Schengen visa documents 2026: the complete checklist

Flights booked, hotel booked. What's left is the confusing part: the documents. This is exactly where most people end up paying a travel agency, and not because they need one. They just don't know the list.

The list isn't a secret. It's published on embassy websites and set out in the EU Visa Code. Below is the full set that applies in 2026, where to submit it in Tashkent, and what has actually changed this year.

Schengen visa types: which one you need

Almost anyone traveling for tourism, to visit relatives, or for business needs a short-stay type C visa. It's valid across the whole Schengen area and lets you stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

A type C visa comes in two forms:

• single-entry: you enter, you leave, the visa is used up;
• multiple-entry: you can enter several times within the validity period.

The consulate decides on its own whether to issue a multiple-entry visa. You can't request one. According to the European Commission, only 28.4% of visas issued to Uzbekistan citizens in 2025 were multiple-entry, so don't count on getting one on your first application.

The purpose of your trip (tourism, business, visiting relatives, medical treatment) doesn't change the visa type, but it does change part of the document set: an invitation letter, a business trip letter, or a clinic confirmation gets added.

Documents required for a Schengen visa: the full list

The core set is the same at every consulate. As of 2026, it looks like this:

1. Application form (Uniform Schengen Visa Application Form): fill it out online, print it, sign it. For a minor, both parents sign the form in person and attend the appointment together with the child.
2. Photo: 35×45 mm, ICAO standard, light background, no older than 6 months, face covering 70-80% of the frame.
3. International passport: issued no more than 10 years ago, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages.
4. Copies of your passport and ID card.
5. Proof of permanent residence in Uzbekistan: your ID card or a registration (propiska) certificate, obtained through my.gov.uz.
6. Copies of any Schengen visas from the last 3 years, if you have them.
7. Cover letter, with your travel dates and itinerary.
8. Proof of employment and income: a certificate issued through my.gov.uz or my.soliq.uz (the Italian consulate treats certificates not obtained through these portals as unreliable), business registration documents, or a sponsorship letter together with proof of the family relationship.
9. Financial guarantee: a bank statement covering the last 3 months. Some consulates ask for a stamped copy issued no more than 10 working days before submission.
10. Flight reservation: outbound and return.
11. Accommodation booking or invitation letter: covering the entire trip. If you're visiting several countries, you need this for all of them.
12. Insurance policy: at least €30,000 in cover. More on this below.
13. Paid visa fee.
14. Signed document checklist: the Italian embassy, for example, requires this.

How much money you need in your account

There's no single rule here: each country sets its own minimum daily amount.

That's almost a ninefold difference. So don't trust any universal figure for "how much you need for Schengen." Check the requirement at the consulate of the specific country you're traveling to.

Insurance: why you need at least €30,000 in cover

This requirement doesn't come from insurance companies. It's set by law, Article 15 of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009). Your policy has to meet three conditions at the same time:

• coverage of at least €30,000;
• valid across the entire Schengen area, not just one country;
• covers the whole length of your trip.

The cover must include emergency hospitalization and repatriation, meaning transport home in case of serious illness or death, because embassies check these two items specifically.

One thing to be precise about: the policy doesn't cover medical treatment itself. It reimburses the expenses that come from a sudden illness or injury during the trip. In practice it works like this: you call the number on the policy, the assistance company finds a clinic, and it settles the bill directly. If you paid an expense yourself and it was agreed in advance, the insurance payout is reimbursed based on your documents.

At EUROASIA, the lowest plan that meets the Schengen requirement is CLASSIC. ECONOM doesn't qualify, for two reasons: its territorial coverage doesn't include Schengen, and its cover is below €30,000. For a comparison of plans and which one to pick, see this article.

You can get a policy online for a Schengen trip. For other destinations, use the travel insurance calculator.

Where to submit your documents: the Tashkent guide

Many countries don't have their own consulate in Tashkent. They work through a representing embassy or a visa center instead. As of August 2026, here's how it breaks down:

This list changes quickly. Several countries switched their intake center during 2025-2026. Before you book your appointment, check the embassy's own website once.

How to apply for a Schengen visa: step by step

You can apply as early as 6 months before your trip. Applying with less than 15 calendar days before departure is considered too late.

1. 6 months before
2. gather documents
3. book an appointment online
4. visit the visa center / embassy (biometrics + fee payment)
5. decision: usually 15 days, up to 45 days in complex cases
6. passport collection

Practical tip: once you add up the wait for an appointment and the decision time, starting 4-6 weeks before departure works best. In the summer season, visa centers run short on available slots.

