Introduction to the Schengen Entry Card

The Schengen Entry Card, officially known as Schengen Visa Application Form, is a critical document for travelers seeking to enter the Schengen Area. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every section of the form, explain common pitfalls, and provide detailed examples to ensure your application is complete and accurate.

What is the Schengen Entry Card?

The Schengen Entry Card is a standardized visa application form used by all 26 Schengen countries. It collects essential information about the applicant, their travel purpose, and financial stability. Understanding each field is crucial for a successful application.

Why This Guide Matters

Many applications are rejected due to minor errors or misunderstandings. This guide will help you:

  • Accurately complete every field
  • Avoid common mistakes
  • Understand what consular officers look for
  • Prepare supporting documents properly

Section 1: Personal Information

1.1 Surname (Family Name)

Field Explanation: This is your legal last name as it appears on your passport. Do not use nicknames or shortened versions.

Common Mistakes:

  • Using a maiden name if your passport shows your married name
  • Including middle names unless they appear in your passport
  • Spelling errors

Example:

  • Correct: SMITH (as shown in passport)
  • Incorrect: Smith-Jones (if passport only shows SMITH)
  • Incorrect: Smitty (nickname)

1.2 Surname at Birth (if different)

Field Explanation: If your family name changed due to marriage or legal name change, provide your birth name here.

Example:

  • Current passport name: Maria GARCIA LOPEZ
  • Birth name: Maria SANCHEZ (before marriage) -填写：SANCHEZ

1.3 First Name(s)

Field Explanation: Your given names exactly as they appear in your passport. Include all given names if listed in passport.

Common Mistakes:

  • Using initials instead of full names
  • Reversing order (family name vs. given name)
  • Omitting middle names that appear in passport

Example:

  • Passport shows: “John Robert SMITH” -填写：John Robert
  • Incorrect: J.R. Smith
  • Incorrect: SMITH John

1.4 Date of Birth

**Field Schengen Entry Card uses DD/MM/YYYY format. Use two digits for day and month, four digits for year.

Example:

  • Birth date: January 15, 1985 -填写：15/01/1985
  • Incorrect：01/15/11985 (US format)
  • Incorrect：15.01.1985 (dot separator)

1.5 Place of Birth

Field Explanation: City/town/village where you were born. If born in a rural area, provide the nearest city or the official registration location.

Example:

  • Born in small village “Kleinheubach” near Miltenberg, Germany -填写：Kleinheubach
  • Alternative: Miltenberg (if village is too small and not recognized)

1.6 Country of Birth

Field Explanation: Country where you were born, using current country name. If country name changed, use current official name.

Example：

  • Born in 1980 in Leningrad, USSR -填写：Russia
  • Born in 11⁄1991 in Leningrad, Russia (after USSR dissolution) -填写：Russia

1.7 Current Nationality

Field Explanation: Your current citizenship. If you have dual/multiple nationalities, list the one you’re using for this application.

Common Mistakes：

  • Listing nationality at birth if different from current
  • Listing “resident” instead of nationality
  • Listing multiple nationalities in one field

Example：

  • Born in India, naturalized Canadian citizen -填写：Canada
  • Incorrect：India/Canada
  • Incorrect：Permanent Resident of Canada

1.8 Nationality at Birth (if different)

Field Explanation: If your nationality at birth differs from current nationality, provide it here.

Example：

  • Current nationality: Canadian
  • Nationality at birth: Indian -填写：India

1.9 Gender

Field Explanation: Select your gender as per passport. Transgender applicants should use the gender listed in passport unless officially changed.

Example：

  • Male: ☑ Male ☐ Female ☐ Other
  • Female: ☐ Male ☑ Female ☐ Other

1.10 Marital Status

Field Explanation: Select your current marital status. This helps consular officers assess family ties to home country.

Options：

  • Single
  • Married
  • Divorced
  • Widowed
  • Separated
  • Registered Partnership

Example：

  • A 30-year-old applicant who has never been married：Single
  • A 21-year-old applicant who is engaged but not yet married：Single（not engaged）
  • A 30-year-old applicant who is married but spouse not traveling：Married

1.11 National Identity Number (if applicable)

Field Explanation: Your national ID number if your country issues one (e证明你的身份和国籍。例如：中国的身份证号码、印度的Aadhaar号码、韩国的居民登记号等。

Example：

  • Chinese citizen：身份证号码（18位数字）
  • Indian citizen：Aadhaar号码（12位数字）
  • South Korean citizen：居民登记号（13位数字）

Section 2: Travel Document Information

2.1 Type of Travel Document

Field Explanation: Select the type of passport you hold. Most applicants will select “Ordinary passport”.

Options：

  • Ordinary passport
  • Diplomatic passport
  • Service passport
  • Official passport
  • Special passport
  • Other travel document

Example：

  • Standard tourist：Ordinary passport
  • Government official traveling on official business：Official passport
  • Diplomat：Diplomatic passport

2.2 Travel Document Number

Field Explanation: Your passport number exactly as it appears in your passport. Pay attention to similar characters (0 vs O, 1 vs I).

