Receiving a Schengen visa refusal can leave you unsure about what went wrong and whether you should apply again. Before submitting a new application, start by reviewing the refusal decision and identifying the concerns that led to the earlier outcome. Your next application should directly address those concerns with clear, accurate, and relevant supporting information. A cover letter after visa refusal gives you an opportunity to explain what has changed, clarify your travel plans, and provide context for the information in your application. It should complement your supporting documents and present your circumstances consistently rather than make unsupported claims.
If you are preparing for a Schengen visa reapplication, your cover letter should focus on the specific circumstances of your case and the concerns raised in the previous decision. The sections below explain what to include, how to address common refusal concerns, and how the supporting documents should connect with your explanation. If you also need help preparing an SOP for a separate visa application, SOP Writing services can assist with structuring and presenting that document clearly.
What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter After a Schengen Visa Refusal?
A cover letter accompanying a new Schengen visa application can provide additional context about your travel plans and circumstances. If you have previously been refused, it can also help you explain how the concerns mentioned in the refusal have been addressed.
A Schengen visa reapplication should be consistent with your application and supporting documents. It should not introduce information that conflicts with your forms, financial documents, travel itinerary, employment details, or other evidence. The European Commission's visa rules provide that a previous refusal does not automatically result in the refusal of a new application. A new application is assessed based on the information available for that application.
For a tourist application, you can use the letter to clearly explain:
- The purpose and duration of your trip
- The countries and places you plan to visit
- Your proposed travel itinerary
- Your financial circumstances and how the trip will be funded
- Relevant employment, family, business, or other commitments in your home country
- The concerns mentioned in your previous refusal
- Any relevant changes or additional information that addresses those concerns
The aim is to provide clear and relevant information. A cover letter cannot guarantee visa approval, but it can help present your circumstances in an organised and understandable manner.
How to Write an Effective Cover Letter After a Schengen Visa Refusal
If you are preparing a new application after a refusal, begin by carefully reviewing the refusal decision. Identify the specific concerns mentioned by the relevant authority and make sure your new application addresses them with accurate and supporting information. If you want to see how a Schengen cover letter can be structured, you can also refer to this sample Schengen visa cover letter for reference.
Understanding the Schengen visa refusal reasons mentioned in your decision is an important starting point. Official EU rules identify several possible grounds for refusal, including concerns about the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, sufficient means of subsistence, travel medical insurance, the reliability of information provided, and whether the applicant's intention to leave the Schengen area can be established. There are three important principles to follow: be honest, provide relevant details, and maintain a professional tone.
1. Clearly Explain the Purpose of Your Trip
Begin by explaining why you are travelling, which countries you intend to visit, and the expected duration of your stay.
If you have previously applied for a Schengen visa, you can briefly mention the earlier application and the reason for the refusal. Keep this explanation factual and consistent with the refusal decision. Avoid making emotional arguments or focusing excessively on why you believe the earlier decision was unfair. The focus should remain on the current application and the information that supports it.
2. Address the Concerns Mentioned in the Previous Refusal
When an application is refused, the decision identifies the relevant grounds for refusal. Read those reasons carefully before preparing your new application. If the earlier application raised concerns about financial means, for example, explain your current financial position and provide relevant supporting evidence. If there are questions about your itinerary, provide a clearer and more consistent travel plan.
This is where a visa refusal explanation letter can be useful as part of the overall application. It should explain the relevant circumstances clearly and show how the current application addresses the earlier concerns. Do not simply repeat information from the previous application. Where circumstances have changed or additional evidence is now available, explain that information clearly.
The information in your letter should also match the documents submitted with your application.
3. Provide a Clear Travel Itinerary
A detailed itinerary can help explain how you intend to spend your time during the trip.
Instead of only listing the cities or countries you plan to visit, provide relevant details such as:
- Intended arrival and departure dates
- Countries and cities you plan to visit
- Accommodation arrangements
- Planned activities, where relevant
- Internal travel arrangements, if applicable
Any travel or accommodation documents you provide should be consistent with the information in your application.
4. Explain Your Reasons for Returning Home
If the previous decision raised concerns about your intention to leave the Schengen area at the end of your visit, your application should clearly present the circumstances that support your planned return.
Depending on your situation, relevant factors may include:
- Ongoing employment
- Business responsibilities
- Family commitments
- Property or other responsibilities
- Other established commitments in your country of residence
Only include information that is genuine and relevant to your circumstances. Supporting documents should be provided where appropriate.
5. Keep Your Financial Information Consistent
If financial circumstances were part of the earlier refusal, explain your current position clearly. You may need to provide information about your income, savings, employment, business interests, or the person funding the trip, depending on your circumstances.
Official Schengen visa rules require applicants to provide evidence of sufficient means for the intended stay and return, where applicable. Supporting documents can also relate to the purpose of the journey, accommodation, and the applicant's intention to leave the Schengen area. Avoid presenting figures that cannot be supported by your documents. Your cover letter, bank statements, payslips, employment records, and other financial evidence should tell a consistent story.
