Errors On Your Schengen Visa: Is It An Issue?
After going through the Schengen visa application procedure and finally getting your visa the last thing you want to see on it is a spelling or other mistake. But these things happen, so please make sure the information on your visa is correct.
We were dealing with the situation recently when a Schengen embassy made a mistake on a client’s visa label. It is both visa applicant’s and Schengen consulate responsibility to check if all details issued on the visa label match the passport information on the bio page.
We advise you to check all the information on your Schengen visa very carefully when you receive your passport back. Do it there and then before you leave the visa centre where the visa application was processed. If you ordered a special delivery, you need to make sure that all the information entered on the visa stamp is correct. So what must be checked then? Your passport number, you first/ middle name and your last name. Also check the dates visa is issued for. If it is a single entry visa, make sure that it is valid from the date your holiday starts on. Another thing to check is how many days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area - it must cover the number of days your holiday is booked for.
Normally, a single entry Schengen visa is issued for 30 days, it allows the holder one entry and covers you just for one trip.
If there is a mistake in any of these entries, contact the consulate or visa application centre as soon as possible; you can reach them via e-mail or phone. They will probably invite you to come either to the consulate or visa center with your passport. Ask them to sort out the problem as soon as possible.
When another customer came across this problem, the consulate simply did not have enough time to correct the spelling mistake in the last name because their holiday was due to start three days after the visa was granted. It will take minimum 3 days to correct the mistake if you do it through visa centre, since they normally take the passport to the consulate the following day, on the second day they issue a new visa, and on the third day it is delivered back to the visa centre.
You may try to go directly to the consulate, if they tell you that you can do it, they may reissue the visa on the same day. They might issue a new visa for you there and then on the same day.
And what if you do not get mistakes on your visa corrected? Well, it depends on a few things. If, say, a consulate misspelt your name or surname - one or two wrong letters, - it may not be a big deal and you probably are going to be fine at the customs (still, if you have time, do contact the consulate and get the visa amended!) But if you see that the visa shows a completely different name or passport number, you definitely cannot travel with such a visa. As for the wrong dates - they must not be left on your Schengen visa too; it is highly unlikely that the customs officer is going to be very understanding if you say that it is a mistake the consulate made.
Also remember that misspellings will certainly make the customs officer suspicious of you as errors usually indicate falsified documents.
If you are not sure how to use your Schengen visa, contact our visa specialists and make sure all the information is adequate and correct and that you will not be stopped or detIf you want to learn more about getting a Schengen visa and how you can apply, go to the guide for details. It is an easy, step-by-step approach to Schengen visa application process.ained at the passport control.
