Five mistakes that sink a Schengen visa application

Applying at the wrong consulate is the most common mistake of all. The rule is to apply to the country where you will spend the longest, and if the stays are equal, to the first country you enter. An itinerary that does not match the consulate you applied to puts the file under suspicion from the start.

Unconfirmed bookings weaken the file. Consulates accept provisional bookings, but they expect them to be consistent: flight dates matching hotel dates, and the hotel covering the entire stay with no gaps.

Health insurance below the required limit is grounds for immediate refusal. The Schengen minimum is €30,000 of cover, and it must cover the whole travel period and all Schengen states, not just one country.

Bank statements are read far more carefully than most people assume. Large sudden deposits a few days before applying raise more questions than they settle. A stable balance over three months is far better.

A missing cover letter leaves the file without context. One page explaining why you are travelling, your plan for the trip and what ties you to your home country changes the impression of the officer reviewing it.