Schengen visa price in 2026

The consular fee is the same across Schengen:

• €90 for adults;
• €45 for children aged 6 to 11;
• free for children under 6.

This fee hasn't changed since June 11, 2024. Some embassy websites still haven't been updated and still show the old amount, so confirm the current figure with the intake center on the day you submit.

The visa center's service fee isn't included in this and is paid separately. It varies by center; the exact amount is listed on that center's official website.

EES and ETIAS: what changed in 2026

EES (Entry/Exit System) applies to you, and it's already running. The system rolled out in stages starting October 12, 2025, and has been fully operational across all Schengen countries since April 10, 2026. Your passport no longer gets stamped at the border. Instead, the system takes a facial image and fingerprints and logs your entry and exit dates electronically. It tracks your 90/180-day count automatically.

You don't need to file any additional application. Your first border crossing will just take longer than usual, so if you have a connecting flight, build in extra time.

ETIAS doesn't apply to you. It's not a visa, and it doesn't replace one. ETIAS is meant for citizens of the 59 countries on the visa-free list (the US, the UK, Japan, and others). Uzbekistan isn't on that list, so Uzbekistan citizens still need the same Schengen visa as before. The EU hasn't officially announced a launch date for ETIAS and says it will give advance notice. So headlines claiming "ETIAS is now mandatory" are talking about a different category of traveler.

Why an application can be rejected

According to the European Commission, Uzbekistan citizens filed 61,328 applications in 2025, and 50,513 visas were issued. That means roughly one application in six came back with nothing, and the share is higher than in 2024.

The Visa Code lists specific grounds for refusal: the purpose or conditions of the trip aren't convincingly justified, funds are insufficient, documents are incomplete, the insurance doesn't meet the requirement, or the passport doesn't meet the conditions. The exact reason is always stated in the written response.

Germany eliminated the administrative appeal for refusals as of July 1, 2025. The only route left is a lawsuit at the Berlin Administrative Court, in German, with court costs attached. That means you can no longer count on simply reapplying after a rejection. Putting together a solid set of documents the first time is the cheaper option.

Appointment scams: stick to the official channel

In the summer season, appointment slots at TLScontact centers in Tashkent are always in short supply, and resellers show up alongside the shortage. According to Gazeta.uz, they ask $150 to $500 for a single slot.

The French embassy has warned about this openly: booking an appointment is free and only happens through the official website, and no unofficial payment is ever required. Visa centers have also rolled out new booking systems, for Germany since December 15, 2025, and for France since July 1, 2026.

Don't pay a middleman: a purchased slot can be cancelled, and no one will refund your money.

Final checklist

Go through this once before you head out:

• [ ] Application form filled out and signed
• [ ] Photo 35×45 mm, no older than 6 months
• [ ] Passport: issued no more than 10 years ago, valid 3+ months past the trip, 2 blank pages
• [ ] Copies of passport and ID card
• [ ] Copies of old Schengen visas (if any)
• [ ] Cover letter, with itinerary
• [ ] Employment and income certificate
• [ ] 3-month bank statement
• [ ] Flight reservation (round trip)
• [ ] Accommodation booking or invitation letter, for the whole trip
• [ ] Insurance policy: €30,000, valid across Schengen, whole duration
• [ ] Fee paid, receipt in hand
• [ ] Traveling with a child? Both parents' signatures and attendance
• [ ] Appointment booked through the official website

Frequently asked questions

Did ETIAS replace the Schengen visa?

No. ETIAS is for citizens of the 59 countries on the visa-free list. Uzbekistan citizens still need a Schengen visa, same as before.

What do I need to do because of EES?

Nothing. No application or payment is required. At the border, a facial image and fingerprints replace the stamp, and the system now tracks your 90/180-day count automatically.

How much money do I need in my account?

There's no single figure. It ranges from €14 to €122 per day, depending on the country. Check the requirement at the consulate of the country you're traveling to.

How long do I wait?

Usually 15 calendar days. If they ask for additional documents or need to consult with other member states, it can stretch to 45 days. For a Greek visa, the decision is made in Moscow, which adds another 10 working days.

Do I also need insurance for baggage or trip cancellation?

Not for the visa. Baggage insurance and trip cancellation insurance are separate types of cover; the consulate doesn't ask for them.

The part of this that eats up the most time is the certificates and bookings. Insurance takes a few minutes to sort out, so there's no reason to leave it for the last day.

Check the list. Get your policy online for the Schengen trip. Book your appointment through the official website.