How to apply for Schengen visa for ICI passport

Trust me, i know exactly how stressful it is when it comes to applying visa. Just want to share my experience on how i got my schengen visa from the Italian Embassy in Dublin using my Brunei International Certificate of Identity 'passport' . 



8/5/15

Called the embassy to make my visa appointment. 
The date of the visa appointment given: 22/6/15.
Wrote an email to the visa section, asking for an earlier appointment.

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13/5/15

Received an email from the embassy, asking if i could attend the appointment on 12/6/15.
Date of visa appointment moved forward, 10 days earlier than the original date.

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12/6/15

Submitted all my documents to the visa section.
Additional supporting documents needed to proceed my visa application.

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19/6/15

Emailed the additional documents required.

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24/6/15

Received my Visa.




How I fulfil the list of Requirements for my Visa:


1. Travel Itinerary 

The Visa Officer was furious when she found out that i did not prepare my travel itinerary. So, please please please do not forget this, especially when you are travelling to multiple destinations like me. This is just how i did mine, you may use this as a guide if you wish. 

2. passport

3. passport sized photograph

4. Irish GNIB card

5. Valid re-entry visa

6. Return flight confirmation to the Schengen area

As I planned to leave for Europe on the first of July, I took the risk and bought all the flights. I knew that i wouldn't be able to get the flights if i were to buy it after i got my Visa. Also, I was not sure how i could reserve budget flights myself without having to go through the travel agencies. Well, I have to admit that it was a very last minute plan. Not encouraging you to do the same..this was just how i showed it to the Visa officer during the interview. 

In addition to my flight tickets to and from Ireland, i also bought all the train  and bus tickets in advance. If you are like me, travelling to Paris but coming back from another city (e.g., Alghero), you would have to explain to the Visa officer all your travel details from Paris to Alghero. 

I did not follow my submitted itinerary in the end (instead of Alghero, i departed from Rome as i decided to shorten my trip). I don't think there will be any problems with changing your itinerary once you are in the Schengen region.

7.Reservation for guesthouse

I paid all my airbnb accommodations and submitted the invoices to the Embassy to fulfil this requirement. The Visa Officer would want to know where you are going to stay every night. So be sure to book all the accommodations for each night and show it during the interview. 

If you are going to spend the night travelling (e.g, on a night bus), you have to show the Officer the time on the bus ticket as proof. 

8.Letter from the university

9.Recent bank statement

10. Proof of travel insurance of at least € 30,000

This is a tricky one. I could not get travel insurance from any local insurance company because i am not an Irish citizen. A quick search online, you would find yourself in this website www.schengenvisainfo.com , recommending you to buy Mawista VISUM , for your visa application. 

I bought this insurance, hoping that it would satisfy the terms required by the Italian Embassy. Unfortunately the Visa officer was not happy with the terms by Mawista. In my policy, it stated that 'insurance coverage is not limited to € 30,000.' I emailed Mawista to ask if they could amend the policy, specifying the exact amount covered but they refused. 

I ended up buying another travel insurance from Evasan , which fits perfectly all the terms required to apply for Schengen Visa. 

* Due to the fact that i am still a student, and am not financially independent from my parents, i was required to submit two more documents:

1. Letter of Financial Support signed by my parent
2. A passport copy of my parent

I got the letter template from the Embassy and send the signed copy via email. 


  



I hope i have provided enough information about how to apply for schengen visa in Ireland! Leave me a message if you want to know more about it. Wish you all the best in applying!