General rules of applying for Schengen visa

As a rule application is lodged personally. As an exception the presence of the minor is not requested, if the minor does not have to give fingerprints, in this case application is presented by parent or guardian.

Application can be lodged earliest 6 months before intended trip.

Applicant must give fingerprints when lodging an application. The following applicants are exempted from the requirement to give fingerprints:

  • children under the age of 12;
  • persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible. If the fingerprinting of fewer than 10 fingers is possible, the maximum number of fingerprints shall be taken;
  • heads of State or government and members of a national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose;
  • sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose;
  • applicants, whose fingerprints has been collected as part of an earlier application for the first time less than 59 months before the date of the new application.

Documents of the application can be in Estonian, English or Russian. Documents in other languages must be translated to Estonia, English or Russian, translation must be done by sworn translator or certified by the Notary.

Please take notice that if you are lodging your application directly to the Embassy and you do not speak or understand either Estonian, English, Russian or Georgian, you must take with you an interpreter.

Schengen visa application is examined and decided within 7-10 days of the date of lodging the application. In individual cases that period may be extended to 30 days and exceptionally up to maximum 60 days.

More information about general rules of applying for the Schengen visa can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.