Which Schengen country do I apply to?
Enter the countries on your trip and the days in each. You get the country EU rules say you must apply to, and how often it approved applications from your country.
Where will you go, and for how many days?
Your days are split evenly. The country of your main purpose decides.
The rule
EU law decides which consulate handles your application (Visa Code, Article 5 ↗):
- Only one Schengen country on the trip: apply to that country.
- Several countries, or several trips within two months: apply to your main destination, the one where you will spend the most days, or where the main purpose of the trip is.
- No main destination can be worked out: apply to the country whose border you will cross first.
Applying somewhere else because it looks easier is itself a ground for refusal, and the refusal is visible to every Schengen consulate. If your main purpose (say, a conference in Germany) is in a country where you spend fewer days, ask that consulate before you apply.
Questions people ask
Can I apply to the Schengen country with the highest approval rate?
No. You must apply to your main destination. Applying elsewhere to get better odds is a reason to refuse you, and other Schengen consulates can see the refusal.
My days are split evenly between two countries. Where do I apply?
To the country where the main purpose of your trip is. If there is no main purpose, to the country you enter first.
Does transit through an airport count as a destination?
No. A short transit without leaving the airport does not make that country your destination.