Getting a 1-year multiple entry Schengen visa feels impossible, until you know the tricks. Most applicants get just 5 days, 1 week, or 3 weeks. I’ve gotten a 1-year multiple entry Schengen visa twice, and in this guide I’m sharing every single secret: the itinerary letter, the travel insurance trick, dummy tickets, and a free template you can copy right now. You will also learn how to get 1 year Schengen visa effectively.

The Schengen visa can be one of the most challenging visas to get, especially when it comes to duration. If you have applied before, you probably know they often give you a short stay of just 1 or 3 weeks, or even just 5 days, crazy, right? I’ve, however, gotten a 1-year multiple-entry Schengen visa twice because there’s a method to getting a long-duration visa, and it comes down to how you present your application. Understanding how to get 1 year Schengen visa can make all the difference.

Quick Summary: How to Get a 1-Year Schengen Visa

In this post, we will discuss how to get 1 year Schengen visa and what steps to take to ensure your application is successful.

1. Submit a detailed itinerary showing multiple trips over 12 months
2. Get 1-year travel insurance, it directly influences visa duration
3. Book dummy flights and hotels for every trip in your itinerary

Keep reading for the full breakdown of each step, plus a free itinerary letter template.

Step 1: Write a Detailed Itinerary Showing Multiple Trips

Create a detailed itinerary and state in your application form that you are traveling multiple times mentioning all the dates. Here’s the deal with the Schengen visa: they only give you the specific dates you’re traveling for. This itinerary is your chance to show that you’ve got plans to visit the country multiple times over the next 6 months to a year. Below’s a template that you can use, just copy it and make it your own!

Step 2: Get 1-Year Travel Insurance (This Is Critical)

This is the most overlooked tip and it directly impacts your application. Get a 1 year travel insurance, as it influences the duration of your visa. They want to see that you’re covered for the whole time you’re asking for. So if you only get a 3-month travel insurance but ask for a 1-year visa, guess what? You’ll probably just get 3 months visa. To avoid that, make sure to get at least a 1-year insurance if you’re aiming for a full year visa duration or longer.

Step 3: Book Dummy Flights & Hotels for Every Trip

Book a dummy flight & hotel ticket for all the trips in your itinerary. Let’s say you’re heading to France 3 times in your itinerary; make sure you have a dummy ticket for those 3 travel dates.

• Hotel: Go to booking.com and filter for “Pay at Property” options, these are free to reserve and cancel.
• Flights: You’ll need a travel agent for dummy flight tickets, send an email to travelwithibii@gmail.com for help with this

Free Schengen Visa Itinerary Letter Template (Copy This)

Below is the exact letter template I use. Copy it, fill in your details, and attach it to your Schengen visa application. This is the letter that helped me get a 1-year multiple entry visa twice.

— TEMPLATE START —

Introduction & Itinerary Letter Template

Name

Address

LETTER OF SELF INTRODUCTION & ITINERARY

To Whom It May Concern

I am (Full Name), with Passport No…………, residing at the above named Address, presently working with ……….. (Name of company) located in ………(Location of company), as a ………. (Job title)

I have indicated my willingness to travel to Europe for my 2026 summer holiday starting in Sweden and visiting countries like France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, my detailed planned itinerary is below.

I would be grateful if the one year multiple entry visa is granted to me as I am also traveling back to Sweden to explore the country during Christmas and experience Christmas markets from December 20 to December 27th, 2026. I also have a planned trip in Q1 next year for my yearly shopping trip.

Thank you for your consideration.

ITINERARY 

Date	Duration	Activity	Country
July 28th to Aug 7th	10 Days	Land in Stockholm and explore the city, the west coast city of Gothenburg and hang out with colleagues	Sweden
Aug 7th – Aug 13th	6 Days	Fly to Paris and explore the city	France
Aug 13th – Aug 19th	7 Days	Join the gouego.com green line on a 7 day tour exploring 5 countries and back to Paris	France, Italy, Switzerland, Monaco & Vatican City
Aug 19th		Bid Paris goodbye and board the Thalys train to Brussels	Belgium
Aug 19th – Aug 22nd	3 Days	Explore brussels and take a days trip to Luxembourg	Belgium & Luxembourg
Aug 22nd – Aug 24th	2 Days	Take the Thalys train to Amsterdam and explore the city	Netherlands
Aug 24th – Aug 29th	5 Days	Fly back to stockholm for a final exploration of the city before flying back to Dubai	Sweden
December 20th	1 day	Land in Stockholm	Sweden
December 21st to 26th	6 days	Explore Skansen in Stockholm and different open air christmas markets in Gothenburg	Sweden
December 27th		Fly back home

(Full Name),

Yours Faithfully.

— TEMPLATE END —

Download the editable format here, or get the complete Letter Templates Pack (includes all key Schengen visa application letters) for $9.99.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 1-Year Schengen Visa

Can anyone get a 1-year Schengen visa?

Yes, but it helps to have a strong travel history and a well-documented application. First-time applicants may get a shorter duration initially. Once you’ve traveled on a Schengen visa without overstaying, your chances of a longer duration increase significantly.

Which Schengen country is easiest to get a long-duration visa from?

France, Spain, and the Netherlands are generally known to be more generous with visa durations. Apply through the embassy of the country where you’ll spend the most time, or your first port of entry.

Does a 1-year Schengen visa mean I can stay for 1 year?

No, a 1-year multiple entry Schengen visa means you can enter the Schengen zone multiple times within that year. You’re still limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Final Tips: Schengen Visa Application Checklist

• Write an itinerary letter showing multiple planned trips across 12 months
• Get 1-year travel insurance with minimum €30,000 medical coverage
• Book dummy flights for each trip in your itinerary
• Use Booking.com ‘Pay at Property’ options for hotel reservations
• Apply through the embassy of the country you’ll spend the most time in
• Include strong financial proof (bank statements for last 3–6 months)

If you’re thinking about applying for a Schengen visa and have any questions, send me an email! And don’t forget to share this with someone who might find it useful, getting a 1-year Schengen visa is absolutely possible when you know what you’re doing.

Till your next read, Ibi.