Tourist visa

Holidays, visiting family, discovering a country: we prepare a solid, complete and consistent file with you, to give you every chance of success.

  • Schengen · UK · USA · Canada
  • File checked document by document
  • Follow-up until the decision
Fatma Travel poster — Tourist visa
Schengen stay

A maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

90 days
Processing time

Standard processing time for a Schengen visa, which may be extended depending on the file.

15 days
To apply

You can apply up to 6 months before departure (Schengen): plan ahead!

6 months

Understanding the tourist visa

A short stay, but a file that must be convincing

The tourist visa — called a "short-stay visa" or C visa in the Schengen area — allows you to travel for a holiday, to visit relatives or for a family event. For Europe, a single Schengen visa lets you travel in all the countries of the Schengen area, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Each country has its own rules: the United Kingdom issues a "Standard Visitor visa" that generally allows stays of up to 6 months, the United States a B1/B2 visa that always involves an interview at the embassy, and Canada a temporary resident visa with biometrics.

Everywhere, the consular officer asks the same questions: is the purpose of the trip clear? Can the traveller pay for the stay? And above all, will they really go home at the end of the stay? A good file answers these three questions, with evidence and without contradictions.

Fatma Travel poster — destination Brussels, in the heart of Europe

For which trips?

  • Holidays and discovery

    Sightseeing, multi-country tours, honeymoons, pilgrimages: we help you present a clear and credible travel plan.

  • Visiting family or friends

    Have your relatives invited you? Their invitation letter and, for Belgium, the sponsorship undertaking (Annex 3bis) can strengthen your file: we explain how to obtain them.

  • Family event

    Wedding, baptism, birth, bereavement: we highlight the evidence of the event so the purpose of the trip is obvious.

Documents to prepare

  • Identity and travel

    Generally:

    • Passport valid for at least 3 months after your return (Schengen), with 2 blank pages, issued less than 10 years ago
    • Completed and signed application form
    • Recent passport photos meeting the standards
    • Return flight reservation
    • Copies of previous visas, if any

  • Stay and finances

    To prove your plans:

    • Hotel reservation or invitation letter from your host
    • Travel itinerary
    • Recent bank statements showing regular activity
    • Sponsorship by a relative, if applicable
    • Travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical costs (Schengen)

  • Ties to your home country

    To prove you will return:

    • Employment certificate and approved leave, or business registration
    • Payslips or regular income
    • Property deed, lease or school certificate
    • Proof of your family ties at home

Your application, step by step

  1. 1

    Consultation

    We discuss your trip, your situation and the destination country, then confirm which visa to apply for.

  2. 2

    Tailor-made file

    You receive the exact list of documents, checked against the official requirements in force.

  3. 3

    Check

    We check every document and fill in the form with you.

  4. 4

    Submission

    Appointment at the visa centre or embassy: fingerprints, photo and submission of the file.

  5. 5

    Decision

    We follow your application and advise you as soon as the consulate replies.

Our experience

Why visas are refused — and how to avoid it

Most refusals do not come from a "bad profile" but from a poorly built file. The Schengen refusal form often cites the same reasons: purpose of the trip not sufficiently justified, insufficient means, or doubts about your intention to leave before the visa expires.

Our job is to track down these weaknesses before submission. We never promise a visa — the decision always rests with the consulate — but we guarantee you a complete, consistent and defensible file.

  • Bank statements with a large deposit just before the application: we explain how to present your finances.
  • Dates that don't match between ticket, hotel, leave and insurance: we check every date.
  • A vague reason for travel: we build a precise itinerary and clear supporting documents.
  • Ties that are not well proven: we identify the documents that show you will return.
A Fatma Travel adviser hands a customer her passport and file

What Fatma Travel does for you

  • Analysis of your situation

    First, we study your profile, your plans and the destination country to choose the right visa and spot the weak points in the file.

  • Tailor-made document list

    You receive a clear list, adapted to your case and checked against the official requirements in force — nothing unnecessary, nothing forgotten.

  • Document-by-document check

    We review every document: consistency of dates, amounts, names, translations. This is where most refusals are decided.

  • Forms and appointments

    We fill in the forms with you and help you get an appointment at the visa centre or embassy.

  • Interview preparation

    If there is an interview, we prepare you for the usual questions so you can answer clearly and confidently.

  • Follow-up until the decision

    We stay reachable until the consulate replies, with a French-speaking team in Brussels and in Burundi.

  • After a refusal

    We analyse the reasons for the refusal and advise you: appeal, a better-documented new application, or another strategy.

Frequently asked questions

How long before my trip should I start?

As early as possible. For a Schengen visa, the application can be submitted up to 6 months before departure and no later than 15 days before. In high season, appointments fill up quickly: contact us 2 to 3 months before your trip.

Should I buy my plane ticket before getting the visa?

No, in most cases a reservation is enough. We advise you not to pay for a non-refundable ticket before the decision. Fatma Travel can issue the flight reservation for your file.

Does a Schengen visa issued by Belgium allow me to go to France?

Yes, a Schengen visa lets you travel throughout the Schengen area. But you must apply to the country of your main destination (where you stay longest) or, if the stays are equal, to the country of entry.

How much does a visa cost?

Consular fees are set by each country and may change: we tell you the exact amount in force when you apply. Our support is covered by a clear quote, with no surprises.

My visa was refused. Can I apply again?

Yes. First you need to understand the reason for the refusal. Depending on the case, we advise an appeal or a new application, with a file strengthened on the points raised.

Other visa types

Let's prepare your tourist visa

Tell us about your plans: we assess your file and tell you clearly which documents to gather, the timelines and the cost of our support.

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