Schengen visa: the document checklist people get wrong

Schengen rejections are rarely about money. They are usually about documents that do not agree with each other — dates on the itinerary that do not match the hotel booking, or a cover letter that describes a different route. Keep one master itinerary and build every other document from it. Flights, hotels, insurance and the cover letter should all show the same entry date, exit date and cities. Six months of bank statements should show a steady balance, not a large deposit landing a week before the appointment. If someone is sponsoring the trip, their documents need to be complete too. Apply early. In summer, appointment slots disappear faster than the processing time itself, and travel plans built around a tight visa window are stressful for everyone.