integration materialises sooner, one of the major objectives of the Hungarian EU presidency will be to help the process and Hungary will continue to run the closest possible consultation with RMDSZ on the matter,” Szijjártó added.

He expressed hope for RMDSZ’s success at the four elections coming up in Romania next year. “RMDSZ’s strong representation in Bucharest is always helpful in developing Hungarian-Romanian relations,” Szijjártó said.

Read more news on Schengen:

Collapsing Schengen? Strict control at Hungarian Schengen border remains in effect longer – read more HERE.
Another neighbouring country hermetically closed Schengen border – details HERE.

November 8, 2023

Neighbouring country hermetically closed Schengen border!

Slovakia elected a new government a couple of weeks ago, and Robert Fico, the leader of the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer), who secured victory in the elections with promises of stricter border control, appears committed to his political agenda. He has begun implementing hermetically sealed Schengen borders on the Hungarian border. He claims this is in response to the constant flow of migrants into Slovakia.

According to parameter.sk, Fico’s new Interior Minister, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, intends to attempt the seemingly impossible by imposing strict border closures on the Hungarian-Slovakian border. A local Hungarian online news outlet suggests that Fico himself may detain some illegal migrants at the Hungarian-Slovakian border this week as part of a well-conceived PR campaign.

Previously, Fico talked about security concerns in the wake of the recent Israel-Palestine conflict in the Middle East. He believes that this armed conflict will lead to an unstoppable wave of illegal migration to Europe, which must be intercepted, at least at the Slovakian borders.

Much like PM Viktor Orbán in 2018, Fico’s election campaign focused on illegal migration and how he would protect the Slovakian people from it. Paraméter wrote that the 650-kilometre-long border could not be entirely sealed, even if the entire army and police were stationed there. The news outlet also pointed out that even if authorities expelled illegal migrants to Hungary, they would likely return, similar to the situation in Northern Serbia, where armed gangs frequently challenge local authorities and each other in areas inhabited by indigenous Hungarian communities. The Hungarian government has not issued a statement yet regarding the potential closure of the Hungarian-Slovakian border.

The new Slovak government and Mr Matus:

Slovakian army and police at the border

The Slovakian army and police closed the Hungarian-Slovakian green border at 7 pm yesterday. According to parameter.sk, the Slovakian authorities deployed drones, dogs, horses, thermal cameras, and military vehicles to the border. They even stationed a water cannon at the Rajka border crossing.

According to the Interior Minister, they plan to enhance border control in areas where the highest numbers of migrants have entered in recent months. Hungarian authorities have provided their Slovakian counterparts with this information. Additionally, army units will be dispatched to the border to assist the police. Neither Fico nor his Interior Minister have provided specific numbers, so the extent of the reinforcement remains uncertain.

Fico stressed their intention to discourage the organisers of illegal migration and demonstrate Slovakia’s ability to protect its territory from illegal migrants.

HERE we previously reported on the introduction of Slovakian border control several weeks ago. In THIS article, you can read about another Schengen country, Slovenia, which has taken similar measures.

October 31, 2023

Collapsing Schengen: strict control at Hungarian Schengen border remains in effect longer

It has become official: Slovenia’s reestablished border control on the Hungarian-Slovenian border will remain in effect longer than thought before.

According to portfolio.hu, the Slovenian government decided on their Friday session to keep strict border control in effect on the Croatian and Hungarian border. Hungary’s Western neighbour reestablished control on 21 October for only ten days, which can be extended for a maximum of two months. The new deadline is 19 November. In practice, that means strict border control will be in effect on the Slovenian-Hungarian border for at least one month.

The Ljubljana government explained that the reason behind the drastic measure is the Middle Eastern and Ukrainian security situation. They believe the ongoing wars in the two regions can destabilise safety and public order in the European Union. Another pack of arguments include the terror attacks committed recently in some Western European countries.

Third-country citizens in trouble

On 2 November, the Croatian, Italian and Slovenian foreign affairs ministers will meet to discuss the topic of border control in Triest, Italy. Italy informed its neighbours before that they would keep strict border control on the Slovenian-Italian border during winter.

Slovenia created 14 checkpoints on their Croatian and Hungarian borders. 12 is between Slovenia and Croatia, while two are on the 102 km-long Hungarian-Slovenian border.

EU citizens may use all border crossings. However, third-country nationals can only enter Slovenia legally via those 14 checkpoints.

We wrote HERE that Slovakia also reestablished border control on the Slovakian-Hungarian border in early October. Before, they sent 500 soldiers to the border to help it protect against illegal migrants. HERE you may read how many illegal migrants tried to break through Hungary’s Southern border.

October 28, 2023