How to Choose Which Country to Apply to for a Schengen Visa

Choosing the country to apply to is not about finding the "easiest embassy". The EU Visa Code has clear rules on which Schengen country is competent to examine your application, and if you apply to one that is not, your file may be returned and you lose days of waiting.

In this guide, from Almorad, a tourist visa office in Riyadh, we explain how to identify the right country for Saudis and for residents of Saudi Arabia, and we review every point before we publish it. Practical details differ between embassies, so have your file reviewed with us before you book your appointment.

The general rule for the competent country

The country competent to examine the application depends on your actual destination, as set out in Article 5 of the EU Visa Code. The European Commission gives the same guidance: apply at the consulate of the country you intend to visit.

How to identify your main destination

Count the days

The first test is where you will spend the most days. If you plan seven nights in Italy and two in France, Italy is your main destination, and you apply to its embassy or its authorised application centre.

The main purpose of the trip

The rule also refers to the purpose of the stay. If your trip is built around a specific reason in one country, such as a fixed event or appointment, that supports choosing that country. State the purpose clearly in your file.

When the stays are equal

Where the lengths of stay are equal, the European Commission advises applying to the consulate of the first country you will visit. The Visa Code frames this as the country whose external border you will cross, which is usually the country you arrive in first.

Where do residents of Saudi Arabia apply?

Under Article 6, the application is examined by the consulate of the competent country in whose jurisdiction you legally reside, so a resident of the Kingdom applies there. A consulate also accepts an application from someone who is legally present in its jurisdiction but does not reside there, if the applicant gives a justification.

In Saudi Arabia, the official pages of the embassies of the Netherlands, France and Italy allow applications through application centres in cities including Riyadh and Jeddah. From what we prepare at Almorad, applications are usually made to the country where you will spend the longest part of your trip, through its embassy or an authorised application centre in Saudi Arabia.

If the competent country has no consulate in Saudi Arabia

Article 8 allows one Schengen country to represent another in examining applications, or only in collecting applications and fingerprints. Article 5 also requires Member States to cooperate so that your application is not left unexamined because the competent country is neither present nor represented in the country where you apply.

In practice, you may apply through an embassy or centre where another country represents your destination. To find out which office accepts your application, go to the competent country's official website.

What if you apply to the wrong country?

As Article 18 provides, the consulate checks its competence under Articles 5 and 6 once an application is lodged. If it is not competent, it must return the application form and documents, refund the visa fee and tell you which consulate is competent.

Even so, you may lose waiting days and your appointment, so decide your country before you book, not after.

Practical points when choosing

These are tips from our experience preparing files, not official requirements:

• Start from your itinerary and the number of days in each country, then pick the embassy, not the other way round.
• Do not apply to a country where you do not plan to spend most of your trip just because its appointments are sooner, as the application may not fit your itinerary.
• Check the country's website for application centres and appointments. Article 9 allows applicants to be required to have an appointment, which as a rule takes place within two weeks of the request.
• Keep your bookings, insurance and itinerary consistent with the country and dates, as we explain in our guide to insurance, bookings and itinerary.
• Review the documents required for a Schengen visa for your chosen country, because each embassy has its own requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I will visit more than one country?

Apply to the consulate of the country where you will spend the most days, or which is the main purpose of the trip, under the EU Visa Code. If the stays are equal, the first country you enter is the one to use.

Should I apply to the country that is easiest to get approved by?

The law does not tie competence to how easy a country is, but to your actual destination. Applying to a country that is not competent may get your file returned, so we do not recommend this approach.

Can a resident apply from another country?

As a rule, a resident applies in the jurisdiction of their legal residence. If they are legally present in another country, that consulate accepts the application if they give a justification, under Article 6.

When should I apply before travelling?

At least 15 days before the trip and no more than 6 months before it, according to the European Commission.

Does Almorad issue the visa?

No, the embassy makes the decision. We help you prepare and review your file, book the appointment and follow up until you receive the decision.

Prepare Your File With Almorad

If you need a visa office in Riyadh to help you choose your country and review your file, see our Schengen tourist visa service or our other visa services, or message us on WhatsApp and tell us your destination and travel dates.