Visa for Family visit / Short term

A visa issued by an Schengen country permits free travel within the Schengen area, if not stated otherwise on the visa. The Schengen countries include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The maximum duration of stay is 90 days.

General information:

Competent Embassy or Consulate General
The Embassy or Consulate General of the country of the main destination is the competent authority to deal with the application. If the main destination cannot be determined, the application should be made to the embassy of the country in which the longest visit shall be. If the visits in different Schengen countries are of equal lenght, the first destination shall be the determining factor.

Visa application
Holders of ordinary passports are required to apply in person. Applicants under the age of 18 must have their applications approved by both parents and one of them have to be present when the application is submitted to the embassy.

Exception: Germany requires an appointment in order to apply for a Schengen visa which can be done only by phone.

Required Documentation:

1. One application form duly completed and two recent photos with white background.

Exceptions: Finland and Italy: one photo
Luxembourg: three application forms and three photos
Spain: four application forms and two recent passport-sized photos

2. Passport, at least valid for 90 days after expiration of the visa plus one copy of the identification pages.

Exception: Luxembourg: two copies of identification pages

3. Proof of financial means: Regarding the proof of the required financial means or the format of the guarantee letter the applicant should inquire from the Embassy or the Consulate General where the application will be dealt with 4. Relevant insurance covering the journey in the Schengen area (valid for the entire duration of the stay, with the cover of at least ? 30,000 and covering the cost of any emergency medical treatment and repatriation for medical reasons as well as in a case of death repatriation of human remains).

Exception: Denmark and Luxembourg: the proof of the insurance is to be submitted upon collection of the visa.

5. For Chinese applicants: copies of all pages of the hukou and amendments or proof of residence by employer. Original invitation letter with contact information from the inviting party containing the name of the invited person, duration of the visit and photocopy of the referent person's passport and resident permit (for foreigners residing in a Schengen country). All documents should be either in the language of the receiving country or English. All documents should be presented in original with copies attached.

Exceptions: Finland: marriage certificate or notarised document of a relationship. Notarised documents will have to be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If a married person has separate hukou from the spouse, then also a copy of spouse's hukou.

Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg: in case of family visit, a legalized Chinese notary certificate which certifies the family relationship with the inviting party.

Spain: In case of family, kinship proof(family relation registry translated into Spanish or English and authenticated notarial certificate, original and photocopy

Sweden: In case your kinship is not shown in the hukou you should present suthenticated proof of kinship in original.

          
6. For foreign applicants: resident permit plus copy of all pages of the passport if applicable.

7. Letter from the employment in the language of the receiving country or in English, stating the applicant's name, position, guarantee of leave for the duration of the trip as well as salary. The certificate has to include address, telephone and fax numbers and the seal of the company or the school.

8. Return of passport by mail. Please refer to the individual Embassy.

9. In a case of minors travelling: written consent of both parents (either personally given in writing at the embassy or certified by a notary public) in the language of the receiving country or in English. In case of divorced parents: divorce certificate and proof of custody in original translated into the language of the receiving country or in English. 

Exception: Spain: school holiday proof booking of the airline ticket 

10. The Embassy reserves the right to request further documents.

France: certificate that receiving party will house the applicant, approved by the local mayor's office, or a confirmed hotel booking. These documents may be requested at the border by police authorities.
                 
Italy: certificate that receiving party will house the applicant or a confirmed hotel booking                    

Sweden: the referent person's complete personal registration certificate.             

11. Fees: 60.- euro, to be paid in local currency according to the official exhange rate of the receiving Embassy, Iceland : RMB 625. Please note that no additional fees are required. The hand out of application forms and all other information material as well as the arrangement of an appointment are free of charge.

Visa is issued free of charge for the spouses of EU-nationals and children under 21 years of age.

Exception: Denmark: The spouses of Danish citizens are charged the visa fee. 

Additional remarks:

a) The above mentioned requirements may not be a complete list of documents. Relevant Schengen Embassy or Consulate General maintains the right to ask for further documents/information if necessary.

b) Regarding specific country information and the business hours of the visa section, please contact the relevant consular office or consult its website.

c) The visa procedure normally takes about 15 working days. (Denmark: Additional up to 6 weeks)

d) Presentation of the above mentioned documents does not induce automatically an issuance of a visa.

Visa application procedures
Applicants with official passports (diplomatic passports, service passports, passports "for public affairs") apply for their visas via the competent Chinese ministry or commission. Holders of ordinary passports must apply in person.

The opening hours for the visa section of the Embassy of Iceland in Beijing are:
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9.00-12.00 a.m. Closed on Icelandic and Chinese public holidays.
Address: Beijing Landmark Tower 1 #802, No 8 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, 100004 Beijing
Tel: +86 (10)  6590 7795
Fax: +86 (10)  6590-7801
E-mail:  visa.beijing@utn.stjr.is