A Schengen visa unlocks 29 European countries with one sticker - which is exactly why consulates scrutinise applications hard. Most refusals we see aren't about eligibility at all; they're about documentation gaps that a checklist would have caught.
The five gaps that cause refusals
One: bank statements that don't tell a story - sudden large deposits read as borrowed show-money; consistent balances read as genuine means. Two: travel insurance below the required €30,000 medical cover. Three: itineraries that don't match the visa type or main destination. Four: weak ties to home - a letter from your employer, business registration or property documents matter more than applicants expect. Five: leaving the trip purpose vague.
Timing and appointments
Apply no later than four weeks before travel, and remember appointment slots in Kampala and Nairobi can themselves take weeks in high season. The application can be lodged up to six months ahead - earlier is simply safer.
Our visa advisory service reviews your full file against the current consulate checklist before you submit - the cheapest insurance a European holiday can buy.
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