Schengen Visa Checklist 2026

One visa, twenty-nine European countries: the Schengen short-stay visa remains the key to Europe for Nigerian travellers. Consulates assess applications strictly on documentation, so a complete, consistent file is everything. Here is the 2026 checklist we use in-house.

The core documents

You will need a passport issued within the last ten years and valid at least three months beyond your return date, the completed and signed application form, two biometric photographs on a white background, and your appointment confirmation for the visa application centre.

Proof of travel and stay

Provide a round-trip flight reservation (a reservation, not a purchased ticket), hotel bookings covering every single night, and a day-by-day itinerary. If visiting multiple countries, apply through the country of longest stay — mismatched itineraries and bookings are among the quietest, commonest refusal reasons.

Insurance is not optional

Travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 of cover, valid across the entire Schengen area for your full stay, is mandatory. The certificate must state the coverage amount and dates exactly — we issue embassy-compliant certificates same-day through our insurance partners.

Financial evidence

Submit six months of bank statements showing you can comfortably fund the trip, an employment letter with approved leave (or CAC documents and business statements if self-employed), and payslips where available. As with UK applications, sudden large deposits raise flags rather than confidence.

Before you submit

Cross-check every date across forms, bookings and insurance; sign everywhere signatures are required; and photocopy the entire file for your records. Apply four to eight weeks ahead — earlier for June–August and December travel. A methodically assembled file does not guarantee approval, but it removes every avoidable reason to refuse.