If you are in the process of applying for a Schengen Visa, you may have noticed that are asked to submit a Cover Letter.
The Cover Letter for Schengen Visa applications is an important requirement, and knowing how to properly write one could affect the outcome of the visa application.
What is a Cover Letter for Schengen Visa Application?
The Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa is a necessary part of your visa application because it is a way to introduce yourself, the reason why you want to travel to that specific country, as well as to communicate with the visa officers who are handling your application.
Please note that the Cover Letter should be addressed to the Embassy or Consulate of the country you will visit, even if you are applying through a visa application center, such as VFS Global.
In the Cover Letter for a Schengen Visa, you have to convince the Consular staff that you are suitable to receive a visa for the country you intend to visit.
What Information to Include in a Cover Letter for Schengen Visa Application?
When you write a Cover Letter for your Schengen Visa application, you have to include details of your entire trip including:
- The reason why you want to visit a Schengen country.
- The dates when you intend to enter and depart.
- A planned itinerary of your activities in the Schengen Area.
- Where you will stay once you enter the Schengen area.
- All the countries you intend to visit.
- The status of your employment.
- If you were unable to submit any of the required documents, give an explanation of why that is.
Sample Cover Letters for Schengen Visa
Below, you will find a sample Cover Letter for a Schengen Tourist or Visit Visa, a Schengen Business Visa, as well as for a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa which will give you an idea of what to include on your own Visa Cover Letter.
Sample Cover Letter for Tourist Schengen Visa
Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi
6/50 F, Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this letter to apply for a Schengen visa to visit the Netherlands from the dates May 20 to June 10, 2019. I am traveling alone and the main reason why I want to visit the Netherlands is tourism.
I would like to visit the popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the house of Anne Frank, as well as the Keukenhof gardens to see the Netherlands’ most popular flower – the tulip.
During my stay, I also want to visit Germany from May 29 to June 5 to visit my sister who lives in Dusseldorf, where I will stay at her house. Then, I will return to the Netherlands, where I will explore the Hague before I leave the country.
I am employed at the [name of company/organization] where I have the position of [job position]. I have worked here for X years, and I have an annual salary of XX. My employer has given me a No Objection Certificate for my trip, which you will find enclosed.
I intend to finance my own trip, and I have also enclosed proof I have the necessary financial means to cover my stay.
Below you can see a planned itinerary of my activities:
| Date | Activity |
| May 20 | Arrival at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and accommodation at The Alfred Hotel in Amsterdam |
| May 21 | Visiting Van Gogh Museum for a booked Private Tour |
| May 22 – May 28 | Exploring Amsterdam |
| May 29 | Taking a train from Amsterdam to Dusseldorf with ICE International |
| May 20 – June 4 | Visiting my sister and exploring Dusseldorf and surrounding areas in Germany |
| June 5 | Taking the train from Dusseldorf to the Hague with Flixbus and accommodation at Stadsvilla Hotel in the Hague |
| June 10 | Leaving the Netherlands via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol |
Supporting visa application documents I have enclosed with this letter:
- The completed Schengen Visa Application Form
- My passport
- My flight and train ticket reservations
- Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance
- Hotel reservation receipts (Amsterdam and Hague)
- Letter of Invitation from my sister in Dusseldorf
- No Objection Certificate from my employer
- My Bank Statements from the last six months
I hope you find that the details I have provided in this letter are adequate for a favorable reply to my application. Thank you for your time, and do not hesitate to contact me should you need further information.
Best regards,
Alan Shilmani
[Full address in India]
Sample Cover Letter for Business Schengen Visa
If you are applying for a Schengen Business Visa, it is your employer who has to write the Cover Letter on your behalf. It must be written on the company’s letterhead.
March 20, 2019
New Delhi, India
Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi
6/50 F, Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this letter to request a Schengen Business Visa on behalf of [applicant’s full name] with the passport number XXXX.
Through this letter, I would like to confirm that [applicant’s full name] is employed at our company [company’s name] where he works as [job title or position]. [The applicant] has been working in our company for [X number of years], and needs to travel to the Netherlands to visit our partner company [partner company’s name] during the dates April 20 to April 30, 2019.
During his visit at [partner company’s name] in the Netherlands, [the applicant] will be engaged in the following duties:
- Attending meetings
- Negotiating a deal between the companies regarding [XYZ]
- Giving a presentation
- (Any other tasks that you will have to do during your trip)
[The applicant] will stay at the [hotel name/other accommodation], and the expenses will be covered by our company (if applicable).
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for your time,
Best regards,
[Name of employer/supervisor along with siganture]
[Position or job title of employer/supervisor]
[Email address of employer/supervisor]
[Phone number of employer/supervisor]
Sample Cover Letter for Medical Treatment Visa
If you are traveling to a Schengen country to receive medical treatment, your doctor has to write the Cover Letter on your behalf. The Cover Letter for a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa has to include the following information:
- Your detailed diagnosis
- Your medical history
- The nature and duration of the proposed treatment you will receive in the Schengen country
Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi
6/50 F, Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this letter to request a Schengen Medical Treatment Visa on behalf of my patient [applicant’s full name] with the passport number XXXX.
[Applicant’s name] is diagnosed with [XYZ] and needs to receive [XYZ] treatment at the [medical facility name] in the Netherlands.
[Detailed diagnosis]
[Medical history]
[The nature and duration of the proposed treatment you will receive in the Schengen country]
I hope you consider the information I have enclosed in this letter to be satisfactory for my patient’s Schengen Visa application.
Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Best regards,
[Name of the doctor along with siganture]
Where should I submit the Cover Letter for Schengen Visa?
Depending on what country you are applying from, you can submit the Schengen Visa application at:
- An Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you are visiting.
- The Embassy/Consulate of another Schengen country, in case the country you want to visit has no diplomatic representation in your place of residence.
- A visa application agency, to which the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country you are visiting has outsourced visa applications to.
Keep in mind that if you’re going to visit multiple countries, submit the application at the Embassy/Consulate of the country you will visit first.
What other documents should I submit along with the Cover Letter for Schengen Visa?
When you submit your application for a Schengen Visa, along with the Cover Letter, you have to submit several other supporting documents, such as:
- The completed Schengen Visa Application Form
- Your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months
- Passport-size pictures, in line with Schengen visa photo requirements
- Your flight itinerary or reservations
- Schengen Visa Travel Health Insurance
- Proof of accommodation in a Schengen country
- No Objection Certificate from your employer/school
- Letter of Invitation from a relative or company in the Schengen country you are visiting, depending on the purpose of travel
- Proof of paid Schengen Visa Fees
- Your Bank Statements from the last six months
Read more: How to write a cover letter for Germany Student Visa Application?