Booking an Estonia Schengen visa appointment is mandatory when applying for an Estonian Schengen visa. An Appointment will help you secure an interview slot with a visa officer who will ask detailed questions about your trip and why you wish to visit Estonia. At the interview, the Estonia visa officer will also check your documents one after the other to ensure they meet the Schengen requirements before passing them on for processing. If you want to book an appointment at the Estonian embassy or Estonian visa application center, there are certain steps you must take. This post covers the appointment booking and application process.
Estonia At A Glance
Estonia is one of the Baltic States in Europe located in Northeastern Europe. It is a former Soviet State with Talinn as its capital.
After joining the Schengen Area in 2007, the Estonian authorities started issuing Schengen visas to visitors and allowed holders of visas from other Schengen countries to enter its borders. By joining the European Union in 2017, Estonia strengthened close ties with the West and aligned its borderless and free market policies with the European Union.
Currently, Estonia receives few requests for Schengen visas, with an average of 98% approval rates, making it one of the highest visa approvals in the zone. If your documents are in order, your chances of getting a short-visit visa are high.
Estonia Schengen Visa
The Estonian Schengen visa is a short visa issued by the government of Estonia and recognized by the other Schengen States as a valid travel document. The visa qualifies the holder for 90 days' visits in Estonia or any other Schengen nation, for that matter. You can use this visa to visit the Schengen zone as a tourist, business person, short study, visit family and friends or attend a social or cultural event in the country. You can also use it for medical treatment. Once you are issued the visa, the general rule is that you must visit Estonia first before traveling to any other country in the area (if you intend to do so).
Who Should Apply For A Schengen Visa?
This visa is for non-Schengen citizens or citizens not from visa-free countries. Currently, there are more than 60 countries on Estonia's visa-free list, but if your country is not on the list, you must book an appointment to apply for a Schengen visa.
What Is The Visa Application Fee?
The visa application fee for this visa is relative, depending on the applicant's age.
Applications submitted by persons between the age of 12-80 will cost 80€ while those between 6-11 years will cost 40€. There are no fees for persons outside this age bracket.
How To Book An Estonia Schengen Visa Appointment?
Remember, in the beginning, we stated that booking an appointment is mandatory and a part of the visa process. Here are the steps you will need to take.
Check If You Really Need A Visa: The first thing you must do is check whether you need a visa. Currently, there are more than 60 countries on the visa-free list whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Estonia. So you don't waste your time and effort applying for the visa, check the visa free list and make sure your country is not on the list.
Contact The Embassy/Center: If you are certain that your country is not on the visa free list, you should contact the Estonia embassy or licensed visa agent in your country to book the appointment. This can be done over the phone, by email address, or through a booking agent. Find out what the process is in your country and follow it through.
Arrange Your Documents: Once an appointment date is set, take your time to organize all the documents that will be required and make copies of them if you must.
Visit The Embassy/Center: Visit the embassy or visa center on the set date and present your documents to the visa officer when it is your turn. Answer all the questions you are asked confidently as the officer goes through your documents.
Come Back For Your Visa: After the interview, you will be sent on your way, and a notification will be sent to you once your visa is out. Endeavor to come back for your visa once it is out.
The process will take between 15-30 days, depending on how fast your documents are processed. To avoid delays, make sure you submit only valid documents.
Estonia Schengen Visa Documents
Here is the list of required documents
Completed and signed visa application form
Valid passport
Two recent passport photographs
Travel medical insurance (€30,000 minimum)
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of funds (€86/ day minimum)
Round trip flight Itinerary
Cover letter
These are the basic documents for an Estonia Schengen visa appointment.