- According to the European Commission, Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area.
- Kenya is among the countries whose travellers must possess a visa when crossing external borders.
Image: SCREENGRAB
The German Embassy to Kenya has announced that those with Schengen visas and planning to travel to the country will continue to enjoy free movement.
This comes after the government of Kenya disclosed its migration and mobility agreement with Germany amid confusing statements about the number of Kenyans expected to benefit from the arrangement.
An international media house reported that Kenya had secured 250,000 job opportunities in the European nation, a statement that has been denied by the Federal Republic of Germany.
‘'This information is false. The agreement between Germany and Kenya does not include any numbers or quotas of skilled workers who will have the opportunity to work in Germany,’’ Germany’s interior ministry said in a statement.
The news attracted a debate both in Kenya and Germany, with individuals and institutions seeking facts.
Kenyans seeking employment opportunities in European countries can apply for a Schengen visa.
But what is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180 days to a country in the Schengen area.
Schengen visas come in three forms, including a single-entry visa, which allows a traveller to enter the Schengen area once, and a multiple-entry visa, which allows several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid.
The third one is an airport transit visa, which allows one to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights.
It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.
Who can apply for a Schengen visa?
According to the European Commission, Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area.
Kenya is among the countries whose travellers must possess a visa when crossing external borders.
Others are Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia and Gabon, among many others.
Some of the third-world countries whose nationals are exempted from holding a visa when crossing external borders include
Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel and Japan, among others.
There are also exceptions to the visa requirements for certain types of travellers to certain countries, including diplomats, armed forces, refugees and pupils on school excursions.
Some non-EU nationals must also hold an airport transit visa when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in any of the Schengen States.
For citizens of certain additional countries, an airport transit visa is required when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in some of the Schengen countries.
For more information on the Schengen Area and its member countries, check out this detailed resource: Schengen.News
Where to apply
Applications for a Schengen visa are done at the consulate of the country you intend to visit.
If you are visiting more than one Schengen country, apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time.
For those visiting several Schengen countries (for stays of equal length), apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.
As a general rule, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate with territorial responsibility for the country where you are legally resident.
A traveller must submit an application to the consulate at least 15 days before the intended journey and no earlier than six months beforehand.
You may have to book an appointment before applying.
For the application, one needs a valid passport. The passport’s expiry date should be at least 3 months after the date of the departure from the Schengen area.
For multiple-entry visas, the expiry date should be at least three months after the departure from the last country visited.
Other requirements are a visa application form, a photo in compliance with ICAO standards, medical insurance covering emergency medical care and hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death)
Others are supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation during your stay, and evidence of your intention to return to your home country after your stay.
Fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application.
The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days and may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required.
Under certain conditions, family members of EU or EEA citizens falling under the Free Movement Directive are eligible for a free and accelerated visa procedure.
If your application is rejected, you will be told why it was rejected and how to submit an appeal.