How Papua New Guinea citizens apply for the Schengen short-stay visa (type C)

1. Choose where to apply: the consulate of the Schengen country where you will spend the longest time, or the country you enter first if the stays are equal.
2. Book your appointment and apply no earlier than 6 months and at the latest 15 days before your trip.
3. Fill in the application form, pay the visa fee and give your fingerprints at the appointment (unless they were collected for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months).
4. Submit your passport and supporting documents. The consulate decides within 15 calendar days, extendable to up to 45 days in individual cases.

Documents the official source asks for

• Passport issued within the previous 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages
• Completed and signed application form and a recent photo that meets the ICAO standard
• Travel medical insurance valid for the whole Schengen area with cover of at least €30,000
• Documents showing the purpose of the trip, your accommodation, enough money for the stay and your intention to return

Official fees

Government fees only, from the official sources below. Visa centre or service fees, where they apply, are extra.

Processing time and validity

• Processing: 15 calendar days as a rule, up to 45 days in individual cases.
• Validity and stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Frequent travellers with a good visa history can receive multiple-entry visas valid for longer periods.

Common reasons Schengen short-stay visa (type C) applications are refused

Article 32 of the Schengen Visa Code lists the grounds on which a visa is refused. The main ones are:

• A travel document that is false, counterfeit or forged
• No justification for the purpose and conditions of the stay
• No proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the stay and the return
• Already having stayed 90 days in the current 180-day period
• An alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS) for refusal of entry, or being considered a threat to public policy or security
• No adequate and valid travel medical insurance
• Reasonable doubts about the documents, the statements made, or your intention to leave before the visa expires

Recent rule changes for Finland

• 2025-10-12: The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) started; it became fully operational at all Schengen external borders on 10 Apr 2026. Non-EU visitors register fingerprints and a facial image on first entry instead of passport stamps.
• 2026-10: ETIAS (travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, €20) is not yet operating. The EU says the start date will be announced several months in advance; no application is needed today.

Good to know

• Stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
• Apply for a visa at the consulate of the country of your main destination (or first entry if equal).

Easier alternatives for Papua New Guinea passport holders

Countries in Northern Europe and other popular destinations with simpler entry for the Papua New Guinea passport than Finland, easiest first. Only rules we have verified against an official source are listed.

Finland at a glance for travellers

• 93 of 198 passports can enter Finland without a visa (visa-free, visa on arrival or an ETA).
• The Papua New Guinea passport gets visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 64 destinations in our dataset.

Sources and last checked

The Visa and Trips editorial team checks these sources every week. See our editorial and verification policy.