San Francisco San Francisco

Applying for a Schengen Visa

Who can apply?

Any resident of the US who can prove their status by a valid US residence permit (Green Card) or a valid resident visa type A, E, F (with form I-20), G, H, I, J (with form J1), L, O, R. The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from Schengen area.

What to know when applying for a Schengen visa at the Consulate General of Estonia?

Although Schengen visa allows people to travel within the Schengen zone between different countries, the application can only be submitted through the Consulate General of Estonia if your main travel destination is Estonia or if you will be entering the Schengen zone from Estonia. If you intend to visit other Schengen countries, please apply your visa from their respective representations. Applying at the representation of Estonia if you do not visit Estonia as your main travel destination can result in a refusal.

How to apply?

  • Fill in the online visa application: https://eelviisataotlus.vm.ee/
  • Book an appointment through online calendar.
  • Make sure your passport is issued within the last 10 years, is valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area, and includes at least two free visa pages. Bring your passport and add a copy of your passport to the application.
  • Make sure you have a valid US residence permit or resident visa type A, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, O, R. F visa holders shall also present the form I-20 with a valid travel endorsement. J visa holders shall also present form DS-2019 (J1) with a valid travel endorsement. You shall present the original documents during the reception and add copies to the application.
  • Get a document photo of 3.5 x 4.5 cm (1.4” x 1.8”). The photo should meet ICAO requirements (white background, neutral facial expression) and should not be older than six months. Glue the photo on the respective space on the visa application (do not staple).
  • Get a medical insurance valid for the Schengen Member States with cover at least 30,000 Euros for the duration of your planned trip to Schengen and add a copy of it to the application.
  • Add the proof of your travel itinerary to the application. You should present the reservation of a roundtrip and full itinerary, not just Estonia in case you are visiting several Schengen Member States or if the trip covers several Schengen Member States and non-Schengen countries.
  • Add the proof of your accommodation to the application for the period of visiting the Schengen area (confirmed hotel reservations stating your name, address and telephone number of the hotel, including confirmation number or the certificate of the travel agency mentioning the same information, or other proof of accommodation (e.g. rental agreement).
  • Add the relevant proof of sufficient financial means of subsistence for the intended journey. You should prove that you have at least 130.80 Euros for each day spent in Estonia. The proof could be:
    • Employed applicants: bank account statements during the last three months (bank statements should show the name and the address of the owner) or proof of regular income g. pay slips of the last three months;
    • Self-employed applicants: tax return from previous fiscal year or proof of previous economic activity and of an income during the previous fiscal year;
    • Retired applicants: copy of pension certificate or a letter of previous employer or a pension check stub or confirmation from the responsible authority about the amount of the pension;
    • In case you go on a business trip, if applicable, letter stating that all expenses are fully covered by the company
    • In case you are a student or a researcher, if applicable, letter stating that all expenses are fully covered by the research institution
    • If the applicant is minor and travels without parents or with one parent, provide an officially recognized statement from both parents (this condition shall not apply if there is only a single parent or he/she holds the parental authority alone) or legal guardian authorizing the child to travel and covering the costs with evidence on the existence of the financial coverage (see previous paragraphs).
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE ADDED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF TRAVEL:
Are you visiting family or friends?

Add an invitation letter from your friend or relative that includes the following data: inviters’ personal data (names, Estonian personal identification code), applicant’s personal data (names, date of birth, citizenship), time of the first visit, address of the stay in Estonia, if the inviter covers applicant’s expenses in Estonia – information about expenses that are covered by the inviter. If invitation is presented on paper – copy of inviter’s Estonian passport, Estonian ID-card or Estonian residence permit card (both sides).

Digitally signed invitations are preferred. The digitally signed invitation letter should be sent to [email protected] indicating applicant’s full name on the subject line. The applicant has to present a printout of the invitation letter together with the information on when it was sent to the Consulate’s e-mail (date and time).

Are you going on a business trip?

Add an invitation letter from the business partner specifying the nature of the business, a reference letter from your employer and a confirmed accommodation if different from hotel, stating name, address and telephone number of the lodging place.

Digitally signed invitations are preferred. The digitally signed invitation letter should be sent to [email protected] indicating applicant’s full name on the subject line. The applicant has to present a printout of the invitation letter together with the information on when it was sent to the Consulate’s e-mail (date and time).

Are you traveling for study or research purposes?

Add a certificate from the receiving institution on the length and purpose of stay, a certificate from Home institution on enrollment (student cards only are not sufficient) and a proof of confirmed accommodation to your application.

When to apply and how long will it take?

Any time between six months to two weeks before your intended travel. It takes 15 days to process your application. There is no expedited visa option.

How much does it cost?

  • 80 EUR in USD
  • 40 EUR in USD – for children between 6 to 11 years of age. It is free of charge for younger children.

Certain exemptions apply. For example for certain passport holders (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North-Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine) the visa fee is 35 EUR in USD.

What about my passport?

You are requested to sign a letter of consent that your passport will stay at the Consulate General of Estonia in San Francisco during the application process. We can ship you your passport if you provide us with a pre-paid FedEx shipping label.

Where to apply?

If your main travel destination is Estonia or if your first entry to the Schengen zone is through Estonia, you can submit your visa application at the Consulate General of Estonia in San Francisco or the Consulate General of Estonia in New York.

Consulate General in San Francisco serves US citizens and residents who live in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

The residents of other states of the US shall apply for a visa at the Consulate General of Estonia in New York.