Schengen visa from Bangladesh: one visa, 29 countries.

Where to apply

Apply to the embassy of your main destination, or of your first country if you spend equal time in each. Most embassies take applications through VFS Global, with an online appointment. Italy, for example, has VFS centres in Gulshan in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet. Some countries without an embassy in Dhaka are handled by another country's embassy or from New Delhi.

Visa fee and timing

The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children from 6 to under 12; children under 6 pay nothing. It is paid in taka at the embassy's exchange rate, and VFS adds its own service fee. A decision normally takes 15 days and can take up to 45. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before you travel.

Documents you need

This is the Netherlands embassy's tourism checklist for Bangladesh. Other embassies ask for much the same.

• Passport issued in the last 10 years, with 2 blank pages and valid 3 months beyond your return
• Photo 35 × 45 mm, taken in the last 6 months, light background
• Job letter with your salary, length of service and approved leave; business owners need a trade licence, TIN and 6 months of company bank statements
• Personal bank statements for the last 6 months
• Hotel bookings for the whole stay
• Flight reservation (an unpaid reservation is accepted)
• Travel insurance of at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen countries
• Marriage certificate or other family papers where relevant

Why Schengen visas get refused

These are the grounds in the EU Visa Code that embassies use.

• The purpose or plan of the trip is not explained well enough
• Not enough money for the trip
• Doubts that the documents are genuine, or that you will return home
• No valid travel insurance, or the 90 days in 180 already used

Book appointments the official way

The Dutch and German embassies warn against brokers who sell appointment slots. Book only through the embassy or VFS website, and never pay anyone for a 'guaranteed' slot or visa. Forged documents are a crime and can stop you getting a visa in future.

How we help

We check every page of your file against your embassy's current checklist, prepare the itinerary, hotel and flight reservations and insurance, fill in the form with you and book the appointment through the official system. The visa decision is made by the embassy.