Common Mistakes：

  • Confusing 0 (zero) with O
  • Confusing 1 (one) with I
  • Confusing 1 (one) Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区 - Incorrect: 000000000 (zero) vs OOOOOOOO (letter O) - Incorrect: 111111111 (one) vs IIIIIIII (letter I)

Example：

  • Passport number: AB123456 -填写：AB123456
  • Incorrect: AB1234567 (extra digit)
  • Incorrect: AB123456 (space) AB123456 (duplicate)

2.3 Date of Issue

Field Explanation: Date when your passport was issued. Use DD/MM/YYYY format.

Example：

  • Issued: March 20, 2020 -填写：20/03/2020
  • Incorrect：03/20/2020 (US format)
  • Incorrect：20.03.2020 (dot separator)

2.4 Valid Until

Field Explanation: Expiration date of your passport. Must be at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from Schengen Area.

Common Mistakes：

  • Passport expires within 3 months of departure -填写错误日期格式

Example：

  • Planned departure: August 15, 2024
  • Passport expiry: November 20, 2024 -填写：20/11/2024
  • Invalid：Passport expires June 1, 2024 (too close to departure)

2.5 Issued by (Country)

Field Explanation: Country that issued your passport. Use official country name.

Example：

  • Passport issued by：People’s Republic of Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区 - Incorrect: PRC - Incorrect: China (PRC)

2.6 Travel Document Holder’s Address

Field Explanation: Your current residential address. Must be complete with postal code, city, country.

Common Mistakes：

  • Missing postal code
  • Using P.O. Box instead of physical address
  • Using address from passport (which may be outdated)

Example：

  • Correct：123 Main St, Apt 4B, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada
  • Incorrect：123 Main St, Toronto, Canada (missing postal code)
  • Incorrect：P.O. Box 123, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada (P.O. Box not accepted)

2.7 Email Address

Field Explanation: Your current email address for communication. Must be active and checked regularly.

Common Mistakes：

  • Typo in email address
  • Using work email that may be deactivated
  • Using temporary/disposable email

Example：

  • Correct：john.smith@example.com
  • Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区
  • Incorrect：john.smith@company.com (work email, may be deactivated)
  • Incorrect：john.smith@gmail.con (typo)

2.8 Telephone Number

Field Explanation: Your current phone number with country code. Include mobile number you can be reached on during travel.

Example：

  • Correct：+1 416 123 4567 (Canada)
  • Correct：+86 138 1234 5678 (China)
  • Incorrect：416 123 4567 (missing country code)
  • Incorrect：13812345678 (missing country code and space)

Section 3: Purpose and Details of Stay

3.1 Main Purpose of Stay

Field Explanation: Select the primary reason for your visit. Be honest and consistent with supporting documents.

Options：

  • Tourism
  • Business
  • Visiting family/friends
  • Cultural
  • Sports
  • Official visit
  • Study
  • Medical reason
  • Airport transit
  • Other

Example：

  • Vacation：Tourism
  • Business meeting：Business
  • Visiting sister：Visiting family/friends
  • Language course：Study
  • Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区
  • Incorrect：Selecting “Tourism” when actual purpose is “Business” (misrepresentation)

3.2 Intended Duration of Stay

Field Explanation: Number of days you plan to stay in Schengen Area. Must match your itinerary and supporting documents.

Common Mistakes：

  • Stating 90 days when you have only 10 days of vacation leave approved
  • Not matching flight bookings

Example：

  • Flight arrival: June 1, 2024
  • Flight departure: June 15, 2044
  • Intended duration: 15 days -填写：15
  • Incorrect：30 days (when actual booking is 15 days)

3.3 Intended First Entry

Field Explanation: First Schengen country you will enter. If transiting, the country where you first clear immigration.

Example：

  • Flight: Toronto → Paris → Rome
  • Intended first entry：France
  • Flight: Toronto → Frankfurt → Rome
  • Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 1详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区
  • Incorrect：Italy (first Schengen country is Germany)

3.4 Intended Last Exit

Field Explanation: Last Schengen country you will exit from. Must match your flight bookings.

Example：

  • Flight: Toronto → Paris → Rome → Toronto
  • Intended last exit：Italy
  • Flight: Toronto → Frankfurt → Rome → Toronto
  • Intended last exit：Italy
  • Incorrect：Germany (last Schengen country is Italy)

3.5 Number of Entries Requested

Field Explanation: Select the number of entries you need: Single, Double, or Multiple.

Options：

  • Single entry
  • Double entry
  • Multiple entry

Example：

  • Traveling to France only and back to Canada：Single entry
  • Traveling to France → Switzerland → France → Canada：Double entry
  • Traveling to France → Switzerland → Italy → Spain → France → Canada：Multiple entry
  • Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见拒签误区
  • Incorrect：Single entry for multi-country tour

3.6 Schengen Visa or Permit Already Held

Field Explanation: If you have a valid Schengen visa or residence permit, provide details. If none, check “No”.

Example：

  • Have valid Schengen visa from 2023：Yes, provide visa number and expiry
  • No valid Schengen visa：No
  • Schengen Entry Card英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与