Introduction to the Schengen Entry Card

The Schengen Entry Card, also known as the Schengen Visa Application Form or the Schengen Entry Declaration Form, is a mandatory document for travelers entering the Schengen Area from non-Schengen countries. This form is typically provided by airlines or border control authorities during your flight or upon arrival at the airport. While the exact format may vary slightly between countries, the core information required remains consistent. In this guide, we will walk you through each section of the form, explain what is expected, and highlight common mistakes to avoid to ensure a smooth entry process.

Why is the Schengen Entry Card Important?

The Schengen Entry Card serves as a declaration of your intent to enter the Schengen Area and provides essential information to border authorities. It helps streamline the entry process and ensures compliance with Schengen regulations. Filling out this form accurately is crucial, as errors can lead to delays, additional questioning, or even denial of entry.

Section 1: Personal Details

This section requires basic personal information. Let’s break down each field:

1.1 Surname (Family Name)

  • What to fill: Enter your family name exactly as it appears on your passport. Do not use nicknames or abbreviations.
  • Example: If your passport says “Smith,” enter “Smith,” not “Smythe” or “S.”
  • Common Mistakes:
    • Misspelling your surname (e.g., “Smit” instead of “Smith”).
    • Using a maiden name if your passport shows a married name.
    • Including titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.” – these are not part of the surname.

1.2 First Name(s) (Given Name(s))

  • What to fill: Enter all given names exactly as they appear in your passport. Include middle names if listed.
  • Example: If your passport says “John Michael Smith,” enter “John Michael.”
  • Common Mistakes：
    • Omitting middle names (e Schengen Area, especially if your passport includes them.
    • Using abbreviations (e.g., “J. M.” instead of “John Michael”).

1.3 Date of Birth

  • What to fill: Enter your date of birth in the format DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY, depending on the form’s instructions. Use the exact date from your passport.
  • Example: If born on January 15, 1985, enter “15/01/1985” or “01/15/1985” as specified.
  • Common Mistakes:
    • Reversing the day and month (e.g., entering “01/15/1985” as “15/01/1985” if the form expects MM/DD).
    • Using the wrong year (e.g., “1986” instead of “1985”).

1.4 Place of Birth

  • What to fill: Enter the city and country where you were born, as stated in your passport.
  • Example: “London, United Kingdom” or “Tokyo, Japan.”
  • **Schengen Area入境卡英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见错误避免

The Schengen Area入境卡 (Entry Card) is a mandatory document for travelers entering the Schengen Area from non-Schengen countries. This guide provides a detailed explanation of each item on the English version of the form, along with common mistakes to avoid. The Schengen Area includes 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders.

1. Personal Information Section

1.1 Surname (Family Name)

What to fill: Enter your family name exactly as it appears on your passport. Do not use nicknames or abbreviations. Example: If your passport says “Smith,” enter “Smith,” not “Smythe” or “S.” Common Mistakes:

  • Misspelling your surname (e.g., “Smit” instead of “Schmidt”)
  • Using a maiden name if your passport shows a married name
  • Including titles like “Mr.” or “Ms.” – these are not part of the surname

1.2 First Name(s) (Given Name(s))

What to fill: Enter all given names exactly as they appear in your passport. Include middle names if listed. Example: If your passport says “John Michael Smith,” enter “Field(s) to fill**: Enter the city and country where you were born, as stated in your passport. Example: “London, United Kingdom” or “Tokyo, Japan.” Common Mistakes:

  • Using the current name of the city if it has changed since your birth (e.g., “Bombay” instead of “Mumbai” if your passport says “Bombay”)
  • Only writing the city without the country (if the form requires both)

1.5 Current Nationality

What to fill: Enter your current nationality as stated in your passport. If you have dual nationality, use the nationality of the passport you are using for this trip. Example: “United States” or “Canada.” Common Mistakes:

  • Using a previous nationality (e.g., if you naturalized, use your current nationality)
  • Writing the country code instead of the full name (e.g., “US” instead of “United States”)

1.6 Nationality at Birth (if different)

What to fill: If your nationality at birth was different from your current nationality, enter it here. Otherwise, leave it blank or write “N/A”. Example: If you were born in a country that no longer exists (e.g., Yugoslavia) or if you changed nationality, enter the previous nationality. Common Mistakes:

  • Leaving this blank when you should fill it (e.g., if you naturalized)
  • Writing “N/A” when you should write a nationality

2. Travel Document Section

2.1 Type of Travel Document

What to fill: Select the type of passport or travel document you are using. Common options are “Ordinary Passport,” “Diplomatic Passport,” “Service Passport,” or “Other.” Example: “Ordinary Passport.” Common Mistakes:

  • Selecting “Other” when it should be “Ordinary Passport”
  • Not selecting any option

2.2 Document Number

What to fill: Enter the passport number exactly as it appears on your passport. Pay attention to letters and numbers. Example: “123456789” or “AB123456”. Common Mistakes:

  • Transposing numbers (e.g., “123456789” as “123456798”)
  • Omitting letters (e “AB123456” as “123456”)
  • Including spaces or special characters that are not in the passport

2.3 Date of Issue

What to fill: Enter the date when your passport was issued, in DD/MM/YYYY format. Example: “01/01/2020” for January 1, 2020. Common Mistakes:

  • Confusing issue date with expiry date
  • Using the wrong date format (e.g., MM/DD instead of DD/MM)

2.4 Date of Expiry

What to fill: Enter the expiry date of your passport in DD/MM/YYYY format. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure date from the Schengen Area. Example: “31/12/2025”. Common Mistakes:

  • Entering the issue date instead of expiry date
  • Passport expiring within 3 months of departure (this can lead to denial of entry)

2.5 Issued by (Country)

What to fill: Enter the country that issued your passport. Use the full country name. Example: “United States” or “Japan.” Common Mistakes:

  • Using the country code (e.g., “US” instead of “Schengen Area入境卡英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见错误避免

The Schengen Area入境卡 (Entry Card) is a mandatory document for travelers entering the Schengen Area from non-Schengen countries. This guide provides a detailed explanation of each item on theThe Schengen Area入境卡英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见错误避免

The Schengen Area入境卡 (Entry Card) is a mandatory document for travelers entering the Schengen Area from non-Schengen countries. This guide provides a detailed explanation of each item on the English version of the Schengen Area入境卡, along with common mistakes to avoid. The Schengen Area includes 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of Schengen Area入境卡英文填写指南 详解表格每一项内容与常见错误避免

The Schengen Area入境卡 (Entry Card) is a mandatory document for