From which Consulate should I apply for Schengen Visa?

Question

My itinerary is as described below:

22nd December - Land in Paris ( 9 am)

26th December - Leave from Paris in evening via Bus (5 Days)

27th December - Arrive at Zurich in Morning, Stay till 1st January 3.30pm ( 5.5 days)

1st Jan - Take a flight to Paris from Zurich in afternoon (3.30 pm).

1st Jan - Leave for India from Paris Airport.

Which Embassy should I apply Visa for?

The times are nearly equal. Do you have specific purpose to your visit in either Paris or Zurich? If so, that would be the main destination. — o.m., Nov 05 '16 at 09:11
Unless you do something special in Switzerland that would mark it as the main destination, you should apply to the first Schengen country you will enter, namely France. — Relaxed, Nov 05 '16 at 14:13
@AliAwan was right. The criteria is based on more number of nights and not on days. — user53377, Nov 10 '16 at 19:08

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 05 '16 at 14:25

0

According to schengen visa rules, you should apply where you would be staying maximum number of days. If you are spending equal number of days in schengen countries, then you will have to apply where you will be entering first.

In your case you are staying 4 nights (22 December to 25 December) in France and also France is your first port of entry, but also you are staying 5 nights Switzerland (27 December to 31st December). Therefore Switzerland is your main destination and you should apply to Switzerland. Schengen Embassies/Consulates or VFS counts Schengen stay by calculating according to booking. Since you are travelling on 26 at night that means 26 would not be counted. you will also have to provide bus tickets for 26 December with your itinerary.

These are all contact details for Switzerland Visa centers (India):

https://www.vfsglobal.ch/switzerland/india/contact_us.html

answered Nov 05 '16 at 14:25

Ali Awan

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Why wouldn't the 26th be counted? It's about total time spent in the country, not nights spent in a hotel. – JonathanReez Nov 05 '16 at 14:28
@JonathanReez because on 26 he will be travelling on a bus – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 14:29
His bus wouldn't leave France until the 27th, so he would be considered to have spent the 26th there. – JonathanReez Nov 05 '16 at 14:29
@JonathanReez why the downvote, thats how schengen counts i have obtained more than 15 times schenegn visa – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 14:29
@JonathanReez on 26 leaving the bus in the evening – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 14:30
Could you provide a source for "if you leave by bus that day won't be counted"? – JonathanReez Nov 05 '16 at 14:30
Let us continue this discussion in chat. – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 14:31
@JonathanReez please tell finally where to apply – user53377 Nov 05 '16 at 15:35
@Shashank technically if we count your stay in days from 22-26(5 days in france), and from 27-1st jan(5.5 would also be count as 6 days), still i believe switzerland. Monday morning call both france and Swiss embassies and find out :)- – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 15:57
I ll be like in France for more few hours before I depart. – user53377 Nov 05 '16 at 15:59
@Shashank If you are spending more time in france so basically , france is your main destination – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 16:02
i am not really sure about that. but definitely i am spending one night extra in swiss – user53377 Nov 05 '16 at 16:03
@Shashank thats what i mean, maybe in india they count the other way, consulate general (Italy,germany) in Karachi counts according to hotel booking as per night for tourist visas – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 16:05
@Shashank you will have to call both embassies, they are closing your question here – Ali Awan Nov 05 '16 at 16:07

From which Consulate should I apply for Schengen Visa?

1 Answers1