Applying for a visa, particularly for the Schengen Area, is a strict process: you could be rejected purely because your supporting documents aren’t up to scratch.

While Schengen member states have universal rules, for example how long one may stay on a short-stay tourist visa (90 days within a 180-day period), and common information requirements (for example, the personal information you must provide or how your visa application photographs should look), each also has its own permits and procedures.

For instance, Belgium offers a range of short- and long-stay business visas, from au-pairing to seasonal work and even working holiday programmes for citizens of partner states. Germany, on the other hand, has two types of business visa: one for up to 90 days in a six-month period, and a work permit for longer stays.

The first thing you must do, therefore, is your homework. This includes:

• Whether you need a visa

  Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa. If you’re a citizen of another Schengen Area member state, or your destination has an arrangement with your home country, you won’t

• Which visa you need

  It is essential that you travel on the correct visa; otherwise, you could find yourself in trouble with your destination country’s authorities. The Travelisa website is set up so that you can easily discover whether you need a tourist, business or study visa (including variations), with links to state websites and navigator tools that also help you make the correct choice

• Which documentation you must provide

  It is vital that you provide each and every piece of documentation requested, in the correct formats and with the required number of copies. If you miss anything – or even, in the case of Germany, present it in the wrong order – your application will likely be rejected

• Where you must apply

  Some visa processes begin online, but you will be required to present yourself for an interview at an embassy, a consulate or visa application centre. Such a venue may not even be in your country

• How long it will take to process

  Different visas’, and destination countries’, application processing times differ – and the quality of your supporting documentation may be a factor. Ensure that you know expected times, and factor in a bit extra in case of delays

It’s worth taking the time to provide complete, correct visa documentation. It will actually save you time, as well as money and, above all, hassle – and you’re more likely to get to where you need to go.