How a Sample Cover Letter Can Help
Sometimes applicants understand what they need to explain but are unsure how to organise the information. A sample can help you understand the general structure and flow of a cover letter. A sample can show how an applicant might present information about their profile, travel plans, finances, previous refusal, and Schengen visa supporting documents.
However, you should not copy a sample and submit it as your own letter. Every applicant has different circumstances, travel plans, financial arrangements, and reasons for returning home. Use a sample only as a reference for structure and presentation. The information in your own letter should be accurate, relevant, and specific to your application.
Sample Cover Letter for the Schengen Tourist Visa After Refusal
To,
The Embassy of France,
Bangkok, Thailand
Subject - Cover Letter for Tourist Visa Application to Travel France, Italy and Greece
Dear Sir,
I am Tharika Srisawatwongchai, a Thai Citizen, bearing passport No. CD5576062, living and working in Bangkok. The purpose of writing this cover letter is to present our profile and intent to travel to three beautiful European Countries - France, Italy, and Greece along with my husband Mr. <add name> for 15 days. We have been waiting for a long time to have this holiday to spend some leisure time together. I got married to him 14 months back but due to work commitments, we could not get a chance to honeymoon and relish our relationship. We both are working hard and thus we hardly get time to spend with each other due to our tight schedule thus we decided to have this holiday in Europe which has been on our bucket list. We have traveled to Japan before because of my business and small trips.
My Profile
I have been working in Thailand as an Online Sales Representative for “FWX Finance Ltd.” since 13th May 2021 till date. I have worked virtually with the company while I was in Japan for approximately 2 months. My job profile here is to provide online sales support and communicate with clients using phone calls, chatting, and replying to their emails. I am also responsible for giving advice, information, and consultation to clients and managing Rental and Lease agreements for commercial and residential properties. Apart from my full-time job, I have also invested in a business with my friends in Thailand which is an online store “Let’s Love Japan” where we provide imported goods from Japan on pre-order. We have a Facebook Page and Instagram with the same name on which we generate good sales. I take care of the online sales, ordering goods from Japan, and managing the shipping of the products.
My Husband’s Profile
My husband owns an apartment building called <add address>. I also help him in managing the apartment, taking care of the tenants and its maintenance. The permanent address on my Thai ID Card and house registration is the same as that of my husband’s apartment. He also manages his family-owned Resort. The resort has a Thai Traditional Style Resort with contemporary Thai-style Deluxe Rooms and Thai Cuisine and my husband takes care of reservations and guest assistance services. They are also into wedding planning and event organization for those who are looking for an authentic traditional Thai Wedding Experience. I have been a part of a few weddings during my free time and it's very exciting to be there working behind the scenes to create unforgettable experiences. My husband has also registered a partnership company <add name of the company> in Tokyo, Japan with me and a senior relative, where we run a Thai Restaurant in Tokyo. The restaurant is mainly managed by our relative, my husband takes care of branding and business and I did research and development of restaurant menus, graphics designs, and online marketing. My husband has multiple sources of income but he majorly relies on Thai Wedding Events which makes him earn a profit of 50,000-75,000 THB per wedding his family hosts in the resort. He also earns around 37,000 TBH from other family businesses. The revenue he earns from Apartments is sent to his parents.
Our Relationship
I went to Japan to attend a Music Festival in 2020 since I am a music lover but unfortunately, just 3 days after my arrival, the lockdown was announced in Japan and the music festival was canceled. I got stuck because the flights were also cancelled and I was very worried about this unfortunate event but the Japan Immigration Bureau accounted that those Foreigner who are stuck in Japan because of the pandemic situation request permission to do a part-time job. I applied for a Visa extension and work permit to survive and work there until the situation becomes favorable. During this, I met with my husband in Tokyo while roaming around the city by myself and we fell in love after having a few dates. We stayed together until he completed his specialized MBA degree in Tokyo and then we decided to start a business together. We got married in Bangkok we lived at my husband’s apartment . Currently, we stay at <address>
Our Family Background
My husband has a great family which consists of 6 members including him, his parents, two brothers, and one sister. The Sister is married and lives with his husband while both the brothers together manage the family business of resorts and restaurants. My husband has one son from her previous partner and she stays with her grandmother. We together take care of her and take care of her expenses - we have a common bank account for this purpose and we both contribute together. I also have one son with my ex-partner and she stays with her grandmother as well and we spend summer holidays together and meet on festivals and holidays. I am the only living child of my parents, they were divorced when I was very young but they raised me together and they are still good friends since they are growing old, they require my attention and I must take care of them. Me and my husband are very well socially connected in Thailand owing to our business and work.
Our Financial Details
I am engaged in 3 different types of work one is my permanent full-time job and rest two are part-time in the business. I earn a fixed salary from FWX Finance every month and I also earn a good amount from different businesses that I assist or engage in, but the amount is variable and depends on the business. I earn 37,290 THB per month from my regular job, approximately 90,000-120,000 THB per month from business in Japan, and around 25,000-35,000 THB from online shop business. My husband has multiple sources of income but he majorly relies on Thai Wedding Events which makes him earn a profit of 50,000-75,000 THB per wedding his family hosts in the resort. He also earns around 37,000 TBH from other family businesses. The revenue he earns from Apartments is sent to his parents. I have a savings of XXXXXX TBH in my savings account and my husband has a savings of XXXXXX TBH in his account. We have attached our bank statements, pay slips, and credit card statements with this letter.
Previous Schengen Visa Refusal
I wish to inform you that I have had two previous Schengen visa refusals in the past because of my lack of understanding and mistakes. For the first time, somehow my hotel reservation was canceled but for the second time I have attached my hotel reservation, flight ticket, concert ticket for which I was willing to travel, and EU rail pass as well, but still, I was not able to present my case properly due to lack of my English writing capabilities. I have travelled to The Netherlands before on a Schengen Visa (Mention Date) came back to Thailand on (Date) after 32 days of 90 days visa offered. I applied back for a visa extension of 30 days to travel remaining parts of Europe but I received a refusal because of a poorly prepared travel itinerary. In the visa refusal letter, it was mentioned about a lack of financial resources because I was not able to present all my income sources of mine. Also, I had to transfer some funds to my partner in Japan due to some accident in the restaurant business there and we had to close the restaurant to fix the issues and had to pay yearly compensation to the Japan Auditor for submitting the company’s tax to the Revenue Department. I had to bear all the prepaid expenses by myself which was later reimbursed from the company and I got my funds back. Since I was unaware of the details to be shared, I did not mention my child, family, and business details in detail and I only shared the marriage certificate.
Our Previous Travel History
Me and my husband have traveled to different places in the world and being law-abiding citizens, we have followed all the laws of the foreign land. We have traveled together mostly in Japan covering more than 25 major cities and tourist attractions. I have also traveled to Schengen Countries - Country Names.
Finally, I would like to conclude that this application for a Schengen tourist visa is to travel to the places I have always romanticized while watching European movies and since my and I husband were never able to spend so much time together leisurely, we wish to have these holidays together to strengthen our relationship bond and embrace each other presence away from work and family commitments.
List of Documents Attached to this letter
- Our Travel itinerary
- My Pay Slip
- My Bank Statement
- My Credit Card Statement
- Medical Health Insurance of 30,000 Euros
- Travel Tickets to France, Italy & Greece
- Hotel Reservations in the respective places
- Euro Rail Ticket Pass
- Our Company Registration Certificate in Japan
I would be happy to submit or share any other information or details which is required to obtain this visa.
Thank You
Tharika Srisawatwongchai
Download Sample Cover Letter for Schengen Tourist Visa After Refusal PDF
Conclusion
A Schengen tourist visa reapplication should be approached as an opportunity to address the specific concerns raised in the previous decision. Before submitting a new application, review the refusal carefully and identify what was unclear or insufficient. Make sure your new application provides relevant evidence to address those points.
Your cover letter should connect your travel plans, financial circumstances, accommodation, itinerary, and reasons for returning to your country of residence with the information provided in your application. Any changes since the previous application should also be explained clearly and supported by appropriate documents. The goal is not to provide a lengthy explanation, but to present your circumstances in a clear and consistent manner. If you need professional assistance with preparing an SOP for a separate visa application, Visa SOP Writing Services can help you structure and present the document clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why can a Schengen tourist visa application be refused?
A Schengen visa refusal can occur for different reasons. These may relate to the information or documents provided, financial circumstances, the purpose of the proposed trip, or concerns identified during assessment. The specific reason should be reviewed in the refusal decision before preparing another application.
2. Should I mention my previous visa refusal in my new cover letter?
If you have previously been refused and the information is relevant to your new application, it is generally important to address the earlier decision accurately. Explain the relevant concern and provide any new or additional information that supports your current application.
3. Can I use a sample cover letter for my new application?
A sample can help you understand the structure and type of information that may be included. However, you should not copy another applicant's circumstances. Your letter should be personalised and consistent with your own documents and travel plans.
4. What documents should support my cover letter?
The documents required depend on your circumstances and the requirements applicable to your application. Depending on the case, relevant evidence may include financial records, employment documents, accommodation details, travel information, insurance, and evidence supporting other information provided in the application.
The EU Visa Code identifies documents relating to the purpose of the journey, accommodation, sufficient means of subsistence, and the intention to leave as relevant supporting material for a uniform visa application. Always check the current requirements of the relevant official authority before submitting your application.
5. What should I avoid in a cover letter after a refusal?
Avoid providing inaccurate information, making unsupported claims, copying another applicant's letter, or including irrelevant details. Do not contradict your previous application or the documents submitted with your new application.
6. Can a professional writer guarantee that my visa will be approved?
No. No writer or consultant can guarantee a visa decision. Professional assistance can help with organising and presenting information clearly, but the final decision is made by the relevant visa authority based on the application and applicable requirements.
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Parul Singh
Parul Singh is an experienced SOP Writer, Visa Consultant and Visa Refusal Expert specializing in providing Professional SOP Writing Services and Visa Consultation for students...
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